“It’s new for me, but I like it too.”
They smiled at each other in their newfound giddy love state before he slowly backed away. “Be right back,” he said and went to fetch the champagne.
She looked around and spotted Ally with their friends. Nearly all of the Campbells and their honorary brothers were here, except their dad, who was likely babysitting his granddaughter, Viv, so Alex and Lauren could be here. She glanced to the dining area, where a few families were eating and a table was waiting with reserved signs on it for Hailey and the magazine people. An older woman with white blond hair smiled and waved at her.
She squinted. Wait. Was that her mom? What was her mom doing here? She didn’t think Hailey knew her parents. She leaned forward. Yup. That was definitely the back of her dad’s head. He turned and waved.
She lifted her hand in a small wave but didn’t join them since Zach was heading toward her with two glasses of champagne.
He handed over her glass and then clinked his glass against hers. “To the value of tradition.”
She cocked her head, studying him. “Dr. Harrison, why are we drinking to tradition?” She used the formal address whenever he sounded overly academic.
He winked. “Nothing more traditional than planning a wedding.”
She supposed that was true and they were here to celebrate Hailey, the ultimate wedding planner. She took a sip of champagne and glanced over to her parents, where her…brother? Yes, that was definitely her brother setting two glasses of champagne in front of her parents. He then quickly returned to another table, where he sat with his wife and two daughters.
She slowly turned to Zach. “Did you invite my whole family to Hailey’s big night?”
“You remember how I told you it’s important to get to know the family and community of the woman you’re serious about?”
“Yeah?”
He lifted his glass and spoke around it. “There’s your answer.” His eyes sparkled with good humor and she wondered if he was playing a joke on her, but, honestly, he wasn’t much for elaborate jokes. He had more of a quick-witted, on-the-spot kind of humor.
“Okay.” She drank some more champagne when Zach stopped her, his hand over hers. “What?”
“Now don’t get pissed off—”
“Why would I get pissed off?”
“Because you can’t hold your liquor and I’m going to ask you to please save the rest for a toast when Hailey arrives.”
She stared at him blankly. “It’s one glass. Can’t I just get a second glass for the toast?”
He merely watched her through hooded eyes. It was both sexy and effective.
“Fine,” she muttered. “Geez, pick up one random guy in a bar, hand him your sex list, and suddenly you can’t get liquored up anymore.”
He chuckled and kissed her. “I was in the right place at the right time.”
She grinned. “Definitely.”
Just then the door burst open and Hailey sailed in, laughing at something the photographer had said. She was a vision in a lavender cocktail dress with matching heels. The reporter, a woman with a dark cap of hair in her fifties with a killer body in a tight white dress, listened intently to their conversation.
Hailey stopped and looked around for Logan, who made no move to step away from the bar. “I can’t wait for you to meet my boyfriend. He’s a dream.”
“Right here, princess,” Josh said, coming up behind Hailey and dropping an arm over her shoulders. Total stealth move. Carrie hadn’t even noticed him approach.
Neither had Hailey. She stiffened and then pasted on her beauty queen smile.
“Uh-oh,” Carrie whispered to Zach. The entire room had hushed since everyone knew their rocky frenemy history.
Josh whispered something in Hailey’s ear and they headed to the reserved table for dinner with the reporter and photographer.
This night just got weirder and weirder. First Zach went into professor mode at a party, then he gave her champagne but wouldn’t let her drink it, and then Josh became an attentive fake boyfriend. Not to mention her family was here. She went to go say hi, but Zach stopped her, pulling her close and kissing her breathless.
He released her and she wobbled, blinking in surprise at him. He turned her, pointing out the next strange thing. Tuxedoed waiters filed out from the kitchen with trays of hot appetizers. They mingled among the guests, serving them up. This was so much fancier than she thought it’d be just to show the magazine people they had a welcoming community.
Zach held her champagne when she helped herself to a piece of bruschetta topped with diced tomatoes. He left and returned a moment later with a glass of water for her. He ate nothing. Merely stood there holding both of their champagne glasses.
Finally after she’d had her fill of appetizers and finished her water, she got tired of Zach holding her champagne hostage and demanded it back. He turned and crooked his finger at Hailey, who made an eating gesture.
Zach held the champagne flute to Carrie’s lips. “One sip.”
She sipped. “You’re acting very strange tonight. Let’s go say hi to my family.”
“I told them we’d talk after their meal.”
“Oh.” She stared at him, feeling like she was missing something here. Zach watched her with hooded eyes, still holding both of their nearly full glasses of champagne. Now why did he get her champagne if he was just going to hold it hostage all night?
The tuxedoed waiters made another round among the guests, this time with champagne.
“Look,” she told Zach, “everyone’s on their second glass and I’ve only had two sips of my first. I’m completely sober.”
He grunted. “Good.”
Hailey appeared next to her suddenly and snagged two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter. “Hi, Carrie!” she said extra enthusiastically.
“Hi. How’d your interview go?”
Hailey met Zach’s eyes and smiled. “Good. It’s still going a bit.”
