by Debbie Mason
The curtain opened. “Mia honey, who are you talking to?” Liam asked, a concerned expression on his face as he looked around.
Mia cupped the side of her face with her hand and winked at Colleen. “Just Simon, Daddy,” she said, then patted the purring cat.
Oddly enough, the purr sounded like a chuckle.
“You’ll have to continue your chat with Simon later. Mommy’s looking for you. Arianna wants you to try on your dress for tomorrow’s fashion show.”
Mia lifted Simon off her lap. “Yay! Can I see Auntie Ava’s wedding dress? Mommy says it’s beautiful.”
“That’s a secret, remember? Auntie Ava doesn’t know she’s in the fashion show.”
“Does Uncle Griffin?”
Liam laughed. “Nope, he’s in for a big surprise. And your Uncle Griffin isn’t a fan of surprises. It’s going to be fun times.”
“Do you like surprises, Daddy?” Mia asked.
“Sometimes, but I guess I’m a little like your uncle.” Liam looked down at his giggling daughter. “Sweetheart, is there something I should know?”
She made a zip-it motion with her finger across her lips and skipped off.
Liam chased after her, calling for his wife.
“It sounds like we won’t want to miss the fashion show tomorrow, Simon,” Colleen said, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. “But for now, we have a chef to scare.”
Chapter Fifteen
Why does Mia keep looking at me and giggling?” Ava asked her cousin as she lifted Sophie’s hair to zip up the dress she was wearing in the fashion show. Arianna was showcasing Tie the Knot’s new spring line. All the dresses were gorgeous with layers of sheer fabric in various pastel hues. Sophie’s was petal pink, and Mia’s was robin’s-egg blue.
“She’s just excited about the fashion show and to hear her daddy sing,” Sophie said.
“Her daddy didn’t seem as excited as she is. Neither did Griffin or Colin.” Ava wouldn’t admit it to her cousin, but she was excited to hear Griffin sing. Just to sit for a few uninterrupted minutes and watch and listen to him would be a joy. She’d been too busy preparing food for the bridal fair to spend any time with him. And then there was the whole keeping-their-distance thing. Their brief nightly conversations had been unsatisfying too. She supposed she should be grateful though. After all, this was more than she’d dreamed possible.
Sophie laughed. “Don’t let him fool you; he loves to perform. He just didn’t want to wear a tux. Now Colin and Griffin, they weren’t as crazy about being in the spotlight. Not to sound boastful, but don’t you think it was a brilliant idea? What better way to make Harmony Harbor stand out in the bride-to-be’s minds than to have three beautiful men singing a capella?”
“It was inspired. But you do realize that every bride who books their wedding at the manor will expect them to sing at theirs, don’t you?”
“Yes, and because Liam has a very healthy ego, he’s positive all the women will want them to, and just as sure I’ll say okay to seal the deal. Which means his Saturdays will be tied up for the foreseeable future.”
“And we all know you’d do anything to seal the deal.” Ava patted her shoulder. “You’re all zipped up.”
Sophie turned and hugged her. “Thank you for working so hard to make the bridal fair a success. I hope you know how much we all appreciate it.”
“I do, because every time I run into you, Colin, Kitty, or Liam, you all keep telling me. So you can stop now. You know the manor’s success is just as important to me.”
“We do. That’s why I feel so bad I caved to Gaston.” Sophie glanced around the sitting room where the women had all gathered to get ready for the fashion show. Her cousin lowered her voice. “I’ve been dealing with some things I didn’t want to talk about, and between that and Finn and the bridal fair, I didn’t handle the situation as well as I should have. I’m going to take care of that tomorrow. I’m meeting with Mr. Wilcox, and we’ll figure out a way to break Gaston’s contract without him suing us.” She took Ava’s hand in hers. “Please tell me you’ll take over for him.”
What a difference a few months make, Ava thought when the prospect of taking over as chef caused her heart to give an excited thump instead of an anxious twist. “I’d love to. Thank you.”
“Oh God, don’t thank me. I’m just glad you’re willing to consider it after everything.”
