by Lori Ryan
He already knew that, he just didn’t know why.
“From you.” She added, squeezing his arm.
“I know that, Maggie, but it makes no sense. Why would she run from me?”
“You’re the first person who’s ever broken down her walls, gotten in to see the real Devlin, and it scares her.”
“I’m not going to lie. It scares me, too. I never thought I’d grow to care for her like I do, but she’s made it clear she doesn’t want this to go further.”
“So you do care for her, right?” Maggie smiled hopefully.
Max raised a skeptical brow. “I just said I do.”
“Have you told her, how much you care for her, I mean?”
“Not in so many words, but I think she knows.”
“Tell, her,” Maggie blurted out, nearly jumping from her chair. “Tell her how you feel, Max. I know she’s tired of traveling, she wants to settle down, even if she says she doesn’t.”
“That’s not what she’s told me, or anyone else I know.”
“She’s full of shit,” Maggie said, leaning in squeezing his shoulder.
Max laughed. “What are you trying to do, Maggie?”
“I’m trying to save my best friend from herself. She thinks she knows what she wants, but she doesn’t. She’s just afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Of becoming like her mother. She doesn’t want to be weak, to rely on a man to take care of her, even if she finds a man who won’t treat her the way her father treated her mother. Devlin is fiercely independent.”
“Yes, I know.”
“But that’s just it, Max. She’s lying to herself. She’s afraid to trust someone, but I know in her heart she wants to. She wants to trust you. It’s just her weasel of a father and her timid mother have warped her way of thinking about relationships.”
“Relationship?” Max reared back. He’d never said anything about a relationship.
“Oh, please.” Maggie swatted his arm. “You know you want her to stay. You want a relationship with her no matter what you say to the boys.”
He did.
“I know you’d at least like the chance to explore more with her, right?”
“Maggie, her life is in New York,” he said. “She’s not going to stay here.”
Maggie sat back, staring at him for a long moment as if she wanted to say something more but couldn’t, or wouldn’t.
“Just talk to her, Max. Tell her how you feel, what you want, before she leaves. I think that’s what she’s waiting for. Devlin will never be the first one to admit she needs someone. She’ll be the last person to show just how vulnerable she is.” Maggie paused. “But I know she needs you. You’ll be good for her. And she’ll be good for you.”
“God, Maggie, now you really sound like my mother.”
“Valerie pushed me toward your brother and look what happened.” She waved her hand around the inside of the barn.
“I don’t want to get married if that’s what you’re getting at.”
But even as he said the words, the tension inside him eased at the idea of marrying Devlin, of building a life with her.
“Neither did Ben or I six months ago.” Maggie reached out and touched his cheek. “Please, just tell her. If you want to take a chance, she’s worth it.”
Max genuine love in his sister-in-law’s eyes. Love and concern for her best friend.
Someone behind him cleared his throat. “If you’re quite finished seducing my wife, I’d like to have her back.”
Max turned and saw Ben standing over him, but the grin on his face told Max that his brother wasn’t at all worried.
“Congrats, brother,” he said. “You’re a lucky man.”
“I know.” Ben nodded and held his hand out for Maggie. “Come on love. The sooner we get through the pictures and the reception, the sooner we can get the hell out of here and get to the good stuff.”
Maggie giggled but her eyes twinkled with anticipation.
Max groaned. “You’re making me sick to my stomach.”
Maggie stood, but stopped just to the side of Max. “Find her,” she whispered in his ear. “Please.” She gently kissed his cheek and before he could turn to speak, the couple was gone.
Max stood, too. He needed to find Devlin. This had gone on long enough.
“Max!”
He looked up to find his cousin, Abbie, calling him over for another round of photos. She couldn’t be serious. He gritted his teeth and walked toward her. It was no use making excuses. If he ran, she’d send his Aunt Sally and all her demon spawn after him.
He’d suck it up, take the pictures, then find Devlin and tell her how he felt.
