Page 29 of A Happy Endings Wedding
Realization dawned. “That’s why no one had time to spend with me today! Everyone was working behind the scenes to make this wedding great. Oh, Josh! It means so much more this way, knowing our closest friends and family were involved.” Her voice choked. “It’s like the wedding is filled with everyone’s love.”
“Absolutely.”
She hugged him again, still in shock at the way everything had come together in the end so beautifully. She pulled away. “It sure is quiet. What happened to the musicians?”
He looked around. “I don’t know. I’ll find out.”
“No. Don’t worry about it. Let’s just mingle with everyone. I have so many people to thank!”
They made the rounds, stopping to talk, hug, and thank every single person there. Hailey even hugged and thanked the reporters. Honestly she was so happy, so filled with love, it just poured through her. She couldn’t remember ever feeling so loving in her entire life. And it was all because she had the love of the most wonderful, selfless, generous man in the world.
She’d just sat down to a delicious lobster salad appetizer when the musicians filed in. Her eyes widened. They looked like Vikings from medieval times, wearing protective armor over their shoulders and chest and leather gauntlets on their forearms. Under the armor, they wore gold tunics and light brown loose trousers that ended below the knee, long wool socks, and leather boots. At least they carried instruments and not shields.
Josh shot out of his seat, and she grabbed his arm, shaking her head. He sat again and turned to her. “Hailey.”
“No. We’re going to enjoy the music. Of course the musicians were delayed due to a Viking reenactment on our wedding day.”
He speared a shrimp on his plate. “Guarantee you this was another of Bonnie’s blunders.”
Phillip strode over to the musicians, speaking to them urgently.
“See?” Hailey said serenely. “Phillip is handling it.”
Phillip gestured for Bonnie to join them, and they had an intense conversation. A few minutes later, a pile of armor appeared to the right of the musicians’ area, quickly taken away by some servants.
Hailey turned to Josh. “It’s nice when you can just enjoy yourself because you know you already have everything you could ever want. I love you. I love that we’re married. And I love that I’m carrying your child.”
Josh smashed his lips together, his eyes watering.
She dropped her fork with a clatter. “I made you cry? I’ve never seen you cry.”
He jerked his chin. “Not crying.”
She hugged him. He totally was, his eyes watery and red. Her sweet loving husband.
The food was divine, the company outstanding, and the music sounded great too. She danced, she laughed, and she cried a little too at the best man and matron of honor speeches.
The photographers hovered near the head table as it was announced the cutting of the wedding cake was next. Bonnie wheeled the wedding cake over in front of the head table. It had a large silver dome over it. How royal!
Hailey kissed Josh’s clean-shaven cheek. “Come on. Time for me to smash wedding cake in your face.”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “I already know I’m not allowed to get cake on your dress. I’ll have to get my payback later.”
She laughed and led him to where the cake was arranged on a wheeled table with a white tablecloth. Bonnie handed her the cake knife with a smile.
“Thanks,” she said brightly, turned, and froze as Bonnie lifted the dome off the cake with a flourish.
The cake was not the round multilayered confection she’d specially ordered. It was a long rectangular sheet cake and it read Happy Birthday Hailey.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Josh roared.
The room hushed in shocked silence. Bonnie took a step back, her way instantly blocked by the prince. Only this time it wasn’t Phillip, it was the seriously pissed off Crown Prince Gabriel.
Gabriel glared at the cake and then turned to Bonnie. “You’re fired. Pack your things. I want you out on the next ferry tomorrow morning.” And then he raised his voice so everyone could hear his pronouncement. “You are banned from Villroy forever.”
“You can’t ban me!” Bonnie screeched. “I have royal blood! My great-grandmother was a maid here and the king got her pregnant! She was sent away to have the royal bastard and we’ve been living in poverty ever since. We will not be cast off! I’m here to claim my rightful place!”
“You have no claim,” Gabriel said coolly. He gestured to the guards, and they quickly escorted Bonnie out.
