Our Little Wedding (The Spencer Brooks Diaries #3)

Spencer

“ Brooks is getting remarried. Never thought I’d live to see the day,” my older brother, Mike, said as Ainsley and I approached him and his wife, Trina.

“Hey, Trina, Mike. Enjoying yourselves?”

“Yes, everything is wonderful. The food is fantastic, and these little appetizers are amazing,” Trina said, holding up one of my favourites, Cranberry Pecan Goat Cheese Truffles. “You did a fantastic job organizing everything, Ainsley. And this dress… is just gorgeous on you.”

Trina and Mike had met through Finding Forever. They’d been the first successful match that ’s company had, and Mike had been the reason had started the company.

“Thanks.” Ainsley smiled and leaned into my side as I looked around the room. Everyone seemed to have a good time, but a huge part of me felt tense. As I skimmed the room, I noticed Carly staring over at us as she talked to her date. Whatever she said caused him and another one of Ainsley’s other friends to turn our way and watch us as well, whispering to one another.

I was about to turn back to the conversation with my brother when I noticed Jon and Jane standing off to the side. They both held a glass of wine, talking amongst themselves, neither looking thrilled. Carly moved over to them and whispered something. Both Jon and Jane laughed, then they both looked over in our direction with an odd expression.

I felt as if I were becoming paranoid, as I never usually cared about what people thought, but after hearing Carly talking to Ainsley about our age difference the other day, and trying to give her reasons that we shouldn’t get married, I worried she was now having second thoughts and had said something to someone, which was why we were getting all the looks. I searched my mind, trying to remember if she’d given me any sign of that, but she hadn’t.

I glanced over toward where I’d last seen Nikki playing with some other children, but she wasn’t there. Panic filled me for a moment as I searched the crowd until I spotted her with Brittany, pulling on the bottom of her dress to get her attention. Brittany ignored her because she was glaring at us from across the room. I knew the look on her face well, and it clearly wasn’t one of happiness, although that would be a look I wouldn’t recognize anymore, anyway. I hadn’t wanted her here, but she’d insisted on bringing Nikki instead of just allowing us to have her for the night.

“Ainsley, how’s things going for you at ’s office?” Mike asked.

I felt Ainsley grip my side a little tighter, and I turned my attention back to the conversation. “Things are going well. I’m enjoying my position very much.”

“Good. My brother is treating you well then? I’ve heard he can be a hard man to work for.”

“Mike, stop it,” Trina said, jabbing his side.

“She knows I’m kidding. Don’t you?” Mike said, winking.

Ainsley smiled and rested her head on my shoulder as the four of us laughed. I glanced around the room one more time, looking for our younger brother. “Mike, have you seen Max yet?” I questioned.

My brother shook his head. “Not yet. I didn’t even hear from him to know if he was coming or not. I called, but there was no answer. It’s just like Max, wrapped up in his own affairs all the time. Been that way his entire life.”

I chuckled. “Yep, neither did we. Guess that is the thanks I get for giving him the Denver branch of Finding Forever to run.” I shrugged.

Handing over the Denver branch to my brother had been a hard decision for me. After all, I’d built this company, with no help from anyone. I’d originally planned to spend half my time in Denver and the other half here, until I’d found out about the pregnancy. I wasn’t comfortable leaving Ainsley alone now, after we spent a few nights talking about it, and even though she told me that whatever I decided, she’d support, I knew I didn’t want to be far from here. I looked at other options. There were many, but I knew Max needed some help. I just didn’t want to end up regretting the decision.

“Give him a chance. Perhaps something came up last minute at work?”

“That would be hard to believe. The soft launch is next week. Right now, it’s basically employee training week. If something has come up already, we may be in trouble.” I swallowed hard. I wasn’t that much of a control freak, but Max also didn’t have the best track record, and giving him some control over this made me nervous.

“So, how are the plans coming for the wedding?” Trina questioned. “Do we have a venue yet?”

I wrapped my arm around Ainsley tighter, waiting for her to answer.

“Good. We are still waiting to hear from the venues, and I am currently trying to set things up with a couple of caterers and, of course, bakers for the cake. This week is a big week though. I am going shopping for a wedding dress,” Ainsley whispered, like it was a secret.

“Very exciting. If you’d like, I will send you a list of stores to check out.”

“Oh, please,” Ainsley said, smiling up at me. “It would help me a lot.”

“I will. Why don’t you call me this weekend and I’ll give you a list.”

“Thank you, I will do that. I am looking for a certain dress, and I’m hoping one store here will carry the designer I am looking for.”

“Send me the designer and I will see what I can find out.”

“All right, Ainsley, we should get moving. We have many more people to talk to before the night is over. Can we catch up with you in a little while?” I asked.

“Sure thing, and if I see Max, I’ll let him know you are looking for him.”

Mike shook my hand, while Ainsley hugged Trina. Then we quickly switched before making our way to the next couple.

Ainsley was lounging on the couch in one of my T-shirts when I came into the living room carrying a glass of water for her and a scotch on the rocks for me. I was looking forward to relaxing with her. We finally had the house to ourselves for the weekend.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you. God, I really wish I could have a glass of wine,” She muttered, resting her head on a pillow.

