And they needed Delilah to come home for that. She’d be bringing it all with her; she had Maverik’s credit card and instructions to buy whatever she thought that Valerie might like, along with lots of food.
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The door to Vince's burst open, and Delilah strode in, followed closely by Janie; both had armloads of stuff. Vince looked up from his place behind the bar, where he sat slicing limes, oranges, and lemons for the night’s crowd.
“Well, what do we have here?” he asked, standing and smiling at the ladies.
“Hello, Vincent,” Delilah said, “We have supplies. Where shall we put them?”
“What exactly do you have?” he asked them, almost afraid of their answer.
“We have decorations. We have many pastries, instead of a cake. We have pretty pens with which to sign the license. We have said license. We have many cameras of the throwaway design. We have everything one could need for said party.” With that the door opened and in came Amos, carrying a huge platter, stacked high with an array of chocolate eclairs and cream puffs arranged in a very high tower, that threatened to collapse with every step he took. It was decorated with shiny gold-covered leaves tucked strategically here and there. Delilah smiled, “It is beautiful, Amos. Please give Joanne my sincere appreciation.”
“I will, Delilah, but you give her your appreciation; she said she’s not missing her favorite Wolf’s special night for nothin’.”
Delilah grinned, “Excellent, I know he has a special place for her. He will be pleased that she is in attendance.” She stepped toward the bar and placed two bags filled with bottles on top of it. Vince looked at the bags, “Delilah, hon, you know we have liquor here, don’t you? Why would you buy more alcohol?” he asked her.
“Because, Lion, Maia will be here, and she is unable to drink, and do not tell me she can’t come because she is only sixteen. Both her father and her mother-to-be will be in attendance.”
He opened his mouth to speak, and she held up a hand to shush him while actually making the shush sound. He hadn't been shushed since he was a kid, and the surprise of it had him raising an eyebrow at her as she hurried through the rest of her explanation, “In addition, I believe that my Mate would prefer that I do not feed our youngling alcohol,” she answered him with a snark in her tone as she flashed him a look that said, ‘Do you think I’m a fool?’ She couldn't help it; she’d been without patience for several weeks now. The healer had assured her that it was to be expected, but the speed with which she went from zero to wanting to slap someone, and the frequency with which it happened was astounding, even to her.
It took a second for the information to sink in; then, Vince jumped over the bar, grabbed her up and spun her in a circle, “You mean you’re pregnant? WooHoo!! Delilah! That is fanfuckingtastic! Kaid must be over the moon! I’m so happy for ya’ll.”
She couldn't help herself, his happiness for her and her Mate was infectious, so she quickly got over her irritation, “Thank you, Vincent. We are thrilled,” then confusion covered her face again, “but we do not know if it’s a dragonling or a cub.”
“Doesn't matter,” he said laughing, “as long as it’s healthy, it’ll be amazing. With the both of you for parents, this kid has nothing at all to worry about.”
Delilah looked at him with kind eyes, “Thank you, Vincent.” She seemed to remind herself of why she was there and started opening bags, showing him what all she had. There was sparkling cider, which was for herself and Maia, there was root beer and ice cream, because she felt the need for a root beer float while she was shopping, so she decided to get enough for the party tonight, too. There were white and gold decorations to be hung, which had Vince snorting, “How the hell do you think I’m going to manage to hide all this from Valerie?”
“Well, that is the beauty of it. I have decided that it shall be a surprise for Maverik. Valerie will be apprised of the situation and, in fact, assist us. Therefore, you will be working the first part of the night by yourself. I am taking Valerie with me. She will be back in a while, but you will be opening alone.”
With that, she handed over the decorations and said, “Please be sure to place them where they are most well seen. Do not allow your patrons to destroy them before Maverik-Ass gets here.”
She turned and walked out the door with Janie in tow, “Come, Janie, we must gather Valerie, we have much to do.” Janie smiled at Vince and waved a short little wave and ran to catch up with Delilah, who was already rounding the side of the building headed toward the back staircase that led up to both Vincent’s and Valerie’s apartments.
