CHAPTER 28
“A re you sure I should wear the ring?” Mallory asked Beckett for the fiftieth time in as many minutes.
Beckett fidgeted as she pulled him closer, holding him in place with her one hand while the other rummaged in her makeup bag. “I don’t think this is necessary,” he muttered, angling his face away from her foundation sponge. “And I told you yes, wear it please. I’m not going out with my fiancée without the engagement ring.”
Mallory swiped a blob of foundation under his eye before Beckett could wiggle free. “Hold still,” she ordered, wiping the excess off and attempting to blend. “I won’t have you looking like a hooligan who gets into bar fights at their rehearsal dinner.”
“Pfft, I’d probably get a little more respect from your father if I did,” Beckett grumbled, but it was half-hearted. They both knew her father, while not a fan of most humans, loved Beckett.
“Uh-huh, I’m sure you want to look like that when we tell my family.”
Mallory had been uncertain about when to tell her family about their engagement. Her parents didn’t really know their full history, and her sisters would likely bombard her with a million asinine questions. More importantly, she didn’t want to steal CeCe and Evan’s thunder. This was their weekend, after all.
Beckett finally stopped fidgeting and sat still while Mallory smoothed out the foundation. While still obvious to her, it was harder to see the bruise. “At least your face isn’t swollen anymore.” She slid his glasses back into place and nodded. “That’s actually not too bad.”
“Just what every man wants to hear from the woman he loves,” he droned, but winked to soften the blow. “Can I kiss you now?”
“Nope,” Mallory said with a smirk. “I just put on my own makeup. You’ll have to wait until tonight.”
“Wow, tonight is going to be torture.” Beckett pouted, but she knew there was no heat in his words. He was just as excited to celebrate Evan and CeCe as she was. Plus, they were about to go public with their own news.
When they’d gone over to CeCe and Evan’s place the night before, they both agreed that Mallory and Beckett needed to share their engagement while everyone was together. Yet again, Mallory was touched by CeCe’s willingness to share her happiness with others. She was no bridezilla, and if anything, she appreciated slightly less attention on her.
“Shoot, we need to go.” Mallory checked her smart watch and grimaced. She forgot they had an extra thirty minutes to drive now that they were at the farm house.
Beckett had canceled his lease and already had most of his stuff back at the house. Mallory reached out to her landlord and got a deal on breaking her lease. Fortunately, Janis knew a former patient that needed a place ASAP. Within a week, Mallory—and Fernando—would be living with Beckett full time at the farm.
No more secrets.
No more hiding.
Just a future with the man she loved.
How on earth did she get that lucky?
Beckett snagged her purse and held the front door open. “Your chariot awaits, Ms. Lawson.”
Mallory checked her hair in the mirror by the door, pausing to tuck a rogue lock back into place. She’d spent nearly an hour braiding and curling her hair for the evening. “You know what I’m looking forward to?”
“When I get to call you Mrs. Foxy?” Beckett smirked, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
“Um, maybe we’ll work on the married nicknames. Evan gave his blessing for us to live happily ever after. Let’s not take the poor guy’s nickname, too.”
Beckett chuckled. “Fair enough. C’mon, the future Mrs. Fox.” He looped his arm in hers and strode to the car.
By the time they made it to the diner, the place was bursting at the seams. Max had shut down for the night, and Ginny and Natalie had decorated. When they entered the space, it smelled like garlic and cheese, yet the lighting was low and the tables had votives and tasteful flower arrangements. Mallory couldn’t wait to see what the ladies had in store for the wedding day, because this was already stunning.
“Mal, over here!” Emily waved from across the diner. Tyson toddled around her, talking to himself while Zach tried to catch him. Their eldest sister, Sophie, emerged from the kitchen with an armful of wine bottles.
Beckett took Mallory’s jacket and hung it by the door. “I’ll go help Sophie before she drops one of those.” He stepped forward before Mallory could say a word. Damn this thoughtful man. It was nearly impossible not to kiss him when he acted this way.
“Hey, Em.” Mallory greeted her sister with a quick hug before squatting down to grab Tyson. “Got you,” she teased as she held her nephew, his legs kicking for purchase.
“Hey, Mallory,” Zach said, handing his wife a glass of wine before offering one to Mallory. “I’ll take this goober. You ladies enjoy.”
Mallory raised her hand to wave at Tyson, but Emily snatched her forearm. “Ouch,” she huffed as her sister tilted her hand and squinted.
“What. The. Hell. Is. This?” Emily’s question was slow and deliberate, and Mallory had to fight from squirming free. Her voice even lower, she hissed, “Did you just steal the bride’s ring? Ev’s going to freak out.”
