Amber nodded. “I will. I think it’s a lovely house. It’s so much bigger than where I’ve been living.” Her words practically begged her mother to say something negative about her new lifestyle, but she managed to refrain.
“You’re welcome to come back to our home anytime, and we’ll expect you at two for the Thanksgiving meal.”
Amber nodded, closing her eyes. Last year they’d had Thanksgiving on the set, because it hadn’t fallen on their time off. It had been the best Thanksgiving of Amber’s life, hanging around with her friends and watching Jesse moon over Valerie without her friend suspecting a thing. This year, she would get to spend the time in the stifling environment of her mother’s dining room, and the meal would be cooked by someone whose name none of them knew, including her mother.
“We’ll be there.”
“You’re welcome to bring your friends if you wish.”
Amber could tell it took a lot for her mother to make the offer. “No, that’s all right. We have our week break in conjunction with Thanksgiving this year, so I’m sure Valerie and Jesse will be off in Wyoming. May and Bob will probably be eating with May’s aunt.”
Her mother turned to May. “Your aunt? Why not your parents?”
“My mother died when I was ten, and I was raised by my aunt. I spend all holidays with her.”
“That’s quite a sacrifice to make for a child who’s not your own. Is she married?”
May shook her head sadly. “No, she never married. I keep hoping she will.”
There was a knock on the door. “Five minutes!”
Amber laughed. “That was Steven,” she said, looking at Valerie. “He’s acting like we’re on the set.”
Valerie shook her head with an amused smile. “You can take the director out of the job, but you can’t take the job out of the director? Or something like that, I guess.”
May shrugged. “Works for me.” She took Nicki’s hand. “Are you ready? Let’s go out there and get into our places. Remember, you’re going to throw your petals on the ground for your new mama to walk on.”
“And in people’s hair too, right?”
“Oh, of course in people’s hair What would be fun about being a flower girl otherwise?”
As her friends left, Amber took deep breaths, realizing her mother had stayed behind.
“I want you to know that no matter what’s happened in the past, your father and I plan to support you in this marriage of yours. We could see how unhappy you were after you broke up, even though you were dating someone who was much more suited to your station in life.”
Amber blinked a couple of times. “So you approve of my marriage to John?” Surely her ears were deceiving her.
“We approve of your happiness. There’s nothing else we care about.” Her mother stood and straightened her own dress, which came to just past her knees. “I’ll see you out there.” She stopped with her hand on the doorknob. “And Amber? We watch your show every week. We’re so proud of you.” She opened the door and left, leaving Amber staring at the door dumbstruck.
“Wow. That was…unexpected.” Amber quickly hurried to the mirror, dabbing the tears from under her eyes. She was glad Jennifer had used waterproof mascara on her, or she’d have black streaks all down her face.
She took a few deep breaths to compose herself, wondering for the millionth time in the past few days if she was doing the right thing. Carpe diem. There was no other answer.
She opened the door to the hallway, and found her father standing there. He swallowed visibly and opened his arms to her. “You look so beautiful.”
Amber went into them, burying her face against his shoulder. He smelled the same way he had always smelled to her, and she clung to him for a minute. “I’m glad you’re here.” And she was, to her surprise. She really was.
“Your mother was up in arms over your request for tacos at your reception.”
Amber giggled. “My two best friends are pregnant, and they’re both craving tacos. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Just so your mother doesn’t have to eat the tacos, I think all will be well.”
Amber grinned, taking his arm in hers. “I don’t know what else Mother requested be served, but I’m sure she chose something that she will find more palatable than tacos.”
“Or maybe she’ll try one and realize it’s time to get her nose out of the air once and for all.”
Amber was shocked that he said that. “Thank you for being willing to give me away.”
“When I heard who you were marrying, I was hoping you’d let me have the opportunity. He’s the right man for you, Amber. I think your mother and I knew it even as we were kicking and screaming all those years ago. John completes you.”
She nodded. “He does. I’ve never in my life met another man who makes me feel so alive. I need him in my life.”
“I know you do.” He started walking with her toward the door. “I’ll take a peek out the window and see if everyone is ready for us.” He led her to where the others were gathered in the living room and looked out the window. John, Bob, and Jesse were standing under a trellis.
“Oh, I didn’t think of a trellis!”
Her mother turned to her with a smile. “I did. I thought it would please you.”
Amber nodded, still feeling uncomfortable with her mother, but more unsure than anything. “It does please me. Thank you.”
“I’ll go tell them to start the music.” Her mother slipped out of the house and hurried out to where everyone had gathered, sitting in white wooden chairs.
Amber stared at the gathering. She hadn’t thought of chairs. She certainly hadn’t thought of a small orchestra to play. “Mother did all of that?” she asked her father.
He nodded. “She was certain you were remembering nothing but dresses and reception food, so she got to work as soon as you invited her. I’ve seen her put on some big parties, but I’ve never seen her work so hard and so fast to get one together. ‘My daughter’s getting married!’ is a rally cry that has been heard all through North Texas for the past week.”