Now if only he could figure out what exactly it was he was feeling.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Devlin walked numbly through the next hour as Abbey positioned them for photos. For once, Devlin was happy to relinquish the stress of photographing the event. Instead she just followed all of Abbie’s requests for position and posing.
Several times, Max moved closer to her, but just as he did, Abbey would pull her in a different direction for a photo. It was almost as if Abbey understood she couldn’t talk to Max. Not here, not now.
“How you doing?” Maggie asked, leaning over as they posed for a shot together.
“Fine, why?” Devlin smiled for the camera.
“I’ve seen Max staring at you the entire afternoon.”
“And?”
“Maggie,” Abbey called out.
“Oh, sorry.” Maggie turned back to the camera and smiled.
“I’m not going to talk to him here, if that’s what you’re asking,” Devlin said through her smile.
“But soon, right Dev?”
Devlin stood silent.
“I think it’s breaking Valerie’s heart,” Maggie whispered. “She feels awful for what she said, and I’m pretty sure she knows it’s Max’s baby, even though I haven’t said anything.”
“What about Lily?”
“No,” Maggie shook her head, “she’d never say anything. She’s loyal to a fault. Kayleigh too.”
Devlin shrugged, unsure who to trust any more. These damn pregnancy hormones had her mind racing.
“All right,” Abbey called out, “next up are the brothers.”
Devlin made a quick exit, skirting around the chairs before Max could grab her, and made a bee line for the barn. She circulated around the packed area, now filled with friends and family. Servers weaved through the crowd with trays of champagne.
God, what Devlin wouldn’t do for a drink. She’d read the list of things she needed to avoid for her baby’s safety. Alcohol was only the beginning. If she wanted to keep her baby healthy—and she did—she needed to avoid cold cuts and potato salad if it had been sitting out at all, soft cheeses, and even certain types of fish. God, who knew all that shit was bad for a baby? They should come with warning labels or something.
She let her hand fall to her stomach wanting to feel the infant inside her. She was starting to ache for the need to know this little being. To explain that she’d probably screw up a lot but that would never mean she didn’t love her.
Her. Devlin laughed when she realized she’d already declared her baby a girl.
The evening progressed and somehow Devlin was able to avoid Max’s attempts to single her out. She stood at the other end of the barn as Maggie and Ben descended the steps of the balcony when they were announced as Mr. and Mrs. Sumner for the first time. Maggie’s face was filled with such joy everyone in the room had to have felt it. Ben’s gift of the balcony couldn’t have been more perfect. And Shawn’s personalized touches on the balusters were icing on the cake.
A small bell chimed and everyone was asked to find their seats. Devlin took her place next to Maggie. Max had tried to sit next to her, but he’d been shuttled away by the catering staff to his assigned seat. Thank God.
It was bad enough that Valerie was at the table. She tried to avoid the woman’s gaze
but it was difficult. She was a mom and could track anything. Valerie’s eyes seemed to hold a silent plea of apology and Devlin did not want to go there. Not tonight. This was Maggie’s day.
“Maggie,” Elle said, “this meal is fabulous.”
Devlin stared down at her plate. The food was incredible, but she’d barely touched anything. Her stomach was tied in knots, dreading the moment when Max would finally pin her down. And he would, there was no doubt. What was she going to say?
“Ivy prepared it all,” Maggie said. “She cooked some in Sally’s bakery and some at Valerie’s house. I felt horrible that she had to juggle everything around.”
“I heard you’re thinking of adding on a kitchen,” Elle said.
Emmett groaned.
Valerie opened her mouth to speak.
Ben held up a hand. “No, Ma. Not yet.”
Valerie nodded once but slipped a smile toward Maggie. These two were lethal when put together.
The catering staff cleared the dishes just as a man at the side of the barn asked for their attention. He was a Karaoke DJ from the Noble’s resort. Warner had loaned his music equipment and his employees for the evening when the one Maggie booked from Denver suddenly backed out.
