33. Ford
33
Ford
I ’ve never been more glad to be a man when I heard that all the others in the bridal party were arriving at 7 a.m. to get their hair and makeup done for the day’s festivities. While I offered to be there in solidarity, I was assured it would be boring and that I should just arrive at ten to get dressed and take pictures before the wedding starts at noon.
I suppose one good thing about arriving early is the fact that I don’t have to park too far away, since even now I have to park more than a few houses down the road. Given how beloved Ronnie and the rest of the Prescott family are, I’m sure this place is going to be packed in a few short hours, with most everyone in town in attendance.
After parking, I make my way to the front door, where I’m greeted by Martha, Ronnie’s mother. “Oh, my goodness! If it isn’t Ford Hastings.” She smiles, enveloping me in a warm hug. “You look amazing. Ronnie is going to be so pleased,” she adds with motherly affection as she places a hand on my chest, her fingers lightly grazing over my baby-blue tie. Ronnie’s parents have not only always been kind and generous, but they have always treated both Blair and me as if we were their own children.
“Thanks, Mrs. Prescott.” Despite her comfy pink sweats that say “Mother of the Bride” on the front, and the fact that only her hair and makeup have already been done, she looks beyond stunning. “You look pretty amazing yourself,” I assure her.
You know that joke about a mother looking like a sister? Well, in this case, it’s actually true. Martha’s beauty has always been undeniable, and it’s evident that this is exactly who Ronnie inherited her good looks from.
“Oh, stop,” she says, a blush creeping up her cheeks as she dismisses my compliment with a small wave. “But I better not keep you. Just head upstairs to Ronnie’s old room. That’s where all the bridal party is gathered,” she explains as I nod my head.
Sending me off with another wave, I head up the tall staircase and make the usual trek to Ronnie’s childhood bedroom. Wanting to make sure that everyone is ready and decent, I knock first.
“Who is it?” Gemma’s voice calls, before opening the door just a tiny bit as she peeks her head through.
“It’s Ford,” I say, as she finally opens it to let me inside.
“Aw, Ford. You look so great,” she coos.
“Thanks,” I say, glancing down at the grey suit that had been picked out for me. Even though I’m on the bride’s side of the wedding party, it was decided that I would wear the same suits as the groomsmen—a light grey suit, a baby-blue tie, and some brown Oxford dress shoes.
“You look great yourself,” I say, gesturing toward the stunning dusty-blue dress that I’d already gotten a small glimpse of on Blair when she’d tried it on at the bridal shop. I mean it too. She looks incredible, but as my eyes wander around the room and I catch sight of Blair standing in front of a full-size mirror, I’m left utterly speechless. Fuck, she’s unbelievably breathtaking—and somehow she’s all mine.
There hasn’t been a single day in my entire life when I didn’t find her beautiful, but now, with her hair and makeup done, I’m utterly mesmerized as I admire her from behind. The dress hugs every single curve perfectly, and the way her wavy blonde hair falls down her shoulders and back is captivating, especially as the hair that’s been used to pull some of it back is styled in a braid of sorts.
“You should probably close that mouth of yours, Hastings,” Gemma jokes, tapping on the bottom of my stubbled jaw as I comply. Without realizing it, I’ve become one of those ridiculous comic strip characters with my jaw literally dropping toward the floor, but how can I not? I’m in complete and utter awe of this woman.
As Blair’s eyes meet mine in the mirror, I try my hardest not to relive that moment from the dress shop, especially as her face lights up with the most enchanting smile imaginable.
She turns around before we both walk toward each other, meeting halfway. “Looking pretty dapper there, bud,” she compliments, her hands lightly pressing against my chest as she sweeps them downward in a smoothing motion.
“Blair, you…you’re so goddamn beautiful,” I gush. Not the most eloquent reply, but the correct words seemingly elude me as I’m left in awe, completely captivated by her mesmerizing beauty. It’s a complete mystery why this woman has chosen to fall in love with a guy like me, but I’m not about to question it. At this point, my only course of action is to treat her with the love and respect she deserves, with the hope that maybe someday she’ll feel equally as fortunate as I do.
Her cheeks flush as she averts her gaze downward. “Thanks,” she manages, just as the door bursts open and the true woman of the hour walks in.
