Chapter Thirteen
As the family made their usual rounds on Christmas Eve, visiting friends and making appearances at some of the events taking place in town and back at the Inn, Ben couldn’t help thinking that the situation felt kind of strange. Everywhere they went, Lara was the center of attention.
And the crazy thing about it?
She didn’t seem to mind.
Ben had to fend off more than one guy who was asking if she was seeing anyone, and for some reason, he was ready to punch each one of them in the nose, including one of his friends. His sister was fragile. She didn’t need guys putting the moves on her right now.
What she did need to do was adjust to her new persona.
No more black spiked hair, or dog collars or even black clothes. Mom had gone to her friend Rene who owned the boutique and had asked for a few recommended items. Apparently, Aylin, the girl that Lara had bonded with had been working there this morning, so she’d gathered a selection of clothes that she thought would look good on Lara.
And Ben had wondered…
Nah. That would be too much of a coincidence. It couldn’t be her . Ben had already drilled Rene about her employees the previous night, and the girl that he’d seen through the window hadn’t been one of them.
“Ben?” Dad’s look was quizzical.
“Hey, Dad. What’s up?”
“I thought I’d let you know that we haven’t been able to get a name for the person that was driving that car you saw the other day. The car wasn’t actually a rental, but was owned by a southern-based company, so we’re trying to uncover the company’s owner.”
“I’m surprised that you’re going to that much trouble,” Ben replied, puzzled.
“Well, normally I wouldn’t.” Dad grimaced. “One of those men that you caught on camera came back tonight flagged by Homeland Security.”
“What?” Ben’s eyes went wide.
“That’s all I know. I don’t have that high of a security clearance to be able to insert myself into this, but I know a few people who do. I’m trying to get someone to talk to me because, after all, he was here at our Inn. If there’s trouble brewing, I need to know.”
“Which one was it. The older guy?”
Dad nodded. “They’re digging deep into the younger one too. I’ve run him through the law enforcement data base and got nothing, but now I’m hitting all the agencies.”
Dad squeezed his shoulder. “I know I said it before but that was a really good catch, Ben.”
Ben grimaced. “Even though we’re still basically clueless?”
“Even though,” Dad agreed, nodding.
* * *
It was Christmas Day, and as they did every year after opening gifts at home, the family had celebrated with an early dinner at the Inn.
“I can’t believe you’re dragging me to see a wedding,” Ben said dryly, glancing at Lara.
They’d finished dinner and Mom and Dad were both socializing in the restaurant with guests.
“I’m not dragging you to a wedding,” Lara muttered, yanking him through the restaurant toward the Inn’s lobby. “I just want you to come along to see my friend Aylin’s sister-in-law walk down the staircase in the wedding gown Aylin designed. There’s going to be a photographer taking pictures too. Maybe I’ll even introduce you to Aylin. I think you’d like her.”
Ben groaned but grinned as Lara continued to tug him into the lobby. It was great seeing her behave so much like she used to.
There were several people waiting around the lobby. Ben assumed they would be attending the wedding but were there to transport the bride and bridesmaids to the chapel.
Finally, the bride came walking down the tall grand staircase, looking beautiful with the length of the gown spread wide behind her across the steps, a huge bouquet of red roses and some kind of two-tone cream and red lilies in one hand, while the other was clasping the top of the mahogany staircase railing.
Cameras snapped as two different photographers took pictures, while someone positioned her into several different poses along the staircase.
“Doesn’t she look beautiful, Ben? I can’t remember the last time we had a bride walk down the staircase like that and make an entrance.”
“Come to think of it, you’re right. If I ever get married, I’ll try to remember to pose on the staircase beforehand,” Ben teased, giving Lara a side glance since she was most obviously distracted.
She suddenly snorted, whacking him not so lightly on the arm with her purse.
He laughed. Yep. Lara was back.
Ben humored her as she watched the pictures being taken, the bride eventually posing in the lobby.
“Here come the bridesmaids,” Lara whispered, amidst the oos and ahhs.
“Pretty,” Ben observed. He really meant it too. All were dressed in velvety red gowns, with dainty little accents of holly and berries.
Pictures were being taken of each bridesmaid more quickly. Apparently, they needed to be on their way to the chapel.
And Ben finally understood why they’d gone through the trouble of having a grand entrance, or rather exit, when he looked outside past the breezeway.
“Are my eyes deceiving me, Lara, or is that a horse drawn carriage outside?”
Lara’s jaw dropped. “Oh, Ben. It’s like a Christmas fairytale.”
Ben grinned, turning back to the bridesmaids.
And then suddenly, he couldn’t believe his eyes. It was her .
She smiled, her gaze meeting his.
Ben looked around to make sure that she wasn’t smiling at someone else.
“It’s Aylin, Ben. She’s the one on the staircase.” Lara gave Ben a side glance. “You’ve got the stupidest look on your face right now.”
“Is she smiling at me or you?”
Lara laughed. “I knew you’d like her.”
He snorted. “What’s not to like. She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
“She is,” Lara agreed, waving at Aylin, who smiled widely, waving back as soon as the photographer snapped some quick shots. “I’d introduce you, but I think they’re already being escorted outside. I see that someone is collecting all the bouquets so the flowers don’t freeze.”
Ben also saw that all the ladies had matching faux fur coats that they would be wearing to the church. Someone was doling them out and assisting the bride and each bridesmaid tug one on.
He kept staring at Aylin, who appeared to be looking back.
When she suddenly winked, Ben began laughing.
“Did she just wink at you, Ben?” Lara asked, grinning.
“I sure hope so,” Ben muttered, most definitely smitten.
“She probably did it because of the way you’re staring at her. I’ve never seen you act like such a geek.”
And much to his surprise, Lara cracked up, laughing.