Page 68 of Beau & Autumn

I don’t have all the answers right now. Tomorrow is another day. All I know is I’m married.

For tonight I’m just going to revel in the most perfect day of my life.

19

Autumn

Beau’s parents stand in their kitchen shocked when we head around early on Monday morning to give them our news. Then I have to call my folks and tell them we’re heading to Memphis for the weekend. My car is all good to go again, so we can cruise down there together and take Bruiser as he loves riding in the car. Carrie and Tom were pros for having him over the weekend so we could head away to get hitched — not that they know that part fully yet either but Carrie was the one who started all of this. I need to talk to her and Eden because I’m sure word is going to get out faster than I can blink. I make a mental note to send them a quick message when we’re done here with the briefs and I can fill them in with the rest later.

“You what!?” Bob Bassett is looking at us both like we’ve lost our marbles. He can’t even say the words.

Gayle Bassett shrieks in delight as her hands fly up to her face to cover her mouth, bouncing up and down on her toes, she’s clearly happy. When she finally finds her powers of speech, she launches herself at me and Beau and hugs us both to her. “You two!”

“Mom!” Beau chuckles, and I note the nervousness in his voice as he looks down at his overjoyed mom. I can’t believe she’s smiling and looks… happy?

“Isn’t this just the best news!” She beams. Beau lets go of her grasp but she pulls me in for another. “I always knew you two held a little flame for each other, but this is a shock. A good shock, but still...” She glances back to her husband, who isn’t quite sharing the same overjoyed sentiment. His brow is furrowed and his mouth quirks downward in a frown. I think he’s still waiting for the punchline.

“Bob, get in here and welcome Autumn into the family.”

“I’m just processing what they’ve just told us, Gayle, give me a second.” He looks from me to Beau again like we’re going to tell him we’re kidding. “You’re married?”

Bob is very much like his sons; tall, dark and strapping. He does have a more serious look to him than any of the brothers. I can tell he’s no nonsense, but he looks a little mad right now, to tell the truth. He still hasn’t cracked a smile.

“We’re married,” I confirm, holding up my left hand to show off my ring. “We just couldn’t wait. It was the spur of the moment. We saw the registry office in Jackson and then one thing led to another.” I’m seriously going to Hell for all these white lies I’m now spewing to the loveliest people in the world. His parents have always welcomed me with open arms. I don’t even want to think about when we break their hearts later on when we annul the whole thing.

“Couldn't wait?” Bob places a hand on his hip. Clearly he’s not buying it.

Shit. We didn’t even discuss what happened if someone in the family had a serious problem with this. Or worse, they don’t accept it. If Bob Bassett has a problem, my hoity-toity mom is definitely going to have one, too.

“Dad, we were being spontaneous,” Beau explains like he’s just discussing something very arbitrary, like going on a weekend trip away or packing his lunch. Not being married to the woman he’s best friends with.

“You spontaneously got married?” He balks, and not in a good way.

Oh, dear.

“I love Autumn, and she loves me.” Beau slides an arm around my shoulders, pulling me to his side. He gazes down at me with the softest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. I feel like melting into a puddle on the floor. “Like Autumn said, we just didn’t want to wait. The opportunity came up when we went to Jackson over the weekend, so we went for it. We plan on having a big wedding in a few months.”

“Oh my God!” Gayle’s shrill scream makes me giggle under my breath. “My baby!” She hugs Beau and then reaches for me again at the same time. I’m shocked she’s okay with this. I thought she’d be throwing things at my head for stealing her youngest son away from her.

“We’re in love,” I manage to croak, backing up his story. “Sometimes you just can’t fight it.”

“Well I think it’s wonderful!” Gayle announces, wiping her watery eyes. His mom is crying! “I’m so happy for you kids.” She grabs her son again and pulls him in for another hug, reaching up to kiss him on the cheek as she looks at me. “Welcome to the family, darling.”

“I guess young love makes you do very impulsive things,” Bob mutters as he walks toward us and gives his son more of a pound hug than a real one. I guess it’s what men do. “I hope you two have really thought this through, it’s only been a few weeks since you were dating.” He steps in to give me a hug, too.

“We have,” I assure him. “Beau just makes me so happy and it’s taken me up until now to realize it. I can’t imagine life without him. I’m sorry we rushed it. And I know my family is going to be upset about that part, but as Beau said, we want to have a proper ceremony at some point soon where everyone can attend. Once the wedding season here calms down.” I am so going to Hell.

“It’s so romantic,” Gayle croons. “If it wasn’t breakfast time, I’d bust out the champagne!”

I giggle as we all stand there in the kitchen coming to terms with the bombshell we just dropped on them. Beau is taking it all in his stride as he grins at me, and his dad seems to have recovered from the shock. His stance is a lot less hostile, and he’s unfolded his arms from across his chest, though he keeps glancing at me like he’s expecting me to say ‘Aha! Gotcha!’

“We can all get together and have a celebration with the family,” Bob suggests. “How about your folks, Autumn?”

I bite my lip. Yes, there is that. “We’re going down there this weekend to tell them in person. I’m going to call them just so they don’t hear along the grapevine. I hope they’re as happy for us as you both are.”

“I’m sure they’ll be thrilled.” Gayle smiles. “It’s a lot to take in, but we’re not unhappy, are we Bob?” She nudges her husband.

He clears his throat. “No, but I wished you’d have told us.”

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