Page 23 of The Engagement
We luck out and manage to find enough dresses on the rack to fit all the bridal party. Everyone finds a dress in her size, and no one needs any alterations. It’s a miracle. We still need shoes, of course—I’m thinking cream-colored—but we can save that for another day. The hard part is done. We have dresses!
While we change back into our own clothes, Audrey collects our selections and carries them to the checkout counter to put them in protective dress bags.
Mack pays for our purchases, and then he asks, “So, what’s next on the agenda?”
“I don’t know about you all,” Sam says, “but I’m starving.”
Everyone concurs, and we all hop into the limo to go out for pizza.
* * *
That night, when we’re at home and crashing out on the sofa, Mack indulges me by watching my favorite version ofEmmaby Jane Austen, the one starring Romola Garai and Jonny Lee Miller—the only version that matters. I’m tired after a long day, and I fall asleep halfway through the program. Mack wakes me near the end so I don’t miss my favorite part—when Mr. Knightly confesses his love to Emma and asks her to behis.
No matter how many times I’ve seen this, I still watch breathlessly as Mr. Knightly winces in romantic agony as he asks his beloved Emma, “So tell me, have I no chance of succeeding?”
I don’t know why he can’t just come out and say, “Emma, I love you. Will you marry me?” But still, that scene makes me swoon, every single time.
When the credits start rolling, Mack turns off the TV, rises to his feet, and scoops me up in his arms. “So tell me, Erin, have Ino chance of succeeding tonight?” he asks with a hopeful grin.
Giggling, I lean up to kiss him. “I daresay you do, kind sir.”
And then he carries me down the hall. We make a quick pitstop in the bathroom to brush our teeth and get ready for bed, and then he resumes carrying me until we’re in our room, Lizzie hot on our heels.
“We should get another cat and name her Emma,” I say.
“Or,” Mack says as he lays me down on the bed, “we could have a baby and nameherEmma.”
Swoon!
We’ve talked about having a family, and it’s something we both want. Mack would love for Haley to be a big sister one day.
Alongwhile later, after Mack hassucceeded, I lie awake for a while thinking about the future.
I will be married in only five weeks now. I wish my grandma was here to meet Mack and celebrate with us.
With Mack spooning me from behind, and Lizzie curled up at my feet, I’m nestled between the two loves of my life.
I wonder what the future will bring.
Only five more weeks.
Chapter 9 – Mack
“I swear, Mack, if you don’t stop fidgeting, I’m going to smack you!”
Those are some pretty threatening words coming from a big city lawyer wearing an Armani suit that probably costs more than I make in a month.
I glance down at Troy Spencer—that’s not unusual as I glance down at pretty much everyone. “Will you please hurry up? I want to go check on Erin, make sure she’s doing okay.”
“Relax, dude,” Sam says as he strolls into the library, where my groomsmen and I are dressing for the ceremony. “She’s fine. I just came from there. She’s got her girl posse with her. Besides, Mama Bear is with her.” He means Beth, of course. “She’ll make sure Erin’s okay.” Sam watches as Troy adjusts the fit of my tie, making sure it’sjust right. “Beth says they’ll be ready in about twenty minutes.”
Dominic Zaretti walks into the room dressed in a pair of black trousers, a white dress shirt, and a pair of black boots. It’s the most dressed up I’ve ever seen him. “Cooper told me to tell you everything’s ready and you can come in any time. Jonah’s playing music to entertain the crowd.”
It’s hardly a crowd out there. We kept the ceremony small on purpose—it’s just the McIntyre clan, me and Erin, and of course Haley. Plus our friends, most of whom are either one of my groomsmen or one of Erin’s bridesmaids.
It looks like I’m the last one to finish getting dressed. We’re all wearing black tuxes with white dress shirts and gray vests. Our ties are lavender, to match Erin’s color scheme—cream and lavender.
Shane walks into the room holding his young son’s hand. Shane’s already dressed in his best man outfit. Luke is wearing a pair of dark gray trousers, sneakers, a white shirt, and a lavender vest.
