51. Elyse
CHAPTER 51
Elyse
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
PRESENT
T his is by far the worst outfit I’ve ever worn to a wedding. I’m wearing my signature all-black, but my pants are wrinkled, my blouse is faded and looks more gray than black, and my hair is in a messy top knot. If my appearance is any indication as to how things are going, it’s clear they’re not going well.
After Dominic picked me up from my parents’ house last night, there’s been an undercurrent of tension. Dominic is on edge and I’m barely keeping it together. Before, I was able to brush aside what was happening, but I can’t anymore, and I think it’s starting to fracture my psyche piece by piece.
Life goes on though, we can’t stop everything because of what’s going on. And today I need to focus on my job.
Behind me, I can feel Dominic’s presence. He’s leaning casually against the wall near the entrance, his arms crossed, but I know better than to think he’s relaxed. His eyes are scanning the room constantly, pensive and alert, taking in every detail. Even when he looks at me, his gaze softens for only a second before focusing back to the crowd.
We still haven’t talked about how he reacted when he found out I left without Gavin. I understand his anger, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to put up with being spoken to that way. I would’ve preferred to discuss it after he picked me up, but it was already late, and I was way too exhausted to have a real conversation by that point.
So, now we’re doing this weird tip-toe of being overly polite, talking around the problem, but very aware it needs to be dealt with.
He hasn’t left my side all morning—only adding to the tension between us. After what happened, I can’t bring myself to be annoyed. If anything, I feel safer knowing he’s here, even if his watchfulness is a constant reminder of the fear curling in the pit of my stomach.
“Elyse!” my bride, Valerie’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. She’s walking toward me, her perfectly curled hair bouncing slightly with each step. She’s holding her bouquet with her nose scrunched. “Do you think the florist has anything fresher? These look a little…wilted.”
I offer her a reassuring smile, stepping closer to inspect the flowers. “Let me check. We’ll make sure everything is just right.”
She nods, her panic easing slightly, and I head toward the table where the florist is putting together some last-minute arrangements. As I walk, Dominic falls into step behind me, his long strides matching my shorter, brisk ones.
I glance over my shoulder. “You know you don’t have to follow me everywhere, right?”
His lips quirk into a faint smile, but his eyes are sad, worried. “I do, actually.”
My gaze scans the room, looking around for anyone listening. “Nothing is going to happen here,” I say under my breath. “ Between you and security and the gate being closed to outsiders, the likelihood of an incident is small.”
He lets out a breath, and all it does is reveal how tired I know he is. “Small or not, I think if I let you out of my sight, I’d have some kind of breakdown. Right now, it’s more for me than it is for you.”
My lungs squeeze around the sudden rush of warmth. Even when I’m mad at him—even with all this shit going on—he still manages to send my heart thrumming.
“Okay,” is all I manage.
If I said much more, I think my emotions would get the best of me, and now isn’t the time. I have a wedding to run.
So I do what I do best, and shove all my issues into a nice, neat box, and get to work.
The ceremony is flawless, the bride and groom exchange vows near the vineyard while their guests watch with misty eyes.
Last spring, I had roses planted between the rows of vines that backdrop the ceremony space, and now that spring is in bloom, the roses beautifully color the space, adding a layer of romanticism to the ambiance.
After the ceremony, I assign Paisley, Faith, and Ben to handle the finishing touches in the ballroom while I monitor cocktail hour in the tasting room.
By the time we transition to the reception, I feel like I’ve been running on empty for hours. The band plays a soft, melodic tune as guests drift toward the dance floor, their laughter and conversation filling the air.
I’m busy double-checking the seating chart when Dominic appears beside me. He’s been hanging back the last few hours, giving me space to work.
He doesn’t say anything at first, just watches me.
“What?” I ask, feeling my cheeks heat. “Why are you staring at me like that? ”
He shrugs, smiling. A real smile this time. “I’m just impressed, that’s all.”
I laugh. “Impressed about what?”
He comes closer, resting his hand on the small of my back. The contact sends a tingle up my spine. “You, querida mía.” His eyes roam the ballroom and then come back to meet mine. “When I first moved back, I kind of wondered why you became a wedding planner. I just assumed it was because it allowed you to work with your family. But now I get it.”
“Get what?”
“You’re magic.” His voice is hushed, but he sounds almost amazed, in disbelief. “I don’t know how you took all these blank walls and turned it into something out of a movie. I always knew you were creative, but this is a whole other level of talent.”