“Everything okay?” I questioned, sitting down beside her and pulling her bare foot into my lap, giving her a gentle massage.

She let out a breath and closed her eyes, relaxing farther into the couch. “I don’t know. Tonight just didn’t feel as fun as I thought it would. It seemed like everyone was staring and whispering. To be honest, all I felt was tension.”

“I know what you mean. At one point, I thought it was just my imagination, but I got that feeling as well. Also, I am certain, at one point, I heard Carly whisper to one of your mutual friends something about ‘wrinkled old balls,’” I said, taking a sip of my scotch and placing the glass back down.

She giggled. “I’m sorry. She’s still so hung up on the age difference. It’s not a secret that she has never really approved of us. To be honest, I think she was more shocked when I found out I was pregnant than I was.”

We both grew quiet as I continued rubbing her foot, digging into all the places I knew she loved. My mind was still reeling from the ball comment, and I hoped Ainsley didn’t feel that way. The more I tried to put it out of my mind, the more it kept gnawing at me. “Ainsley?”

“Hmmm?” She opened her sleepy eyes and looked at me.

“Do you think that?” I questioned.

“Think what?”

“That my balls are old and wrinkled?” I asked, trying my best to keep a straight face.

Ainsley was serious for a moment, and then she burst into laughter. “I’m sorry… I can’t answer that.”

I laughed as well, but not because it was funny; it was more because I was relieved to see her expression change. “Sorry, I couldn’t help that. After hearing you and her talk the other night, I was worried that perhaps she was convincing you to leave, to find someone younger.”

“It’s okay. Never worry, I will always love your balls.”

“I’m glad.” I chuckled.

“Seriously though, , a younger man couldn’t even hold a candle to you. I see how these guys treat Carly, and to be honest, I think I’d lose my mind. It’s all games with them, and when she’s told me about the sex, well…”

“What does she say?”

“That none of them last and that most of them are more concerned with getting themselves off and not worrying about her.”

“Ah, yes, well, that comes with age and maturity. As for lasting, well, there are times I can barely hold it together with you.”

“Oh.” Her cheeks flushed, “It was nice to see Mike and Trina there. They seemed to really be happy for us.” She said, changing the subject.

“Yes, Mike was thrilled when I told him, albeit a little surprised, but only because he never thought I’d marry again after Brittany.”

“Can’t say I blame you there. Did you see the way she was glaring at us tonight?”

“How could I not? I also couldn’t help but notice how she was ignoring Nikki as well. I really didn’t want her to go home with her tonight, but it is her turn to have her. Besides, I think we could both use some alone time.”

“I know. At one point, Nikki came to me to take her to the bathroom. I was worried Brittany might follow us into the bathroom and bitch me out, but when we came back out, I found her flirting with Paul, head of tech support. I don’t even thing she noticed Nikki had come to me.”

“If that ever happens again, you need to come and get me right away. She will not ignore the needs of my daughter to satisfy her own. I’ve been fighting her on that for years.”

Ainsley nodded and then rested her head back against the pillow as I continued rubbing her foot, then switching to the other one. “You might want to warn poor Paul, too.”

“Noted.”

“Can I talk to you about something?” Ainsley whispered, placing her hand on my forearm.

“Of course. What is it?”

Ainsley blew out a breath before beginning. “The other day, while I was in putting Nikki’s clothes away, I realized we don’t have a separate bedroom for the baby. So, Nikki will have to share her room when she is here.”

“You know, I was thinking the same thing myself. I was planning to bring this up to you later in the week. What would you say to finding a place of our own?”

“What do you mean?” Ainsley questioned. “This one is our own.”

“No, this place isn’t one we chose together. This is the house I chose after my divorce. I needed a place to live, and I needed to have room for Nikki so I could bring her here on my weekends. We are clearly going to outgrow this place, and I thought it might be nice to find a place that we can build together.”

Ainsley nodded. “Where would we look?”

“Well, on my way home the other night, I drove through a neighborhood close to here, just a few blocks over. The houses are bigger, which means we’d have another bedroom or two. Plus, if we plan it right from the start, perhaps I could also fit an office in. That way I can work from home if need be and help you when the baby comes.”

I watched as she thought for a moment. “Were there any houses for sale?”

“There were a couple that I saw. I can make an appointment with an agent to see them. See if we like any of them. There is no harm in looking.”

I watched her eyes light up while the idea I’d planted floated through her mind. I wanted her to have everything she wanted, things I knew were important to her. Over the last few weeks, she asked me if it was okay if she made some subtle changes around the house. I kept telling her she didn’t need my permission, but she still came to me. I knew she’d never come out and say she wanted a place she could make her own, but I knew it was on her mind.

“Don’t be afraid to tell me how you feel, Ainsley.”

She shrugged. “It might be nice to have someplace we can call our own. I know that eventually I won’t think of this as just your place, though. It’s just going to take me some time.”

“I’ll call the agent this week and set something up.” I smiled, picking up my drink and taking a sip. Ainsley smiled and then closed her eyes while I continued rubbing her feet, and she sank farther into the couch cushions as she relaxed. I grabbed the remote and turned the radio on, soft jazz music floating through the air.

I loved these quiet times with her. There was something about being with her that brought out a fire in my soul. She had made me feel alive when, most of these past few years, I felt dead inside.