Ch. 140 - The Gown

Now that the twins birthday was over, Eliza could finally concentrate on her upcoming wedding. She called for the limo, picked up Jasmine, and headed to the new bridal boutique in town, P's Bridal.



"Oh look Mom. Don't you think Gordon would like this shirt?"

"Eliza, stay on track sweetie. If we don't find a gown today, you're going to be walking down the aisle in your jeans."

"Right."

Half an hour later, Eliza had picked out three gowns to try on.



"Oh Eliza, you look so beautiful!"

"Thank you Mom. I don't know though. I think this one shows too much skin for me."

A few minutes later, Eliza appeared in another gown.



"I like that one better", offered Jasmine.

"I do too, but I have one more to try one before I decide."



"Wow. That's my favorite one Eliza"

"I like this one a lot too. Ok, I have one more thing to try on."

"I thought that was your last gown?"

"It is", Eliza wiggled her eyebrows slightly, then walked back into the dressing room.



"Eliza! You're not going to walk down the aisle in that I hope!" Jasmine giggled at the thought.

"No Mom. This is for the wedding night. Do you think Gordon will like it?"

"Honey, if Gordon doesn't like that, then I'd have to say that he married the wrong gender."

Jasmine and Eliza laughed together, then Eliza went back into the dressing room. As she changed she thought about her upcoming wedding. In just two weeks, she was going to be Mrs. Gordon Knight.

Finally. I have what I wanted out of life. I'm finally happy. She giggled out loud, causing Jasmine to come to the door of the dressing room.

"You ok in there?"

"Perfectly ... perfect!"

On her way out of the dressing room, one of the store's owners came up to Eliza to introduce herself.



"Eliza Ridgeway right?"

"Yes."

"Hello Miss Ridgeway. I'm Pepper Stone, co-owner of P's Bridal. It's an honor to have you in our shop."

"Thank you."

"I trust our sales staff were helpful and that you found everything you needed?"

"Yes, I left the one I wanted in the dressing room, along with some lingerie."

"Perfect. I'll have someone ring it up for you immediately." Pepper snapped her fingers, causing a sales clerk to rush into the dressing room and grab Eliza's items.



"Is there anything else we can do for you Miss Ridgeway?"

"Actually yes. I need someone who can throw a wedding together in 2 weeks."

"I know just the person - my sister, Piper" The store owner pulled a card out of seemingly nowhere and handed it to Eliza. "Give her a call. Sister or not, she is simply the best in the business."

"Thank you Miss Stone."

"It's my pleasure"



A moment later, Eliza and Jasmine were on their way out with the gown, the lingerie and some other little goodies in tow. Just short of the door however, Eliza would stop short after spotting a woman walk in the store.

Jasmine took the bag and nudged Eliza. "Go talk to her. I'll be right here if you need me".



"Hi Sage."



"Eliza. Fancy seeing you here"

"What are you doing here Sage?"

"I came to get some makeup. I'd ask you the same question, but I'm assuming your getting ready for your big wedding."

Eliza nodded, and tried to think of what to say next.

"Sage I..." She took a deep breath, then changed her mind on what she was going to say. "How are you doing?"



"I'm ok Eliza. Nita keeps me pretty busy. Well that, and work."

"That's good."

They stood still and silent for a moment before Sage decided to put everything on the table.

"Eliza, I knew when I married Merc that he still loved you. Heck, I knew he loved you back in college. It was stupid of me to marry him, but I thought I could help him forget about you. I thought he loved me enough..." Her voice trailed off.

"Sage, please don't. This is all my fault. I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. It helped me open my eyes. Our marriage just wasn't strong enough Eliza."

"What are you saying Sage? Did you leave him?"

"Eliza, don't you know? Merc is gone. He left the country."

Eliza felt like a knife had been jabbed deep into her gut. Merc is gone?



"Yeah he actually expected me to just pick up and drag little Nita along with him, but I told him to go by himself. He dug this hole on his own. I wasn't giving up my father and my little brother and sister to run off to hide in some dark castle, when I know he only wanted to be here with...". Sage stopped herself before she said anything she would regret to her cousin.

"Sage, I don't understand."

"Well don't let it keep you up at night. He has a lot of growing up to do, and you are much better off with Gordon."



Sage reached out and hugged her cousin.

"It's so good to see you Eliza. I miss you so much."

"Sage, would you like to come to the wedding?"

"Would I ever! I'll be there with bells on!"

As Eliza climbed into the limo, she was going through a wide range of emotions. She was still high on the fact that her wedding to Gordon was so close, and now it was going to be even better because Sage would be there. She was also feeling a sense of relief. Merc was gone. And although a part of her would always miss him, she was glad that he was far enough away that he wouldn't be strolling back into her's or Aramis's life again.

While Eliza was feeling her sense of relief, a man sat alone in a castle, thousands of miles away...



I know Eliza still loves me. Why is she marrying this Knight guy anyway?

I have to stop that wedding.

Ch. 139 - The Twins Birthday

It was a big day for Eliza and her family. The twins were having their 5th birthday today.



"Happy Birthday buddy. You want to go have some cake?"

"Carwy me Daddy!"

Daddy? He called me Daddy. Gordon hugged Kyle and rocked him gently, then took him into the kitchen where Eliza, Keely, Jasmine and Christopher were already waiting.

Gordon looked up at Eliza, who was holding Keely over her own cake.

"Ready Eliza?"

"I'm ready Gordon."

The family sang "Happy Birthday to you", as the twins swayed back and forth in delight and excitement.


"Ok Kyle. Now make your wish and blow the candles out."

"I wish that Gordon was weally my Daddy!" *sound of Kyle blowing on candles*


"Me too!" *sound of Keely blowing on candles*

Eliza looked up at Gordon. "I think that's a wish we could make come true", she said softly - her eyes locked onto Gordon's.


"Hey you two" said Christopher "snap out of it. You're going to miss the twins growing up."

The twins were cheered on by their parents and grandparents, as they took their magical spin into childhood.

And here they are now. First the back-up heir, Miss Keely Ridgeway.


And heir to the Ridgeway fortune, Mr. Kyle Ridgeway.



THE GOWN ->