While it’s clear I only have eyes for Blair, there’s no denying that Ronnie makes a breathtakingly beautiful bride. Like Blair, I had seen her dress before when she got her last fitting done at the dress shop. Not to mention that I’d been dragged along to all the different places as she tried on dress after dress, and while I’d seen others that felt more fitting of her personality, when she’d said this was the one she wanted, I wasn’t about to fight her on it.
Like Blair, the dress and the beauty of the bride are only magnified by the fact that her short chestnut brown hair is curled just right with little white flowers woven into the strands that have been pulled back. Her natural beauty has always been striking, but the makeup she’s wearing now somehow makes her brown eyes and lips even more eye-catching.
However, it doesn’t take long to realize that something is amiss as her eyes stand wide and alert in pure panic.
“Ronnie,” Blair says, taking charge as she rushes toward our friend, pulling her inside, making sure to shut the door behind her. “What’s wrong? What’s going on?”
Worry takes over as I too rush over. Did Pete call off the wedding? I may have punched a guy recently, but I’m far from being a violent person. However, if that asshole did anything to hurt Ronnie, I’d unleash those punches again without hesitation—even if my hand is still a little sore from the last time.
“Gemma, Maeve,” she finally says, looking toward her other bridesmaids. “Can you give Blair, Ford, and I a minute?” she asks.
We clearly aren’t the only ones worried, and likely thinking the worst, as Gemma and Maeve exchange concerned glances, but instead of fighting her on this, they nod their heads in unison.
“Yeah, of course, sweetheart,” Maeve agrees. “Just let us know if you need anything,” she says, reaching out and giving Ronnie’s hand a small squeeze before she and Gemma exit the room.
“What’s going on? You’re worrying me,” Blair pleads the second the door is closed.
“I don’t know,” Ronnie says, her breath coming in short, rapid gasps, her panic escalating. “I just—I was thinking about our conversation last night,” she explains as I glance over at Blair for some hopeful insight on what in the hell is going on. “What if I’m making a huge mistake?”
“Oh, honey,” Blair begins, pulling Ronnie’s hand as she leads her to take a seat on the bed where I join them. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you worry. I mean, I know I said that I was concerned, but if marrying Pete is what feels right and you love him, then that’s exactly what you should do.”
“Yeah, what she said,” I chime in, moving to take my spot next to Blair. “We’re here to support you. No matter what and no matter what you decide to do—or not do,” I say, needing to make that second part very clear. While I can only imagine the chaos that would ensue if she decided not to go through with things, if that was ultimately what she needed to do, then Blair and I would both be there for her and help with the inevitable fallout.
“I can’t just not marry him though, right?” she asks, her eyes frantically darting between the two of us. “Everyone is here. People are already starting to arrive.”
“Fuck everyone else,” Blair bluntly states, waving a dismissive hand behind her. “Today has always been about you and Pete. The rest of us, we’re just confetti. You get to do whatever you want, whether that’s marrying Pete or changing your mind. The decision is ultimately yours. Hell, most of the people coming today are only here for a good party; none of them have to live with the consequences, so don’t let anyone else’s feelings dictate your life choices.”
“She’s right,” I agree. “I don’t want to come across like I’m trying to sway you in one direction, but remember, this is coming from someone who did make the wrong decision, even when I knew that I was making the wrong choice that day. I can confidently say that choosing to get married not only hurt me in the long run, but hurt Jenny as well,” I explain with a loud sigh. “While I’m sure it would’ve hurt her to cancel the wedding, I’m pretty sure we’d both now agree that we were far more hurt by going through with it. We wasted so much of our lives being married to the wrong person, and I’d hate for you to make the same mistake I did.”
“Oh God, what do I do?” she cries, quickly wiping away the first stray tear. “How do I tell him that I can’t do it? Because I think you’re both right. I can’t marry him. He’s not it. He’s not my person, and he’s definitely not my soulmate.”
“Do you need me to do it?” Blair asks, as both Ronnie and I turn to look at her.
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“Why not? I mean, come on. It’s Pete. He’s an asshole, but I can handle him. And I’m sorry, but I just don’t see him taking the news very well and since you’re already a mess,” she says, looking Ronnie over. “If anything, I can’t ask you to do it either.”
“Really?” she asks, sniffling, as she seems to think it through.
“Really.”
“I mean, if you’re serious, then that would help a lot. I just—I think I need to get out of here,” Ronnie finally decides as she stands.
I nod my head. “Maybe I should come with you,” I offer, not feeling like she should be alone, especially not after making such a huge and life-changing decision.