Ava thought back to her cousin’s earlier comment. “You mentioned that you were dealing with some things. Are you okay?”
“This is totally under the dome, because, well, I’m not, but I thought I was pregnant. I’ve been really tired and nauseous and realized I’d missed a period. I let myself get excited. Thankfully Liam and I didn’t tell anyone because I got my period last week. And the next day, after months of radio silence, my mother calls. Her boyfriend dumped her for another yoga instructor, and now she’s thinking about moving back to Harmony Harbor.”
“I wouldn’t tell your brother or Rosa about Tina before you know for sure. Maybe she’ll change her mind.” Ava looked around, leaning into her cousin. “Did you take a pregnancy test?”
“No, I’d been planning to, and then…” She lifted a shoulder.
“You can have intermittent bleeding during pregnancy, Sophie. Especially in the early stages. It’s much lighter than your period though. So if that’s what you’re experiencing, you might want to take the test.” Ava didn’t know this only because of her training; she knew from personal experience.
Before Sophie had a chance to respond, Arianna turned from where she’d been helping her sister Serena into the bridal gown. “We need a new bride.”
Serena pulled the front of the bodice from her chest. “Preferably one with boobs.” She glanced over her shoulder. “And a butt.”
Everyone turned to look at Ava. She narrowed her eyes at the women and held up her hands, almost positive she was being set up. “No.”
Twenty minutes later, Ava was standing in front of a mirror wearing one of the most exquisite bridal gowns she had ever seen. The full bell skirt and tight bodice was made up of layers of vanilla-white, tissue-thin material, and small pastel flowers were appliqued on the outer layer with intricate embroidery creating the leaves and stems. Each flower had a tiny crystal bead at its center that matched the beading on the delicate pink high heels and the line of crystals that were attached to the fabric at the nape of her neck down to the base of the backless gown.
Dorothy and Rosa stood on either side of her, their hands pressed prayer-like together, the tips of their fingers touching their lips. They didn’t speak, just stared at her through shining eyes.
Ava forced a laugh and said for them as much as for herself, “It’s a fashion show, not a wedding.”
“Father O’Malley’s here. He’s right up at the front. So we can have a real wedding,” Mia said, giving Rosa a thumbs-up in the mirror.
Ava groaned. “Auntie Rosa, you didn’t!”
“Didn’t what? Father O’Malley can’t come to a fashion show now?” Rosa shrugged and lifted her two hands, palms up. “And if someone decides to get married, he’s here. It’s all good.”
No, it was very bad. The last thing Ava wanted was Griffin to think she had an ulterior motive for playing the part of the bride in the fashion show. “I can’t do this.”
“Nonna and Dorothy, why don’t you go check and make sure everything’s organized in the ballroom? You too, baby,” Sophie said, ushering them out of the sitting room.
Arianna walked over with a pale pink flower that had strands of crystals hanging from it. “Please do it for me, Ava. No one can make that dress look half as stunning as you do. You’re the perfect advertisement for Tie the Knot.”
“Guilting me is how you got me into the dress in the first place.”
“I know. It worked so well, I thought I’d try again. But it’s not a lie. I guarantee when you walk out there, I’m going to be besieged by women wanting that gown.”
Ava sighed. “All righ
t.”
“Thank you. And I have a feeling you’ll be thanking me by the end of the day, once a certain someone sees you.” Arianna moved Ava’s hair to the side so that it cascaded down the front left of the bodice, and then she clipped the flower in Ava’s hair to hold it there.
Maggie, an attractive fiftysomething redhead, who was appearing in the fashion show in a pale yellow dress, picked up Ava’s bouquet off the table and handed the pastel-colored roses tied together with matching ribbons to her. “You have to let me paint you in this dress, Ava. If that’s okay with you, Arianna.”
“Pass up the opportunity to have one of my gowns featured in a Maggie Stewart original painting? Are you kidding me? Schedule us in, right, Ava?”
Maggie was not only a talented artist, but she was also a lovely woman whom Ava was fond of. They’d gotten to know each other at the Widows Club’s meetings, and lately Maggie had seemed to be going through a difficult time. Ava thought it might be because she was no longer dating Griffin’s father. Though they’d never come out and said they were actually dating.
