Page 76 of Take A Number
I force myself to look away when Kate meets Miles, and the two take each other’s hands for the ceremony to start. They look so perfect up there…his dark to her bright. I didn’t spend a lot of time with the two of them, but after watching them in Aspen and here, it’s clear how much they love each other.
Marriage has never been something I’ve pictured for myself. Even when I was young, I could never see myself in a wedding dress and choosing to be with one person forever. But as the two of them recite their vows and the entire crowd of a hundred and fifty people laugh along with them when Miles mentions only knowing Kate by her pen name for the first several weeks they were together, maybe there is a perfect person out there for everyone. If Kate and Miles can get past that kind of a hurdle, maybe there could be a man out there who could give me wings instead of roots.
When the ceremony ends, I follow the crowd as we make our way to a large outdoor pavilion nestled among the trees and a nearby creek. It’s stunning inside with tented white fabric draped along the ceiling and chandeliers with Edison bulbs mixed with the outdoor lighting. The décor is an eclectic, rustic mix of fall colors with pops of plum and burgundy throughout.
I can’t help but laugh when I notice the cake topper features a little groom with a toolbox and grease all over his face standing next to a bride with her leg propped up on a tire. Very Kate and Miles.
“Norah, you’re by us,” Lynsey’s husband, Josh, waves me over with a polite smile as he feeds Julianna goldfish crackers in her high chair beside him.
I make my way over to them and glance at the beautiful knotty wood table covered in burgundy mums and candle-lit Mason jars. “I was walking around aimlessly, wondering if there was a seating chart somewhere.”
“You got stuck at the kids’ table, I’m afraid,” Josh replies with a huff.
“Nothing wrong with the kids’ table.” I sit down on the other side of Julianna and smile brightly at her. “Hi there, cutie. You did a great job as a flower girl.”
“Donut,” she calls out clearly, and my eyes widen.
“She remembers me!” I lean down to talk to Julianna some more. “Have you tried my croinuts yet? Next time you come in with your mommy or daddy, you’ll need to have some patience and take a number.”
She stares back at me like she has no idea what the hell I’m saying but then reaches toward me, and demands, “Out, out.”
“It looks like she wants out?” I ask, glancing over at Josh.
Josh nods. “If you hold her, I’ll go grab us a bottle of wine.”
“Um…I’m not really experienced with kids.” I offer her my finger to stave her off.
“You’ll be fine,” Josh says as he stands while looking around for the bar. “I was an overprotective freak when she was little, but now they pretty much bounce when they’re dropped.” He leans in with intense eyes. “We just need to make it twenty more minutes until the grandma babysitter rescue wagon arrives.”
Josh takes off like he finally has his first taste of freedom. Julianna squeals impatiently and reaches toward me. She seems determined, so I slip my hands under her arms and attempt to get her out of the high chair. Her foot seems to be stuck on something, and her dress is too poofy for me to see what exactly it’s stuck on. She gets a good grip on my hair, causing a curtain over my eyes, so I can’t see anything when suddenly a familiar voice echoes, “Need a hand there?”
I look through my mussed hair to see Dean standing over me looking…well, a lot better than I do, I’m sure. “Yes, please. She seems adamant to get out of this, and Josh apparently needed booze in a bad way.”
Dean chuckles and bends over to assist, wafting his scent all over me in the process. It’s hard to focus. But there’s a baby in our hands, so focus is probably important.
Finally, Julianna is free as she crawls into my lap and grabs her sippy cup off the table. She tucks it into her mouth and lies against my chest, clearly pleased with the seat upgrade.
Dean lowers himself onto the open seat beside me. “She looks comfortable.”
“The jury’s still out on my comfort level,” I huff out incredulously and attempt to straighten my hair while holding tightly to the small child on my lap.
Dean watches me for a moment with a slight twinkle in his eyes that gives me butterflies. “Good groomsmanning up there,” I blurt out dumbly. This feels awkward. Why does it feel awkward? He’s seen me naked for goodness’ sake.
He shakes his head, clearing whatever thoughts he had a second ago. “Technically, I was a bridesman not a groomsman.”
“Sure, sure,” I reply knowingly. “Well, you look really nice.”
“You look”—he blows air out his lips as he looks me up and down—“too good. This wasn’t the dress you sent me a picture of.”
“Rachael got a hold of me.” I smile at him and chew my lip nervously under his rapt perusal. “How was your dad?”
“My dad?”
“Yeah, your dad’s water damage or something?”
“Oh, that.” He looks away and props his arms on the table. “It’s fine. All good now.”
I nod slowly. “That’s good. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”
