By My Side, page 24
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Alicia ended up planning a double wedding: One for her and Trey and Jacob and Sandra. It wasn’t easy to create a Haitian-Jamaican-Korean-American wedding but the ceremony was memorable for all the right reasons.
She finally formally met Trey’s mother, she’d seen her in the past through video chat where she’d shared about her life living as a potter in New York, but seeing the heavy set woman with punk rock hair, reminiscent of the eighties, in person was extra special.
To her relief, Trey allowed her to host the reception on his property where she’d hired a crew to erect large white tents and three different catering crews to host a variety of foods.
She’d gotten Trey to promise to heighten security to protect his private room and Liz from wandering and/or nosy guests.
At the reception, while Lavinia and Trey’s cousins surrounded Alicia and peppered her with questions about her planned honeymoon, her friend Deanna grabbed the chance to get to know Trey and Jacob better.
“I’d love to get a picture of the two grooms,” Deanna told them. She took a quick picture on her cell phone then said, “Could I get another with you two back to back? Yes, good and how about one with Trey’s arm around Jacob’s shoulder and Jacob looking back at Trey—”
Alicia jumped in front of her friend, having escaped her other guests. “That’s enough.” She turned to Jacob and Trey. “For the rest of the evening ignore her.”
Trey furrowed his brows. “But she was just—”
“I mean it. Ignore her.” Alicia took Deanna’s arm and dragged her away, briefly waving at Maya and her lanky, shaggy haired new boyfriend, Lawrence. When they were far enough away, Alicia stopped and turned to her friend. “Behave.”
Deanna gazed down in awe at the picture she’d taken of the two men. “I couldn’t help myself. They’re gorgeous. Together they’re so beautiful. Do you think you could get Jacob to rest his head on Trey’s shoulder?”
She looked at Trey who was smiling at something Sandra was saying to Jacob. Jacob sent Trey a pained expression before the two men laughed. Jacob looked jubilant and carefree; Trey coolly content. The bonds of their friendship stronger than ever. “No.”
Deanna made a face. “No wonder you kept them to yourself all this time. Your descriptions of them didn’t even tell half the story. I mean Trey is—”
“Careful, you’re talking about my husband now.”
“Trey may be your husband but Tristan and Jace are my creations. My fans will love them and I just got a great idea.” Deanna dashed into a corner and started typing on her cell phone.
Carl approached Alicia with a smile. “Congratulations. I didn’t see this wedding coming.”
Alicia narrowed her eyes. “Somehow I don’t believe you.”
He laughed. “That’s fine by me.”
“I really do love your son.”
“I always knew that. I just needed to see how much.”
With Trey’s help Alicia had also seen a lot more about herself. She hadn’t needed to quit her job. Instead she’d found a way to make it suit her. By using Trey’s pros and cons chart, she learned she enjoyed coming up with ideas and working with the different departments, but hated going to the office every day and the endless meetings.
So his solution was to have her work from home. She managed to convince her family that she could be just as productive working in a home office. She also let them know she wanted to work as a consultant on a project by project basis—that would allow her the freedom to try different things. She also let them know she had no intention of running the company one day, but would happily support whoever did.
Her parents had reluctantly agreed.
Trey walked over to Carl and Alicia, his gaze suspicious. “What are you two talking about?”
Carl patted him on the back. “Relax, we’re all family now. I can’t scare Alicia away.”
“No,” Alicia said turning to Trey with a happy grin. “Nothing can scare me now.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and gazed at him with eyes of love. “I am so happy.” She never wanted him to feel uncertain again. He was her rock, she’d be the same for him. “You never have to fear losing me,” she said with a kiss. “I plan to stay by your side. For now. For always.”
About the Author
Dara Girard, an award-winning, national bestselling author of more than forty novels, from romance to suspense, loves telling stories.
Born in the US to immigrant parents, Dara enjoys pulling from her Jamaican, British, Nigerian heritage and exposure to various cultures to bring what reviewers and fans call “vivid emotional stories” to life. She is best known for her popular Henson Series, the mysterious Clifton Sisters, and the fun Black Stockings Society.
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Visit her website to sign up for her newsletter and get sneak peeks, monthly updates on new releases, and special offers.
For more information visit
www.daragirard.com
Also Available
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Always and Forever
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The Fortune Brothers
A Tempting Proposal
A Seductive Arrangement
An Unforgettable Moment
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The Clifton Sisters
The Sapphire Pendant
The Amber Stone
The Emerald Ring
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The Black Stockings Society
Power Play
A Gentleman’s Offer
Body Chemistry
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Return of the Black Stockings Society
Playing for Keeps
After Hours
A Private Affair
Return of the Black Stockings Society 3 Book Bundle
Just One Look
Private Lessons
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Duvall Sisters
The Glass Slipper Project
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The Henson Series
Table for Two
Gaining Interest
Careless Rapture
Dangerous Curves
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The Henson Brothers (Includes the novels Table for Two and Gaining Interest)
Out of the Past (Includes the novels Careless Rapture and Familiar Stranger)
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Discover these books and more at www.iloripressbooks.com
Copyright Information
By My Side
Copyright © 2021 Sade Odubiyi
Published by ILORI Press Books
Cover and Layout Copyright © 2021 ILORI Press Books
Cover design by ILORI Press Books
Cover Image Copyright © sandralise/depositphotos
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, business establishments, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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The scanning, uploading, and distributing of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the copyright owner is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
Dara Girard, By My Side