Sophie, never one to miss sisterly drama, quickly joined them. “What’s going on?” Her focus was solely on Mallory, even though she was the one with a hand pulled against her back. Ah, the joys of sisterly dynamics.
“Um, can I please point out the fact that Emily’s the instigator?”
Sophie reached out and flicked Mallory on the forehead. “Ow!” She broke free of Emily’s hold and rubbed the spot with her left hand.
Finally, Sophie saw the ring and gasped. “Holy crap,” she exhaled, her eyes growing ten sizes. “What the hell is going on?”
Emily was triumphant. “That’s what I want to know.”
Mallory balled her hands at her sides and lifted her chin. “I have news, but I don’t want you two making a scene.”
“Fat chance of that happening,” Beckett said, joining the trio and handing Sophie her own wine glass. “Pretty much everyone in here is watching the Lawson sisters.”
Emily raised an eyebrow at Beckett. “You seem pretty happy.”
Rocking back on his heels, Beckett merely grinned. “Yep.”
“Why?” Emily asked, peering over her wine glass at him and Mallory. “In fact, you’re both too happy.”
Sophie snorted. “Can we please get to the issue of Mallory wearing...” Her words died on her tongue as realization dawned. “Holy shit,” she spluttered. “Holy shit!” She now exclaimed, drawing the attention of everyone in the diner.
Mallory grimaced, hating herself for forgetting her sisters and their flair for the dramatic. Before she could say anything, Emily burst into tears. “It’s happened, it’s finally freaking happened.”
“Girls.” Their mother arrived at the perfect moment to watch Emily’s mascara run down her face. “You’re making a scene, and I...” Flattening a hand over her heart, she stammered, “Emily, what’s the matter?”
Mallory opened her mouth to respond, but Emily beat her to the punch. “Beckett and Mallory are engaged.”
Sophie finished the announcement with, “And it’s about damn time.”
Their mother spun in a circle, unable to hold her gaze on more than one daughter at a time. Evan joined them, clapping his hand on Beckett’s back. “I guess this proves that literally everyone knew about you two except for me, huh?”
Beckett shrugged. “Looks like it?”
“Pamela?” Their father joined the fray and grasped his wife’s elbow. “You’re white as a ghost, what is going on?”
Reaching out, she snatched her youngest daughter’s hand and studied the ruby shining on her ring finger. Glancing up at Beckett, she quickly confirmed what she already knew. “Mallory and Beckett are engaged. Isn’t it wonderful?”
Her father recovered his shock quickly and reached out to shake Beckett’s hand. “Nice work, son. Welcome to the family.”
Mallory watched with pride as her family welcomed Beckett into theirs, officially. Despite her knowing they would love Beckett as one of their own, she knew Beckett needed to see—and experience—it for himself. He was far from alone in the world, and it was high time he understood that.
After ten minutes of applause and well wishes, the party got back to the focus that mattered—Evan and CeCe. Everyone took their seats and the happy couple celebrated their impending nuptials the only way they knew how, with copious amounts of food.
When the desserts were cleared, Mallory took Beckett’s hand and pulled him outside for a moment of peace. “That went surprisingly well.” She yanked him down by his tie and planted a kiss on his lips.
Beckett moaned his approval before pulling back and asking, “So I can mess up your makeup now?”
Mallory snorted. “Yes, you can, but maybe don’t grope me in front of my entire family?” She gestured toward the diner, where a row of Lawsons had their noses pressed to the windows. A chorus of cheers erupted when Beckett closed the distance and kissed her again.
“I love you, Mal,” Beckett said between kisses.
“I love you, too.” Mallory pulled back and sighed. “Now take me home and away from all these prying eyes.”
“With pleasure.” Beckett draped his arm around his shoulder and walked them toward the car.
Mallory couldn’t believe they’d made it here, but she was eternally grateful that they had. Her life only made sense when Beckett was a part of it. “I meant to ask you,” she said as she climbed into the car. Beckett hovered in the open doorway, the lights of the diner’s sign reflected in his glasses.
“What?”
“Your toast back there, what did that mean?”
Beckett flushed but didn’t break eye contact. “It was something Gramps had made me promise. He wanted me to go get my girl, and I was just telling Evan I was happy he found his as well.”
“That’s very sweet,” Mallory said, her heart swelling at the thought of sweet old Gramps. “Now take your girl home.”
“With pleasure.” Beckett leaned in and kissed her, short and chaste on the lips. She watched him round the car and slide behind the wheel, his free hand resting on her knee for the whole drive back to the farm.
As they drove down the gravel drive to the familiar house in the distance, Mallory felt something click into place. She was happy, really and truly content in the moment. All her fears had melted away when her family congratulated them that night. She and Beckett were about to start their lives together. Throughout it all, they’d found each other. They’d found their forever.