Maybe Kayleigh had been right the other night at dinner. This town needed a full-service wedding company.
“Excuse me everyone,” the DJ said. “I hope you all are enjoying your meal.”
Everyone practically moaned a collective “yes.”
“Good, good,” he said. “Well, we’ll give you some time to digest before we do the wedding cake. But for now, Maggie has a few words she’d like to say and then we’ll watch the happy couple take their first dance.”
Ben leaned in to Maggie “What are you up to?” he asked in a stage whisper.
Maggie smiled and patted his shoulder, remaining silent as she pushed back from her chair and walked toward the DJ.
“Do you know, Ma?” Ben asked.
Valerie shook her head.
Ben turned to Devlin. “You?”
“Nope. No clue.”
“Hello, everyone,” Maggie said into the wireless microphone. “I want to thank you all for coming to our wedding. It means so much to Ben and me that you’ve chosen to share this special moment with us.” Maggie’s eyes found Ben’s and they shared a look that only people who were connected on a soul level could.
“As many of you know,” Maggie went on, “this barn was a labor of love for me and Valerie.” Maggie held out her hand to her now mother-in-law. “But it was a dream that one man envisioned and brought to life.”
Devlin swallowed hard. This was going to be a tribute to John Sumner. Adding an emotional speech on top of her crazed hormones could be really bad.
The room went silent as all eyes fell on Maggie.
“Without him, none of this would have happened. And I never would have fallen in love with his son, the man who will continue to build onto his legacy.”
Devlin’s eyes burned.
“John Sumner,” Maggie said quietly. “He was a mentor and friend to so many people in this room but he was more than that to me. In John and Valerie, I found surrogate parents who believed in me, who inspired me, who entrusted me and allowed me to become part of their own dreams. For that, I will be grateful forever, because without knowing it, they changed me. Changed me into someone who finally felt worthy of love.” Tears shimmered in Maggie’s eyes
Devlin glanced over the table and noticed Valerie’s cheeks stained with tears. Devlin reached out and grabbed her hand. Without taking her eyes off Maggie, Valerie squeezed Devlin’s fingers.
Ben scooted over and sat next to his mother, wrapping an arm around her.
“I know I promised Mia I wouldn’t cry and ruin my makeup,” Maggie smiled through her tears, “so I’ll make this quick.”
Everyone laughed but the emotion in the room was heavy with the bittersweet memories of a man they’d all loved and lost.
“I wish John were here today,” Maggie continued, “to be a part of this chapter of my life, to see how happy I am, how happy his son is, and how strong Valerie has become. To see how much we’ve accomplished because of the foundation he built.”
Maggie took a deep breath, using her fingers to press under her eyes as though she could keep the tears from falling.
“We still have lots of dreams for the Lodge at Canyon Creek,” she said, “but the biggest ones were John’s visions, and with the help of many of you, his family and friends, we’ve made them come true.” Maggie swallowed hard and Ben moved to join her but Maggie waved him off.
“I know John would be proud of everything we’ve accomplished,” she said “He would be especially proud of his sons, knowing how they’ve rallied around Valerie, the way they’ve supported her visions and worked hard to ensure the future of the lodge. We’ve still got a ways to go, but I know I can count on all of them and so does Valerie.
“John’s no longer here physically but he’s here,” Maggie glanced around the room, her hand waving toward the ceiling, “in spirit. In every nail we hammered, in every piece of wood we used to refurbish this barn, John’s been here, pounding right alongside with us.” Maggie closed her eyes and gently lifted her hand to her heart. She drew in a slow breath, obviously trying to calm herself. After a few quiet moments, her eyes fluttered opened and tears spilled over her lashes.
“John was always my biggest champion, besides Valerie.” She laughed and Valerie joined in. “I miss him every day.” Maggie’s chin shook and she wiped away tears but still waved off Ben. “I wanted a way to remind myself that just because I can’t see him doesn’t mean he’s not still with me. I wanted a way to remind myself that he’s still here, on those days when life is hard and I feel like I just can’t do it. In those moments I want to give up and tell myself I can’t. But especially on days like this, my wedding day, a moment he should be sharing with me, with all of us.”
