Chapter 27
TWENTY-SEVEN
PEOPLE
“Ohmigod, holy shit, I’m so late!” I cried as I raced into my apartment.
And I almost ran into Knox, who had Jacques on his leash.
“Shower,” he said, catching me at my hip. “Jacques and I will take a long walk so he’s all good through the festivities. We’ll be back.”
“You’re the best,” I cried, rolling up for a kiss.
He gave me a quick one, I bent to pet Jacques, he was accepting but impatient to go out and play with his buddy.
I let them go and ran down the hall.
I nearly passed out when I saw my alarm clock.
People were arriving at 2:30 for pre-ceremony drinks and hors d’oeuvres. The wedding was starting at 3:30. All Alexis’s bridesmaids were old friends and current ballerina buds. But I was one of the greeters.
And it was 1:45, and just five minutes ago, Tod, Zach and Bill released us from setup duty.
I was sweaty, dirty, had flower pollen all over me and only forty-five minutes to get pretty.
I stripped bare in the bedroom, dashed to the bathroom and got started.
* * *
Whether it was Jacob or Mace who gave the order, I didn’t know.
What I did know was that the greeters (the Angels) who were loitering at the gates to invite people in were all accompanied by Hottie Squad members who were not there to welcome and instruct.
Yeah, the Angels’ job was to welcome guests, share about the available refreshments (Jessie’s wedding cocktail, a love potion, along with champagne or beer and non-alcoholic choices), also to help themselves to hors d’oeuvres, and requesting they think about finding their seats for the ceremony by 3:20.
The Hottie Squad were there to keep an eye out for Alexis’s father, and if they saw him, keep him out.
I discovered this when Knox hung with me during my fifteen minute shift, and I knew he wasn’t doing it because he liked my dress (but he did like my dress: a soft peach, floor-length affair with a to-the-midriff plunge V-neck bodice, no sleeves, no back (but there were a couple of string ties to keep it on my body) and a variety of pretty ruffles).
I knew by his alert manner he was there for another reason.
I didn’t deduce what it was.
He told me. “We’re keeping an eye out for Alexis’s dad.”
I was at one with this, so I let him do it and did my gig while enjoying my guy’s company until Willow and Gabe came to take over for their fifteen-minute shift.
Once relieved of duty, I took hold of my man and headed straight to one of the bars to get a love potion.
“Have you eaten?” Knox asked as we stood in line at the bar.
“I had a donut this morning.”
“Other than the donut.”
I thought on this and looked up at him. “Ohmigod, it’s a first. I lost track of eating food.”
He smiled. “You get drinks. I’ll get us hors d’oeuvres.”
“Love potion? Beer? What’s your pleasure?”
This time, he grinned. “Love potion all the way, baby.”
I took in his grin.
He walked away and I kept my eyes on him.
He seemed okay.
He told me he’d mourned his family a long time ago.
But last night was extreme.
He said it was closure.
But, worth a repeat, last night was extreme.
However, it seemed last night, especially with the BBQ tools and the visit from the Hot Bunch, actually was closure.
Joey came up to me, and her eyes were on Knox too.
“He seems to be hanging in there,” she remarked as we sidled closer to the bar when folks took off after getting their drinks.
“He found out last night that his mom left one drug guy for a more promising drug guy, has been living in the lap of luxury in Mexico for the last twenty-some years while her man built his own cartel, and only then did she make moves to bring her kids to her. The sub-context is, her daughter and Knox’s beloved sister knew all about this the whole time and never breathed a word to Knox.
And his dad kidnapped me, necessitating an extraction on the eve of one of their own having a big event. ”
“Is that your way of saying he’s not hanging in there?” Joey asked.
“He is. That’s my way of saying it’s kinda freaking me.”
Joey hooked her arm through mine and drew us forward. “He’s with his people. It’s a happy day. Look at this place.”
I looked around the place.
There were flowers everywhere. Even hanging at the junctures of bunting on the top railings and floating in the pool.
The arch Alexis and Jacob would be married under was insane.
There were seating areas with actual couches on actual rugs (Tito was holding court on a couch as we spoke, Tex was holding court on another one).
Round tables festooned with gorgeous globes of cream and yellow flowers atop slender, sparkling glass vases were dotted around.
It took an army to pull this off for Alexis and Jacob.
And on that thought, I relaxed.
Because Knox was in the middle of this.
Knox knew, when it was our time, we’d have our version of this.
But Cap and Raye would have it first. Eric and Jessie. Etcetera.
In between, there would be pool parties and meet ups at bars, impromptu barbeques in the courtyard, OSRA meetings, Martha being Martha, and all the rest that came with it.
As he’d said, this was why he wanted to live here.