“No, stay with Blair because, oh shit,” Ronnie curses. “Someone is going to have to tell my family, and everyone else too.” She panics even further as she lifts her hands to cover her face.
“Don’t worry about it,” Blair says, taking Ronnie’s hand into hers once more. “We’ve got this. We’ll take care of everything. You just worry about taking care of yourself, but Ford’s right. You shouldn’t be leaving alone, but don’t worry,” she offers, as she seems to put together a plan in her head. “I’ll take care of that, too.”
“I don’t deserve you guys,” Ronnie’s voice quivers as she sniffs and extends her hand toward mine as well, intertwining her fingers with ours.
“You’d do the same for us. It’s nothing,” I promise her.
“Ford, you sneak her out back, and I’ll have someone there to take you wherever you need to go,” she tells me before pulling Ronnie into a big hug and then rushing out of the room.
“Am I really going to do this?” Ronnie asks, as the first genuine smile of the day comes to her lips. Worry still lines her features, but it’s obvious a huge weight has been lifted from her shoulders.
“I think you are, and more importantly, I think you’re making the right choice.”
Perhaps I shouldn’t be projecting my thoughts and feelings onto her during such a pivotal moment, but I also feel like if they truly were right for each other, and if for some reason it turns out that they do love each other and this is just a case of cold feet, she can come back and they will eventually figure things out. If anything, Blair and I are the perfect example of that. Either way, if she’s feeling this uncertain, there’s no reason she should be walking down that aisle today.
“Ford, one more thing before we go,” she starts, giving my hand a small tug. “Will you tell my parents how sorry I am and tell them that I promise to pay them back for everything? Also, with everything already being paid for and since the entire town of Evergreen Grove is about to show up, can you tell them that I still want the party to go on? Just because I’m not here to enjoy it, and even if Pete’s family won’t want to either, there’s no reason for everything to go to waste, right?”
“I’ll take care of it,” I promise as I give her hand another squeeze. “And don’t worry. Your parents will be fine. Plus, I have to imagine that they’ll be just as understanding as Blair and I are. Your parents are good people and I know that the only thing that’s important to them today and always is that their daughter is happy. If running is what makes you happy, then they’d want you to do this too.”
“I don’t know about that, but I appreciate hearing it,” she says through a nervous laugh as she stands on her tiptoes to press a kiss to my cheek.
“Alright, let’s get you out of here, Miss Runaway Bride,” I quip, attempting to lighten the mood, even if I’m not entirely convinced it’s working.
I’m not sure if Blair truly meant to be sneaky and stealthy about things as I help Ronnie make her big escape, but I do it anyway as I crack the door open and peek out first. Luckily, the hallway is empty as I reach backward for her hand before we head out.
Keeping it up, I meticulously scan around each corner before we turn, and, most importantly, sneak her out the side door, especially since the backyard is already filling up with people, and out front, even more guests are making their way up the pathway that’s been highlighted by flowers and lanterns.
As we walk through the door, Blair meets us and takes Ronnie’s hand from mine. “Miles is going to drive you wherever you need,” she explains.
“Your brother?” Ronnie gasps, since it’s always been pretty clear that Blair’s big brother isn’t exactly our best friend’s biggest fan.
“Yes, but don’t worry. He’s going to be on his best behavior, plus you get to ride in style,” she explains, motioning toward a red Ford Mustang—which happens to be Miles’ baby—where he’s currently leaning against the passenger door with his arms folded across his chest.
“Well, desperate times call for desperate measures I suppose,” Ronnie mutters before breathing out a large breath of air as she turns to face Blair and me. “I love you guys. I hope you know that.”
“We do,” I assure her, and suddenly I’m caught in a tight three-way group hug, feeling the intense love and unity of our bond. I truly don’t know where I’d be without the two of them, and despite all the craziness of this morning and what’s still about to come, everything about this moment just feels right.
“Now go,” Blair encourages as she pushes Ronnie toward her brother and the car.
With a slight moment of hesitation, she takes a step forward before she lifts her dress to make her escape easier and rushes toward Miles. He opens the passenger door, offering his hand to help, before carefully tucking the large skirt of her dress inside.
As Blair slinks an arm around my waist, I instinctively drape mine over her shoulder as we watch the car drive away. “I have a feeling today is going to be a really good day,” she says, letting out a contented sigh.
“I think you’re right.”