“How’s Josh at the fake boyfriend gig?”
Hailey groaned, met Josh’s eyes from across the room and jerked her head in a gesture of get over here. “He’s laying it on thick.”
Josh headed over and the reporter and photographer followed at a distance.
“So what did he whisper that made you agree to let him stand in for Logan?” Carrie asked.
Josh appeared at Hailey’s side and stood there, listening.
Hailey handed him a glass of champagne. “He said the interview felt like an emergency situation. As in, we only speak during emergencies. Really, Josh. I don’t think they believed a word that came out of your mouth.”
Josh smiled pleasantly. Probably because the photographer had his giant camera with the zoom lens out. “Why not? I do think you’ve done a fantastic job building your business.”
Hailey’s eyes widened. “You meant that? You sounded like you were teasing.”
“Why? Because I smiled after I said it?”
“I thought you were smirking.”
Josh shook his head and muttered, “You always think the worst.”
Hailey smiled and spoke through her teeth, “Not like you don’t give me good reason.”
Josh made a gallant bow. “Well, princess, you’re welcome. Always here to stand in for your single-lady needs.” He smirked. “That’ll be five hundred large.”
Hailey growled.
Josh laughed out loud.
“Cad,” Hailey muttered. She recovered quickly, turning and speaking loud enough to be heard over the din of conversation. “Come on, everybody! Gather close. I’d like to make a champagne toast.”
A few minutes later, all of their friends had gathered close and Carrie’s family too.
Hailey lifted her glass and announced, “A toast.”
Zach handed Carrie her champagne and then crossed to Hailey’s side, who immediately stepped back. He then shocked the hell out of Carrie when he made the toast instead. “This toast is to Carrie Young, a woman who’s so p
ure of heart. Beautiful inside and out.”
“Zach,” she whispered over the lump in her throat, “what’re you doing?”
“Toasting you,” he said, taking a sip of champagne and watching her over the rim.
She sipped too. Someone took the glass from her hand.
Zach gave her a tender smile and took them all in. “I’ve gotten to know Carrie’s parents, her brother and his beautiful family, as well as all the friends we’re both lucky to have in our lives. I’ve received her parents’ blessing for this union. Now there’s only one thing left to do for the culmination of the courtship ritual.”
Carrie’s knees went weak, her heart thundering in her ears as she suddenly realized what Zach was doing. It was why they had all gathered here, why Zach wouldn’t let her drink too much. Tradition.
He handed off his champagne glass to Hailey, went down on one knee, and held up a diamond solitaire ring. “Carrie, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Yes!” she cried, rushing to him.
He slid the ring on her finger and rose to his feet, pulling her into his arms. Their friends and family gathered close, congratulating them, and it was exactly as Zach had described. The culmination and full meaning of the courtship ritual. A long tradition continuing on with them. Extraordinary because neither of them had been looking for forever. Hadn’t believed it was possible. But it was wonderfully possible because they were meant to be.
A short while later, the photographer and reporter approached. “We’d love to feature your wedding in the magazine,” the woman said. “From engagement to wedding preparations to the wedding.”
Carrie turned to Hailey. “Did you plan all this?”
Hailey lifted her palms. “I planned the proposal with Zach, not the magazine’s interest in your wedding.”
The reporter added, “Of course, the magazine will pick up the expense of a first-class wedding.”
Carrie exchanged a look with Zach. “We’d love to!”
“And now we celebrate,” Zach said. “Have as much champagne as you want.” He handed her a glass.
She took a long swallow. “Really? As much as I want?”
“No,” Zach and her friends said in near unison.
“Carrie, you get crazy after two glasses,” Hailey said. “Last time you ended up picking up a stranger and getting engaged to the guy.” She looked thoughtful. “Hmm, maybe not such a bad plan. Maybe it would work again for another couple.”
And then music started playing, a romantic slow song. Hailey snatched the glass from Carrie’s hand.
Zach pulled Carrie into his arms. “Dancing is important to the courtship ritual.”
“Dr. Harrison, you’re making me so hot.” She threw her arms around his neck and peppered him with kisses.
He kissed her back. And then they danced, their friends and family gradually filling in around them.
Zach leaned down, whispering in her ear, “How many children, Carrie?”
She smiled, glad he knew her well enough to know she wanted them. And also glad that he did too. “Two would be nice.”
He stopped dancing and framed her face with his hands. “Agreed.” His voice dropped low and deep. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “Because that’s how much I love you.”
He brushed his lips over hers. “You need a reminder.”
“I do,” she breathed. “Have your wicked way with me.”
He kissed her. “I will soon. Count on it.”
They beamed at each other.
After the dance, which it seemed everyone had taken pictures of, including the Bride Special photographer, Zach insisted they thank each person individually for sharing in their celebration.
Finally, they went back home and consummated the union.
The vows would have to wait.
But in their hearts, they’d already happened.
