Chapter 13
Since Blaine had to work until eight before he could break free for the weekend and Ashleigh was with Jim for the night, Tiffany decided to go to the home her mom shared with Ned Saunders to tell them her big news in person.
Francine and Ned were just sitting down to dinner when Tiffany walked in the back door.
“Hi, honey,” Francine said, leaning into the kiss Tiffany greeted her with. “This is a nice surprise.”
“Are you hungry, gal?” Ned asked as he gestured to a platter of barbecued chicken that made Tiffany’s stomach growl.
“I’m supposed to eat with Blaine when he gets home.”
Ned jumped up to give her a quick hug and returned with a plate and silverware. “We won’t let on that you already ate if you don’t want to tell him.”
“I like how you think,” Tiffany said to the man who’d been like a father to her since he got together with her mother. Thinking about what she needed to tell them—and what she wanted to ask of them—had her contending with a rather large lump in her throat.
She smiled gratefully at Ned when he poured her a glass of the wine he kept on hand for her. “Thank you.”
“So what brings ya out and about?” Ned asked when he returned to his seat.
“I have some exciting news that I wanted to share with you in person.”
“What’s that?” Francine asked.
“Blaine and I are getting married.”
“Oh, honey.” Francine’s green eyes were immediately misty. “That’s wonderful news! I’m so happy for you.”
“I know it’s too soon after the divorce and all that, but it feels right to us.”
Francine covered Tiffany’s hand with her own. “That’s all that matters.”
“When’s the big day?” Ned asked.
“Um…tomorrow?”
His eyes bugged as Francine gasped and coughed.
“Tomorrow?” Francine said in a high squeak.
“I know it sounds crazy, but Blaine’s got a big idea to get married on the beach and then crash Maddie’s cookout as a reception.”
“You’re serious,” Francine said.
Tiffany nodded, hoping against hope that her mom would approve and support their decision.
Francine glanced at Ned, who was grinning widely. “What’re you smiling about? This is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard!”
“I know, ain’t it? But it’s also the sweetest thing I ever heard. Blaine is pushin’ it cuz of Jim’s threats, ain’t he, sweetheart?”
Not at all surprised that Ned had the whole thing figured out, Tiffany nodded.
“That’s one reason, but it’s a much lesser reason than the fact that I’m crazy in love with him and want to be with him always.
And he loves Ash as much as he loves me.
” Saying those words brought tears to Tiffany’s eyes.
“He loves us both so much. I never thought I’d have anything like this.
” She glanced at her mother imploringly. “I need you to understand—and approve.”
“I do, honey. Of course I do. How could I not understand after what I saw you go through with Jim? For so long I wished for you to have everything you’ve got with Blaine. I’d never stand in the way of your happiness, even if this plan is the craziest thing I ever heard.”
Tiffany laughed as new tears rolled down her cheeks. The food on her plate was untouched as she got up to hug her mother. “Thank you so much. For that and everything you’ve been to Maddie and me our whole lives.”
“Now stop that this minute,” Francine said sternly as she returned Tiffany’s embrace.
“It’s the truth.”
The two women held on tight to each other for a long, tear-filled moment before they drew apart, laughing as they wiped their faces.
“My turn,” Ned said.
Tiffany stepped into his open arms as if she’d been running to him her whole life.
He kissed her cheek. “So happy fer ya, gal. No one deserves it more.”
Ned’s softly spoken words generated more tears. “Thank you.” He let her go, and she wiped her tears again. “Sorry to interrupt your dinner and boo-hoo all over you.”
“Not a problem,” Ned said. “We’re always up fer happy news around here.”
Tiffany turned to him. “I was wondering… If you’re not busy tomorrow, if you might… If I could ask you, both of you…to give me away.” For as long as she lived, Tiffany would never forget the expression on his dear face when her question registered with him.
He blinked several times, as if trying not to lose his composure, and cleared his throat. “I’d be honored, honey. Truly.”
She squeezed his arm. “Thank you.”
“This calls fer a celebration,” Ned announced. He went to the living room and returned with a bottle of champagne. They popped the cork, ate the dinner that had cooled during their celebration and killed the bottle between the three of them, laughing and talking and making plans.
At some point, Ned must’ve called Blaine, because he appeared after his shift ended to pick her up so she wouldn’t have to drive. When he came in the door, Tiffany leaped to her feet, threw herself into his arms and kissed him square on the mouth.
