Chapter 99

                                    

                                          
Valerie
"Do you remember when you and Blanca used to play brides with your grandma's wedding dress as little children?" My mother swirled around me, adding last fixations to my hair and straightening the fabric of my dress. "You were adorable." 
I smiled into the mirror in front of me, gazing at my appearance. "We were the prettiest brides in whole Madrid," I answered with a chuckle, my stomach swirling with old memories. Not that I haven't been on edge the whole day. Has any woman ever been calm on her wedding day? Especially when she was marrying the absolute love of her life? 
After two months, the dress I had chosen for the big day still fit perfectly on my body, and it even hid my growing belly beneath. There wasn't much to see yet, but Charles claimed to see it getting bigger every day. Charming, he is. 
My whole family including his had been fuzzing all over me for the past weeks ever since they found out I was pregnant. Excitement was the understatement of the year, considering my mom wasn't able to stop asking if I was okay, and Carlos said he'd break truce with me if I didn't call my child after him. My dad, too. Considering they shared the same first name, it wasn't difficult to get them all under one roof. But still, another little Carlos would be a menace. And Charles and I had long chosen a name for both potential a girl and a boy. 
Blanca stood a few inches behind us, her eyes trained on her phone. She had planned the whole wedding together with Juliette, and now she was running last minute errands for the buffet and drinks. 
"Papa went insane every time he came into the living room and white and glitter were everywhere," she mumbled absentmindedly in Spanish, but with a sly smile playing on her lips.  
I stifled a small laugh, the reminder of our play times as little girls making my heart warm. Blanca and I have always been close, and we've been dreaming about our romantic day in white ever since we were children. 
I barely heard our mother through my own thoughts as she continued to chirp about how happy she is her daughter finally found love, and how she can't wait to meet her grandchild. 
"Are you feeling alright, darling?" She asked in Spanish since there was no non-native speaker around, an edge of worry driving her words. 
Even though my doctor erased all warnings and potential risks for my pregnancy, everyone who knew about my heart condition was on high alert. Carrying a child for nine months took a toll on the body, after all, and with a weak heart even more so. But the medical voice gave the go, so I wasn't concerned. 
Not as much as my mom, at least. She has been extra careful around me all my life. Which wasn't exactly a bad thing, but my heart wasn't made of thin glass. 
I squeezed her hand with mind as she put it on my shoulder. "I'm fine, Mama. Nothing to worry about." 
My other hand slipped down to my belly, ensuring myself that everything was okay. The baby was fine. *Our* baby was fine. A strong little Leclerc. 
And only in a few hours, I'd be wearing that name too. 
A gentle knock on the door was followed by a loud, familiar voice, and soon my brother peeked through the half opened door. "How's it going in here?" 
Blanca didn't look up from her screen as she murmured an answer with a wicked grin before we could. "Mama is more excited about this wedding than the bride." 
Yep, that's how we knew her. Our mother was always thrilled for every achievement of her children. If she could, she would've hosted a minimum 500 guest party for every A we brought home while attending school.
Carlos chuckled with amusement, walking around the table I was sitting on to take a proper look at me. His eyebrows went up, and a wide smile spread across his face. "You look absolutely stunning, Val." 
I grinned, my stomach pooling with warmth and contentment. 
"How's my favorite niece or nephew doing?" He asked then, putting his hands gently on my shoulder. 
"I think he or she is just as nervous as I am." 
Carlos grinned, obviously excited about his upcoming title as an uncle. We chatted for a little while longer, before he took a look at his watch and said, "Papa is waiting outside to walk you to the aisle."