Chapter 35
Trent pasted a smile on his face as his mom and dad hurried toward him.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” his mother said. “We were about to give up on you.”
“Sorry. We ran a little behind.” As Brittany came around the back fender, he held out his arm. “Here she is. Brittany, come meet Vanessa and Harry, although I think you might’ve bumped into each other in February.” He drew her into a side hug before turning her loose so she could shake hands with his parents.
“Of course we did.” His mother abandoned the handshake routine and gave Brittany a quick embrace. “It’s great to see you again. Nice hat.”
“Thank you.” She flushed and glanced at him. “Trent gave it to me.”
His mom added a nod of approval. “Nice work, son.”
His dad stepped forward and hugged her briefly. “Welcome to the family, Brittany.”
Trent winced at the phrase, but she took it in stride, thanking him with a smile.
“Is it Brittany? Or Brit?” His mom’s tone was chipper, the one she used to get through awkward moments.
“I answer to both.”
“Well, I agree with Trent. Brittany is a lovely name. Both our girls shortened theirs. I wish they’d been able to come, but Sara couldn’t leave work and one of Lani’s best friends is getting married this weekend. They’ll be with us for the August trip. They’re eager to get back out here.”
Trent would just bet they were. They’d been shooting him texts all day. He’d answered about half of them. Some, like Sara’s What the hell, Trent? didn’t require one.
He was damned lucky they hadn’t come on this trip. They would have thrown themselves into his mess in a heartbeat. He’d have it sorted out by August. Most likely by tomorrow morning.
At least Brittany hadn’t blown up when he’d told her. That wouldn’t have been her style, but then again, he’d never given her reason to pitch a fit.
On the drive over he’d questioned the wisdom of his timing, but now he could see he’d done the right thing. She’d have several hours when they couldn’t talk, hours when she could let his confession percolate. He’d do the same. Tonight they’d work it out.
Someone over by the house yelled time to start. Trent’s money was on Sky. As the oldest, he usually marshalled the troops like Dallas used to do when they’d all lived at home.
Trent held out a hand to Brittany. “We’d better get over there. Don’t want to miss anything.”
“No, we don’t.” She slid her fingers through his without hesitation and squeezed.
It was a simple thing, but it made his heart stutter. Nothing about this relationship was simple.
“Desiree keeps protesting they don’t need a rehearsal,” his mom said as she and his dad walked with them back toward the crowd. “But with all the people in this wedding, I think they do.”
Brit surveyed the large group. “How many are in it?”
“A lot,” his dad said. “The bulk of who’s standing there.”
Nobody in the boisterous crowd had paid them any attention, which suited Trent just fine. He paused before they reached the benches and the knot of people clustered near the porch steps. “Since we’re not part of it, let’s hang out here for a minute, let them get organized.”
“Sure.” His mom turned back toward him. So did his dad.
With his folks providing a screen for Brittany, he tugged her close to his side. “Are we supposed to sit in a certain spot?”
“I asked that,” his mom said. “Usually these benches would be for the groom’s family and friends and the other side would be for the bride’s. But everybody’s connected to both of them, so we can sit wherever we?—”
“Brit?”
Trent braced himself as Ella broke away from the group and rushed over. Let the games begin.
“Brit Powers, you’re a sneaky one!” Ella’s attention darted over to him, down to their linked hands and back up to Brittany’s face. “When did?—”
“We need to talk.” She kept her voice low. “I’ll find you later.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll find you, girlfriend.” Ella laughed and hurried back to Marsh. Evidently she said something to him, because he looked over at Trent and gave him a thumbs up.
The news rippled through the group like a crowd doing the wave as heads turned in his direction. He sighed as the McLintock gang exchanged smiles and fist bumps.
Brittany rose up on her toes. “What’s happening?”
“The news is out and they’re happy for me. For us, too, of course, but mostly for me.”
His mother leaned close. “I’m lost. What news is out? I thought only?—”
“Just Desiree, Andy, Dallas and Angie.” He kept his head down and his voice soft. “Oh, and Rance as of last night. That’s it.”
“So why are they making such a big deal of you bringing a date to the rehearsal?”
Brittany’s fingers tightened in silent support.
“Because I haven’t gone out with anyone since I moved here.”
“First of all, why not, and second of all, how do they know you haven’t been dating?”
He chose to answer the easy one first. “Because that’s how it works in this family. They keep an eye on things, make sure everyone’s doing okay.”
“And you’ve been sitting alone in your cabin since January?”
“Not at all. Something’s always going on here. Then Rance got me the bartending gig. I’ve been fine, Mom.”
“They’re ready to go, son.” His dad gestured toward the wedding party, which had moved to the far side of the yard and lined up in order. Music from a boom box began playing and the minister had taken his position on the porch. “We should sit.”
Trent glanced at the handful of people who weren’t part of the ceremony. They were all in the front row of the bride’s side. Nobody had taken the front row of the groom’s side, maybe because he, his folks and Brittany had been standing close to it. He looked down at her. “You okay sitting right here?”
“Sure, why not?”
He kept hold of her as they turned around and sat on the smooth wooden plank.
His mom tucked in on his left side. “I understand getting acclimated before you jump back in, but?—”
“I never intended to jump back in.”
“You never told me that.”
“Because I knew you wouldn’t like it.”
“You weren’t going to date at all?”
“That’s right.”
“Then I’m really glad Brit changed your mind.”
“Mm.” Brittany hadn’t just changed his mind. She’d blown it to smithereens.