Dimension Fracture by Corinn Heathers Page A

probably going to start crying. Mama was right, too. I really was just a big crybaby, no matter if I was twelve years old or thirty years old.
    Misaki leaned over and kissed me lightly, wiping the moisture from my eyes.
    “T-thanks, love,” I managed. I sniffled and let out a deep breath, trying to get my runaway emotions back under control. Fighting specters was generally easier than trying to stop the tears when they wanted to come.
    “Well, even if you want to have an intimate, family-only ceremony, there are still things to plan and prepare for,” Mama informed me as she sipped away at her cocktail. I could smell the pungent scent of distilled liquor in the air; she must've mixed the drink at a one-to-one ratio. No surprises there.
    My sister nodded in agreement. “What will you two wear for the ceremony?”
    “I hadn't actually thought about that. I mean, you got to use Mama's wedding dress, and Nicole had one from her family… but Misaki doesn't have a family.” I could see the eyes narrowing dangerously all around me and quickly corrected my poor choice of words. “Um, I mean, she doesn't have any family outside of us…”
    My mother rolled her eyes. “I'd advise you to close your mouth before more idiocy tumbles out, dear. Why don't you just let me take care of it? Let me have some enjoyment doing motherly tasks, other than just popping you out and then cleaning up your various messes for the past three decades.”
    I turned to my wife-to-be. “What do you think, love?”
    “If Yoshiko wants to do it, I think she should. It's very important that family be involved in these sorts of things.”
    “Okay, Mama, you win. We'll all work on this together, okay?” My gaze softened as I looked at my mother, my sister and my sister-in-law one after the other. I felt nothing but love and acceptance from all around me. My family always had its issues, some of them big enough that I recall honestly worrying if we'd even stay together, but finally we'd reached a point where those just didn't matter any longer.
    “I think it would be wonderful to have the wedding here, big sis.” My sister placed her hand on Nicole's and squeezed it lightly. “We could have the ceremony here, with just the five of us.”
    “Five and a half,” Nicole put in, patting her very round midsection. “Unless you two plan to get hitched next month, we'll have a little extra to account for.”
    “N-no, I think it'll be in January.” I blushed as I felt Misaki stir against me, her ears laying flat and forward as she knew very well what I was about to say. “It'd be nice to have it on the first year anniversary of the day we met.”
    “The day you saved my life,” Misaki corrected, “and gave me more than I'd ever dreamed possible. There simply isn't a way to properly express just how much I love you, Karin.”
    “Oh, I can give you a few suggestions…” I trailed off, whispering in her nearest ear so that no one else in the room could hear. Misaki blushed fiercely and her ears stood straight up, her tail curling tightly against her back.
    So-yi laughed. “Oh, my. Get a room, you two!”
    “I'll handle that,” Mama offered. “I don't want the two of you driving back to Seattle after all that alcohol. You're staying the night and that's final.”
    “But we have to be at the site at 1100—”
    “I don't care. You are not driving tonight, Karin dear. I'll wake the both of you up early; I usually get up around six these days. You can take a bath tonight and get up when I do. We'll have coffee together and you'll be on your way.”
    It was no use arguing with her when she was like this. “Okay, Mama.”
    “That's a good girl. Misaki, do you mind helping me with prepping the guest room? My two daughters from hell can probably manage preparing dinner.”
    Nicole stood up. “Oh, I can help also—”
    “Oh, no you don't, young lady.” My mother stopped Nicole in her tracks. “You shouldn't be doing anything strenuous with that