Amber bit her lip, once again fighting to hold back tears. Her parents really were accepting her marriage to John. She knew there would be difficulties along the way, but it would be so much easier for them without having to fight every step of the way.
May walked down the aisle first, and then Valerie. Finally, little Nicki set out. “I’m going to throw my petals as far as I can!” she said as she hurried out the door.
Amber watched out the window as the girl ran to the back of the aisle and began flinging flower petals at all the unsuspecting guests. As soon as she reached the front and sat down beside her grandmother, Amber and her father began the slow walk up the aisle.
The dress she’d borrowed was tight at the waist and showed a little more cleavage than she would have liked. It had to be taken in just a smidge, because Valerie had already been pregnant when she’d worn it.
Her gaze met John’s as she was partway up the aisle, and she felt as if she was being pulled into his orbit. Her walk stayed steady, and she knew she had a huge smile on her face.
She stepped up beside John, her hand joining with his. Pastor Steve winked at her as he began the ceremony.
Later, she wouldn’t remember much about the ceremony. She responded when she should have, she repeated her vows, and before she knew it, Pastor Steve said, “I finally pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Amber tilted her face up to John’s, excited for their first kiss as a married couple. Before he kissed her, John whispered softly into her ear. “Mine. You’re finally mine.” And then his lips were on hers.
Her hands went to his shoulders and she clung to him, happy to be right where she was with the people she was with.
They slowly walked to the back of the crowd, behind the chairs, and she looked at him. “We did it. We actually got married!”
John laughed. “Of course we did. After all this time, there’s no way I
was going to let you go.”
She grabbed him by his tie and pulled him down for a kiss. “I’m not letting you go either, you know.”
He chuckled. “You won’t get the chance!”
Amber felt small arms wrap around her waist and hold on tight. “You’re my mama now!”
Amber bent down and scooped the little girl up into her arms, hugging her tightly. “I am, and I’m never going to run away.”
Nicki rested her forehead on Amber’s. “Do you promise?”
“I promise!”
“Did you see the flower petals? I did good!”
Amber nodded. There were still people wandering around picking flower petals out of their hair. “You did so good! Are you hungry?”
Nicki nodded. “Daddy forgot to feed me this morning.”
Amber looked at John. “You forgot to feed her?”
“She made herself a Pop Tart. She survived!” He shook his head. “You can’t tell on me, Nicki!”
“She’s my new mama, and she worries about what I eat, right, Amber?”
“That’s exactly right!”
Nicki scrambled down and ran over to her grandmother, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward Amber. “Grandma, I want you to meet my new mama. Do you know Amber?”
“Hi, Mrs. Baynard,” Amber said with a grin. “It’s good to see you.”
The older woman grabbed Amber in a bear hug. “I’m so glad you were the one to marry my John. I knew from the first time I met you that you were meant to be my daughter-in-law.”
“Thank you.”
Amber’s mother walked over. “Hello, Mrs. Baynard.” She turned to Amber. “Your guests are hungry, and no one is supposed to eat until you and John have chosen your food.”
“Oops. Sorry, Mother.” Amber took John by the hand and pulled him toward the food line, laughing when she got there. There were tacos, and several kinds of them like her mother had promised, but there were also tiny quiches and foods Amber would have expected her mother to serve at a wedding.
“At least there’s something for everyone,” she whispered to John who was shaking his head.
“Only your mother.”
“She was appalled when I asked her to make sure we had tacos.”
John laughed. “I’m sure she was. How was it seeing your parents again?”
“They’ve both made it clear that they approve of our marriage. They’re glad that I’m happy, and they’re willing to leave it at that.”
“Seriously?” he asked.
She nodded. “Seriously. Mother told me she was just glad that I’m happy.”
“What did you say?”
“I didn’t know what to say. I’m glad I’m happy too, and I know that I belong with you. I always have.”
She fixed a plate for herself and one for Nicki as she walked down the line. “Does Nicki like tacos? I feel like this is something I should know.”
John kissed her cheek. “You won’t immediately know everything about her, just because you’re now her mother. It doesn’t work that way.”
She sighed heavily. “I know it doesn’t, but I wish it did. I want to be able to do the things she wants to make her happy.” She took one of the little quiches, carefully avoiding the tacos, because she’d had enough tacos to last a lifetime. “Oh, my mother called on Thursday and asked if she could get a wedding gift for Nicki. She said she worried that Nicki would get jealous if we got a bunch of gifts and she didn’t.”
“What did you tell her?”
“I told her Nicki loves Barbies and really wanted a Barbie camper.”
“Oh brother. Our house is going to look like the Barbie aisle at Walmart vomited everywhere, won't it?”
“Probably more like the Barbie aisle at Toys R Us, but sure.”
He frowned. “What’s the difference between the Barbie aisle at Walmart and the Barbie aisle at Toys R Us?”
She laughed softly. “The difference is several thousand dollars. Toys R Us is not only higher priced, but they have a much bigger variety. She’ll need a room just for her Barbies.”
He groaned softly. “Why did you let her do that?”
“Let her? Don’t you know yet that there’s no stopping Nancy Knight once she’s set her mind to something?”
