by Anna Paige
If I did break down, I’d just blame it on the occasion. Everyone cried at weddings, right?
The music was beautiful and thankfully loud enough to drown out the sound of my labored breathing. I couldn’t screw this up, but damn, I wanted to turn around and walk out. Or maybe puke… my stomach was churning.
Only for Ali would I endure this shit.
Best fucking bitches, first and foremost.
I could do this for her.
I’d deal with the rest, with Spencer, later.
We were nearing the altar when the congregation around us began to turn and gasp. Obviously Ali was making her entrance.
Spencer ushered me to the front and gripped my hand before I could pull it away. I turned to look at him, annoyed that he was hindering me from seeing Ali come down the aisle.
He pulled me in close and whispered into my hair. “I’ll never be done with you, sweetheart. I thought I told you that.”
He let go and took his place at Clay’s side, a smug look on his face that disappeared when he turned to watch his best friend’s bride approach. There was a flash of pain on his face that he quickly hid behind his mega-watt smile.
Was he thinking of Ivey in that moment? Remembering his own wedding? This ceremony was much more formal, more traditional than the one at the willow. Maybe it had him reminiscing.
About her.
Goddamn it, that thought was the one that broke my resolve. The tears welled and rolled silently down my cheeks as Ali took her place at Clay’s side in a dress that was worlds away from the one she’d worn last week.
It was stunning.
My best friend stood there, looking more beautiful than any princess ever to grace a church. I was so unbelievably happy for her.
She smiled my way and handed me her bouquet to hold until the ceremony concluded.
I avoided looking at Spencer, though I could feel the heat of his stare on me. I watched Ali and Clay, I looked at the stunningly-decorated church, the floor, Ali’s bejeweled train. Anywhere but into those hypnotic black eyes. When the ceremony was halfway over, I shifted the two bouquets in my hands and noticed a tiny slip of paper tucked into Ali’s.
It had my name on it.
I frowned and looked up at Spencer for the first time. Surely he hadn’t had the balls to slip a note to me in my best friend’s bouquet.
He met my eye and lifted a questioning brow, mouthing ‘what’s wrong’ as discretely as possible given that we were standing in front of a couple hundred people.
I looked down at the flowers in my hand and squinted at the scrap of paper, pulling it free with the tips of my fingers and unfolding it carefully, looking around to make sure no one was paying me any attention.
Well, except Spencer who was watching me intently, a curious look on his face.
I looked down at the scrap of paper and didn’t recognize the handwriting, which was too messy to be confused with Spencer’s neat hand.
It read: Talia—He’s picturing himself standing with you at this altar, you know that right? Your future is waiting for you. Meet it halfway. You won’t regret taking the chance. I sure don’t.—Clay
My face crumpled as I fought for control. I barely caught the sob that welled in my throat, my mind flashing to the pain-filled look on his face a few minutes before.
Was that really because of me? Had he really been wishing it were me coming down that aisle to join him at the altar?
Or had Ali talked Clay into taking one last shot at getting us back together?
It was all I could do to keep myself from breaking down. I had to force myself to breathe deep and focus on the ceremony, not the gut-wrenching devastation that was ripping me in two. I was terrified to let him in again.
And I was terrified not to.
What if they were wrong? Maybe he really had given up. I couldn’t blame him if he had. What I had done to him was unfair, unwarranted, and unforgivable.
I’d made so many mistakes.
Everything had changed for me when I fell for him, and was continuing to change even now. The future I’d pictured for myself had changed so many times over the years that I decided it was best not to plan, not to hope, not to want anything so that I would never have anything to lose. It wasn’t ambitious or brave, but it was smart. It made good sense to my care-worn heart so I went with it.
And he walked in and threatened everything I thought I knew in one fell swoop.
His love had changed everything.
I wanted him back so much it hurt. It was a physical ache that never waned, never rested. And hearing him say he hadn’t given up… had chased it all away.
It wouldn’t be easy, and we both had some things to work through, but standing there on that altar, Clay’s words repeating again and again in my mind, I knew I had to try.
And it had to be today.
As soon as humanly possible, I would remind myself how brave I was and make the move that would change both of our lives forever.
I returned my attention to the ceremony with renewed purpose.
Not much longer.
The vows and rings were exchanged, the couple had a smoldering first kiss that garnered a few whistles, and then Mr. and Mrs. McGavran were presented to us for the first time—as far as most of these people knew, anyway. They laughed, Ali cried, and they made their way back down the aisle as man and wife.
With so many tear-streaked faces in the crowd, mine fit right in.
Tears of joy both for their union and for my future. I was finally going to forge ahead without fear or regret. I was taking my life back.
Spencer stood in front of the altar, waiting to escort me back. I drew in a deep breath and smiled up at him, taking his arm and mentally planning what I would say. I briefly wondered if Ali would be upset with me if I snagged Spencer and skipped the reception, to have this conversation in a less crowded environment.
He leaned down at me then, his voice a hushed exhalation at my side. “What had you so upset? Was that note from Ali?”
I couldn’t speak, couldn’t seem to force anything past the lump in my throat, so I just shook my head, practically dragging him forward.
