Chapter Twenty-Eight Charlie
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Charlie
I’d never seen anything quite like the scene in front of me.
Violet was kneeling down beside the groom’s mother, who’d had an allergic reaction to a beesting.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen a bee, but one had made its way through this dark, cloudy afternoon, and the woman had dropped to the ground.
And then the downpour of all downpours had unleashed on the ceremony.
The rain fell hard and fast.
People were frantically running as they hauled ass to the tent. But I stayed right here with Violet, and Harper had one arm wrapped around my leg and the other in Violet’s hand.
Like the three of us were unbreakable.
That’s how it felt lately.
The rain poured down on us as Thomas, a medic I’d grown up with, led the gurney away. Blakely had agreed to ride in the ambulance with the mother of the groom, who’d insisted that they move forward with the wedding.
Once they’d stepped away, Violet turned to look at me and shook her head. Her hair was soaked, her dress clinging to her body, drenched from the rain.
“You saved that woman’s life, Firefly,” I said.
She started laughing, and once she started, she couldn’t stop.
And of course that made Harper laugh hysterically as I pulled Violet up on her feet, knowing I needed to get them both inside the tent and out of this rain.
“You okay?” I asked as I wrapped my arms around her before lifting Harper and settling her on my hip.
“She wouldn’t move the ceremony inside the tent. Knowing it was going to rain, she still wouldn’t do it.” She shook her head, tipping it back again and letting the rain fall on her beautiful face. “And then the mother of the groom goes into anaphylactic shock. I can’t make this up.”
“If I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I probably wouldn’t have believed it. Let’s get you both in the tent, yeah?”
“Race you there,” Violet said as she took off toward the tent. Harper erupted in giggles when we chased after her.
Montana was there with a few of the waitstaff they’d hired for service, and they passed out towels so the guests could dry off. I had no idea where she’d found this many towels, but these women were full of surprises when they threw weddings.
They chatted briefly before Violet went to speak to Velveteen and Ralph, along with both families.
It was decided that the wedding would take place immediately, since Ralph’s father wanted to get to the hospital to check on his wife.
They didn’t want to take the time to move the chairs over; they just wanted to quickly say their vows and make it official.
Everyone stood in the covered space, the rain beating down on the heavy canvas above as they said the fastest vows I’d ever heard. I was far from a pro when it came to wedding etiquette, but this seemed unusually quick.
This was my kind of wedding.
Violet and Montana were thrilled that the rain let up briefly as they moved the guests over to the other side of the property where the reception had been set up.
Harper gasped when we stepped inside, because there were several crystal chandeliers hanging above, as well as tables covered in white linens with flowers and candles every which way you looked.
The ceremony may not have been what the bride wanted, but this room looked like something you’d see in a magazine.
“Daddy, someday when I get married, can I have sparkly lights like this?” Harper asked. “Oh, and all the flowers. But I want all the pink flowers. Light pink. And dark pink.”
“Sounds like you want to have a Pinkalicious wedding?” I teased. “And yes, you can have whatever you want, Harps.”
Violet had gone back inside to help her sister get her hair and makeup fixed from the rain, as they’d be making their grand entrance soon.
We made our way over to where Benji was manning the bar. He made Harper a Coke filled with more cherries than any one little girl needed, which made her smile. He cracked a beer open for me and passed it over.
“That was a whole lot of drama for one ceremony, huh?” he chuckled.
“Yep. But from what Violet tells me, it’s par for the course.”
He nodded. “I can tell. Let’s hope the reception is drama-free.”
“Yeah, that would be nice. I’ll come check on you in a little bit. We’re going to go find our table.” I knocked my knuckles against the wood bar top and led my daughter over to where our name tags were.
I was surprised to see we were seated at the family table, but happy because Huntington and Brenton were there, and they were cool dudes.
“I guess we’re sitting with you,” I said, my gaze moving to their father, sitting beside them. I hadn’t met him yet, but he’d walked Velveteen down the makeshift aisle in the tent, so I’d figured out who he was.
