Chapter 17 - Loud, And Finally Safe
The wedding rehearsal was supposed to be simple.
That was everyone's second mistake.
The first mistake was giving Perth's mother full creative control.
By five in the evening, the Tanapon residence looked like a luxury event company had exploded inside it.
Fresh flowers covered nearly every surface. White roses climbed the staircase railings. Staff hurried through hallways carrying garment bags and trays of desserts.
Someone was testing violin music in the ballroom.
And somehow...
there were ice sculptures again.
Perth stood near the entrance holding Luke's tiny abandoned bowtie with visible exhaustion in his eyes.
His mother swept past him in silk and determination, not even slowing her pace. "Because swans symbolize eternal devotion," she replied smoothly. "And these ones were discounted."
Perth blinked slowly.
Santa pressed his lips together to stop himself from laughing.
Luke ran between them wearing only one dress shoe and a superhero cape.
"Daddy!" he shouted dramatically. "I lost my pants!"
Perth looked down at him.
"How do you lose your pants?"
Luke shrugged.
"They escaped."
Grandpa Tanapon lowered his newspaper slightly from the sitting area. "Reasonable explanation."
Santa laughed outright this time.
The sound pulled Perth's attention instantly. It always did now.
Seven years ago, Perth would have done anything to hear Santa laugh without fear in it. Now he heard it daily and still felt his chest tighten every single time.
The ballroom was chaotic.
Wedding planners whispered frantically near the stage.
Mix was somehow arguing with the florist, while Earth stood beside him apologizing to everyone on his behalf.
Earth rubbed his forehead tirelessly.
"Baby, please stop bullying them."
Luke climbed onto a chair nearby.
"I like the flowers," he announced proudly.
Mix pointed dramatically.
"See? The child has a taste."
Santa sat beside Mark near the corner table while staff adjusted lighting overhead.
Mark leaned closer.
"So... this is rich people stress."
Santa smiled faintly.
"It's terrifying."
Mark watched Perth across the room.
The CEO was currently being dragged into a seating arrangement discussion by his mother while Luke clung to his leg dramatically.
Warmth spread quietly through his chest.
Dinner rehearsal began an hour later.
That was when the real disaster started.
The long dining table glittered beneath chandelier lights.
Crystal glasses with gold trimmed plates, and enough silverware to confuse entire governments.
Luke stared at the table in awe.
"...Why are there so many forks?" he whispered loudly.
Perth sat beside him.
"I honestly don't know."
Grandpa Tanapon nodded once.
"Correct answer."
Perth's mother sighed dramatically from across the table.
"You people are impossible."
Luke leaned closer toward Santa.
"Papa," he whispered very seriously, "which fork is for nuggets?"
Santa nearly choked on water.
Mix slammed both hands against the table laughing, even Perth covered his mouth briefly.
The staff looked horrified but grandpa Tanapon looked impressed.
Halfway through dinner, Mix turned toward Perth with dangerous sweetness in his expression.
Earth closed his eyes immediately.
"Here we go."
Perth nodded calmly.
"Yes."
Perth paused.
"...Still working on the emotionally healed part."
Mix narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Luke looked between them curiously.
"Uncle Mix," he asked innocently, "are you threatening Daddy?"
Earth burst out laughing into his drink.
Mix gasped dramatically.
"I would never threaten your father at dinner."
A pause.
Santa buried his face in his hands.
Perth, somehow, looked amused.
Seven years ago, this version of life would have felt impossible. Now it sat around him warm and loud and real.
No one whispered behind Santa's back anymore, no one treated Luke like a secret, and no one looked at Perth and saw only money.
They looked like a family now. Although, it was messy and chaotic, but undeniably together.
Wedding planning somehow got worse over the next few days.
Lunaria Café became an unofficial headquarters.
Fabric samples covered tables.
Guest lists sat beside coffee cups.
Perth's mother had taken over the back booth entirely with color palettes and flower catalogs.
Mark wandered behind the counter one morning carrying six ribbons.
"I think your future mother-in-law has declared war."
Santa laughed softly while steaming milk. "She means well."
Luke stood on a chair near the pastry display wearing a tiny notepad around his neck.
Perth walked in carrying coffee for Santa and immediately stopped.
"...Why is our son holding a clipboard?"
Luke pointed toward the workers dramatically. "Quality control."
Perth nodded thoughtfully.
"Understandable."
Santa smiled helplessly into his cup.
Cake tasting nearly destroyed Perth mentally.
The consultant placed another sample carefully in front of him. "This one is vanilla bean with strawberry cream."
Perth stared blankly.
"There are more?"
Santa laughed so hard tears formed in his eyes.
Earth leaned back comfortably.
"I've never seen a CEO lose the will to live over frosting."
Mix patted Perth's shoulder sympathetically. "You were brave."
Luke shoved an entire spoonful of cake into his mouth. "This one tastes like happiness."
Everyone turned toward him.
The consultant gasped softly.
"That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me."
Grandpa Tanapon quietly pointed toward the chocolate option.
"The child has good instincts. Choose that one."
That evening, after everyone finally left, Lunaria settled back into quiet.
The warm yellow lights glowed softly against the windows.
Outside, Bangkok traffic hummed endlessly beneath the dark sky.
Luke slept curled in the corner booth beneath a blanket, stuffed shark tucked against his chest.
Santa stood behind the counter wiping cups slowly while Perth stacked chairs nearby.
Badly.
Still badly.
Santa watched him struggle with amusement. "You're doing it wrong."
Perth looked offended immediately.
"I own multiple companies."
Perth walked toward him slowly, abandoning the chairs entirely.
Perth smiled faintly.
"You look happy." he said gently.
Santa stilled slightly, because years ago, he never imagined happiness would feel this safe.
He looked around the café quietly.
At the messy planning folders.
At Luke sleeping peacefully nearby.
At Perth standing in front of him without distance between them anymore.
Perth wrapped an arm around his waist carefully, naturally.
"Safe though."
Santa leaned into him instinctively.
Outside the windows, the LUNARIA sign glowed warmly against the night.
A place once built to hide had slowly become the center of something beautiful.