At Maggie’s and Arianna’s expectant looks, Ava didn’t feel she had a choice but to agree. “That would be nice. Thank you, Maggie.” Then Ava thought of something. “I get to keep the gown on, don’t I?” Maggie was famous, or infamous as the case may be, for her nudes.
Maggie laughed. “Whatever you want.”
Dana hurried in wearing a mint-green dress. “Showtime, ladies.” She hooked her arm through Ava’s. “You have nothing to be nervous about. You look absolutely stunning. If you need a distraction, just look at Griffin. Because I guarantee that man won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”
Dana was right, Ava thought a few moments later when she entered the ballroom. And so was Arianna. Using a white runner decorated with pink and yellow rose petals, Dana had created an aisle between the rows of chairs. Everyone on both sides of the aisle came to their feet, whistling and clapping. But Ava only had eyes for the man standing beside his brother—his father behind them—on the platform.
The three men wore black tuxes from Tie the Knot. Griffin had forgone the black bow tie both his brother and father wore, leaving the top two buttons of his white shirt open to expose his corded neck. Griffin and Liam began playing their guitars, and the crowd quieted and took their seats. Colin rested a hand on each of his sons’ shoulders, and the three men began to sing “I Swear” by John Michael Montgomery.
Everything faded, the whispers, the oohs and aahs over the dresses, the people, the room, until all she saw and heard was Griffin, singing the words of “I Swear” directly to her as she slowly made her way up the aisle toward him. As he sang the lyrics, she wanted to ask him Do we have to wait? More than ever she didn’t want to. They’d wasted too many years already.
And she knew as he promised to never break her heart, that he never would have. She’d done that, and she wanted nothing more than to make it up to him. He didn’t need to know the secret she’d kept from him, the secret that had torn her and them apart. It wouldn’t make a difference now. That part of her was long gone, dead and buried. All that was important now was the future, their future together. From the soft expression on his face to the shimmer in his beautiful eyes, she knew he wanted one with her too.
Sophie and Mia walked to the left of the stage, Maggie and Dana to the right. The four of them smiled at her as Ava continued to make her way up the aisle. She smiled back and then returned her gaze to Griffin. Love shone from his indigo eyes as he sang the chorus to her one last time, and she tripped on the edge of the runner.
Father O’Malley came to her aid, but Griffin reached her first, steadying her with his hands on her arms. “Ava,” he breathed, looking into her eyes.
“Stop, stop!” a woman yelled from the back of the ballroom. “I object, and more importantly, your baby objects, Griffin Gallagher. You can’t do this. You can’t let her ruin your life again!”
Looking determined and furious, Lexi stormed up the aisle toward him. He knew he should be worried about her and what effect her over-the-top anger was having on both her and the baby. But it was the woman standing before him who worried him more. Only seconds ago, her beautiful face had been alight with happiness and love. Now she looked devastated. Her legs buckled, and he tightened his grip on her upper arms. “Honey, it’s not what you think. Just give me a chance to ex—”
Ava raised her gaze, the stricken look in her eyes punching a hole in his chest. “She’s having your baby?”
“Yes, but—”
She made a small, desperate sound in her throat and tugged her arms free. Lifting her gown, she ran down the aisle. “Mi dispiace. I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I’m sorry,” he heard her say to Lexi as she brushed past his ex-wife, breaking his heart as she did.
People turned to watch her leave, several of them pressing their fingers to their lips. Rosa shot him a furious glare before hurrying after Ava with Dorothy following close behind. He needed to go after her too, but first he had to calm Lexi down.
Her lip curled as she glanced over her shoulder. Then she looked up at him. “I cannot even begin to understand what you see in a woman like that. She’s a mouse and a coward, sniveling and apologizing instead of standing—”
“Don’t,” he gritted out, holding on to his temper by a thread. “What you saw is a decent woman who thinks that you and I are together and having a baby. She’d never come between—”
“We are, and she did. Got anything else before you explain to me what you’re doing marrying that…that woman when you promised you’d have nothing to do with her?”
