chapter 34
[Angelica]
After Jude volunteered for The Giving Tree, he returned to work, but that night this sexy little elf made a second appearance at his condo wearing the felt pink dress with candy cane tights and let Mr. Grinch have his way with me on his kitchen counter like I was a peppermint treat.
Since that evening, we’ve been like sleighs passing over the hills and through the dales between his hectic holiday work schedule and mine.
First responders almost never have holidays off.
Still, Cap is considerate with the team and what time we want off most. Christmas Day is my top priority, so I can witness my nieces and nephews experiencing Santa Claus.
That means, sometimes I need to work the evening shift or a double on Christmas Eve, which is the case for me this year.
But first, I need to get through Beau’s wedding, which is another crux in this already frantic season.
I worked the day shift, so I didn’t have much time to set up for Beau’s Wednesday-at-six wedding during one of the most chaotic weeks of the year.
Thankfully, the brewery crew set up square wooden tables and chairs for dining and left a small space on the dance floor for the ceremonial arch.
To everyone’s shock, Beau wanted to keep the tradition of not seeing his future wife on their wedding day before they met at the altar.
This also meant Beau was conspicuously absent from setting up for his own ceremony.
Christmas and I rushed around setting poinsettia plants on the tables as centerpieces along with votive candles.
An elaborate evergreen garland arch was made by my creative sister, complete with pinecones and white fairy lights.
The room would be dimmed for the ceremony and then brightened for the buffet dinner.
“Think we should tell him poinsettias are actually a funeral flower,” I mutter to my sister, who has been grumbling along with me about Beau’s absence.
“It’s his funeral,” she jokes about the shackle of marriage.
We like Belle, but this rushed wedding doesn’t sit right with either of us. However, it’s Beau’s life, and he’s always been the spoiled, wild card in the family.
After a sweaty race to finalize decorating and check in with the kitchen, which is preparing their first party since opening, I rush to a small room off the second-floor party space to dress. The space is more like a cleared-out storage closet, but has a gold-framed, floor-length mirror in it.
Suspiciously, I’d found the green velvet dress Jude purchased for his board member party hung in my closet after I’d been sick. While I’d told him to donate it to a worthy cause or resell it, seeing it in my closet again, I didn’t have the heart to part with such a precious item myself.
As Belle was allowing wedding party attendants to wear whatever they wished, as long as it was green for photos, the formal dress from Jude’s Christmas party was perfect.
I’ve basically taken a deodorant shower followed by a perfume spritz before Gran enters the room.
Our eyes meet in the floor-length mirror.
“Not going to be fair that you show up the bride,” she says warmly, staring at me in the floor-length, off-the-shoulder dress. “You look as beautiful as your mother did on her wedding day.”
“Gran,” I whisper, as my throat clogs. Unfortunately, it isn’t my wedding day. The thought is punctuated as I run my hands down the soft emerald-green velvet over my belly.
“I knew it would happen for you,” she adds, stepping closer to me and cupping my shoulders. Our gazes hold through the mirror, and I worry Gran is having a moment. A forgetful one.
“It’s Beau’s day,” I remind her.
She smiles slowly. “Yes, it is, but you’re still going to steal his breath.”
“Beau?” I question, deciding Gran has really lost it. Maybe she needs to sit down for a minute. Her memory is always a concern.
Gran shakes her head. Her white-haired bob doesn’t move thanks to the hairspray on it. She’s dolled up in a dark green dress as well.
“Jude, sweetie.” Her brows pinch like I’m the silly one.
“Gran,” I mutter again, holding her gaze. “It was only pretend.” I swallow the lump in my throat. The lie I’ve been telling my family.
Her brows crease with confusion.
“It should be pretend, but I think . . . I think I’ve skipped right past pretending and crashed into something more.” Something earth-shattering and scary because it feels so real. I wring my hands, and Gran covers them with her own.
However, a date for a date was our agreement, and as there hasn’t been any discussion about after Christmas, I’m slipping into the this-is-it-mindset.
After tonight, Jude won’t feel obligated to continue whatever it is we are doing together.
While Jude and I shared texts over the past few days, he’s worked most nights until midnight, and in the few short days since the night on his kitchen counter, I feel him slipping away from me.
Next to his assistant, I might be the longest relationship Jude has had. Almost one month together.
Then I remember Sabrina and how Jude had been on and off with her for years. I’m not interested in that kind of rollercoaster ride.
“I don’t believe it was pretend,” Gran begins, but a sharp rap comes to the door.
As Gran calls, “Come in,” Dane opens the door and slips into the small space. He lets out a low whistle when he sees me reflected in the mirror, and I spin to face my older brother.
“What do you think?” I curtsy.
Dane hums. “Gonna make the man sweat.” He winks at me.
“Is Jude here yet?” My voice rises, too hopeful, too eager.
“Not yet.” Dane’s face slowly sobers. “Neither is Beau.”
“Oh dear,” Gran whispers while glancing at her gold bracelet watch.
“Yeah.” Dane sighs.
“I’ll kill him if he doesn’t show.” When I think of all the planning and rushing to gather wedding necessities, especially the favor Jude called in for this place, which ended up being free minus the food and a minimum bar tab . . .
“He’ll be here,” Gran states, but she doesn’t sound convincing.
It’d be so like Beau to flake out on his own wedding.
The door rushes opens, nearly hitting Dane’s broad shoulders, and he steps back as Christmas slides into the tight space, then closes the door behind her.
“Where the hell is Beau?” she snaps, as she collapses against the closed door and tips back her head before righting it to glare at Dane.
“How the fuck should I know?” Dane counters.
“Language, young man,” Gran says to her nearly forty-year-old grandson.
“I knew we should have put a leash on him today,” Christmas states.
Dane snorts.
“Where are the boys?” I ask Christmas. For that fact, where are Dane’s girls?
“I’m letting them run wild around the party room,” she deadpans, then sighs. “Actually, Kevin showed up. He can act like their father for thirty seconds.”
I’m not touching that comment with a ten-foot peppermint stick. Not today, at least.
Dane is clicking on his phone. Christmas and I meet eyes, and then the door opens again, forcing Christmas toward Dane as Beau eeks into the space which is not made for five grown adults. He’s wearing a sleek black tux, and his highlighted-blond hair is tame today.
“Are we having a family meeting without me?” he questions, glancing around the room. “It’s bad enough there aren’t any baby books for me, and now you’re hosting a secret society without me.”
I bark out a laugh. As if we’d ever exclude him. He wouldn’t let us.
“We would never leave you out, honey,” Gran says, approaching him.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Dane questions.
“Language,” Gran mutters, knowing it’s a lost cause.
“Never fear, Beau is here,” our late-to-his-own wedding brother states, but his typically cheerful tone sounds off.
“Now,” Christmas sighs.
Gran reaches for Beau’s cheeks, and he lowers his face to her height, allowing her to cup his jaw. “Another addition to our family. Your parents would be so proud.”
“Yeah,” Beau swallows, and Christmas and I lock gazes once more.
A single word shouldn’t sound so uncertain.
Dane’s phone vibrates with a bridal march ringtone. “Okay, man, time to get this party started.” He claps our youngest brother on the shoulder and reaches for the door, practically pushing Beau out of the closet-like space. Christmas follows while Gran spins toward me.
“Don’t worry, honey. Your miracle is coming.”
Was Beau getting married a miracle?
I wasn’t so sure about a magical moment for me and offer her the same response Beau gave in an equally uncertain tone.
“Yeah.”