“Yeah. Thankfully Velveteen didn’t make us sit with the wedding party,” Huntington said, and his father shot him a look.
I laughed as we took our seats.
Her father reached his hand out. “I’m William Beaumont. You’re Violet’s boyfriend?”
Harper moved over to where Violet’s brothers were sitting when they pulled out a deck of cards and asked her if she wanted to see their magic trick.
“Yep. I’m Charlie Huxley. This is my daughter, Harper.” I shook his hand. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him it was nice to meet him, but I wasn’t going to lie to the man.
He’d treated the woman I love like shit, and I wasn’t on board with that.
“How long have you two been together?” he asked me, like he and Violet were casual acquaintances.
“Long enough to be in love with her, which was as easy as breathing,” I said, my tone coming out harsh.
This guy didn’t deserve any details.
If Violet wanted to share more with him, that would come from her.
He hadn’t even taken a few minutes to go see her new home.
The man was a selfish bastard in my book, and I wasn’t looking for a new buddy.
He nodded. “Have you met her mother? She’s a real piece of work.”
The fucking nerve of this guy.
“I guess you have a type,” I said, leaving him to dissect those words all on his own.
He gave me a questioning look just as his wife came walking over in a huff. She glanced from me to Harper and then looked at her husband. “This is Violet’s date?”
“Yes. It’s her boyfriend and his daughter.”
“Well,” she said, turning to look at me. “Your girlfriend promised a smooth wedding, and this has been anything but. We’ve had beestings and rain. I don’t think anyone would call this wedding smooth.”
I narrowed my gaze. “I don’t know any wedding planner who can control the rain.
Perhaps if you’d listened to her advice about moving the ceremony inside the tent earlier on, you would have avoided the mass chaos of the downpour.
And as far as the beesting, I hope you thanked your daughter for saving your new son-in-law’s mother’s life.
She should be commended for how quickly she reacted. ”
Missy’s eyes widened, as if she wasn’t used to anyone standing up to her.
Her husband nodded. “It was impressive the way she administered that EpiPen without hesitation.”
“Yeah, Vi’s a badass.” Huntington pulled a card from his sleeve and slapped it down on the table as Harper gasped.
“She’s always been someone who just gets the job done,” Brenton said. “Remember when she came to my college dorm room after Mom and Dad left, and she turned my room into the coolest room on campus?” Huntington said, glancing at his parents.
Missy’s shoulders stiffened, and she glanced at me.
I nodded. “Sounds like my girl.”
She cleared her throat as the DJ, who already appeared to be several cocktails deep, by the way his words were slurring, made an announcement through the speaker system.
“It’s DJ Daddy O, bitches!” he shouted, and I glanced at my daughter, who thankfully was hyperfocused on the magic trick. “We’re getting ready to introduce the wedding party, and let me tell you, there are some hot-tayyyyys in the house.”
“What did he just say?” Missy gaped at her husband. “Who allowed this man to be here? Did Violet choose him? He must be a local?”
“He’s your son-in-law’s old fraternity brother,” I said before Violet’s father could say he didn’t know, because that appeared to be his go-to. A shrug with a clueless look. “Violet didn’t approve, but it’s ultimately up to the bride and groom.”
Violet had shared her concerns about this jackass having a microphone after her Zoom call with him.
“Oh,” Missy sniffed and then turned her chin up as he started announcing the wedding party.
The music blared, and he asked everyone to get on their feet. Harper came to stand beside me, and I picked her up and settled her on my hip so she could see.
Violet and Montana stood off to the side watching as each couple strode onto the dance floor once their names were announced.
“Daddy, that music is loud,” Harper shouted in my ear.
I chuckled. “Yep. I think the party has started.”
Missy had her arms folded over her chest with a giant frown on her face.
“We’ve got a nice surprise for you all,” DJ Drinks a Lot shouted. “Look who made it back in time for the party. Mama Parker is back in the hiz-zayyyy!”
“Oh, she should have just gone to her room after that scene she caused,” Missy snipped loud enough for everyone at our table to hear.
But her sons were jumping up and down with their hands in the air, just like the rest of the people watching.
