Page 11 of The Curvy Girl's Father of the Bride
I nod in resignation, relenting with a half-smile. “Okay, so you were probably correct about our relationship being just a tad complicated. But I wouldn’t listen to you.”
“And I’m glad you didn’t. Sweetheart, I was aware before I ever kissed you there would be no going back.”
I break into a grin. “No going back? Is that what you just said?” I stare, waiting for him to explain, but impatiently give up. “Because?”
“Because … never mind.” He laughs, and I bask in the sound as it fills the room. “You’re far, far too young to handle the truth,” he teases, and I tickle his waist, wrestling him until he finally gives up, and I’m on top staring down at him.
“Come on.” I beg, daring him not to tell me and wedge my fingers under his armpits, threatening him with another tickle. “Out with it.”
“Because I love you, Louisa, and I have for as long as I can remember. It might’ve been a different kind of love then, but now it’s grown into something else entirely.”
My heart leaps into my throat as I peer down at him silently. I study his gorgeous face for a trace of a joke, but when he captures me in his dark chocolate brown stare; I think I see love.
Is he actually telling me he feels the same way about me as I do him? My eyes suddenly flood with tears.
“Jeremy. If what you’re saying is true, you’ve just made me the happiest woman in the world.”
He sits up and I adjust my position, so I’m half on his lap and half straddling him, staring into his eyes. He kisses the tears one by one off my cheek. “I haven’t even begun to make you happy,” he says softly.
Peering at him through blurry eyes, I finally say the words out loud. “I’m in love with you,” I sputter through my tears, kissing him tenderly. “I love you, Jeremy Byron, and I always will.”
“We’ve crossed the line into forever sweetheart, and we’re not going back.”
Epilogue (Eight months later)
Jeremy
Vance, my closest friend of thirty years, smirks at me. We’re on the veranda at my ranch and he’s sitting directly across from me on the couch.
My wife and her sisters Harlow and Rosie are goofing off in the kitchen. Louisa’s mom’s laughter rings through the windows.
The gang’s all here, even Gilly and Thomas, everyone I care about, somehow made it.
If you had asked me eight months earlier if this gathering could have happened, I would have told you that it was impossible, that Vance would never forgive me for falling in love with his daughter. And I won’t dip a toe into the grief I got from Gilly, who ripped me to shreds in a battle that dragged on and on. I thought she’d never speak to me again, and it tore my heart apart.
I eye my best friend before I take another sip of beer. “So what was it that finally made you forgive me?”
Vance quirks a brow. “You sure this is the right time to talk about it?” He scans around us for eavesdroppers and whispers, “At a baby shower?”
“Why not? You’ve obviously decided not to kill me.”
He lets out a heavy sigh. “The fact you didn’t elope the way Louisa wanted to, helped. You both told me what happened immediately and didn’t lie or try to hide it from me. And …” He sighs and peers off at the mountains in the distance. The sun is playing with the light, making the jagged peaks purple and the sky a deep persimmon orange.
“Enlighten me.” I ask, “And what?”
Vance shifts to me and places his cocktail on the table. “Somehow, I think I knew you loved her from day one.” He shakes his head. “You’ve always cared about Louisa. If anything ever happened to me, you’re still the person I trust the most to look after all my girls. I didn’t change my will after I found out about the relationship. You’re still the executor.”
“Thanks again, by the way. It was big of you to be my best man at the wedding,” I remind him and we both crack up.
“Yeah, the old biddies of West Palomino, sure ate that right up, didn’t they?”
“Full spread in theWest Palomino Weekly.” I tip my bottle to him. “I knew it would be major news when they sent that photographer.”
“Damn straight.” Vance chuckles and when he settles back into the cushions his expression grows serious. “You said it yourself, that day you and Louisa came over to tell me you were a couple. You told me there was no one on the planet who would love her and take care of her better than you. No one who could see to her every need and protect her, and Lord knows you’ve got the means to give her everything her heart desires.” He picks up his drink. “And you make her the happiest I’ve seen her. My daughter’s always smiling these days,” he adds before taking a sip.
The sliding glass door opens and Louisa steps out carrying a plate of snacks. My gorgeous bride is more radiant than ever.
Vance pipes up with a sly smile. “Besides, how am I supposed to hate you when you're going to give me my first grandchild?” He beams at Louisa’s stomach. “You’re making me a grandfather. How are you ever going to top this?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” I smile at Vance. Louisa sets the tray down and takes a seat on my lap. I softly peck her cheek and bend to kiss her belly. “Maybe next time we’ll have twins?”
