Page 61 of Aftersome
I was trying to stay busy organizing the plates and utensils out onto the counter, but even I couldn’t stop from listening to their conversation.
“It doesn’t need to be perfect. Perfect is overrated. I would have been fine with it just being us two today, that way you wouldn’t get all stressed out like you are now.”
My heart melted into mush.
“I just wanted to be able to share this moment with our friends and family.”
“I know, and it makes me even more crazy about you knowing just how much you care.”
My god.
I wanted to cry.
“I think I care a little bit too much because my feet are killing me from standing all morning.” She pouted and I knew she had him with that. Her innocent little frown. Her adorable bump.
The man was screwed.
“Aw, my poor baby.” He teasingly chuckled but then guided her into the direction of the living room. “Go sit down. I’ll get some tea and massage your feet before everyone gets here.”
My mouth fell open.
She had him wrapped around her finger. I could only imagine what it would be like with their child.
About an hour later, I was finally finished getting ready. I was stumped on what to wear, so I threw on a cute pink blouse that I hadn’t worn in years and my favorite pair of jeans that fit me perfectly. My hair was in plaited pigtails that fell over my chest and my makeup was minimal.
The first batch of people came in a wave. One after the other, family members, friends, they all piled into Kate and James’s home and soon, the party was off to a good start. I was introduced to James’s family, along with a few other people I had yet to meet and even some guys from the team came up to me. We exchanged friendly conversation, nothing too crazy. A few laughs, guesses on the gender, even shared some ideas about upcoming videos.
It was nice.
Even Kate looked relaxed now as she sat with her mother and James’s mom outside on the back patio with a bright smile on her face. I was happy for her.
“Wren?” a voice I recognized but couldn’t put a face to announced from behind me. I spun around to see who called my name and I quickly realized who it was.
“Mr. Dalton.” I smiled, suddenly feeling anxious in his presence as he walked toward me with his eyes on my hair.
“Wow, big change, huh?” He nodded toward my pink locks, causing me to flush.
“Uh, yeah. Just thought I would try something different.”
“I can see that.” He chuckled. “It looks nice.”
There went my cheeks again, now matching the shade of my hair.
“Thank you.”
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you and ask how you’ve been doing. Seems to me like you caught on pretty quick.” He smiled.
“As quick as I could.” I laughed. “YouTube and Google have helped me a lot.”
“Where would we be without them?”
Again, we had fallen into more laughter and just when I thought today was going to be an easy, stress-free day, I noticed something over Jim’s shoulder.
Or should I say, someone.
I didn’t need another glance to know who it was because I could already feel his presence among all these people.
Enormous and fierce, Mal had arrived.
