The reception was in full swing. Everyone was dancing, eating, and having a good time. Luckily, in Glenbrook, there was a lovely banquet hall that was perfect for Violet’s wedding. There were white and blue Christmas lights strung up everywhere, and the tables were decorated with white and ice blue silk table cloths. There were beautiful votive candles floating in little glass dished filled with water, and the tables were all lit with silver taper candles. Violet had planned a gorgeous wedding. The food was actually pretty good as well, I had to admit. Of course, mine was better. On the menu was filet minon…I had to smile. Luke was sitting next to me at the main table, and when our plates were served, we looked at each other and smiled. He leaned in and kissed me. He took a bite, and made a face.
“What is it?” I asked, giggling. “Is it bad?”
Swallowing, he said, “It’s good, but yours is so much better.”
I squeezed his hand. “You have to say that because you want to get lucky tonight,” I teased.
“I’d say anything to get lucky enough to roll around naked with you, Lilly. But, I happen to be telling the truth on this. You’re food is fantastic.”
“So, you aren’t just trying to get me to go home with you?” I giggled.
He leaned in close to my face, our noses almost touching. “Last night without you in my bed was one of the longest nights of my life. Believe me, baby, you’re coming home with me tonight even if I have to drag you there.” His eyes burned into mine. “Unless you don’t want to…” he trailed off.
I leaned in and kissed him, sliding my tongue past his lips to touch his. When we broke apart, I whispered, “Oh, I want to.” He raised his hand to my cheek and ran his thumb across my bottom lip.
“God, I want to bite this lip so bad,” he whispered to me. “How much longer is this wedding going to last?”
Smiling, I said, “Well, everyone’s made their speeches, we’re all eating dinner, so all that’s left is for them to cut the cake, throw the bouquet, and then see Violet and Evan off on their honeymoon.”
“And then I can get you home and take this dress off your beautiful body,” he groaned, and tingles shot through me as he ran his other hand down to the small of my back, just above my behind.
I fanned myself with my hand. “Okay, enough of that. You’re not playing fair.”
“Just getting you as turned on as I am,” Luke said.
“Trust me, you don’t need to try. Come on, let’s eat,” I said, picking up my champagne glass and taking a long sip.
After we all had eaten dinner, Violet and Evan cut their wedding cake together. The French vanilla cake had five tiers, and was covered in ice blue fondant and had been airbrushed to look like glittering snow. It was delicious. When Violet threw her bouquet, it landed effortlessly in Daisy’s hands. She shot Violet a look that read, “Very funny,” and we all clapped for her. Luke was the one that caught the garter that Evan tossed. It would give me something to tease him about for years to come. Soon, it was time to go help Violet. “Well, I better go help the bride get ready to leave.”
Luke raised a hand to my face. Caressing my cheek and said, “I’ll meet you after.”
“Definitely,” and with a quick peck on the lips, I stood up from my chair. Daisy was sitting at the table next to Daddy, and her eyes were on Jack, who was standing at the bar talking to Evan. I walked to her and leaned down. “Hey, Daisy, we need to go help Violet get ready to go,” I said.
“Okay,” she answered, and slowly stood up and followed behind me.
Once we were out of earshot, I asked, “So, you haven’t talked to Jack yet?”
“No. I know I need to, and he keeps looking at me like he’s waiting for me to say something, but I’m…I’m scared, Lilly,” she admitted.
“I know it’s scary, telling someone something like this. But, have a little faith in him. He might surprise you,” I said. She just shrugged her shoulders, and we walked into a small room to wait for Violet. A few moments later she came into the room.
“Hey, girls,” she said.
“Well, hey there, Mrs. Sanderson,” I said, and she smiled brightly.
“I like the sound of that,” she answered. She walked over to Daisy and took her hands in hers. “You okay? I take it you haven’t told Jack.”
“Not yet, but I’m going to. I just want to wait until after you and Evan set off. I don’t want to distract from your night,” Daisy said.
“Well, good luck. And please let me know how it goes,” Violet said.
Daisy laughed. “Vi, I’m not bothering you on your honeymoon. We will talk when you get back from Hawaii,” she said. “Come on, we need to get you dressed! Evan’s probably waiting on you.” I grabbed a dress bag that was hanging on the door as Daisy began helping Violet get out of her dress. Soon, she was dressed in a beautiful pink chiffon dress and cream heels, and her hair was down, falling around her shoulders in soft waves.
“Well, you ready to ride off into the sunset?” I asked her, taking her hand. Daisy had joined us, and held her other hand.
Her eyes were glistening with tears. “I am, and I never would have made it through this wedding without you two. Thank you,” she said, a tear falling from each eye.
We pulled her into a hug. “You are so welcome,” Daisy whispered in her ear, and now the tears falling down my cheeks as well.
She pulled away from the hug, and nodded at Daisy. She then turned back to me, tears pouring from her eyes. “It just hit me that this is the last time I will see you before you go back,” she cried.
“Oh Violet…” I said, crying.