It was safe.
And everywhere you turned, there was love.
Feeling a lot better, Joey shuffled us up to the bar and I ordered our cocktails.
When we got them and curved off, her eyes caught on something and she echoed, “He’s with his people.”
He was.
In his fabulous blue suit with the green shirt that did amazing things to his eyes, laden with two plates filled with hors d’oeuvres, coming our way, he was with his people.
He smiled at me.
Gorgeous.
Real.
Nothing dragging on it.
“It’s all good,” Joey whispered before she took off with a smile at Knox.
We juggled plates and glasses, and once I was sorted, I went right for a crab-stuffed mushroom.
“We better start saving, baby,” Knox stated after he swallowed a triangle of shrimp toast. “Your folks have set aside a whack for you, but this—”
He didn’t finish because there was a sharp whistle from the north gate that sounded shrill over the string quartet that was playing.
We looked that way.
Gabe was whistling, and his attention was locked on Mace.
“Fuck,” Knox bit and looked around for somewhere to dump the stuff in his hands.
“Give it here. Just pile it on, I got it.”
I spilled some love potion and a mushroom rolled off a plate, but other than that, I handled it as Knox hustled to the gate.
All the men were doing the same, including Lee and Hector, who’d stayed for the wedding (and Indy and Sadie, their wives, had come down to join them…
they were hanging with Tex on a couch—the rest of the guys in the other branches, Jacob knew, but Alexis didn’t, and they had to be careful with money, so they didn’t go gonzo with invites).
But it was only Mace who peeled off to go to Martha’s pad where the groomsmen were hanging.
Joey, Raye, Jessie, Shanti and Harlow joined me.
Gemma and Brady (oh yeah, we arranged that) were guarding the other gate.
“Sighting?” Shanti asked.
“That’s my guess.”
We all leaned to see out of the gate just in time to catch Gabe scooting Willow through and firmly closing it.
She gave us big eyes and scampered our way.
Before she got to us, Jacob was stalking toward the gate with Mace behind him.
“Alexis’s dad?” we asked when Willow made it to us.
“Yep,” Willow confirmed.
“What a douche,” Joey said.
“Yep,” Willow agreed.
“The mom come with?” Raye asked.
“Yep. She’s out there too. Both of them all dressed up and ready for a wedding.”
Knox came through the gate and looked at me.
“Can someone….?” I asked, lifting my loaded hands.
“Got it,” Raye and Jessie answered, taking the plates and glasses from me.
I scurried to Knox.
He didn’t delay when I arrived at him. “He handed Jacob a check for fifty grand, apologized and asked if they can come in. He seems genuine. But Jacob won’t allow it unless Alexis agrees. Thing is, she’s into tradition, and he hasn’t seen her since last night. So someone—”
“Got you,” I said, turned to the girls, did a “let’s go” gesture with my arm and headed to Jacob and Alexis’s apartment.
When I made it to the door, they were at my back.
I knocked.
One of her bridesmaids opened the door.
“We need to talk to Alexis. Everything is okay, but…” I dropped my voice to a whisper, “her parents are here.”
“Fuckers,” the woman said (since she’d been to a few Oasis shindigs, I’d been introduced, her name was Grace).
Good to know Alexis had good friends.
“Come in.”
She let us in.
There was serene music playing. It smelled of lilies. And I was impressed by how many empty champagne bottles were lined up on the kitchen bar and no one had passed out.
Yeesh, ballerinas could put it away.
“Lex! Your Oasis girls are here!” Grace called. “They need to talk to you.”
The two-bedroom units were danged awesome. The living room was bigger. The kitchen was bigger. There was a dining area. And the hall went off to the side where the two bedrooms, and two baths (one in the hall, one in the main bedroom) were located.
I needed to get Knox and I on a waiting list for one of them.
Alexis appeared from the hall.
We all sucked in a breath.
Plunging neckline. Full lace, but the bodice was see-through. Long sleeves. Wide skirt. Long train. Total class.
Her gown was like a slightly sexy Princess Kate dress, but more elegant.
“Oh shit, I’m gonna lose it,” I announced, tearing up.
“You’re so beautiful,” Harlow breathed.
Alexis put her arms out and looked down at herself. “You think?”
“We know.” Raye moved forward and caught her by both hands. “You’re stunning.”
“Jacob bought me this dress, but he didn’t see it. Do you think he’ll like it?” she asked Raye.
Alexis could cartwheel down the aisle in a clown suit, and Jacob would like it.
“He’s gonna lose it when he sees you,” Raye assured.
Alexis beamed.
Shit.
“Listen,” Raye said as we all gathered around. “Your parents are here.”
Alexis’s face fell.
Shit!