Not here, I can’t do this here.
When we got to the foyer, it was a madhouse. People lingering and hugging each other, talking animatedly about how beautiful the bride was. Clay and Ali had probably already gone to start things off with the photographer.
I let go of Spencer’s arm and started away from the crowd to find Ali and beg off for the reception when someone gripped my elbow.
I turned to see Clay smiling down at me. “Hold on there, sis.” He grinned devilishly. “I need you and Spence for a second before we can start the photos. Come with me.” He glanced over my shoulder and nodded. “You, too. Don’t make me drag you in there by your lapels. I hear that designer shit is expensive to replace if it gets damaged.”
Spencer spoke at my back, so near that I could feel the heat of him on by bare shoulders. “Keep your hands off the Versace, asshole.”
Clay gasped and feigned offense. “You’re in a church, dumbass. Watch your mouth.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
Didn’t they know how close I was to a nervous breakdown? I needed privacy with the man I loved, not a comedy skit. “Would you two shut it please, preferably before you get us all struck by lightning,” I chided, pointing at Clay and ignoring the chuckle at my back. “Now, take us wherever the hell we’re supposed to be going or let us move along. Much more of your shenanigans and I’ll be forfeiting my spot at the main table for a seat at the bar.” I rolled my eyes, knowing the last thing I needed right then was a drink. My stomach was already in knots.
Spencer laughed softly as Clay turned and motioned for us to follow.
I could feel his breath on my ear when he whispered, “A seat at the bar, huh? I know one I could recommend. Sturdy, with soft Italian leather and just the right height.”
My cheeks felt like they were on fire. I watched Clay’s back,
waiting for him to turn and say something, laugh, something, but he either didn’t hear or he was really good at pretending.
I was desperately hoping for the former.
We made our way down the long hallway and entered a large room at the very end, twice the size of the ones we’d been using to dress and prepare for the ceremony. In the middle of the room sat an easel that held a large sketch board.
What the hell was this, a wedding or a business meeting?
I was about to ask Clay that very thing when I saw his expression light up as if someone had flipped on a switch.
Ali had joined us.
I turned to my best friend in the world and felt like a total asshole for spending her wedding ceremony distracted. I’d known Ali all my life, and I owed her better than that. Even if this was ceremony number two.
Clay took her in his arms and dipped her low as he kissed her, causing her to moan in his arms and making me wish I was anywhere but here. My face heated and I refused to look at Spencer—whose chuckles let me know he was aware of my discomfort—so I just had to stand there while they made out like teenagers. Well-dressed teenagers, but still.
Finally taking pity on me, Spencer cleared his throat and they finally broke the kiss.
Clay walked over to where I stood, holding his wife by the hand and placing her next to me near the easel. “Ladies, I apologize for all the mystery but I wanted the four of us here for this. You see, I had this amazing idea for a wedding gift for my bride, but I needed a lot of help to make it happen.” He reached out and snagged Spencer’s arm, pointing at him as he met his eye, still speaking to Ali and I. “This would never have been possible without my best man, my best friend. He went above and beyond, and I needed him here for this.”
Spencer smiled and looked away, obviously not comfortable with the praise.
Clay turned his attention to me, his piercingly sincere look making me smile. “And Talia, the truth of it is, this gift affects you too. The idea was born out of my love for you both, my beautiful wife and her dazzling sister—in bond if not in blood.”
Ali threaded her fingers through mine and I could feel the wedding rings on her finger. I squeezed reassuringly and waited for the big reveal, my heart inexplicably in my throat.
Clay leaned in to kiss my forehead and repeated the action with Ali before continuing. “The defining moment in my relationship with Ali, the turning point, was the night of the Gala. I didn’t understand at the time what the connection was between Ali and Outreach Hospice.” He swallowed thickly. “But the following week, during a conversation with Talia, I suddenly understood. That Gala and Outreach Hospice have been consistently on my mind ever since and,” he looked at Spencer. “I took a shadow of an idea to my best friend who took it and turned it into something beyond anything I could have ever imagined.”
He stepped over to the easel and reached for the sheet of paper covering the board beneath. “Having a two-hundred acre property seems like such a waste when we barely use any of it. Spencer and I thought it could be so much more.”
He flipped the paper back and revealed a sprawling home that rivaled some of the mansions I’d seen in their company portfolio, with several smaller houses flanking it. All the buildings had covered porches, patios out back, playgrounds amid huge sand piles. There was an enormous pool at the center of this circle of homes and, off to one side, was what looked like a garden.
It was obviously an artist’s rendering but it was beautiful.
Still, I didn’t understand until I looked at the name at the top of the page and the air was so forcefully sucked from my lungs that I nearly doubled over.
At the top of the page were the words ‘Milly’s Mountain; Children’s Retreat.’
Ali gasped aloud beside me, and Clay was instantly at her side. “Milly? You did this for Milly?” She spoke thickly, tears streaming down her face.
I briefly remembered telling Clay that Milly had been Ali’s nickname for Amelia.
This was for her, and for Ali.
I looked over at a teary-eyed Spencer and realized it was also for me.
