Chapter 252

A small group gathered in the cemetery near Nikolas and Eliza’s home that Saturday for Nikolas’s funeral. We created a singular line encircling the open grave, with the Priestess of the Moon standing behind the tombstone. Noah and I stood at the foot of the grave, staring directly into the gaping hole.

“Brothers and sisters,” the Priestess began, “we are gathered here today to put to rest our most honorable Brother, Nikolas Vanderbilt. Nikolas was known to many of us as an eccentric fellow but a fine dressmaker…”

As the Priestess continued her eulogy, I looked into the hole that would be Nikolas’s forever home. I wondered if it would be suffocating down there in the afterlife. I wondered if the Moon Goddess could really find you and bring you home to her queendom no matter what happened to your body.

I was shaken from my thoughts by the clearing of a throat.

Andrew.

He stood on beside Princess Aurora, who had chosen to stand to Noah’s right. Why they had decided to take spots so close to us, I would never know. It made it difficult to keep my attention on the funeral service.

As I glanced over at Andrew, I noticed that I was not the only one having a hard time focusing on the funeral. Andrew’s eyes had wandered my way, making their way up my body ever so subtly. The moment that our eyes met, we both averted our gazes.

I returned my attention to the tombstone. Eliza now stood where the Priestess had been.

“Thank you all for coming here,” she said. “I know that it would have meant a lot to Nikolas, knowing that you all cared enough to come out for him. He might not have always showed it, but Nikolas cared about his friends and family more than anything…”

I took another glance in Andrew’s direction. My heart raced at how handsome he looked in his black three-piece suit and matching tie. I felt compelled to run my fingers through his silky hair and to bring those luscious lips onto mine.

My eyes fell to my feet before anyone—especially Noah or Princess Aurora—could catch me looking at Andrew. I shook my head to banish the sinful thoughts from my head. I was at a funeral for a good friend, for crying out loud; I should not have been fantasizing about making out with my ex-boyfriend.

I forced myself to think about Nikolas. I thought about the first time that I met him, how he wanted nothing to do with me. I thought about how hard I had to work to win him over, how I had discovered that his own sons were abusing and using him, how close we had gotten over the months, how much like a crazy uncle he had become for me…

Tears streamed down my cheeks and met at the bottom of my face, cascading to the grass below me. I sniffled and sobbed, but I did not bother to wipe away the tears. I was suddenly glad for my decision to not wear mascara.

Noah wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his chest. I looked up long enough to spot Andrew eyeing me before I buried my face in Noah’s shoulder.

“If anyone else has any words that they would like to say about Nikolas Vanderbilt,” the Priestess announced, “Eliza and I want to invite them to do so now.”

A minute passed without anyone stepping forward.

Then I felt something inside of me, like a tugging, that pulled me out of Noah’s arms and towards the tombstone. Everyone remained quiet as a church mouse as I made my way forward, but I could feel all their eyes on me. Eliza and the Priestess smiled encouragingly at me before they stepped aside to give me room.

“I didn’t know Nikolas very long,” I began, “but he was one of the most…unique individuals I have ever met.”

Everyone chuckled at that.

“He was also one of the most special. He helped me during a time when I thought that no one was going to lend me a hand, and he was there for me through thick and thin. And if you know me, you’ll know that I’ve had some thick times these last few months.”

Again, more chuckles. It felt good to make so many sad people laugh.

“I will never forget everything that he has done for me, in business and as a friend.”

I touched Nikolas’s tombstone and ran my hand gently across it.

“You will be missed, Nikolas Vanderbilt.”

As I walked back towards Noah, I allowed myself to look at Andrew. He was staring straight back at me. He met my eyes and smiled, and for a brief moment, I smiled as well.

When the funeral service came to a close, Andrew looked as though he were about to approach me. Before he could, Eliza found me and insisted that I come over to her and Nikolas’s house. I couldn’t turn down the widow, so I obediently went in her car and had Noah follow us in the Honda Civic.

“That was such a beautiful tribute that you paid to Nikolas,” Eliza said as we headed into the house. Tears glistened in her eyes. “I know that he would have loved it.”

I tried to hold back my own tears, for Eliza’s sake.

“Thank you. I just felt like I needed to say something about him.”

I lowered my head and wiped away a tear.

“I can’t believe he’s gone.”

Eliza patted me on the hand.

“I know, darling. Me either.”

She sighed and looked around the house.

“I had just gotten used to having someone else living here.” She bent down and petted Donner on the head. “I guess it’s just you and me again, Donner.”

Donner wagged his tail, but it was not as enthusiastic as usual. He sniffed at Noah—as is his duty—but he did not jump on him or any of his other playful habits. It was as though he, too, knew that Nikolas was gone and would not be coming back.

Eliza sighed and shook herself out of her thoughts.

“Come, Crystal, I have something to show you.” She turned to Noah. “You should probably stay here and play with Donner.”

Noah looked down at Donner, his eyes wide.

“Don’t worry. He won’t bite,” Eliza said, “as long as you behave.”

Before Noah could respond, Eliza grabbed me by the arm and led me down to the basement.

We weaved our way through the maze of dresses that Nikolas had constructed down there since losing his factory. They were in varying stages of completion, causing my heart to sink—so many dresses that Nikolas would never get to finish.

We came to a halt at the northwest corner of the basement. There, I saw the most beautiful wedding dress that I had ever seen.

Made of silk and lace, the dress had a long skirt, a scooping back, and a sweetheart neckline with no sleeves. Crystals decorated the bodice in swirling patterns and sprinkled the lace of the skirt like the stars in the night sky. With the dress were a 9-foot wedding veil and elbow-length gloves.

“This was the last dress that Nikolas ever made,” Eliza said, momentarily choking on her tears.

“It’s beautiful,” I replied, resisting the urge to reach out and touch it. “Who’s it for?”

“For you.”

My mouth dropped open as I turned to Eliza. Eliza grinned broadly at me, but her eyes shined with unshed tears.

“It’s…but…I never asked him to…”

“He wanted to, Crystal.”

Eliza grabbed both my hands in hers and gripped me more tightly than I would have thought possible for someone her age.

“I think that he knew that something was going to happen to him and that he wanted to be sure that you had a dress made by him, just in case.”

She looked down at my engagement ring.

“So that you could marry whenever—and whoever—you wanted to and still have a piece of him with you.”

My heart burst.

I wrapped my arms tightly around Eliza and held her close. I buried my face in the crook of her neck and let my tears flow freely. She put her arms around me, and I could hear her crying as well.

“Thank you, Eliza,” I wept. “Thank you.”