“We’re getting married! Tomorrow!”
“So I’ve heard,” he said, amused by her excitement. “Are you a little tipsy, babe?”
“Maybe just a little.” She couldn’t stop staring at the face that had become the center of her world in such a short time.
It wasn’t lost on her that she should probably be freaking out about how fast it all had happened, but she wasn’t, because she had no doubt whatsoever that this was the right thing for her. He was the right one for her.
“What?”
Tiffany shook her head. “Nothing at all.”
“Now what in the hell am I going to wear to my daughter’s wedding tomorrow?”
Francine’s question made them all laugh.
Still held aloft by his strong arms, Tiffany lowered her head to Blaine’s shoulder and relaxed against him. This time tomorrow, he’d be her husband. She couldn’t wait.
Daisy woke when her phone chimed with a text from David.
Can’t wait to see you. Be there in twenty minutes.
Her heart fluttered with excitement. He couldn’t wait to see her.
He was on his way over. Every one of those things was enough on its own to excite her, but all of them together sent her into anticipation overload.
And then she remembered that they needed to talk, that she needed to give him an out if he wanted it.
That was only fair. Who knew if or even when she’d be ready to move forward with a physical relationship, and it wasn’t right to keep him shackled to her if there was somewhere else he’d rather be.
A picnic, she decided. We’ll go somewhere and talk it out over dinner. As she scurried around gathering what she needed, her heart shifted from fluttering to thudding. He’d said he couldn’t wait to see her. Had anyone ever said that to her before? Not that she could recall.
A knock on the door startled her so badly she dropped the basket she had retrieved from a closet shelf.
Immediately, her excitement evaporated. It was too soon for David.
Acting on instinct, she reached for the baseball bat the previous tenant had left in the closet and held it by her side as she went to the front of the house and peeked through a side window to find a young man holding a huge floral arrangement.
Feeling ridiculous for overreacting, Daisy propped the bat against the wall and opened the door.
“Daisy Babson?”
“That’s me.”
“For you.”
The overpowering scent of stargazer lilies filled her senses and had her heart fluttering all over again at the incredibly thoughtful gesture. “Thank you.”
“They were supposed to be here before you got home, but we were backed up today. Sorry they’re late.”
He’d wanted them there when she got home.
He’d gone to some trouble, not to mention the expense.
Surrounded by her favorite scent and standing before the befuddled delivery boy, Daisy felt the door to her heart swing open.
The emotional overload frightened her. She’d certainly never felt this way before about a man, especially one she was planning to let go if that was what he wanted.
As the boy went down the stairs, David pulled up to the curb.
Unreasonably thrilled to see him, Daisy waited at the door for him and read the sweet note that had come with the flowers.
He wore a crisp white dress shirt with khaki pants.
The sight of him brought back a rush of erotic memories from the night before that made her skin prickle with awareness.
Before things went bad, it had been very, very good.
“They just now got here?” he asked, visibly displeased.
“He said they got backed up.”
“I wanted them here when you got home.”
Daisy carefully placed the flowers on a table, turned to place her hands on his shoulders and went up on tiptoes to kiss him. “They’re beautiful, and I love them.”
His arm came around her waist to keep her pressed against him. “I’m glad.”
“Major, major points for the most romantic gesture ever.”
“Ever?” His smile lit up his face.
“Ever.” Daisy kissed him again, lingering this time to stroke his bottom lip with her tongue.
His groan and the tightening of his arms thrilled her. She loved knowing she affected him as much as he affected her. He drew back from her, looking slightly stunned as he gazed down at her. “These points you speak of… How do I go about redeeming them?”
“That’s for me to know and you to find out.”
“These weren’t just any flowers. They’re stargazer lilies.”
“And the points accumulated will reflect that you got it exactly, perfectly, just right.”
“It’s been a very long time since I got anything exactly, perfectly, just right.”
Daisy smiled at him, pleased that he felt comfortable enough with her to admit that. “Well, you did today.” Her smile faded when she remembered the conversation they needed to have.
“What?” he asked, tracing a finger over her lips.
Despite her intense desire never to speak again of what’d happened the night before, she forced herself to meet his gaze. “I wanted to talk to you about last night.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“David—”