19. Chapter 19
Cole
I sat at the enormous dining room table, hoping Sadie came down soon. Most of my siblings and their families were already here, and Grandma Vera. Alyssa was sitting next to Lainee, the two of them laughing together.
I assumed this dinner was to let everyone get to know Sadie and to talk about the wedding. I hoped she wasn’t too nervous to come. I felt guilty for distracting her today and letting her burn her hand.
Sadie came in wearing a long green dress that brought out her eyes. She looked nervous and hurried over to me. I stood and helped her with her chair.
“You look beautiful,” I whispered.
She gave a strained smile.
Emery toddled over and stuck her sticky hand on my leg.
“No, Em,” Travis said, starting to stand.
I scooped up my niece and put her on my lap. “No problem,” I said to my brother-in-law. I bounced my knee, and she squealed.
“Now who’s the fun uncle?” I asked.
“Me,” Dax, Chance, and Van said at the same time.
We all laughed.
Trace wasn’t here yet to put in his bid.
“This is Emery,” I told Sadie. “She’s Brynlee and Travis’s.”
Sadie smiled at her. “Hi, Emery. I’m Sadie.”
Emery grinned. “I like rainbow.”
“Nice. Me too.”
By the time Trace and Rylee showed up, I was ready to send Emery back toward her parents. She’d already sneezed on my plate, stuck her finger up my nose, and licked me.
The food was brought out, and we all started eating. I noticed Sadie watched me and copied what I was doing. Maybe she wasn’t sure what fork to use. I bet she hated this.
Alyssa didn’t seem to care what utensil she used, and Mom didn’t say anything, which I was grateful for.
Mom cleared her throat. “I’m glad you could all come. I’ve brought you all here for two reasons. One was to celebrate Sadie and Cole.”
Everyone clapped, and Trace whistled. Mom glared at him, but he pretended not to notice.
“The other reason,” she said, looking around at all of us, “is to tell you I’m getting married.”
The room went quiet, except for Jonathan, who was making babbling baby sounds.
“Married? You?” Lainee asked.
“Yes. To Henry Haskell.”
I blinked. I knew they had history, but I never thought Mom would marry someone she thought she was so far above.
“I have all of you to thank,” she said, looking at her plate.
“I know I’ve always been a little… particular.
When you all started marrying people who felt so wrong for you, but then I saw how happy you all were, it made me think.
I’ve been in love with Henry for a long time.
So long. And I didn’t let anyone know because of how I wanted people to perceive me. ”
We were all still stunned. Only Alyssa seemed unfazed as she ate her chicken.
Mom rubbed her lips together. “I hope you’ll all be kind to Henry. It’s going to be… different for him. He’s always lived alone and isn’t used to a big family.”
“You go, Mom,” Lainee said. “I’m happy for you.”
Nayvee gave a tight smile. “I’m willing to call him Dad.”
Mom gave her a small grimace.
“And there’s another thing,” she said. “Cole and Sadie, I’m hoping you can maybe postpone your wedding or do it this week. We’re planning to get married in three weeks, which is when you said you were going to do it.”
That figured. Mom might be having a moment of growth, but she was still Mom.
“I don’t mind,” Sadie said.
I did. But I wasn’t going to start a fight. Probably.
“I assume you want something small?” Mom asked. “Tasteful but small? We’ll take lots of pictures, of course, and invite the right people.”
I ground my teeth.
“I’d prefer small,” Sadie said.
“How small?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I don’t have anyone to invite but Alyssa.”
“Perfect,” Mom said. “How about two months from now?”
I needed the money now.
“How about tonight?” I asked, trying not to look as if I wanted to kick the wall.
Mom shook her head. “Don’t be ridiculous, Cole.”
“Everyone’s here. Why not?”
“You have no license, no rings, no clothes. It’s too late.”
“So? I’m sure you could make some calls. Get someone to open the city office and get the license.”
“That’s not necessary,” she muttered. “If you want to push it forward, give me a week.”
“No. Let’s do it tonight.” I glanced at Sadie. “What do you think?”
Her fork paused halfway to her mouth. “Whatever you want to do.”
“She at least needs a dress,” Brynlee said.
“I don’t care about a dress,” Sadie said.
“At least wait until tomorrow, Cole,” Lainee said. “Cruz and I are spending the night, so we’ll still be in town.”
I shook my head. “If you’re staying the night, I can’t stay in Cruz’s old apartment. That means we need to get married now.”
Mom’s eyes bore into me. “Fine. I’ll make some calls.”
Grandma Vera just watched, not saying anything.
Everyone started talking at once, and Mom left the room.
Sadie leaned closer. “It’s six. How will we get what we need?”
“Mom really does have connections. She can get people to do just about anything. She’ll have it all pulled together in an hour, tops. Are you really okay not having a fancy wedding?”
She shrugged. “The fewer people staring, the better.”
I hated the way she didn’t react. A big wedding. A rushed wedding. It didn’t seem to matter to her. No nerves. No disappointment. No excitement. Maybe it really was just a transaction for her. I couldn’t fault her for that. That was the agreement.
Sadie
My heart felt like it was trying to escape through my throat.
I was getting married in an hour.
One hour.
No planning. No dress. No ring. No time to think.
I was relieved it wouldn’t be in front of the entire town. I didn’t know anyone here. I didn’t want strangers watching me pretend.
But Cole deciding to throw together a last-second wedding didn’t exactly calm me down either.
I’d told him not to make it real. And what I’d really wanted was for him to look at me and say he was falling hard. That he wanted me forever. Not for money. Not for convenience.
If I weren’t the most confusing person alive, I didn’t know who was.
I looked in the mirror. I hoped wearing a borrowed green dress wasn’t bad luck. It was the fanciest dress I’d ever worn.
Alyssa stood in the doorway and frowned. “You know this is stupid? You could put it off.”
“No, we’re doing it.”
“Why? What’s the hurry?”
“Might as well get it done.”
She pushed off the doorframe and walked farther into the room. “Sadie, it’s not like scrubbing a toilet or filing paperwork. It’s not something you check off a list. It’s the beginning of the rest of your life.”
“Yes, and I’m ready to start this.”
“Are you? I feel a little guilty.”
I glanced at her. “Why?”
“I practically told the two of you to get married. Who knew you would both agree?”
I laughed. “You just made it easier. There’s no reason to put off what you want.”
“You really care about Cole?”
I thought it was odd she said care for instead of love, but that made it easier for me. “Yes.”
“And you want this?”
“Yes.”
“Fine.”
I gave her the most genuine smile I could come up with. “Fine? I thought you liked Cole.”
“I do. A lot. I just want you to be happy.”
“I’m happy. Just stressed. Big difference.”
“I didn’t realize Cole’s family was rich. I probably sounded stupid when I was going off about Hunter and his rich family. Cole’s house is way bigger. Did you know they were rich?”
I ran my fingers through my curls and didn’t make eye contact. “Yes.”
“Huh.”
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing. So you’re doing this?”
“I’m doing this.”
“Okay, then.”