Chapter 77

Ace

I can’t believe I get to see my little girl walk down the aisle. The ceremony will be starting soon and I’m sitting up front with the rest of my brothers and sisters that weren’t involved with the ceremony. I’ll admit I’m excited to see Ailee. I wanted to go to the bridal room to talk to her and check on her but Merigold wouldn’t let me in saying it was girls only and I would have to wait. I wasn’t happy about that but I saw her do the same to Axel when he tried to see Merigold so I let it go.

I was sitting bouncing my leg and looking at all the decorations to keep my mind busy when Cormac came over to me. “ Ace, I would like a word, please.” he said. I wasn’t sure what he could possibly want with me right now but I was going to indulge him. I got up and followed him to the foyer. Once the door was closed Cormac said “ Ace as you know I will be walking Ailee down the aisle.” I nod because thai is nothing new. Was there a part of me that wished it was me? Yes. But he has been with Ailee her whole life. He helped her become the remarkable young woman she is so it is only right he gets to do it.

“ You are her father. I know you not being there for her was not your choice. No matter how many times I tried to get Mara to find you she was convinced she was doing the right thing by keeping Ailee away. But as one father to another I know I would have wanted to know.” Cormac said. “ I would have too. No matter what I said when I was younger. I would have been thrilled to watch Ailee grow up.” I said. “ I figured that. But my daughter was stubborn and it wasn’t my place to step in. But I am now. I know Ailee wants you with her today but I’m sure she felt like she might be disrespecting me. So I am going to ask you to walk Ailee with me. It is what she would want and I know in my heart Mara would want it as well.”

Wow, I didn’t expect him to say that. “ I don’t know what to say. I would be honored to escort Ailee with you.” Cormac claps me on the shoulder “ Good. Now get ready. The girls will be coming any minute.” And he was right. I heard a door open down the hall and the girls came spilling out. Ailee had chosen to do a fall thing since Lug and Ailee loved the changing of the leaves. So the girls were dressed to represent that. Gretchen came out first. She had on a red orange floor length dress. Next Lilly comes out in a lighter shade of red orange. The little ones followed Lilly. Kadance and Kassidy were pulling a little wagon decorated with fall leaves and little Katrina sitting inside. Alana was walking behind them. All four were wearing various shades of yellow. And looking absolutely adorable.

As much as I adore my great nieces and great nieces, my eyes focused on the beauty coming down the hall. My baby girl Ailee. Anna and Merigold were behind her helping with her incredibly long train. That thing has to be four feet long and nothing but lace and rhinestones. Anna was wearing a cream colored floor length gown that she called her grandmother of the bride’s gown. Simple to not outshine the bride but elegant. Merigold, as Ailee’s maid of honor, was wearing a floor length milk chocolate colored gown.

The wedding coordinator got everyone lined up just as the music started. The little ones went first followed by Gretchen, Lilly and Merigold. The coordinator shut the door and it was just Ailee, Anna, Cormac and me. Cormac goes to stand beside Ailee while I marvel at her. I approach her and grab her hands “ Ailee, sweetheart you look incredible.Like an angel.” Ailee smiles and wipes a tear. “ Thank you da. That means a lot. But shouldn’t you be sitting down? We are just about to start.”

“ About that Ailee. I have asked Ace to walk you down the aisle with me. He is your da and he deserves this as much as you do.” Cormac said. Ailee looks at Cormac and her jaw drops as well as the tears. “ Really. You would do this for me?” Ailee asks. Anna and Cormac help wipe Ailee’s tears. “ Aye, for you I would do anything. Including sharing you with your da on your special day.” Cormac says.

Ailee wraps her arms around him and squeezes. “ Thank you,grandda.” she whimpers. Ailee steps back and turns to me hugging me “ Thank you da. So much.” “ The honor is mine. I didn’t think this would be possible. Thank you for being my daughter.” I said. Anna steps in “ Enough with the mushyness. We have a nervous groom in there waiting for his bride. Let’s get this show on the road.” I couldn’t agree more.Cormac stands on Ailee’s left and I’m on her right. She hooks her hands in the bend of our elbows just as the doors open. The music starts and we move. I’m taking my daughter to her future. A future I get to be part of. I’m a lucky proud father.