Valerie’s eyes opened, and she peered at the door that was steadily being knocked upon. She groaned as she rolled off the couch, landing on her butt. Whoever was on the other side of her door started knocking again, and Valerie snarled as she got up off the floor and stomped over to the door, snatching it open and glaring at… Delilah and Janie.
“Delilah? What are you doing here? Janie? Everything okay?” she asked confused.
“Yes, all is well, sister Valerie. We have come to take you shopping,” Delilah explained, bestowing a radiant smile on her.
“Hi, Valerie!” Janie said, waving at her from behind Delilah.
“Uhhh, okay. But I have to work in,” she peered at her watch, “about an hour.”
Delilah waved her hand in the air as though waving her concerns away, “No. You will be preparing. Your brother has agreed that you will be shopping with us. Then you may return and help him, or not. Your choice,” Delilah said rather cryptically. “But come along, we must go, we haven’t much time.”
“What are we shopping for?” Valerie asked them as she turned around and walked across her tiny living room to get her purse.
“Well, we have to pick out silverware, and cook ware, and dishes and such for your new home,” Delilah answered. Then she held up the credit card to show her, “We have been sent on a mission. Your furniture was delivered this afternoon, and all is in place, but these few things.”
At the thought of shopping for more things for her and Maverik’s new place, she perked up, “Really? Okay! That sounds great, where do you want to go first?” she asked the ladies as she pulled the door closed behind herself and followed them down the stairs.
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The stunned look on her face as she stood on the raised dais, was nothing compared to the dumbfounded butterflies that currently fluttered around her stomach, searching in vain for a way to escape. She felt much like they did as she regarded herself once again in the mirror. She was wearing a beautiful, simple white gown, A line skirt, scoop neck, with little pearls and silver beads sewn on the bodice. Her ample bosom was on display as it spilled out of the top, just enough to tempt but not enough to be obscene. She’d always dressed to hide her curves, but Janie had insisted that she get over it. She said Maverik loved her curves and so should she, so she’d picked this dress for her to try on, and it was gorgeous. The small veil on her head just wasn't her though, and she didn't think it fit the picture. She reached up and took it off her head, “Could I just have flowers for my hair, or a ribbon or something?” Delilah looked at her as though analyzing a math problem, “Yes, perhaps you’re right.” She waved her hand at the girl who was attending them, and she disappeared behind the curtain to find something similar to a ribbon or a flower for Valerie’s hair.
Valerie took a deep breath and decided to try again. “Delilah, really. Shouldn't we just wait for Maverik to decide that it’s time for this? Maybe he doesn't want to marry me tonight. Maybe it will scare him off.”
Delilah, hearing the fear in her new sister’s voice, stopped fiddling with the hem of Valerie’s gown to look her in the eye. “Valerie, do you love Maverik-Ass?”
Valerie snickered at the nickname for her Mate, “More than life itself.”
“Then trust me; he will want this. You should have seen him strutting around as he announced to us all that he was a taken male, that he was engaged. And then h
e said that you would never regret accepting his sorry ass. I am not sure why his ass is sorry, but he is an ass sometimes. And if you love him, you should marry him.”
“Yes, but a surprise wedding?!” Valerie screeched. Part of her really, really wanted this. The other part; the part that Maverik had bruised with all his years of denial of her, was terrified that he’d run for the hills.
“Did you know that Maverik and Bam planned a surprise wedding for Bane and Janie?” Delilah asked. Then she turned to Janie, “Sister Janie, what did you and Bane think of your surprise wedding?”
Janie immediately went into romantic swoon mode, “OMG, We loved it! It was perfect, and it was so romantic and even that much more special because they planned it for us,” and on she went, lost in her memories of her and Bane’s special day.
Valerie listened, “Maverik did that?”
Janie stopped remembering and nodded, “Yes, he did. He’s a true romantic at heart. Well, once you get past all the bad ass and the wildness and the unpredictability… a true romantic.”
Valerie looked back at herself in the mirror again, took a deep breath, held it for a second, then, “Okay, let’s do this.”
