35. Noah
Noah
Out of all the days for this town to live up to its “slow town” mantra, today really was the worst for it.
I had a meeting that ran late this morning to finalize my surprise for Bailey, and my phone died, leaving me unable to check in with anyone.
I pulled into the inn, my eyes scanning the grounds that had been transformed into a whimsical summer ceremony.
Light blue hydrangeas took over the space, hanging from every available surface, and overhead Edison lights wove over the guests’ heads.
It was perfect. It was the exact setup I could see in my future with Bailey, although I was sure she’d prefer soft lilacs.
The ceremony started in ten minutes, and I quickly searched for Bailey. I turned toward the inn, wondering if she was inside, when Eli pulled me aside.
“You need to find Bailey. Now,” he said.
An unfamiliar seriousness colored his tone, and I knew that something was wrong.
“What’s going on? Where is she?” I asked urgently.
“I don’t know, but her parents and her ex showed up, and it was a cluster.”
I blinked. “Her parents and her ex? What the hell are they doing here?”
Eli sighed. “Her parents are a real piece of work, by the way. Entitled and rude—and that’s me being polite.”
I ran my hands through my hair. Fuck, I needed to find my girl.
I entered the lobby and saw Bailey crouched on the floor, smoothing out Emory’s veil.
“Hi, Emory. You look absolutely stunning,” I said.
She smiled back at me. “I know.”
Okay then.
I crouched next to Bailey.
“Hi, peaches. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here earlier. How can I help?”
She looked up at me, and despite her best efforts, I could tell she had cried.
“Let me get someone else to finish helping Emory so you can take a break,” I suggested.
“No,” she snapped. “I know you think I’m incapable, but I can handle this.”
I stepped back, giving her space. It had been a long day and would be an even longer night, and her agitation was fairly warranted.
I lowered my voice so Emory wouldn’t hear.
“Eli told me about your parents and Caleb. You don’t have to handle them alone anymore. I’d actually love to meet them and give them a taste of their own medicine.”
“Oh, I’m sure you and my parents will get along swimmingly,” she retorted, sarcasm slipping through in a way I didn’t expect.
“I’m going to go check on Grant and Eli, but if you need me, I’m here. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing,” I said softly.
Bailey stood, gently guiding Emory toward the front doors to link up with her father.
“We can talk later,” she said, hardly sparing me a glance.
I watched the ceremony from the back of the lawn, taking in the guests’ awed looks as Emory walked down the aisle. I spotted a woman toward the front, with dark hair pinned back and piercing eyes. She looked like Bailey.
A breeze rolled across the grass, lifting the draping Bailey had insisted on adding to the arbor at the last minute. It caught the light just right, softening the late-afternoon sun into something cinematic. The string quartet swelled, and guests swooned and sniffled over the bride.
I scanned the perimeter, taking in how everyone on staff knew exactly what to do—all thanks to Bailey.
She stood off to the side, close enough to jump in and help but far enough away not to steal any of the spotlight.
Not like she had to worry about that with me.
No one would ever compare when she was in the room.
A ripple of laughter floated through the chairs when the officiant made a joke, and Emory beamed up at her groom like the world had narrowed to the two of them.
The vows began, earnest and unsteady, spilling out in a way that made the whole thing feel real in a raw, unguarded way.
I wondered if Bailey would ever let herself do that.
Say the quiet things out loud. I felt my old ache resurface.
The one that said if you held on too tightly, people left.
And if you didn’t hold on at all, they drifted anyway.
Was I holding on to Bailey too tightly?
The new couple walked back up the aisle in a haze of petals and laughter, and the crowd parted like the sea for them. Bailey exhaled, and I could see the physical reaction of understanding that she had pulled this off.
Servers moved in seamless choreography, flipping the ceremony space into cocktail hour, and guests migrated toward the bar, marveling at the sunset spilling gold over the lawn. It truly was the most stunning wedding I had ever seen.
I drifted toward Bailey—my natural state of being—and gently pressed my hand to the small of her back. She stiffened and took one step forward, separating from my touch. My brows furrowed.
“I’m so proud of you, baby. Everything you’ve done has been impressive, but this? This will be talked about for ages.”
She turned toward me, a sort of resignation marring her face.
“Where were you earlier?” she asked softly.