Bonus Epilogue
Two Years Later…
Zen was pretty much Zach’s whole life now. In fact, he wrote a book about it, Zen Indonesia, coming out next month. It all started when Zach brought Carrie to Indonesia for their honeymoon. First Bali to an incredible ecofriendly resort, where he and Carrie began a daily practice of yoga and meditation—the beginning of their Zen lifestyle—and then he brought her to visit some of the communities in the forest where he’d spent a good deal of time for his research. She’d been welcomed everywhere with much exclaiming over her bright blond hair (most of the people there had dark hair).
Their wedding had been much more elaborate than they could ever have afforded on their own from Carrie’s one-of-a-kind designer wedding dress with hand-sewn pearls to the profusion of flowers both inside and out of Ludbury House to the incredible reception with a live band and gourmet food. It was on the kind of grand scale that he felt well suited the significance of the union. The Bride Special article captured it all from engagement to wedding and was a treasured keepsake for both of them. After all, he was the guy who thought he’d always be a lone wolf. His life made sense now. Carrie was the missing piece that made everything fit in a new perspective. It all came down to love and connection.
Their life had fallen neatly into place:
Two weeks ago Carrie graduated with her master’s degree in nursing.
He now worked his dream job at Yale.
And Carrie was nine months pregnant.
Sometimes he could hardly believe his luck in finding Carrie, the love of his life. She’d fallen into his lap and he’d been smart enough to hang on through what obstacles they initially had. He could be himself with her. She loved both sides of him—his primal side and his academic side—fully and unconditionally.
Yale was still a thrill every time he stepped on campus. It had always been a dream of his to attend the hallowed institution. He hadn’t gotten in as an undergrad, and he hadn’t even applied for grad school since he’d been offered a full-tuition teaching assistantship at the University of Colorado. In any case, it turned out his background was a perfect fit for Yale. They were looking to expand their interdisciplinary forestry, environmental studies, and anthropology department to Asia (previously only in Africa). Forest-dwelling communities in Asia were the primary focus of his previous research. He taught for their graduate department, advised grad students on their research, and had free rein to do his own research. He was deeply involved in international conservation efforts for forests, which were so important not only for the environment, but also for indigenous communities—people and all living creatures—who made their home there.
Yes, it was a good life they’d made. A Zen life. He’d also been very Zen about her entire pregnancy, if he did say so himself, no stereotypical clueless-husband stuff from him. He was knowledgeable, supportive, and prepared. Bearing children was primal, natural, part of a long continuing ritual through all eras and cultures.
Carrie appeared from the kitchen, where she’d been washing the dishes from the dinner he’d prepared. They still lived in his apartment and planned to buy a house sometime during her year-long maternity leave. She held her stomach with both hands and blew out a breath. “It’s time.”
“You mean…” He leapt to his feet and shoved his hands in his hair. “Right now? It’s time right now?” Her due date was three days away. He’d read that first pregnancies often came late. This was three whole days early!
She nodded.
He raced to the bedroom and grabbed the small duffel bag they’d packed; then he raced back to the living room, searching madly for the childbirth book that he knew he’d need to refer to in the different stages of labor; then he remembered Carrie and raced back to her and kissed her. “How’re you doing? You feeling okay? How far apart are they?”
“Not far. Seems like every ten minutes.” She blew out another long breath.
“Ten minutes! You mean you’ve been feeling this for hours and you never said anything!”
“I was waiting to see if it was go
ing to be the real thing or just practice.”
“Just practice!” he barked.
He grabbed the duffel bag and raced out the door, running top speed to the parking lot behind the apartment complex. He loaded it into her car, already set up with an infant car seat in back. Then he drove around to their front door, parking crookedly in the street. No time for a perfect parallel park. Shit. The childbirth book. He raced back inside, scouring the living room and then the whole freaking place, finding it right where he’d left it on his nightstand. He raced back to the car and zipped the book into the duffel bag. There. Now he had everything. He jogged over to the driver’s side and opened the door.
“Zach?” Carrie called from the apartment doorway. She stepped out to the front step.
He’d forgotten the most important part to the baby thing—the mother! He raced back. “Sorry. So sorry. I wouldn’t have left you behind.”
“I hope not. Hold on.” She stopped and blew out another breath.
“That was faster than ten minutes.”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, okay. Let’s just get you in the car.”
“Okay.”
He got her safely into the car. Raced to the driver’s side, got in, and hit the accelerator.
“Maybe we should pick out a name,” Carrie suggested.
“My God, we don’t even have a name! Do not have this baby until we have a proper name.”
“Zach, honey, remember how you’ve been all about Zen?”
“Yeah, yeah, I wrote a book about it. I think I know Zen.” He glanced over to find her baring her teeth at him in a scary smile.
“Okay,” she said through those scary teeth. “Could you get some? Because you’re basically freaking out and I need you not to be.”
He squeezed her leg reassuringly and focused on the road. “Yes. Yes. Of course. As soon as we get to the hospital and I know you’re okay, then I’ll do that blessing meditation for both of us.”
“Just you.” She paused. “I’m a little focused on working with the contraction, keeping myself relaxed.”
“Of course, of course. Perfectly reasonable. You’re doing great, sweetheart.”
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