I’m used to being complimented by my clients, but very rarely do I hear it from anyone else.
“Thank you,” I say quietly.
“Seriously,” he continues. “I’m not sure why I’m so surprised when it makes perfect sense—the way you take care of everyone, and notice all the little details—you were meant to do this. I’m just glad I got to witness you in action.”
“You’re making it very hard to stay mad at you right now,” I tell him, biting my smile.
His hand trails up my spine, rubbing soothingly. “I know we need to talk, but right now let’s take a pause on the anger and the stress and the world crumbling around us—and let’s dance.”
My head is already shaking before I can get the words out. “Oh, yeah, no. I don’t dance at my weddings. I’m the behind the scenes person, I’m supposed to be invisible.”
His head dips, hovering over my ear. “Nothing about you could ever be invisible. It doesn’t matter what room you walk into, you’re the center of it. ”
Pieces of my heart warm like dominoes falling, until eventually my entire heart is warmer and fuller than I thought possible.
“Dance with me. I need everyone to know the wedding planner is taken. Can’t have any of these guests thinking you’re single.”
I laugh despite myself, and let Dominic lead me out onto the dance floor.
His hands rest on my lower waist, mine crossing around his neck, and together we sway to the music like teenagers.
His breath is warm on my neck as I let my head rest on his chest, finally giving myself permission to let go of some of the weight on my shoulders.
“I know you want us to go slow and I want to go at lightening speed.” He chuckles. “But there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you, and I’ve been wanting to say it from the moment I first saw you after I moved back. I don’t think I can keep it to myself anymore.”
I angle my head to meet his gaze. “What is it?”
“I love you.” His voice is barely above a whisper, but unmistakably clear. “I never stopped. I’ve loved you since before I knew what it really meant, and I’ll love you into the afterlife.”
I stay quiet, my bottom lip trembling as I stare into his eyes.
“After we broke up, I used to tell myself, maybe in another life . Maybe in the next one, we’d get it right. And somehow, that thought made it easier—that somewhere out there, some version of me didn’t lose you.”
A tear slips down my cheek.
“I’ll always look for you. In every parallel. On every plane. Every version of me is made to love you. You’re a once-in-a-lifetime, Ellie girl. So, in our next life, meet me at the fence— because that’s where I’ll be, hoping lightening strikes the same place twice.”
My tears are more like sobs now, as they fall in hot streams down my face.
I spent years doing everything I could not to cry, only to cry more the past month than I have my entire life.
“I—I?—”
“You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted you to know.” His thumb swipes under my eye. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“They’re the good kind,” I choke out.
“Good,” he says, kissing my forehead.
We continue swaying to the song, and once it’s over I have to sneak off to the restroom to make myself look presentable. Normally, I keep a bag of emergency makeup and other odds and ends for my brides and the bridesmaids. Tonight is the first night I’ve needed to use it on myself.
After I’ve tamed the mess of mascara that was streaking down my face, there’s still plenty more wedding left before I can call it a night.
The bride tosses her bouquet, the groom wraps the garter around a football and tosses it into a crowd of unruly men, and the cake cutting goes smoothly, the song “Sugar Sugar” by The Archies playing as the bride and groom feed each other a bite.
While the dancing continues, Paisley and Faith work on gathering the floral arrangements, preparing them for donation to local nursing homes tomorrow.
Near the buffet table, I spot Ben, lingering awkwardly. He’s holding his phone, angled slightly toward me, and I feel a strange prickle of unease. Before I can think too much about it, Dominic moves from behind me.
I watch him approach Ben, and my stomach twists. I follow, but a guest stops me with a question, and by the time I catch up, Dominic has cornered Ben near the coat check.
“What are you doing?” Dominic growls.
Ben stammers, holding up his phone. “I—I was just taking pictures of the event. They’re for my final.”
“Really?” Dominic’s tone is sharp, his eyes narrowing. “Then why do you keep pointing it at Ellie?”
Ben pales, his eyes darting between Dominic and me. “I—I wasn’t?—”
“Don’t lie to me,” Dominic snaps, stepping closer. “You’ve been following her around all night.”
“Dominic,” I say softly, placing a hand on his arm. “He’s supposed to be following me around. He works for me.”
Dominic doesn’t look away from Ben, but he takes a small step back, his jaw still tight.
“I don’t give a shit. I don’t trust him.” He shifts his focus back on Ben. “Hand over the phone.”