Chapter 30
Six Months Later….
Aware of the many eyes on her, Fiona walked slowly down the aisle.
She stopped before the altar, stepped to the right, and turned to face the back of the sanctuary.
A tall woman with dark hair shorn close to her head stood across from her.
She nodded at Fiona and winked. Fiona’s eye roll was imperceptible to the guests, but Lauren, Andy’s sister, caught it.
Wearing matching mint green dresses with hoop skirts and giant bows on their butts, they looked like they’d stepped out of Gone With the Wind .
They’d both balked, stating they weren’t bridesmaids but best women.
Andy was vehement. It was his wedding. He was paying for the dresses, and they would wear them.
Fortunately, he’d agreed to allow them to change after the ceremony and before the reception.
A sunshine yellow sundress hung in the back of Tomas’s truck, along with accessories.
Fiona didn’t know what Lauren was going to do with her dress, but she intended to donate hers to the high school drama department.
There was no way it was going home with her.
A bee had found its way into the church and hovered over her bouquet.
Not interested in the white freesia or peach roses, it drifted off to the tall pillar of hydrangea behind the pastor.
The sanctuary had been decorated to within an inch of its life, draped in fresh flowers and tulle.
Fiona didn’t think she’d ever been to a more ornate wedding in her life.
While the organist played softly, Fiona searched for Tomas.
Among the mostly Vietnamese guests, he wasn’t difficult to find.
Wearing a light gray jacket and slacks with a crisp white shirt, he drew many admiring eyes.
He’d refused to wear a tie, and the open collar of his shirt exposed the golden skin of his neck.
He caught her glance and smirked, then raised his phone to snap a picture.
She narrowed her eyes, which only served to make him laugh outright.
The change in the music had her switch her attention to the back of the church.
Joseph and her father entered first, her father smiling proudly, Joseph looking relaxed and amused.
They both wore dark gray suits with tails.
Behind them, Andy stood between his parents, beaming at everyone as they moved down the aisle.
He wore tails as well, only his were white and, whereas the other men had mint green cummerbunds, his was peach.
This was his day, and he was in his glory.
T he ceremony ended, and Tomas waited his turn to file out of the church.
A movement caught his eye, and he spotted Linh Han standing behind a column, out of sight of her family and the guests assembled for the wedding of her only son.
A wedding to which she had not been invited.
Looking around, it appeared he was the only one to notice her, so he remained in place, waiting to see if she’d cause a scene.
Through the big open doors at the back of the church, Joseph and Andy could be seen holding hands and smiling.
Fiona appeared, saying something that caused the two men to laugh loudly and wrap her in a hug.
A stifled sob drew Tomas’s attention back to Linh Han.
He must have made a noise because her eyes met his, and she gasped.
Dressed neatly and expensively as always, her thin, haggard face told the story of the past few months.
Served with divorce papers, terminated from HFH, stripped of her leadership roles in the church, and crucified by the press; all had taken a toll on the once-proud woman.
Eyes darting around the sanctuary, she was clearly looking for an exit.
“Don’t even think of going out front.” Tomas jerked his head toward the door and kept talking while slowly approaching her. “You saw the ceremony. They’re having a great day. Don’t spoil it for them.”
She reared back. “I wouldn’t do that to my children.”
“Forgive me if I don’t believe you.” He’d cleared the end of the pew and was now less than five feet away. He balanced lightly on his feet, prepared to tackle her if necessary.
“You can’t stop me from seeing them.”
Tomas removed his jacket and hung it over the back of a pew.
Fiona had just bought it for him and would kill him if he split a seam.
“Actually, I can. Don’t think I won’t haul your ass out of here like an unwanted gate crasher.
Because that’s what you are. Unwanted.” He didn’t care if he was in a church.
He didn’t care if this was Fiona’s mother.
She was a conniving bitch who’d gotten off easy.
“Tomas! Are you coming?”
Fiona’s voice caused him to groan inwardly. She didn’t need this. Without her mother around, Fiona had relaxed. Her tightly held control had slipped, and she expressed herself more freely, being more demonstrative with those she cared for.
Two months ago, he’d arrived at her apartment after work to find that she’d moved all his clothes into her closet and dresser.
So, he moved in. Other than his drafting table and favorite coffee mug, he left everything behind for his sister Sylvie, who was taking over the lease.
On Fiona’s hand was the engagement ring he’d given her last night.
Fairly simple, a single large diamond set flush into the white gold band.
They hadn’t told anyone, and she wasn’t showing it off because it was Joseph and Andy’s day, but she wasn’t hiding it, either.
Swiftly, he moved to hide Linh Han from her daughter’s sight. Looking over his shoulder, he called, “Be right there.”
Fiona waved, her ring sparkling in the sunlight.
Linh Han hissed. “You’re engaged. How nice.”
“Yeah. Your worst nightmare. Your daughter’s gonna marry an uneducated Mexican.
And there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.
Despite you, our two families are working together, making homes possible for more immigrants.
So I gotta thank you. Your power play brought Fiona and me closer together, and it’s making this community a better place.
” He reached out to take her arm and escort her to the back door when his mother’s voice froze him in his tracks.
“I’ll get him.” The clack of high heels on the stone floor brought his mother closer. “Tomas, we’re waiting to go to the reception. Fiona needs to change, and you’ve got the keys.”
Scowling, Tomas stepped aside, allowing Linh Han to be visible to his mother and Fiona. “I was trying to get rid of her,” he muttered.