The groom’s mother and father came into the tent dancing and cheering, and the crowd went wild.
Maybe things were turning around, because everyone appeared to be having a good time now.
They’d dried off, and they were now sipping cocktails and smiling.
Violet glanced my way, relief on her face, and I winked, holding up my beer bottle in toast to her.
My girl was a rock star.
She smiled, just as the DJ told everyone to put their hands in the air for the big moment. My daughter had her hands in the air, and Huntington and Brenton both high-fived her.
“It’s time for the stars of the evening. Ralph ‘Mad Dog’ Parker and his bride, Smooth as Velveteen Parker!” he shouted.
Ralph practically knocked his bride on her ass as he stormed past her with two bottles of champagne in his hands. His tuxedo coat was off, and his dress shirt was unbuttoned halfway down his stomach, and he shook his head like he was a frat boy on spring break.
Velveteen looked highly annoyed as she moved up beside him, just as he bent down on the dance floor and slammed both bottles against the wood, like that was a brilliant idea.
Unfortunately, the bottles both shattered, and the liquid spewed all over the floor.
Velveteen slipped and shrieked as she went down. A few of her bridesmaids hurried to assist her, and they all fell right along with her.
Ralph didn’t miss a beat, just jumping up and down with two broken pieces of the bottles in his hands. The crowd stopped cheering and dancing once everyone realized the women on the ground were crying and clearly upset.
Violet and Montana were on the move. I saw Violet shout at the DJ, and the volume was turned down.
Missy hurried toward her daughter and then turned around and shouted at her husband to come help her.
I watched in shock as Violet pulled Velveteen to her feet, then wrapped her hands in a napkin and hurried her out of the tent.
Montana helped two other women to their feet and took them out as well.
Harper had gone back over to watch Huntington and Brenton’s magic tricks again, and this time she got to pick a card and slide it into the middle of the deck.
The waitstaff was already getting the floor cleaned up, and Ralph and his jackass brother hadn’t missed a beat. They were making a scene at the bar, cheering loudly with their shot glasses in hand.
Missy, William, and Paris came back to the table, and Violet’s sister took the seat beside me, keeping her voice low. “What a disaster, huh?”
“What happened out there? I saw a lot of broken glass,” I asked.
“Velveteen cut her hand and her calf. Her husband is out of control tonight,” she said, shaking her head and smiling. “But per usual, Violet saved the day. She wrapped the cut so it wouldn’t get on her dress, and she got her out of there before she was completely hysterical.”
“Is she crying because she’s hurt?”
“I think she’s probably embarrassed. I don’t know,” Paris said as she sipped her wine. “Maybe the realization that she has to spend the rest of her life with a man-child is setting in.”
“Violet shouldn’t have let Ralph carry those bottles into the reception.” Missy glanced at us over her shoulder, letting us know she was listening to the conversation.
“You know what, Mother?” Paris said as Missy turned around to look at her daughter.
“Aren’t you tired of blaming Violet for everything?
Because I know I’m tired of hearing it. She’s the only reason this wedding has been salvaged.
Ralph’s mom is lucky to be alive, and that’s all thanks to Vi.
And Velveteen ignored Violet when she begged her to move the ceremony into the tent.
You did too. So stop blaming someone who has stepped up for your daughter on her special day.
We all know you don’t like her because Dad had a child with another woman before he met you, but come on, enough is enough. It’s appalling, actually.”
The table was silent, and William squirmed in his seat.
Such a weak man.
“I agree. Vi’s the best,” Huntington said.
“Yeah, Mom. We all talk about it. It’s pretty awful the way you’ve treated her,” Brenton chimed in, and then he looked back down at the table quickly as if he was terrified of his mother’s wrath.
“What is with this attitude. And now you’ve got your brothers brainwashed. William, say something to your children.” She glared at her husband.
“I think your mom wishes Velveteen was my first child too.” He shrugged. “It’s hard on her that I had a life before her.”
Missy gaped at him. “That is not true.”
Everyone just stared at her. Me included.
The jig is up, Pissy Missy.