“I guess I can’t complain since that’s a quality I love about you that she passed down to her daughter.”
They moved to one of the tables her mother had brought in. It was a long table that would fit at least eight, and she sat at one end with John, setting Nicki’s plate beside hers. Nicki quickly joined them, and soon all of her friends were sitting with them as well.
Valerie grinned at Amber. “It was a beautiful ceremony, and I can’t believe we really have tacos!”
Amber glanced at Valerie’s plate and saw that she had one of each. “I can’t believe you really think you’re going to eat four of them.”
Valerie laughed. “One for me, and three for baby boy.”
“What are you going to name him?” Amber asked for what felt like the thousandth time.
“We don’t know yet.”
“How about Bob?” Bob asked as he sat down beside Jesse.
Valerie wrinkled her nose. “You keep your Bob suggestions for your wife.”
Amber looked at John who hadn’t taken his eyes off her and winked. “Are you worried about the friends you’ve married into?”
He shrugged. “I’m just trying to concentrate on my beautiful bride and the life I’m starting with her.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips. “I can’t believe I made it through five and a half years without you.”
She smiled, feeling a tear prick her eye again. “I can’t either. How did you make it without an Amber in your life?” She ate a small bite of one of the quiches as she grinned at him.
“I have no idea. It was certainly not a life filled with a lot of joy. I certainly wouldn’t have made it without Nicki.”
He’d obviously taken her question seriously, which made her sad. “I had good friends to keep me going.”
Valerie rolled her eyes. “She missed you every single day. There was never a doubt who she was thinking of. She would get this look on her face, and I always knew you were on her mind.”
Amber glared at Valerie for a moment. She wasn’t quite ready to be that vulnerable with John.
After they’d finished eating, her mother came over to stand behind her. “I’ve instructed the orchestra to play two slow songs. One for you to dance with your new husband and the other for you to dance with your father. After that, there’s a DJ who will play the country songs I know you love.”
Amber smiled. “When?”
“As soon as you’re finished eating. The orchestra members have eaten and are ready to be finished.”
Amber got to her feet and looked at John. “I haven’t danced with you since prom.”
Nicki clapped. “You danced at your prob, and now you get to dance again! I can’t wait!”
Amber smiled. “I think we’d better hurry before our daughter explodes from excitement.”
John laughed, taking Amber’s hand in his and leading her to a cleared area beside the orchestra and the DJ. No one else in the state of Texas could have pulled off something so elaborate in six days. He’d have to remember to thank Nancy Knight later.
Chapter 9
After they’d cut the cake and everyone was in full dance mode, John caught Amber’s hand. “Did you bring an overnight bag?”
She nodded. “I figured I’d leave most of my stuff in my trailer on the set, but I brought my clothes and stuff. I’ll do what Bob does and still use the trailer between scenes.”
“That’s perfect. Where’s the bag?”
“In your bedroom.”
“Our bedroom,” he whispered, trailing his hand down her arm.
Her eyes met his. “I like the sound of that.”
“I’m going to go get your bag. We’ll take off in a few, but I want all of our stuff in the truck and ready to go.”
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“Go? We’re not spending the night here?”
“Are you kidding? Most of these people are still going to be dancing on our lawn past midnight. By then we’re going to be tucked in for the night and utterly exhausted.”
She blushed. “Oh we are, are we?”
He nodded. “I’ll be back.”
While Amber stood and watched, Nicki tore into the biggest of the boxes Amber’s mother had brought, unwrapping a Barbie house of some sort. Amber just rolled her eyes. The girl couldn’t seem to stop squealing, and who could blame her? Mother was so excited to have a grandchild, she’d probably buy her anything she wanted.
Maybe she would need to buy the girl her own trailer just to keep her Barbie stuff in. That could work. Or they could build her a playhouse. Her mind was caught up in the logistics of making room for the girl’s Barbie stuff even as Nicki opened more and more gifts, screaming and throwing her arms around Amber’s mother when she got to the camper.
Amber felt arms slide around her waist and she leaned back against John, happy for the moment to have him with her. She only prayed the happiness would continue.
“You called it,” John whispered against her ear, making her tingle. “Your mother bought out the whole Barbie aisle.”
Amber folded her arms over his, holding him to her. “Yup. She’s excited to have a granddaughter. I don’t think we need to worry about Nicki being mistreated by my mom.”
“Apparently not. Where are we going to put all that stuff?” His voice was incredulous. He’d obviously not spent enough time around Nancy Knight to have any idea what she was capable of.
“We’ll build her a playhouse with a small bathroom and a dorm fridge. She’ll love it.”
He laughed. “Only someone who is used to money could possibly suggest a playhouse with all that for a four-year-old.”
She shrugged. “I don’t want all that stuff underfoot. Do you?”
“Fine. We’ll build her a playhouse.”
Amber grinned. “I had a feeling you’d see things my way.”
“Let’s go.”
“Where are we going anyway?”
“I’m taking you to a nice hotel in Fort Worth.” He leaned down and kissed the side of her neck, making her tingle from head to toe.
Lying Love (Lazy Love Book 3) Page 9