The moment I met his eye, he darted to my side, clutching me to him and whispering softly to me over the sounds of my sobs. “Baby, please don’t cry. This is a good thing. Those children will be able to spend time swimming and fishing, checking out the brook near the retreat, riding horses or playing with all the animals we plan to adopt. For a week or so, they will just be kids, not kids with cancer.”
Ali was clutching Clay’s arm and studying the drawing, running her fingers lightly over the surface and speaking through tears of her own. “How? How did you plan all this? How will you afford it?”
He smiled and kissed her softly. “Ask Spencer. He’s the one who did most of the legwork, finding contributors and volunteers, getting zoning and insurance straight, everything right down to a mock-up of the activities schedule. All Spence.”
Both of us stared at the man in question, mouths open and tears running.
I tightened my hand on his waist and leaned into his chest as he shrugged. “It was mostly phone calls and a few meetings. I’ve had a bit of free time lately, and I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend it.”
“Have you already started? Can I see it?” Ali asked hopefully, practically bouncing with excitement.
Clay shook his head. “Not yet. After the honeymoon. Now that you and I are done at the theme park, I thought my first project back at CBD could be this one. Milly’s Mountain should be under way in a month or so.”
Spencer took in a deep breath and hugged me to him as he spoke to Clay. “Actually, that’s not exactly true. I’ve been working on something for Talia and, if neither of you mind, I’d like to take her out there as soon as possible to see it.” I looked up at him but he held Ali’s eye. “I don’t want to infringe on your wedding gift, so it’s okay if you would like to be the first one out there.”
She let go of Clay for the first time since he’d uncovered the plans and came over to us, pushing herself up on her tiptoes and planting a sweet kiss on Spencer’s cheek. “No, you two go. It should be Talia who sees it first. We’ll all have lots of time there in the near future.” She looked at me with eyes full of love and touched my tear-streaked face. “I found my happily-ever-after in Denson. Now it’s your turn, sweetie.”
She walked back over to Clay and took his arm. “After the pictures are finished and we do the formal entrance into the reception, I think it’s time for the best man and maid of honor to go on a field trip.”
He grinned over at Spencer. “I agree.”
With that, they walked out and we trailed behind them, preparing to give our best smiles to the photographer and—as I held onto Spencer for dear life I realized that maybe, just maybe... this was the beginning of a life I never even dreamed possible.
And it was all because of Spencer.
Spencer
WELL, DESPITE THE overwhelming number of deviations from my plan, I managed to end up right where I wanted to be. Talia sat quietly beside me in the front seat of my car, deep in thought but not intentionally avoiding conversation. I could tell by the way she kept stealing glances at me as I drove us toward Denson.
I still couldn’t believe she’d agreed to come. Not only had she agreed, but she’d held onto my hand all the way from the church to my car, clinging tightly and making no move to drive separately.
It was enough to make me hope.
I wanted to do more than just make things right between us.
I wanted to make it forever.
That wasn’t my intention at first. I’d sworn to myself that I would never make another attempt at marriage and I meant it. Right up until the moment when I saw her in that pale blue cotton dress.
Even when we’d squared off afterward, when I was so angry and frustrated I wanted to throttle her, I’d never wavered in my belief that she was the one.
I’d needed time to finish my plans, so I left before I lost the ability.
It was the hardest thing I’d ever done, to leave her there.
In the week that followed, I convinced myself that I needed to play it cool, keep my head straight and not do anything to scare her off before I could give her the final gift I’d been working on.
Yeah, that plan went right out the window as soon as I saw her again and I’d found myself needing to touch her, whisper in her ear so I could catch the scent of her golden hair, tease her with references to our lovemaking. An impulse I’d immediately given in to.
So much for playing it cool.
Her soft gasp at my boldness had sent a jolt of electricity through my entire body, solidifying my resolve.
The empty feeling I’d been carrying around for the last two months was replaced with a fierce determination.
I would win her back, no matter what it took.
I cleared my throat and waited to feel the heat of her gaze on me, not taking my eyes from the road ahead. “Thank you for trusting me. I know you could have just as easily said no or insisted on driving yourself out here.”
“You’re welcome,” came her soft reply.
“Are you okay?” She’d gotten herself under control for the sake of the pictures, even finding an amused smile when the wedding planner went into nuclear meltdown at the sight of her and Ali’s tear-streaked faces. But I’d seen the tremble in her hands as she climbed into my car and I didn’t like thinking that she was still upset because of me.
I saw her nod from the corner of my eye. “I’m great, actually. Thanks to you and Clay.” She turned in her seat, angling her body toward me. “Can I ask you some things about Milly’s Mountain or will that ruin whatever it is you want to surprise me with?”
My smile was instantaneous. “You can ask anything you like, sweetheart. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
“Clay said you handled most of the planning. Was that what you were doing all that time in D.C.?”
I nodded, happy to start our dialog with something neutral. I didn’t want to push her to talk about us just then. “For the most part. One or two of the meetings were CBD related stuff but the rest were with contacts I was looking to recruit for Milly’s Mountain in one way or another.”