At this juncture, the door flew open and Martha stomped in.
Fantastic.
“I’m not giving up my job,” she announced.
“What’s going on?” another bridesmaid (their dresses were yellow and very feminine).
“The parents are here,” Grace whispered.
“Yuck,” the first one said (I hadn’t been introduced to her yet).
“They’re here?” Alexis asked Raye.
I pushed closer. “Your dad handed Jacob a check for fifty K, apologized and asked to come in.”
Alexis’s lips parted in shock.
“Like I said, I’m not giving up my job,” Martha repeated.
“You’ll do what Alexis wants,” Jessie told her.
Martha blustered.
We let her do that and turned back to Alexis.
“The guys have it covered, if you want to say no,” Raye told her. “Your choice. It’s done. However you want it.”
“Jacob sent us in to ask,” I added. “And he doesn’t want to buck tradition and see you. So we can act as go-betweens if you have something to say.”
Surprisingly, Alexis looked to Martha.
“What should I do?” she asked.
“Plant your ass twenty years from now and think about how you’d feel if you turned them away,” Martha answered instantly. Then, before Alexis could speak, she chuffed out a breath and muttered, “I’ll go let the horse’s ass in.”
“Martha?” Alexis called.
Martha turned back.
“He gets to walk me halfway. Then you, Bill and Zach take over. Can you make that happen?”
Whoa.
Were those tears in Martha’s eyes?
She nodded and ducked out before I could be sure.
“I think that’s a good decision, honey,” Harlow said.
Alexis bit her lip.
“No! Don’t! The makeup lady is gone and your lipstick is perfect!” one of the bridesmaids cried.
Two minutes later, the door opened again and Alexis’s parents came through.
The mom rushed forward, exclaiming, “Oh my beautiful girl.”
The dad stopped dead on sight of his daughter, his face went beet red, then he blew out an explosive breath and immediately started crying.
“Daddy!” Alexis exclaimed, running to him.
He engulfed her in a hug and pushed out, “I’m losing you.”
“I’m right here,” she whispered, hugging him back.
“You look beautiful,” he grunted. “And I didn’t even buy you your gown.”
“Oh, Daddy,” Alexis whimpered.
“Let’s go,” Raye whispered.
We stepped out.
“Well?” Martha, standing right outside, demanded.
Zach and Bill were with her, and I had to quickly check for weapons when I caught the expressions on their faces.
But Jacob and all the men were out there too.
And Jacob’s attention was fixed to the closed door.
“It’s good,” Raye assured. “He’s crying. They’re hugging.”
Some of the tension went out of Jacob’s broad shoulders.
Tod bustled up. “There’s a switch in the giving-away march?”
Martha flapped a hand between her and Zach and Bill. “The dad starts it. We get her halfway.”
“Quick. We have ten minutes. Practice,” Tod said breathlessly.
They took off.
Knox claimed me.
“Where’s our food and booze?” he asked.
“I lost track of it,” I admitted.
“I’ll load us up again,” he said.
“We need to start moving people to the seating area,” Harlow reminded me. “It’s time.”
“I’ll survive,” I whispered to Knox. “Let’s get this party started.”
He curled an arm around my waist, and the Angels and Hottie Squad yet again went into action.
We got everyone seated.
Knox deposited me beside Indy and Lee, Hector and Sadie.
Once that was done, it began.
Brady escorted Jacob’s aunt down the aisle. His uncle followed.
Javi escorted Alexis’s aunt. She didn’t have a hubby so that was that.
Gabe escorted one of Jacob’s grandmothers down the aisle. Shaw, the other. The grandfathers followed.
Jeff escorted one of Jacob’s sisters. Lan the other.
Cap, his mother, while his dad followed.
Roam escorted one of Alexis’ grandmas down. Knox the other. Ditto with the following of the grandfathers.
Liam escorted Alexis’s mom.
Tod was stationed at the bridal party door. Stevie at the groomsmen’s.
Once the family were seated, Tod gave the go-ahead, Stevie opened the door and the groomsmen marched out.
Then the quartet started playing Bach’s “Air on G String” and Tod opened the door to unleash the bridesmaids.
And the bride.
Since my eyes were glued to a glowing, gorgeous Alexis, it wouldn’t be until later, when I watched the wedding video, that I’d see Jacob’s reaction on first sight of the woman who would, twenty minutes from that moment, be his wife.
Though, once I’d turned around, I knew it had happened.
At seeing her, finally, I was letting my tears fall.
I wasn’t the only one. Not by a long shot.
And I was right.
Jacob lost it.
It was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen in my life.
And that day was one of the most beautiful days I’d ever lived.
So happy for Jacob and Alexis.
And so proud to be one of their people.