“Calm the hell down, Lex.” Griffin kept his voice low. People were giving them space, but they were listening to their every word. “We weren’t getting married. Look around, it’s a fashion show.”
She frowned. Then a touch of pink flushed her cheeks. “Oh, I…” She shrugged. “What was I supposed to think?”
That was Lex. She’d never apologize or admit when she was wrong. It used to drive him nuts, but it was doing more than that now. “Really? Because I routinely lie to you and don’t keep my word so of course I’d just up and get married without talking to you about it first.”
“God, don’t get all sanctimonious on me, Gallagher. Not when it was obvious to everyone what was going on here.” She rose up on her toes and stabbed him in the chest with her finger. “You promised to stay away from her.”
From behind him, he heard Mia say to Sophie, “Mommy, we have to find Auntie Ava. She has nobody to look after her. No daddy, no mommy, no kids, no nothing. We’re her family. She needs us.”
“It’s okay. Don’t cry, baby. I’m sure Nonna and Dorothy are with her. We’ll go check on Auntie Ava as soon as we pass out the gift bags and draw the winning raffle tickets. Come on, you can help me. Excuse us,” Sophie said quietly, keeping her head down as she brushed past them.
Mia didn’t. She stuck out her tongue at Lexi.
Lex rolled her eyes. Always the hard-ass. She didn’t care what people thought of her, and she sure as hell wouldn’t care that Ava was hurting.
“Could always count on you to make an entrance, Lex,” Liam teased, and walked over to give her a hug. Leave it to his baby brother to defuse the situation. He obviously knew Griffin was riding the knife edge of his temper. Liam drew back. “So, looks like you two have been holding out on us.”
“Do you mind if we do this somewhere private? I think we’ve provided enough entertainment for one day,” Griffin said, his voice tight with anger and laced with the sarcasm he didn’t bother trying to hide.
“You know what, I do mind. You’re trying to make me feel bad because your girlfriend is upset and you feel guilty because you went back on your promise.”
“No, I didn’t. Did I want to? Yep. Was I considering doing just that when you walked in here? You bet. But here’s the thing, Lex. I was going to call you first and talk about it. And that was a courtesy because we haven’t been a couple in years. You’re my best fri
end, and I care about you, and your opinion matters to me. But when it comes to Ava, you have your head so far up your ass you can’t—”
A heavy hand came down on his shoulder. “That’s enough, Griffin,” his father said, then went to Lexi and pulled her in for a hug, saying something to her in a low, soothing voice.
Whatever his dad said seemed to cheer her up, a small smile touching her lips as she nodded. And that made Griffin nervous. But it was nothing compared to how he felt when his grandmother did the same. Whatever Kitty said to Lexi caused his ex to meet his gaze with a familiar look in her brown eyes. The same look she got whenever she won an argument or a challenge—self-satisfied and triumphant.
Jasper walked toward them. “I’ve delivered Miss Lexi’s bags to your room, Master Griffin,” the old man said, shooting Griffin a hard stare that softened when he looked at Lexi. “After your long drive, I thought you might be hungry, miss. There’s a tray of refreshments awaiting you.”
“Thanks, Jasper. That was very thoughtful.”
Griffin thought his head might explode if he stayed there much longer. “If you guys don’t mind, Lex and I have to talk.”
Surprisingly, she didn’t argue with him. Probably because she figured his family would now be on his case, which his dad more or less proved when he said, “Griffin, we’ll be in the study waiting for you.”
“You’ll be waiting awhile. I have something to take care of first.” Ava. If he’d thought Lex’d show up like this, he would have told Ava about the baby. But he knew, no matter how he broke the news to her, it was going to hurt. He’d wanted to put that off for as long as possible. And because he had…
“It wasn’t a suggestion. It was an order,” his father clipped out.
Griffin opened his mouth to set his old man straight, then closed it when he saw the uncompromising expression on his father’s face. Beside him, Lexi snorted a laugh.
“Glad you find it amusing, Lex,” Griffin said as they walked out of the ballroom. The bridal fair attendees were gathered in the lobby.