Chapter Thirty
Sadie
“I can’t decide which one I like best,” I said after sampling everyone’s pie.
“Hey.” Beckett elbowed me. “You’re automatically supposed to say you like mine best.”
“Oh, right. Of course.” I pressed my hands together. “My apologies.” I turned to face Hunter who had been the one to ask me to choose a favorite. “The pumpkin pie is my favorite.”
“I like the ice cream one the best,” Amelia said.
“But I made the peanut butter pie per your request, Tiny,” Isaac said.
“I like that one too, Daddy.” Amelia swiped at her hair to get it out of her way. “But Uncle Joshua used moose tracks ice cream and I looove moose tracks ice cream.”
“That’s why I used moose tracks ice cream.” Joshua winked at Amelia, making her wiggle in her seat.
“Thanks!” She eyed the pies still on the table. “Can I have another piece of the ice cream pie?”
“Sure.” Logan got up and grabbed Amelia’s empty plate. “There are no limits on Pie Dinner Night.”
“I’m sending her to you when the sugar high comes,” Isaac said.
“That’s fine,” Ashley said. “Logan will be just as off the wall when the sugar high comes for him. I’ll toss them both outside until they become human again.”
Logan let out a monster growl that sent Amelia into a fit of giggles and the rest of us chuckling. “We’ll go to Amelia’s play area and swing on the swings until we reach outer space.”
“Yay! I want to swing to outer space!” Amelia clapped, but the moment the ice cream pie landed in front of her, she got busy shoveling it into her mouth.
“I’m going to jog around the entire property tomorrow in an attempt to undo the damage from Pie Dinner,” Sylvie said. “Who wants to join me?”
Most of us groaned at the thought of jogging while our bellies were full of pie to near busting, but Joshua said, “Count me in.” He then pressed a kiss to Sylvie’s cheek.
I looked around this table packed with Hartleys and their loved ones, adoring how they cared about each other and supported each other and had fun with each other.
My own family had never been like this, even before Maeve died, but that was changing a bit now.
My cancelled wedding had been a catalyst for so much.
My father had started listening to me a bit more. Really listening and not dismissing my ideas. He was tuning into my mother more too, mainly because she was finally speaking up about matters that were important to her. It had been lovely to see her come to life.
Cian had softened as well. Finally admitting out loud that Maeve had been his true love had healed something inside him.
He was still heartbroken, but I had the sense he was on the road to recovery.
My father had given him an important position in his council, and though it wasn’t as much power as being married to me, the opportunity was still amazing and one that brought about the alliance Cian’s father and mine had been working towards.
I didn’t worry anymore that Cian plus power would equal dismay for the people of Verdalach.
Instead, I had hope. Hope that all these changes would bring about better lives for all Verdalachians.
I’d agreed to travel back now and then to take part in government affairs. My parents hadn’t fought me when I’d announced that I would be making Vermont my permanent home so I could be with Beckett.
“You two are a wonderful match,” my mother had said. “America might be on to something with their policy of letting people choose their mates.” She’d taken my hands in hers. “And you’ve chosen wisely. I can see how much Beckett loves you and how much you love him, and that’s how it should be.”
“Do you love my father?” I’d asked her.
“I didn’t,” she’d begun, but a small smile grew in intensity on her face as she looked at my father who had been laughing with a group of dignitaries. “But I think I can love this version of him.”
I couldn’t wait to see how that developed when I visited Verdalach again.
Jimmy slid his chair back and slowly stood. He smoothed his hands down the front of his Prince Charming costume and cleared his throat.
“Excuse me,” he said. “Can I have everyone’s attention?”
I’d never seen this family quiet so quickly. Of course, most of them knew what was about to happen.
Except for one.
“Can I get you more pie, Jimmy?” Mrs. Hartley asked. “More coffee?”
Jimmy shook his head. “No. I only have room for one more thing and it’s not pie or coffee.”
“You want a sandwich or something?” Mrs. Hartley asked, and we all chuckled.
“Quit trying to feed me, Beth,” Jimmy said with a laugh.
Mrs. Hartley put her hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay. I feed people. So sue me.” She adjusted her tiara before settling her hands back in her lap.
Jimmy reached down, however, and took one of her hands, gently tugging her up to her feet. “You do feed people,” he said. “You feed them, you accept them, you turn them from the town’s rumored serial killer into respectable gentlemen.”
We all snickered at that as Mrs. Hartley wiggled their joined hands.
“You did that all on your own, Jimmy,” she said.
“No,” Jimmy said. “I wouldn’t have had a reason to change without the attention you’ve given me.
I was pretty miffed that day my bag of groceries ripped and everything tumbled out onto the supermarket’s parking lot, but when you came to help pick it all up, Beth .
. .” He put his free hand to his chest. “You stole my heart. I wanted to do whatever it took to be worthy of you.”
“Oh, Jimmy . . .” Mrs. Hartley put her free hand to her chest, mimicking Jimmy’s position. “You were never not worthy.” She cupped his cheek and brushed a single kiss to his lips.
I glanced around the table, wishing I could subtly take out my phone and record how every single gaze was laser-focused on Jimmy and Mrs. Hartley. How every single gaze was soft and dreamy and under the spell of what was unfolding in that cozy kitchen.
But Beckett had that covered as he swept his phone around the room and ended back on Jimmy and Mrs. Hartley.