“I had a meeting in town that ran late, and I forgot to charge my phone when we went to bed last night.”
She hummed, rolling her lips between her teeth.
“Is there anything you want to tell me? Your girlfriend, whom you promised never to keep anything from?”
Shit. She must have found out somehow.
“I was going to—”
I cut myself off when a couple came our way.
The woman who looked like Bailey had her hand looped through the elbow of a man I assumed was her husband.
Both of them were dressed impeccably, as if their clothes were meant to be showcased, not lived in.
A younger man trailed behind them in an ill-fitting suit, jaw tight, expression sour.
They stopped directly in front of us; no hug or friendly acknowledgment. Ma would’ve been appalled.
“Bailey,” the woman said, “aren’t you going to introduce us to—”
“This is Noah. My boss.” It hurt like hell that she introduced me that way. “Noah, this is my mother, Stacy, and my father, Jack.”
I forced my expression to be neutral and extended my hand.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” I said.
Her father shook it, his grip firm, but he had to lift his chin up to meet my eyes. Good. Let him feel small.
I stepped behind Bailey, letting her know I was here for support but would let her lead the conversation. Her mother’s eyes narrowed at our close proximity.
“Noah, it was so kind of you to let Bailey work here this summer,” she said. “I’m sure the experience she gained will be instrumental when planning events for my husband’s company.”
I felt Bailey stiffen beside me.
“I earned this position, Mom. No one gave it to me.”
Stacy stepped closer, smile tightening. “And did you earn a full-time contract? I haven’t heard any updates on that…wishful endeavor.”
I stepped forward, ready to clear the record.
“No, I haven’t,” Bailey said first.
“That’s not—” I interjected.
“But I’m not going to work for Dad’s company either,” Bailey said.
Her father’s face flushed red, and I could see her mother’s right eye begin to twitch.
“What exactly do you expect to do out here, Bailey? In the middle of nowhere, Tennessee? What kind of a career can you make out here?” her mother demanded.
Caleb cleared his throat as if he would be able to keep the peace. Arrogant prick.
“Bails,” he said, attempting softness. “I know you’re worried about working with your ex, but…it doesn’t have to be like that. I’ve missed you. We can fix whatever broke between us.”
“Whatever broke—” Bailey started.
I saw the exact second something snapped behind Bailey’s eyes. She whirled around, marching over to Grant at the bar. She leaned forward, whispering something in his ear, and the next thing I knew, she downed a shot of tequila, her throat working as she swallowed.
Fuck, why was that so hot?
She returned with a fire in her eyes and a confidence I had only gotten to view on occasion.
“You never supported me,” she said to Caleb. “You actively gaslit and berated me. You told me I was lucky you tolerated my ambition. Not to mention the cheating.”
Caleb’s face drained.
“People love me here,” she continued, looking at her parents now.
“Not because I had to earn it or put on some performance. They admire me for being myself—and that’s more than I can say for any of you.
You don’t get to show up here and question what I’m building when you’ve never once asked what makes me happy. ”
Her father’s jaw clenched.
“You won’t get any help from us, Bailey. If this is what you want to pursue—what you want to foolishly chase—there won’t be a backup plan or savings account to help you out,” her father stated.
Bailey inhaled slowly.
“Good,” she said. “Because I don’t want one.”
“She won’t need it either,” and everyone turned as Ma’s voice rang out.
A quiet ripple moved through the nearby guests, and Ma stood a few feet away, arms crossed, expression deceptively calm.
“I came late and tried to stay out of it,” she said. “But I draw the line at anyone threatening my people on my property.”
Bailey’s mother looked appalled. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” Ma replied sweetly. “This young woman has worked her tail off. She built this event. She’s built a reputation in this town, and if you can’t see her value, it sounds like a you problem.”
Grant whooped somewhere behind the bar.
Her father bristled. “We’re her parents.”
“And that’s a real shame right now,” Ma shot back.
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from grinning. Bailey was staring at my mother like she’d been handed something she didn’t know how to accept.
Ma stepped closer, all five-foot-one of her radiating authority.
“Now,” she said calmly, “y’all can either enjoy the reception quietly or get the hell off my property.”
Her father sputtered, and her mother looked downright murderous. Caleb looked like he wished the grass would swallow him whole. A beam of pride hit me at how incredible my family was.
We were messy and chaotic, but damn did we love each other.