Maggie paused, drawing in several deep breaths before continuing. “John’s favorite movie was ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’”
The room let out a collective groan. Obviously, the Sumner family did not share John’s passion for Jimmy Stewart.
“Shush.” Maggie waved them off, laughing. “John said he loved that movie because it was his life, a wonderful life. But he always joked that he would never get his wings in heaven no matter how many bells rang.” Maggie swallowed and her eyes filled with even more tears.
“I don’t believe that,” she choked out. “John Sumner was an angel. To me. He didn’t have wings, but he had—” Maggie covered her mouth with the back of her hand to cover a sob.
Ben jumped from his seat and wrapped her in his arms.
Hot tears streamed down Devlin’s own cheeks before she could stop them.
“It’s okay,” Ben murmured to Maggie.
Maggie nodded silently.
Devlin glanced around the room, watching as guests wiped their eyes. It seemed that Maggie’s speech and John’s heart had touched more than one person in Canyon Creek. Her gaze stilled on Max.
His hazel green eyes were glassed over with his own emotions. He leaned toward his brother, Jake, his hand squeezing his brother’s shoulder as he wiped at his eyes.
She wanted to go to him, to hold him the way Maggie and Ben were supporting each other.
“Sorry,” Maggie said quietly, her breath ragged as she pulled away from Ben’s hold. She released one long sigh before continuing.
“Coming in to the barn, you all may have seen the huge bell we hung to the side of the barn door,” she said. “I had it custom designed and built by a metal artist in Denver, and it was finally delivered yesterday. I stayed up late into the night with Grant Sumner, something every girl dreams of,” Maggie waggled her brows, “and together we got the bell hung in time for today.”
Grant stood and waved his hand like he’d just won another award.
“Sit down, you idiot!” Emmett yelled.
The room burst into laug
hter, breaking the somber mood.
“In many cultures and communities,” Maggie continued, “a bell is rung in memory of a loved one. This bell is for John. I had it inscribed with the following words. ‘For John Sumner: A man who needs no wings, but still this bell will ring.’”
“Oh, Maggie,” Valerie choked out.
“I hope that as you all leave tonight,” she said, “you’ll ring the bell to remind us all that John’s never far from our thoughts. That you remember his laughter, and his love. He loved his sons. He loved me.” She waved her hand around the crowd. “He loved all of you.” Maggie moved toward Valerie. “But you,” she said, moving toward her mother-in-law and taking her hand, “you, he loved most of all.”
“I loved him most of all, too,” Valerie choked out.
Maggie nodded. “I always remember John telling Valerie, ‘Thank you for loving me.’ It was a Bon Jovi song they said, but every time I heard him say it I always wondered if I would ever thank someone for loving me like that.”
Maggie released Valerie and turned toward Ben, taking his face in her free hand. “I know I’m not the easiest person to live with, and at times I drive you mad. But I want to say tonight what I always dreamed of saying one day.”
Ben’s eyes shone with tears, and love, as he looked down at his wife.
“Thank you for loving me, Ben Sumner.” She pulled him down and pressed her lips against his. Ben’s arms wrapped around her waist and he bent her over in an epic dip, drawing applause and whistles from their friends and family.
Devlin stumbled to her feet as she dashed away the tears, wondering the same thing Maggie had. Would she ever get to thank someone for loving her?
Her eyes were drawn to Max when she saw him walking toward her but she quickly looked away when he stopped near Valerie. He leaned low and whispered in his mother’s ear. She nodded and Max drew her into a long hug.
Maggie turned to the crowd. “Let’s dance!” she yelled.
Music burst from the speaker of the Karaoke machine and people filled the dance floor.
A warm hand slid along the bare skin of her back.
“Dance with me?” Max’s deep voice sent her body into that expectant frenzy that started whenever she heard him.