Chapter 29 #2
“You have to watch out for Wynter, though,” Naomi says with an affectionate glance toward our youngest member. “She’s the problem.”
“Whatever,” Wynter says disdainfully. “I’m the comic relief around here.”
“That you are, love,” Adrian says with a grin.
While the others fill Taylor in on some of Wynter’s more outrageous moments, I turn to Angela, who’s standing next to me, vibrating with tension. Her arms are crossed, as if that alone can protect her. “How’re you doing?”
“Never been better.”
“We’re glad you came.”
“I almost didn’t.”
“We would’ve missed you.”
“I feel like everyone is looking at me.”
“No one is looking at you, and if they do, we’ll poke their eyes out.”
She laughs. “I need to hire you guys to go everywhere with me.”
“We’d do it for free. What’s happened to you and Brad is outrageous and offensive.”
“Thank you for your support. It’s meant a lot to me.”
“How’s he holding up?”
“It’s been rough for both of us, but having his sister-in-law spouting off and questioning his loyalty to his late wife has been brutal.”
“I took great pleasure in telling her to shut her mouth and pray she’ll never be the one mourning a lost spouse while trying to put her life back together.”
“That was well said.”
“Tell me you’re not letting the haters win.”
“We’re trying to stay focused on the truth and what matters. Despite that, it’s taken a toll on our new friendship. I’m hoping we’ll work through it, but I’m not sure.”
She looks so dejected. My heart goes out to her. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I am, too. I was enjoying the time with him. He understands where I’m at and how I feel like no one else in my life can. There’s comfort in that, you know?”
Before I can answer, Luke returns from the restroom mission with Phoebe. “Hey, Angela. I’ve been thinking about you and your friend this week. People freaking suck.”
“That’s a fact,” she says. “I’m getting a drink since I’m going home with Roni and Derek and don’t have to drive.”
“Make it a double,” I tell her. “You deserve it.”
She smiles. “Yes, I do.”
After she walks away, I turn my attention to Luke. “What a dreadful situation.”
“It’s horrible. People need to mind their own damned business.”
“Wouldn’t that be nice?”
The band leader asks us to take our seats so we can greet the wedding party. Those of us with children in attendance supervise getting them to seats and remind them of their manners before returning to our table nearby.
“They’re so excited to sit with the other kids,” Luke said. “Hopefully, Phoebe can hold it together. I put Beckham in charge of her.”
“I’m sure they’ll be fine.”
“I worry that I rely on him too much. He’s only eight, but he loves being the big brother and is very protective of the others.”
As he says that, Beckham leans over to listen to something his brother, Nolan, is telling him before picking up the napkin Phoebe dropped on the floor.
I pat Luke’s arm. “Exhale. They’ll be fine. And if they’re not, we’re right here.”
“True. Thanks for the reminder.” He takes a drink of water and makes a visible effort to relax. I already know he doesn’t drink at all if he’s driving his kids, so he’ll be sticking to water. I’m allowing myself one glass of wine early in the evening before I have to drive the kids home.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming our wedding party. First up, put your hands together for all the parents of the bride and groom!”
We clap for Gage’s parents, Iris’s mother and stepfather and for Mimi and Stan, all of whom are beaming as they come into the reception room. I absolutely love that Gage included Natasha’s parents in this group.
“And now for our matron of honor and best man, Roni Connolly and Derek Kavanaugh!”
The Wild Widows hoot and holler for our friends, who are smiling as they head for the seats we saved for them.
“Next up, let’s welcome Tyler, Sophia and Laney Levington!”
They’re greeted with a huge ovation that delights them. Tyler leads the way, holding hands with his younger sisters. They’re absolutely adorable.
Iris’s mother shows them to their seats at the kids’ table.
“And now, for the moment we’ve all been waiting for, let’s have a huge welcome for our bride and groom, Gage and Iris, Mr. Collier and Mrs. Levington-Collier!”
The newly married couple are positively beaming with happiness as they come in holding hands and waving to their guests. They go right into their first dance as husband and wife.
As the band launches into “Your Song” by Elton John, Luke goes stiff next to me.
“What’s wrong?”
“Our fucking song,” he whispers. “Mine and Bella’s.”
Under the table, I reach for his hand and hold on tight. “You want to go get some air?”
“I can’t leave the kids.”
“I’ll ask Brielle to keep an eye on them.”
“Yeah, okay.”
I lean over to whisper to Brielle. “Luke is triggered by the song. We’re going to get some air. Will you keep an eye on the kids?”
“I got you covered. Go ahead.”
“Thanks.”
I release his hand but give his arm a tug. “Come on.”
The kids are watching the bride and groom and don’t notice when we sneak out of the room.
We step into the foyer, and Luke takes deep breaths of the chilly air in the unheated space. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting that.”
“No need to apologize, and of course you weren’t.”
“Stuff like that… When it comes out of nowhere, it’s always a gut punch.”
“Sure is. I was in the car last week, and Rory’s favorite song came on. I hadn’t heard it in a while, and it hit me hard. A million memories all at once.”
“That’s exactly it. What song was his favorite?”
“‘Southern Cross’ by Crosby, Stills and Nash.”
“That’s a great one. I sang ‘Your Song’ to Bella at karaoke when we were first dating. It was our song from then on.”
“You can sing?”
“When did I say that?”
I laugh. “I see how it is.”
“I made a mess of it, but she loved how I got up there and gave it my all.”
“I’ll bet she did.”
When tears fill his eyes, he shakes his head. “So fucking crazy how a few notes of a song can undo an otherwise pretty good day.”
“Widowhood is a minefield of memories waiting to come for us with no warning.”
“That it is.” He makes a visible effort to shake off the melancholy. “I think I forgot to tell you how beautiful you look tonight.”
Whoa, didn’t see that coming. “Thank you.” I’ll never admit to having gone all out, with a hair appointment this morning and a new dress purchased with him in mind that leaves one shoulder bare and clings to all the right places.
“I should’ve said that the first time I thought it, which was in the parking lot when we first arrived.”
Smiling, I put my hand on his bicep. “Are you going to be okay?”
“I’m better than I was. Thanks for getting me out of there.”
“Any time.” A shiver runs through me from the chilly air in the foyer.
He removes his suit coat and drapes it over me, enveloping me in a rich, male scent that makes me want to wallow in it. Would it be weird to sniff his jacket? Shut up, Kinsley.
“Thank you.”
He looks over my shoulder, toward the room where the festivities are proceeding without us. “I should get back. The kids…”
“Are fine. If they need you, Brielle will find us. Take another minute, Luke.”
He inhales a deep breath and lets it out slowly. “This is the stuff you can’t understand until it happens to you. The people coming for Angela and Brad… They’re so lucky they don’t know what it’s like.”
“And they don’t even know how lucky they are.”
“Most of them will never know.” He reaches for my hand and links our fingers. “Not like we do.”
My heart skips a crazy beat from the way he looks at me.
“This, with us… It feels good, doesn’t it?”
I nod as I try not to completely lose my shit. “It does.”
“Will you dance with me tonight, Kinsley?” he asks with a shy grin that’s so adorable, I can’t take it.
“Yes, Luke, I’ll dance with you.”