MARRY YOUR KILLER
Chapter Eighty-Six: The Date
---
The morning came bright and warm.
Jay sat at the dining table, a cup of tea in her hands, her stomach round, the twins kicking. Keifer was beside her, his hand on her belly, his face soft. Percy was at the counter, making breakfast, his voice loud. Honey was beside him, her face calm, her eyes sharp.
Lyra was in her corner, Alex beside her. Care was with Cole. Rakki was with Ci N. Mica was with Calix. Freya was with Erdix. Grace was with Denzel. Kuya Angelo was with Ion. Tita Gemma was with Tita Rachel. The house was full. The house was loud. The house was home.
Percy turned from the stove. His face was bright. "We need to set the date."
Honey raised an eyebrow. "The date?"
Percy waved his spatula. "For the weddings. The India weddings. The Karnataka weddings. The weddings we've been planning for months."
Jay looked at Keifer. Keifer looked at Jay.
"Weddings," Jay said.
Percy's grin widened. "Weddings. Lyra and Alex. Care and Cole. Rakki and Ci N. Mica and Calix. Four weddings. One week. India."
Lyra's face was blank. Her eyes were not. "Four weddings?"
Alex pulled her close. "Four weddings."
She looked at him. "We're not married yet."
He kissed her forehead. "We're going to be."
She almost smiled. Almost. "We're going to be."
---
The meeting was called for noon.
The living room was full. Percy stood at the center, a notebook in his hands, a map on the table. Honey was beside him, her arms crossed, her eyes sharp. Aries and Ella were on the sofa, their hands together. Lyra was in her corner, Alex beside her. Care was with Cole. Rakki was with Ci N. Mica was with Calix. Freya was with Erdix. Grace was with Denzel. Kuya Angelo was with Ion. Tita Gemma was with Tita Rachel. Jay sat in the armchair, Keifer beside her, his hand on her belly.
Percy spread the map across the table. "Karnataka. India. The temples. The hills. The elephants."
Lyra's voice was low. "Elephants."
Percy grinned. "Elephants."
Alex laughed. "You're getting elephants."
Lyra looked at him. "We're getting elephants."
He kissed her hand. "We're getting elephants."
---
Mica's laptop was open. Her fingers were moving. Calix was beside her. "The best time is December. The weather is cool. The skies are clear. The temples are open."
Percy nodded. "December. That gives us three months."
Honey's voice was sharp. "Three months to plan four weddings. In India. With elephants."
Percy's grin didn't waver. "We can do it."
Aries looked at Ella. Ella looked at Aries. "December," Aries said.
Ella smiled. "December."
---
Lyra was in her corner. Her hands were in her pockets. Her face was blank. Alex was beside her. His hand was in hers.
"December," Alex said.
She looked at him. "December."
He pulled her close. "Are you ready?"
She leaned against him. "I'm ready."
He kissed her hair. "We're getting married. In India. With elephants."
She almost smiled. Almost. "With elephants."
---
Care was on the sofa. Cole was beside her. Her hand was in his.
"December," Cole said.
She looked at him. "December."
He kissed her hand. "Are you ready?"
She smiled. "I'm ready."
He pulled her close. "We're getting married."
She held him. "We're getting married."
---
Rakki was at the table. Ci N was beside her. Her hand was in his.
"December," Ci N said.
She looked at him. "December."
He kissed her forehead. "Are you ready?"
She grinned. "I've been ready."
He laughed. "I know."
---
Mica was at her laptop. Calix was beside her. Her hand was in his.
"December," Calix said.
She looked at him. "December."
He kissed her cheek. "Are you ready?"
She smiled. "I'm ready."
He pulled her close. "We're getting married."
She held him. "We're getting married."
---
Percy stood at the center of the room. His notebook was open. His pen was moving. "December 12th. Lyra and Alex. December 13th. Care and Cole. December 14th. Rakki and Ci N. December 15th. Mica and Calix."
Honey looked at him. "Four days. Four weddings."
Percy grinned. "Four days of celebration. Four days of joy. Four days of—"
Honey kissed him. "Four days of chaos."
He kissed her back. "Four days of chaos."
---
Jay sat in the armchair. Keifer was beside her. His hand was on her belly. The twins were kicking.
"December," Jay said.
Keifer looked at her. "December."
She leaned against him. "Our family is getting married."
He kissed her hair. "Our family is growing."
She touched her stomach. "Our family is growing."
He pulled her close. "I love you."
She held him. "I love you too."
---
Lyra stood in her corner. Alex was beside her. His hand was in hers. Her face was blank. Her eyes were not.
"December 12th," Lyra said.
Alex looked at her. "December 12th."
She turned to face him. "I'm going to be your wife."
He pulled her close. "You're going to be my wife."
She touched his face. Her fingers were cold. Her eyes were warm. "I never thought I would be anyone's wife."
He kissed her hand. "You're going to be mine."
She almost smiled. Almost. "I'm going to be yours."
---
Care was in the garden with Cole. The flowers were blooming. The grass was green. The steps were warm. They sat together, their hands intertwined.
"December 13th," Care said.
Cole looked at her. "December 13th."
She leaned against him. "I never thought I would get married."
He pulled her close. "You never thought you would have a sister. You never thought you would have a family. You never thought—"
She kissed him. "I never thought I would have you."
He kissed her back. "You have me. Always."
---
Rakki was in the kitchen with Ci N. Her hands were on the counter. His arms were around her.
"December 14th," Rakki said.
Ci N kissed her neck. "December 14th."
She turned to face him. "Are you ready to be my husband?"
He smiled. "I've been ready since the day you threatened to shoot me."
She laughed. "I threatened to count to three."
He pulled her close. "You gave me two and a half."
She kissed him. "You deserved it."
He kissed her back. "I deserved you."
---
Mica was in the study with Calix. Her laptop was closed. Her hands were in his.
"December 15th," Mica said.
Calix looked at her. "December 15th."
She touched his face. "Are you ready to stop being annoying?"
He laughed. "I'll never stop being annoying."
She kissed him. "I know."
He kissed her back. "You love it."
She smiled. "I love you."
---
The night came. The house was quiet.
Jay stood at the window of the nursery. The cribs were white. The blankets were soft. The stars were painted on the walls. Keifer came in behind her. His arms went around her waist. His face was in her hair.
"You're thinking," he said.
She leaned against him. "I'm thinking about December. About India. About the weddings. About—"
He turned her to face him. His hands were on her face. His eyes were steady. "About the twins."
She touched her stomach. "About the twins."
He knelt. His face was level with her belly. His hands were on her skin. "Hello," he said. "We're going to India. We're going to see the temples. The hills. The elephants. Your aunts and uncles are getting married. And then you're going to come home. You're going to be born. You're going to be loved. You're going to be everything."
The twins kicked. Two small kicks. Two small lives. Two small hearts.
Keifer looked up. His face was wet. "They know."
Jay laughed. She was crying. She was laughing. She was everything. "They know."
He stood up. His arms were around her. "I love you."
She held him. "I love you too."
---
END OF CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX