Chapter 51
Chapter Fifty-One
Lily
“Can you guys come inside for a minute?” Elizabeth asks, pulling Dan and me from our seats.
When we step into the warehouse, she slips a corsage over my wrist and starts pinning a boutonniere on Dan. “Isn’t this ribbon so pretty? It was Rachel’s.”
JD leans against the counter, watching us. “Jenny had the idea of incorporating it in the couples wedding flowers,” he tells us.
I look up at my husband, and his face falls. “Couples?” he asks.
The two of them smile at each other.
“What’s going on?” I ask. “The wedding is about to start. And why do we need flowers?”
“You’ll see,” JD says, pushing me through the door and into the living area.
Jenny is standing in front of Lexie, but when she steps aside, I see it’s not Lexie. It’s Kelsie.
It’s Kelsie!
I rush toward her. “Oh my god. Are you getting married too?”
She nods, unable to speak. I quickly get a tissue out of my pocket and dab at her face so she doesn’t smear her makeup.
I look at Jenny, and she smiles wide. “It took a tuck here and a let out there, but doesn’t she look stunning?”
My gaze bounces between her and my daughter, who just happens to be in my wedding dress. The dress I wore when Jenny’s father walked me down the aisle. The day I married the love of my life.
“This doesn’t feel real,” I whisper.
Jenny rubs her hands over my arms. “I promise you, it’s real.”
Dan walks over and takes my daughter’s hand. “So this is why Tank told me you two had finally set a date this morning.” He shakes his head. “Oh Kelsie, you have brought so much joy to our lives. You’re always full of surprises.” He reaches out and touches her cheek lightly. “You are beautiful.”
I dab at Kelsie’s eyes again. “Stop. You’re making her mess up her makeup,” I say, scolding my husband gently.
“Well, speaking of surprises, I have one more.” She holds up her finger, and Carson and Cole step out from the other room.
“Boys!” I rush toward my sons, and they immediately begin to shove each other over who gets to hug me first. I wrap an arm around each of their necks, pulling them down to my level. I kiss their heads excessively.
“Mom,” Carson complains. “You act like you haven’t seen us in years.”
“Well, it feels that way.”
My boys moved to Wyoming a few years ago, and I hate it. I know they have to live their own lives, but boy do I miss them.
Cole laughs and pulls away to rub my belly. “Hey, baby sister. It’s your cool brother, Cole.”
Carson joins in, and before you know it another argument has ensued.
“Come tell her, Kelsie. Tell Mom’s baby bump that I’m the better brother,” Cole says.
“We’re running out of time. Just give them their surprise,” Kelsie answers, thoroughly annoyed with her brothers.
“Oh yeah,” Carson says, pulling two envelopes from his jacket pocket. He gives one to his brother.
“You two aren’t the surprise?” I ask. Dan steps beside me, and they each hand us one.
“What are these?” Dan asks as we open them.
Carson and Cole both have shit-eating grins on their faces. I look at my husband nervously because our kids are always pranking us.
A card slides out of the envelope. It has sunflowers around a border with dragonflies flying around them. In the middle it says Our Little Bug is on the way.
It’s a baby announcement. Dan and I read Tank and Kelsie’s name at the bottom at the same time. We both spin around.
“You’re pregnant?” I ask, rushing over to her.
She nods again, unable to speak.
Dan picks her up off her feet, hugging her. “Oh my god,” he says excitedly. “I’m going to be a grandpa.”
A grandpa?
I glance down at my stomach. I’ve been hiding it for weeks, but now that everyone knows, I’ve been proudly displaying it. Grandpa? Oh my god. I’m going to be a new mom and a grandma. At the same time!
Jenny wraps her arms around me as I feel my legs wobble. “Hey, it’s okay. Your baby is getting a built-in best friend. She’s never going to be alone. They’re going to grow up together. This is a good thing.”
“You’re right,” I say, clinging to her.
Her eyes meet mine, and a silent conversation passes between us. She has me. She’ll be with me every step of the way. That’s good because I really need her right now.
My husband sets our daughter on her feet, just now noticing my reaction. He takes my hand in his. “You’re going to be the best grandmother,” he says, brushing his knuckles over my cheek.
“And we’re going to be the best uncles. Right, Dad?” Carson says, putting his arm around Dan.
I ignore the boys and their shenanigans and grab Kelsie’s hands. “You aren’t doing this because of the baby, are you?”
“Yes and no. I’m not marrying Tank because of the baby, but that is why I’m marrying him now. We planned on getting married and then having a baby, but …”
“But sometimes things happen,” I finish for her, rubbing my own stomach.
She laughs lightly. “Life is an adventure, isn’t it?”
“It sure is, baby.”
Jesse walks into the room with Lexie. “Okay, people. It’s lights, camera, action time.” She claps. “Everyone get your ass in your seats.”
Dan takes my hand to lead us outside when she points at him. “Not you, big guy.” She waves her hand over Kelsie like he’s stupid.
“Oh yeah,” Dan says, shaking his head.
“Getting Grandpa brain already?” she jokes.
“Haha. A lot’s been thrown at me in a short amount of time,” he says, defending himself.
She pats him on the back and whistles. “Move it. Move it. Move it.”
Jenny guides me to some reserved seats in the front row. Ray is already there.
“Surprise,” he says, waving his hands in front of him.
I sit next to him and pull Jenny down beside me, despite her protests. Raffe lowers himself on the other side of her, winking at me. Carson and Cole take the chairs beside him.
“How did I end up being the one who was surprised?” I whisper to my father-in-law.
“How else would we have gotten her in the front row?” he whispers back.
Okay, that makes sense. I look over at Elizabeth, and she waves. I mouth “You knew about this?”
She nods, laughing. Willow and Aspen sit down in her row. Aspen is hauling a big bag of toys with her to keep her busy. Elizabeth turns her attention to them.
“Where’s Jackson?” Jenny leans over and asks.
I shrug my shoulders, turning away from her as the music begins. Ash stands under the arch nervously awaiting his bride. He looks so handsome. My attention turns to my best friend, JD. He’s walking Lexie down the aisle.
I’m so happy for both of them. It brings tears to my eyes. I reach for Jenny’s hand and squeeze it. What an emotional day.
When Lexie and Ash are both at the front, the song begins to repeat. Everyone begins to look around, confused.
Tank steps beside Ash. I wave my free hand over my face. Oh gosh, this is just too much. Jenny gives my hand a little tug, letting me know she’s right here by my side.
Everyone gasps when Kelsie and Dan begin walking down the hill toward the aisle. “Oh my god, I can’t. I just can’t,” I say, gripping my chest. “I’m going to die of happiness,” I whisper to my friend.
“Always so dramatic,” she teases.
Both of us are in tears by the time Dan hands my daughter over to her soon-to-be husband.
Everyone sits back down, and Ray stands, giving Dan his chair. Dan gives me a kiss on the cheek as the music begins to play again. Jenny looks around. This time she’s the one who’s confused.
Ray steps beside Tank, straightens his suit, and then waits for his bride.
“Is …?” Jenny follows his gaze, her words frozen in time.
Jackson steps out of the warehouse and holds out his hand, and then Maggie appears.
Jenny lets out a sob, falling backward. Raffe catches her, holding her upright.
Everyone begins to cheer because fuck, this is epic, even for the club. Three weddings in one day. I look at Lexie, and she is straight up ecstatic. She’s so happy to be sharing her day. What a difference the club has made on her.
I lean over and whisper in Jenny’s ear, knowing the club is slowly healing her too. Just like it did me. “Surprise,” I sing-song.
She grabs me, hugging me tight.
“I have missed you,” she whispers.
“I’ve missed you too.”