“Apparently, not hard enough.” Dressed in a red dress that hugged her curves, his mother looked great, although she clashed with the mint and peach wedding colors.
Glancing between the two older women, Tomas noticed differences that went beyond their choice of clothes.
Louisa Santiago glowed with health and well-being.
Her hair shone, her smile came easily, and she looked like a woman who was loved and was content with her life.
Linh Han’s features were tight and pinched.
She looked brittle, like she would blow away if the slightest wind kicked up.
Tomas doubted that she’d ever been happy.
Satisfied, maybe, but not happy. Now, she vibrated with barely controlled fury.
“You think you’ve won. You, with your?—”
“Enough Mother,” Fiona snapped. She looked around, then asked in a quieter voice, “Why are you here?”
Tomas caught his mother’s eye, and they moved to form a shield, blocking the tense conversation from the other wedding guests.
“I came to….” Linh Han darted a glance at Louisa, then back at Fiona, but didn’t finish.
“To apologize?” Fiona looked so hopeful Tomas held his breath.
It took so long to happen, and Linh Han’s nod was so tiny, he would have missed it if he’d blinked. The murmur of voices from outside the church drifted into the sanctuary as he, his mother, and Fiona waited for more.
“Well,” Linh Han finally said, “I’ll just?—”
Louisa smoothly blocked her from getting past them. “I’m pretty sure you have more to say to Fiona. Don’t you?”
Fiona trembled as she stared at her mother, hope slowly fading from her eyes to be replaced by disappointment. Tomas wanted to wring his future mother-in-law’s scrawny neck for doing that to her. Instead, he pulled Fiona into his side, prepared to do whatever she asked of him.
Linh Han caught the movement, her gaze locking on Fiona’s hand clutching his shirt before moving up to meet Tomas’s eyes.
In a voice barely above a whisper, she said, “I was wrong.”
Sagging against him, Fiona let out a tiny sob, and Tomas held her closer.
It was probably sunlight coming through the stained-glass window, but he thought he saw a sheen of tears in Linh Han’s eyes.
Knowing they’d be waiting all day if they expected more than that for an apology, he said, “Thank you.” Tension leaked from the moment like air from a balloon, and he loosened his shoulders.
Laughter rang out behind them, and Fiona’s mother craned her neck, trying to look past Louisa.
Dabbing at her eyes, Fiona pulled away and gestured to the group outside. “Do you want to say hello?”
He didn’t think it was a good idea, but Tomas kept his mouth shut.
Thankfully, her mother demurred. “Maybe not,” she replied and turned around.
She was almost at the side exit when Joseph’s voice rang out, “Mother? Is that you?” Andy close on his heels, Joseph hurried down the center aisle. “What are you doing here?” His voice was hard as his gaze flicked between his mother and sister.
Fiona stepped between them as her brother advanced. “She came to apologize,” she told him.
Joseph halted in his tracks, looking dumbfounded. “Really?” His head swiveled between Fiona, Tomas, and Louisa, then back to Fiona.
“Really,” she answered, “and there were witnesses.”
The wind went out of Joseph’s sails. “That’s…that’s good.” He reached behind him and took Andy’s hand. Wonder filled his voice as he said, “My mother is here. And she apologized.”
Andy patted his arm. “I heard.” He kissed his husband’s cheek and smiled like his carefully orchestrated day had not been disrupted. “Would you like to join us for dinner?”
Linh Han was shaking her head before he’d finished the question. “No, thank you. I don’t want to intrude.”
For weeks, moaning about the guest list and where to seat everyone had been the focus of Andy’s conversation. Yet he’d extended the invitation without gritting his teeth. Tomas rolled his eyes but managed to refrain from snorting. His mother gave him a look. “Behave,” she muttered.
“Nonsense,” Andy waved away the protest. “You’re family. There’s always room at the table.” He took Linh Han by one arm and Joseph by the other, leading them back down the aisle. Joseph turned back and smiled at Fiona, his lips forming a silent “Thank you.”
“Are you good?” Tomas asked, running a hand up and down her back and leading her through the pews.
Fiona sniffed and gave him a watery smile. “Yeah, but I’ve changed my mind,” she said as they stopped to pick up her bouquet and his jacket. “I’m not going to change. It will make Andy’s day if I wear this to the reception.”
His mother laughed. “Honey, you won’t be able to get into the truck. How are you going to get there?”
She had a point. With all the ruffles and hoops, Tomas doubted he’d be able to see out the windshield.
“I’ll stand in the back and hold on to the hood,” Fiona said. “Tomas can drive slowly, and I’ll wave like a prom queen.” She cocked her hand and gave a queenly wave, smiling through her smudged mascara.
“Uh-huh.” Voice full of skepticism, Louisa led them to where Carlos waited in the bright sunlight.
“Here.” Tomas tossed the truck keys to Carlos. “You drive.”
“What are you doing?” Fiona hoisted her skirt and hastened to catch up as he walked to the curb.
Pulling on his suit jacket, he grinned at her.
“Precious cargo.” Opening up the tailgate, he picked up Fiona and deposited her in the truck bed.
Jumping up, he closed the tailgate behind them and motioned her over.
“Stand here.” He caged her in between the truck cab and himself. “You wave, I’ll hold on.”
Laughter rang out as Carlos and Louisa climbed into the truck, and they drove slowly through town, Fiona waving when people stopped and stared.