Page 17 of Something Borrowed
“This is the cutest,” I comment, eyes scanning the table of food.
Tiny cheeseburgers, miniature hot dogs, cute cups of fries with little dollops of ketchup and more is the cutest spread so far. Tori’s friend made their cakes. Hers is covered in lace fondant, an adorable pair of lace panties—as in the ones she sells at her lingerie store—hang off the top. Benji’s looks like a slab of steak fresh off the grill. Them in a nutshell—or banquet.
“It is,” Beatrix is slow to respond, her eyes swinging between the two of us. “Chantel and Kady would have to cater my wedding. This is adorable,” Bea mentions friends of Benji’s from Harmony Hollow who gifted them the spread of adorable food.
“For my wedding,” Lawson chimes in, his eyes never leaving mine. “I think I would want afternoon tea. Fingersandwiches, crumpets, scones,” he lists off all the things I teases I would love at my wedding.
Flushing, I shake my head at how cute he is. Beatrix glances between us again so I drop the smile, taking a step back. Lawson frowns, taking a step closer. Bea notices. I begin to panic. Here and no place for this to come to light. We don’t even know whatthisis.
“Ma, what is wrong?”
“Calm down, Lark,” Lawson speaks low, calm, his eyes holding mine.
“All my favorite folks,” Benji calls with a boom, his arms going around mine and his sister’s shoulders. “I love you guys. Love you for being here. For being the best people ever. Luckiest man on the entire island!”
Crisis averted for the moment, we all embrace the new husband. I linger in his crushing hug longer than the others. I am not sure if I am hiding. Or if I am holding tight for fear of losing him. Losing my daughter. It is the same ticker tape thought that has ticked through my head since I sat in that tiny loo on the plane, waiting for Lawson to come to me.
What would my children think of what I am doing?
Lawson sticks close to my side, his hand on my back again. Beatrix watches us closely. No more questions come, however. We talk about the cute food, the beautiful flowers, their perfect vows, and all the things you celebrate at any wedding. Music begins and my son pulls me to the floor.
Our favorite song, a country tune about taking chances on love starts, bringing fresh tears to my eyes. This is the happiest day, yet I cannot stop the tears. We sway for a while, circling the floor as the others watch lovingly.
“This was beautiful, Benji,” I tell him honestly.
“It was. All I hoped to give to my old lady,” he answers witha tip of his head at his bride.
“You two will have such a good life, son,” I insist as I smile at Tori. “That is a good woman who adores you. It took some effort getting there but don’t all the best things take effort?”
“Yeah, they do, and the effort is worth it. We will remember this whole weekend for so long. All of us will. Hasn’t it been the best time?”
Pulling back as the song ends, I look up at him. His eyes skirt past me to where Beatrix and Lawson stand watching us. My daughter is mooning up at the handsome man—not that I blame her. However, that man’s eyes have stayed on me the entire time we’ve had this mother-son dance. He knows?
“It has been the best time, being here with all of you.”
“Yeah, I think so too, ma. All good people here, we’re so blessed.”
Again, his eyes land on Lawson and a flutter begins in my chest. In my stomach. A flutter of hope maybe? Does he know or suspect something has begun between Lawson and me? Does he mean his words approval? How could he ever accept his mother being with one of his friends?
“Your bonny lass is waiting for her hero, mate,” Lawson’s voice is low, closer to my ear, his hands touching my hips. I am stunned still.
Benji steps back to bow to his friend to play along with his overdone Londoner accent. Lawson tugs me back against his chest almost as if to answer Benji’s unspoken questions. If he has suspicions, they don’t seem to bother him because he leaves me with his friend to find his wife.
“Lawson, let’s not do the big reveal scene at their reception.”
“Oh, love, there is no need for a reveal. I’ve not taken my eyes off you for days. Same way yours stay on me. If no one knows what is going on, then this is not a room full of romantics.Come, our turn to take a spin round the dance floor, beautiful.”
Laughing, I let him spin me as some up-tempo songs start. Everyone joins the two of us with the newlyweds. The ladies kick our heels off, hike up our skirts, and the men tear off their jackets. A playlist of Benji and Tori’s favorite songs fills the room, and we all dance together for hours.
Lawson never lets me get too far, even though he lets me go to dance a few times with the rest of the wedding party. I even dance with Tori, Bea, and the other girls for a few songs. We eat all the food, devour the delicious cakes, make toast after toast, laugh, dance some more, and revel.
It is the best wedding I’ve ever been to—after going tothreethis weekend.
“Come, love,” Lawson’s voice rumbles in my ear. “Time to go behave as if we’re the newlyweds,” he teases me as he has before, kissing my ear.
Letting him lead me from the room, I don’t notice if anyone sees us leaving. I am a few champagnes and chicken dances past caring, I think. In the elevator, I push him in the corner, almost attacking him the moment the doors close. As we start moving, I am pulling at his clothes impatiently.
“You look so good in this,” I lament, tugging at his tie before I undo it. I crush my lips to his and he sighs, cupping my ass with his big hands.
