Chapter 20
Dakota
“You look beautiful.” Hank smiled lovingly at me as he spun me around the makeshift dance floor. My mother had gone all out. She had Jeff and the crew setting up things all week. Tables and chairs were brought to the upper field. Carrie had come over with flowers from her shop to help make flower arrangements. Ginny helped cook the feast my mother had prepared, and Lou and Amy strung twinkle lights in the trees.
“I think I’m the only thing Mama didn’t touch. She let me get myself ready today.” I shook my head. It was quite amusing to watch her. When Alex and I wed, it was the traditional church wedding. We’d hired a planner, and my parents basically just said yes or no and wrote a check. This time around I was determined to have something smaller. All my family and closest friends had come to witness us pledge our love, and the day was all but perfect.
“She loves you. I’m sure you made her day by letting her do all of this.” He kissed my cheek.
“Well, Lou eloped with Charlie, and I don’t think Carrie is even looking to get married anytime soon. Ginny is still young, and well, Gia…is Gia.” I looked over at where my sisters were sitting. Lou was watching Amy and Jack who were deep in conversation, and Ginny looked all dreamy-eyed as she stared over at Johney. I know those two have a thing for each other, but I don’t think he’s right for her.
“Don’t worry. I see it, too,” Hank reassured me as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. “She’s too good for him.”
“That’s what they said about us, and you see how that turned out.” I laughed.
“I’m not some young pumped-up kid either,” Hank growled under his breath.
“He’s not the only one who needs to grow up around here.” I directed my gaze at Gia. “I wish she’d just….” I shook my head.
“Stop with the childish things?” Hank chuckled. “Good luck there. I’ve been trying to save her from herself for years. Pretty sure your dad has washed his hands of her.”
“I don’t blame him. She’s always been the wild one. I don’t know why, either.”
“Let’s get some food.” Hank stepped back and held his hand out to me. I laced our fingers together and let him lead me off the dancefloor and over to the long table covered in food.
Dad had smoked a pig and Mama and Ginny had made all the fixin’s. There were plates covered in cornbread, potatoes, beans, slaw, and mac n’ cheese. “I’m starving,” a voice came from behind us. I turned around to see Jeff standing there patiently waiting.
“Why didn’t you eat yet? You guys spent all day working. I’m sure you’re hungry.” I stepped back to let him go first, but he shook his head at me.
“We were waitin’ on you guys. Bossman said you eat first.” Jeff motioned to the table.
I glanced over to where my father was in deep conversation with Sal, a family friend. “I would have eaten sooner if I knew that.” I scooped some pork onto my plate. It was as if everyone was waiting because a line soon formed behind us. “Daddy! I can’t believe you told them that!” I scolded as everyone began serving themselves.
“Don’t worry about it, Codie. It’s all good.” Jeff smiled. “I’m just glad the two of you finally tied the knot. We’ve all been waitin’ on that for a long time.”
“Thanks, Jeff.” I turned to carry my plate over to the table that was set up for Hank and myself. The rest of the evening was pretty uneventful, then it was time to leave.
Most of the guests other than family had gone not long after sunset. Mama and Daddy were carrying trays of food back to the big house, but my sister in her true form decided to try and make part of this day about her.
“Hey, Hank!” Gia called from where she was wobbling on her feet with a champagne bottle in one hand. “Don’t you want to be with a real woman, you know, one who knows what she’s doin’?” She put the bottle to her mouth and took a huge gulp.
“I’m sorry,” Hank whispered.
“You know, you aren’t the only Westbrook sister he’s been with, right?” Gia started laughing manically. “He said I was the best he ever had.” She thrust the bottle in our direction as she shouted the words. Ginny and Carrie looked on with horrified expressions while Lou stood and marched over to where Gia was standing.
“That’s enough!” She yanked the bottle from Gia’s hand.
“You! You know it’s true. Little Miss Perfect thinks she has it all. That’s why the first one didn’t last. He’d had enough of her!” She started to come over, and Lou moved in front of her.
“You’re embarrassing yourself!” she hissed.
“Come on.” Hank tried to lead me away, but my feet were stuck. My brain told me to walk away, but part of me couldn’t believe my sister would say such vile things about me, and a small part of me believed her. “Come on!” He tugged again.
“Did you?” I looked over at him, barely holding myself together as this trainwreck unfolded.
“You know I didn’t. She’s just trying to hurt you.” He sighed.
I turned and marched over, stopped right in front of her. “Oh, did I hit a nerve? Your perfect little life isn’t so perfect?” she taunted.
“My life is far from perfect.” The words came out in a staccato. “What did I ever do to make you hate me so much? All I’ve ever done is try to be a good big sister, and you’ve spent most of your life trying to make mine miserable.” She stood with a smirk on her face. “You’re dead to me.” I threw my hands in the air. “I’m done letting you get to me.” I turned and walked away. As I walked back to the guesthouse with Hank, I could hear her shouting drunkenly in the distance, but I didn’t care. All my life she’d done something to try and get to me. She ratted on me when we were kids, and now she’s trying to taint my happiness with Hank.
*****
“I hope you know that I’ve never been with her. I’ve bailed her out of trouble and given her a place to crash, but we’ve never been together.” His voice sounded desperate. “I swear to you.”
“I believe you. Gia always was one for the dramatics, and she’s always come after whatever I have.” I reached for the light. We were back at my place, I should say our place. Jack was sleeping at the big house tonight so we could have the place to ourselves.
“Don’t.” Hank reached for my arm. “Leave it off.” We were standing in the living room. “Come here.” He pulled me into his arms and wrapped them around my waist. We started swaying.
“What are we doing?” I looked up. The moon was coming through the window, his eyes twinkling.
“Dancing.” He smiled softly.
“But there’s no music.” I laid my head against his chest. I could hear his heartbeat, and it soothed me.
In the silence of the living room, Hank began humming as we softly swayed back and forth. I didn’t even notice when he pulled the zipper down on the back of my dress. It slowly slid down my body, pooling around my feet. My arms fell from around his neck as I reached for the buttons on his shirt, loosening them one at a time. I pushed the cotton fabric off his shoulders, letting it flutter to the floor. I reached for his belt, maneuvering the leather through the metal buckle, and then worked the button free. He pushed at the jeans until they were low enough that he could kick them out of the way.
“I never thought we’d get here,” he whispered as he cupped my cheek. “I always thought this would remain a dream, you and me. I pictured us here so many times, but then I’d wake up.” He leaned in and pressed a deep kiss to my lips. “Tell me this is real, and I’m not dreaming.” He pulled back and stared into my eyes.
“This is real,” I whispered back.
“I love you so much.” He wrapped his arms around me once again, this time lifting me into his arms. He walked with purpose down the hallway, and into our room, setting me on the bed. “I wanna live in this moment for the rest of our lives.” He climbed onto the bed beside me.
We spent the rest of night and most of the next morning worshiping each other’s bodies. Hank was always a generous lover, but he seemed to be even more giving now that I was his wife. Thoughts of my sister floated away like a bad memory as thoughts of a perfect future filled my head. I knew I was right where I was supposed to be… in Hank’s arms.
The End