Delilah fist pumped, while shouting, “Yes!” and Janie did a little happy dance.
As they were getting in the car, Valerie was smiling as she watched the sun glinting off her engagement ring. It reminded her, “The rings! What about the wedding bands? He’s got them; how will we get them from him?”
Janie already had her phone out, “Leave it to me, I got this.” She sat there for just a moment waiting for an an answer on the other end, then “Baby? Are you busy?” she listened for a minute, then, “Okay, well, can you do me a favor, please? Yes? Oh, good. I need you to steal the wedding bands that Maverik bought for him and Valerie.” She jerked the phone away from her ear and winced as a male voice could be heard on the other end. She waited ‘til Bane stopped shouting, then placed the phone back to her ear and explained, “Because he’s getting married tonight. Remember how he and Bam surprised us with our wedding? Well, we are doing that for him and Valerie, only Valerie knows. Maverik will be surprised.” She listened again for a moment then smiled huge, looking at the other ladies and nodding to let them know that he was in, “Valerie says they’re in a dark purple velvet bag; he had them in his back pocket earlier today. Unhuh. Yes. Okay, my love. Thank you! Mwah!” Janie hung up the phone and said, “If Maverik catches him, he’s going to rat us out.” She pursed her lips, “He was a lot more fun before we had Daisy,” she said to no one in particular.
Valerie piped up, “No, he wasn’t. He was always the serious one.”
Chapter 23
Maverik smiled as he looked around his new house. It wouldn't be a home until Valerie moved her things in. Delilah had come back earlier with everything on the list, and he and Maia had spent the afternoon putting it all away. She’d even had a wooden fruit bowl for the table. He wasn't sure that the fruit bowl was what Valerie would want decorating their dining room table, but if it wasn't, she could always change it. Delilah seemed convinced, though.
He straightened the place mat on the table, looked around the house one more time, and smiled. He paused by the door, took his keys from the peg on the wall and walked out, pulling the door closed behind himself. He stood on the front porch that ran the length of the mobile home; it had been Bam’s contribution to their new place. He’d insisted that he wanted to do it alone and had finished it about two hours earlier. Everyone else had gone to their homes for time with their families. Even Maia had gone to Bane’s, saying that she wanted to give him and Valerie time alone their first night in the house. He smiled to himself. He knew what they were doing, they were giving him space and making sure that all was quiet and nothing distracted him and Valerie from each other tonight. He walked to where he’d moved his bike and Valerie’s little SUV earlier, just to the side of their house, got on, cranked it and drove away. He did not notice that the Suburban and the work truck were missing. There were other vehicles around, and he was so preoccupied with getting to the bar and Valerie and with the thought of what awaited him once he got home, that he completely missed that little bit of information.
He pulled up to the bar, noticing that it was a small crowd tonight. Very small. He checked his watch; it was just before midnight, and usually the bar didn't close ‘til 2:00AM. They must have had a slow night tonight, he thought to himself as he parked his bike and walked toward the door. Then he grinned. That was great actually. Maybe Valerie could leave a little early, and they could start their night sooner than he’d hoped. He looked down and checked his clothes once more before going in. Maia had begged him to wear his black jeans and his new black boots. He’d worn a crisp white button down, because what the hell else went with black jeans and shiny new black boots. He felt a bit out of place dressed up, but Maia had assured him that Valerie would love the extra effort, so he’d done it. He had on a skinny black belt and had his hair clipped in the back to keep it out of his eyes. He looked down at his left hand; the ring finger of his left hand was bare. He planned to have Valerie’s name tatted around it, so that on the occasions he wasn't able to wear his wedding band, like when he was working, he’d have a wedding band on anyway. A permanent one made from her name in those frilly, curly scroll letters that would completely encircle his finger. He wanted to do that the next time they were in town together. He thought she’d like that; he knew he did. With this thought in his mind, he pulled the door opened and walked through. He stepped into the room and came to an immediate halt, frozen, feet planted