“I’m glad you think I’m worthy,” Jimmy said. “It gives me the courage to ask you a question.” He slid his chair farther back out of the way and slowly lowered to one knee.
Mrs. Hartley gasped, her hands going to her cheeks as she watched Jimmy with wide eyes.
“Beth, you have made me feel like a man again, like a part of this town, like a member of your family,” Jimmy said.
“I’d love to make that family bit official.
” He held up a small, velvet box, snapped it open, and angled it toward Mrs. Hartley.
“Would you do me the incredible honor of marrying me, Elizabeth Hartley?”
Amelia let out a little squeal then clamped her hands over her mouth. “Sorry.”
Isaac gathered his daughter into his lap. “It’s okay, Tiny. We were all squealing in our heads too.”
Mrs. Hartley held out her left hand and wiggled her fingers. “You put that ring on me right now, Elijah Jameson Slater III, because, yes! Yes, I will marry you!”
Those squeals in our heads? Yeah, they released in full force, filling the kitchen with wild joy. Congratulations circulated, hugs ran rampant, and Mrs. Hartley and Jimmy made those Cinderella and Prince Charming costumes come to life as Jimmy twirled his bride-to-be around the kitchen.
“Can I be a flower girl, Mr. Jimmy?” Amelia asked.
“Of course!” Jimmy took the girl’s hand and spun her around. “And someone has to lead the parade of dogs down the aisle because we can’t leave Maggie, Dasha, and Merlin out of the wedding.”
Amelia screeched with delight. “A wedding doggie parade! Daddy, there’s going to be a wedding doggie parade!”
The revelry continued with a toast to the newly-engaged couple. Jimmy gave Mrs. Hartley the heart pendant he’d had me make and she instantly put it on.
“Oh, it’s so lovely.” She eyed me as she fingered the rock dangling from the leather cord. “As is the person who made it.”
A cozy warmth flooded through me at her motherly praise, and once again, true delight coursed in my veins at having found this welcoming bunch.
The Hartley siblings then ushered their mates out of the farmhouse and to their own homes. Beckett came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. He rested his chin on my shoulder and pressed a kiss to my jaw.
“Shall we, Your Highness?” He nudged me toward the door. “I think it’s time for Daphne and Fred to set The Mystery Machine a-rockin’.”
I laughed and led us both outside. “I think I prefer the comfort of your bedroom over a van.”
“Just like a princess to demand the finest.” Beckett threaded his fingers with mine and we meandered along toward his house.
“Well, if I’m going to have the finest partner, I should have the finest accommodations as well.” I squeezed his hand.
“Sweet talk like that will get you whatever you want,” he said.
“I think I want a way to work off all the pie I just ate.” I groaned and rubbed my belly.
“We can jog with Sylvie and Joshua tomorrow.”
“Or . . .” I stopped walking, making Beckett have to stop as well. I brushed my lips against his. Just light sweeps at first, but it didn’t take long for that not to be enough. The kiss deepened and soon we were both one step away from ripping off our costumes right then and there.
Then something crackled in the woods behind Beckett.
“What was that?” I couldn’t see anything in the shadows.
Beckett looked over his shoulder. “It’s either a family member or a forest creature.” He took my hand again and pulled me along beside him. “Let’s get to my house.”
We nearly ran the rest of the way there—which was also good for working off the pie feasting—and once we were inside, Beckett scooped me up into his arms and bolted for his bedroom, dropping me on the mattress once we arrived.
“I might be full on pie,” he began as he untied his neckerchief and let it flutter to the floor, “but I will always have room for you, Princess.” He ripped off the blond wig he’d donned to play Fred, raked his hands through his messy hair, and dove onto the bed with me.
It didn’t take us long to be naked, wrapped around one another, and swimming in a sea of absolute ecstasy. When I thought about how close we’d come to never being together like this again, I tightened my arms around Beckett. What we had was a true gift. Something more valuable than any royal jewel.
“I love you so much,” I said as we remained tangled up in bed together, my fingers running through Beckett’s hair.
He lifted his head from where it had been resting on my chest. “And I love you so much.” He kissed me then coaxed me off the bed and guided me over to the mirror above his dresser. He turned me to face it and stepped up behind me. “Take a look at these auras.”
I leaned back so my body pressed against his. “They’re so bright because love is always good for the aura.” I turned to face him. “You’re good for my aura.”
“Likewise.” He dropped a kiss onto the tip of my nose then tugged me away from the mirror.
We shared another round of lovemaking and a shower then climbed back into bed where we snuggled until falling asleep. When morning came, I convinced Beckett to join me in a meditation in his backyard.
And then we played a video game because mindfulness was all about balance.
After we defeated a level together, we went for a stroll outside.
When we arrived at the farmhouse, the first thing to greet us in the morning sunshine was a wooden archway decorated with cornstalks, mums, and pumpkins set up in the field beside the house.
Log benches had been placed in front of the archway with an aisle down the center.
“What’s that about?” Beckett asked as we stopped in front of the farmhouse.
Amelia burst from the house and ran right for us. Luckily, Beckett was quick and caught her when she leaped at him.
“Wow!” he said. “That is more energy than a person of your small size should be able to generate.”
“Grandma Beth and Mr. Jimmy are getting married!” Amelia yelled as she wiggled in Beckett’s hold.
“Yeah, we know!” Beckett yelled back at her same, insane volume.
“She means they’re getting married today.”