Chapter 53 – Mabel
Chapter Fifty-Three
MABEL
“You better fucking stop.” Elle’s voice holds no venom but she is glaring at Lola.
From my current position, squatting behind Elle to fasten the buttons down the back of her gown, but I stop my task to lean to the side to see what’s going on with Lola.
Her reflection in the mirror, standing next to Elle and clipping in a veil, shows off how glassy her eyes are.
I can see the tears ready to spill. The glare Elle is shooting her is almost loving. Definitely loving adjacent.
“If you start to cry, I’m going to cry then Lola’s going to murder us and won’t have anyone to stand with her.” My voice is teasing but I’m right on the edge of letting some tears go, the only thing keeping me in control is focusing on all these damn buttons.
There are a million of them and my hands are starting to get clammy with the stress of getting these all done.
My anxiety has been rearing its ugly head again lately and my brain is convincing me that I’m never going to get all these buttons done. I’m going to try and speed up and accidentally rip something, ruining her dress forever and Elle is going to be so upset she’s going to declare the weddings off .
Patrick is going to be so distraught that he immediately quits working at the Farm, the Farm’s reputation is going to go up in flames because we won’t have tours available any longer.
This, of course, will send us into bankruptcy which will ruin my relationship with Lola because I ruined her life’s work.
Paul would pick the side of his twin, of course.
With everything else that had happened, I’d no longer be able to keep it a secret that I was half-way in love with Jude before he dropped me like a sack of potatoes .
I’d be left sharing custody of Mama, she’d always love me, but it would only be in secret because all my other siblings hate me and she couldn’t betray them like that.
I finally get the last freaking button clasped and I can breathe. “All done!” I proudly exclaim. I struggle for a moment to stand, my legs tired from squatting for a million years.
“Maid of honor down!”
My legs are shaky and I reach out to grab something stable to help me up. Lola rushes over and uses her farm strength to get me steady, once my feet are safely under me she wraps her arms around me in a tight hug.
“For the last time, co-maid of honor.” The three of us break into a fit of giggles. The door to our dressing room swings open and Mama walks in, tears already falling.
“My babies.” She chokes out before pulling us all into a hug. “Alright, girls. It’s time to get to work.” Mama releases me and Lola, keeping her hands on Elle’s shoulders for a few minutes. Lola pulls me out of the room to give them a moment.
We make our way closer to the aisle. Patrick is standing with Paul and Jude, his shoulders are a little tense but when we join him, he jolts, excitement clear on his face.
“Almost showtime, you ready New Guy?” I waggle my eyebrows at my soon to be brother-in-law before stepping into him and giving him a hug.
Lola is quick to follow once I’ve released him.
“I’ve never been more ready.”
The ceremony is perfect. Patrick dropped to a crouch, tears like a waterfall, the second Elle started walking down the aisle towards him. My grumpy little sister was able to hold it together until the vows. Her hands shook as she slipped Patrick’s ring onto his finger.
It was everything.
“You’re married!” It’s the first time Patrick hasn’t been glued to Elle’s side and I take the opportunity to hug attack him. Patrick’s happy laugh rings out and he wraps his arms around, spinning me in a circle.
Once my feet are on the ground, Patrick angles us so Elle in his view. All the good feelings that have been keeping me going today pop like a balloon when I see Jude standing next to Elle, seemingly in a serious conversation.
Or just a regular conversation, those two are a pretty serious pair.
“I can’t wait for yours.” Patrick’s statement surprises me, all I can do is laugh.
“Yeah, I don’t think that’s happening any time soon. Paul and Anika are much more likely to get together than me walking down the aisle at this point.” The truth of that statement hurts more than I’d expected.
“That’s not true, Mabel.” Patrick’s voice takes on a sharper tone than I ever heard. I shrug, nothing more to say.
I can’t stop my eyes from searching out Jude, a beat later Elle and Jude are both looking at us.
I force a glare to hide how much it hurts to look at him.
It hurts to know that even though Jude decided he was done with me, I still want him with every fiber of my being.
“I must go to my bride.” I nod, too emotional to say anything else at the moment, Patrick squeezes my bicep before crossing the reception area to Elle.
I can’t stop watching Jude now that I’m alone.
My heart is racing, a fire burning lower in my gut as I fully take in how good Jude looks in his fancy wedding clothes. I don’t care what happened between us, I need him at least one more time. I can only hope he’ll take a small amount of pity on me and give me this.
Determined, I watch as Mama leaves Jude to stand alone and I take the opportunity to sneak towards him. As soon as I’m close enough, his familiar smell overwhelms me, the feeling of home spreads through my bones. I reach into my bra and pull out the key to my house tucked inside.
I didn’t want to have to carry any kind of bag today and the bra I’m wearing is padded to the gods, so my key in one cup and phone in the other are perfectly camouflaged.
As discreetly as possible, I take the key in my hand and slide it into Jude’s pocket.
Savoring the warmth of his body so close, I whisper as close to his ear as I can get.
“I need you inside me. Meet me in the house in fifteen minutes.” I don’t wait for a response, too nervous he’s going to reject me.
I shuffle away, intent on getting my good-byes done as soon as possible.
Thankfully, all the major wedding events have come and gone.
Anika and Henry have already left, I doubt claiming exhaustion will raise any red flags.
Hugs, kisses, and more well wishes for the happy couple and I’m ready to head home, arousal and the fear of being hurt all over again warring in my stomach.