where he stood. He slowly looked around the room, taking in the white and gold paper wedding bells hanging from the ceiling fan. The white and gold streamers draped the length of the bar and around the mirrors behind it. The huge sign that said, “Congratulations Valerie and Maverik,” the multitude of white flowers tied with gold ribbons placed all around the room, the food laid out on the long table that had been placed against the opposite wall, the pastry tower that was to serve as a wedding cake. Then he met the eyes of all the people there. Every single person he knew and loved was there. He saw Joanne and Amos smiling at him, and his Maia standing with Riley and Cristie, and Maia had tears in her eyes. His entire clan was there, each smiling and waiting for his reaction. Everyone, except for Matty; then he realized Bam was holding up a cell phone with Matty’s face smiling at him on the screen. Bam had called him on video chat so that he could be there, too. Everyone was there. Goldy and Sadie were standing near the bar grinning at him. Even the kids were there. Daisy was sleeping in Janie’s arms where she stood with Bane, and Remi was holding Avaleigh’s hand with Daniel standing behind them, a hand around each of them. All were smiling; and some had happy tears in their eyes. All except for Valerie, who stood there with the preacher. Waiting. Terrified. He could feel it coming off her in waves. She was afraid of his reaction. He smiled at her and allowed his eyes to travel down the length of her body. She was stunning. She was wearing a beautiful, simple, white wedding dress, and her hair was pulled back loosely with a few sprigs of baby’s breath stuck here and there. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. And she was his, here, waiting for him to marry her, to give her his name right here in front of everyone. He met her eyes again, “You are so beautiful, my Valerie.”
She smiled again and her bottom lip trembled.
He started toward her quickly, but Bane stepped in front of him. Bane reached out his hand and in it were both wedding bands that he’d bought when he’d gotten Valerie’s engagement ring. “Thought you might need these, my brother.” Maverik lifted his hand, and Bane placed them on his open palm, then slapped him on the shoulder and stepped back with the rest of his clan.
He walked up to Valerie and reached out a hand to caress her cheek, “You planned all this?”
She shook her head, “No. Delilah did it.”
He reached out and took Valerie’s hand in his, bringing it to his lips for a kiss on her fingertips. He turned
to find Delilah smiling at him, “Delilah, how did you know I wanted this more than anything in the world?”
Delilah beamed at him, “Because she is your soul, Maverik. You need her just as I need Kaid. Just as she needs you,” she said emotionally. Then she said, with slight irritation, “Besides, you people take too long. So,” she gestured around the bar, “I decided to help.”
Everybody laughed at Delilah’s declaration. Then Maverik turned to Valerie again, “So, will you marry me, darlin’? Is this okay or is it too soon?”
“I want to marry you. Now. Right now,” she said with tears in her eyes.
“Let’s do this!” he hooted, raising his voice to howl with his happiness. Everybody joined him, even Matty on his video chat. The little redhead that he recognized as Everly from the book shop stepped up to Valerie, reaching out for her bouquet of white roses tied with golden ribbon, but Vince stopped her. “Wait, hold on for just a second; Valerie, let me walk you down the aisle, honey. I know I’m not Dad, but I’ve done the best I could. And it would really mean a lot to me.”
She looked behind him, realizing that they didn't exactly have an aisle. At least they didn’t until everybody lined up on either side, making an aisle for her to walk down. Maverik released her hand and stepped beside the preacher. Vince took his sister’s hand and escorted her to the other side of the room. They waited until Bam had maneuvered himself into position so that Matty could see, too. Then they walked down the aisle. Three steps into it, Bam realized they didn’t have music, so he closed his eyes and began to sing, loudly, deeply resonant and clearly, “You are the love of my life. You are the reason I am alive, and baby, baby, when I think how you saved me, I go crazy…” he sang every word to “Love Of My Life,” by Sammy Kershaw. As if the surprise wedding wasn't enough, the shock on each of his clan mates’ faces in response to Bam’s voice was apparent. Bam had a voice like Chris Young. It was deep and beautiful and chill inducing. Even Valerie stopped walking to watch him sing for a moment until Vince nudged her forward.
Maverik's Ashes Page 22