“I just want you to know that I love you so, so much, and I am so happy that I’ve been able to spend these past two weeks with you. It’s been amazing getting to know you all over again, as an adult.”
“It’s been my pleasure, Vi. You have become such a beautiful, intelligent, loving woman and I am so proud to have you as my sister.”
She pulled me into a hug. “I love you so much, Lilly. I’m going to miss you.”
“Hey, you won’t have time to miss me. I’ll be back for a visit before you know it,” I said.
We pulled apart, and she said, “Please let me know what you decide about Luke, okay? Good or bad, I want to know.”
“I promise you will be the first to know.” After one final group hug, I picked up her bag and we all walked toward the door.
Violet stopped and leaned in to hug Daisy. “Please let me know about you and Jack as well, okay?”
“I will. You have a safe flight and a wonderful honeymoon,” Daisy said.
“I will. And you,” she said, leaning down to Daisy’s stomach, “You take care of your mommy and daddy while I’m gone, okay? Someone around here needs to make sure they act right, and I think you are just the one to do it. I love you, little baby,” she said, and kissed Daisy right on her belly button. We all giggled.
There was a knock on the door and Violet quickly stood up straight. Mama peeked her head inside. “There you are, darlin’. You ready to go? Your husband is waitin’ on ya,” she said. Daisy and I stepped out to give Violet and Mama a moment alone, and when we stepped outside, Jack and Luke were waiting in the hall. I smiled at Luke and he walked over to me. He pulled me into his strong arms.
“I got your wrap for you. You want to come and wait outside with me?” he asked.
“Sure, let’s go,” I said. I looked over my shoulder as Luke was placing my wrap around my shoulders, and I saw Daisy turn white as a sheet.
“Hey, Jack, do you have a minute? I wanted to talk to you about something,” she said, touching him on the arm.
He cleared his throat. “Uh, yeah, sure. I guess so. But, can it wait until after Evan and Vi leave?”
She nodded her head. “Sure,” she said, and I noticed her cheeks were turning pink. She began fanning herself with her hand, like she was hot. She looked like she was going to get sick.
Before there was time to see if she was okay, everyone that was in the reception h
all came rushing out to see Violet and Evan off. Luke was behind me with his arms wrapped around me tightly, shielding me from the cool air and keeping me warm. Everyone threw a handful of rice as Evan and Violet ran out the door and climbed into their limo. Violet blew me one last kiss and I waved at her as she climbed into the limo. Soon, the car was rolling away and just like that, she was gone and starting her new life with her handsome husband. Luke rubbed my arms, which now had goose bumps. “You ready to head back inside and say your goodbyes to everyone?” he asked. I knew he was antsy to get me out of here and to the lake house.
“I was born ready baby,” I joked, and he laughed. We walked back inside together. When I looked around I saw Jack and Daisy talking in the corner of the room. I hadn’t seen them come back inside. Their heads were bent together, and her eyes were as wide as quarters. I saw her lips moving slightly as if in a whisper. God, I hope things were going well. I didn’t want her to see me staring, so I turned my face away to give them privacy. Just as my eyes were scanning the banquet hall for Mama and Daddy to tell them I was going home with Luke, I heard a loud noise behind me.
I turned around, and Jack was saying loudly, “Daisy, are you okay?” He was holding her by the arms, and her face was ashen. Then all of a sudden, she collapsed in his arms. Luke and I rushed over to her side along with Mama and Daddy.
“Daisy! Oh my God, what happened?” Mama shouted.
Jack looked terrified, and he held onto her, not letting her go. “Daisy, baby, what’s wrong?”
She just shook her head. “I’m sorry, I just feel a little dizzy.”
Luke placed two fingers on the outside of her wrist, checking her pulse. “Her heart rate is a little fast. Have you had anything to eat or drink today? I mean, like a real full meal?”
She looked around at each of us, and suddenly looked guilty. “No, I haven’t. I haven’t felt hungry today. I’ve been nervous,” she admitted.
“Nervous? About what?” Daddy asked her.
“About the wedding, of course. I am the maid of honor, and I just wanted to make sure everything was perfect for Vi’s big day,” she lied. She looked up at Jack, his forehead crinkled with worry lines as he held onto her tightly. He was stroking her hair with his free hand…it was as if she was the most precious thing in the world.
“Sweetheart, you need to eat. With as sick as you have been these past few weeks, you have to keep your strength,” Daddy said.
“Wait…you’ve been sick?” Jack asked.
She nodded at him sheepishly. Mama said, “She’s been more than sick. It seems like she’s been throwing up almost everything she eats and then after that she’s as hungry as a full grown man.”
Something flashed in Jack’s eyes as he looked from Mama back to Daisy. “Baby, why didn’t you tell me?” Jack asked her, and all of a sudden Daisy looked more terrified than I had ever seen her.
“Well, I didn’t think it was a big deal at the time,” she said.
“Wait a minute…did you just call her ‘baby’?” Mama asked, looking confused. “Why are you holding onto her like that?”
Daisy’s eyes flicked to mine for a moment before Jack sighed and said, “It’s because I am in love with her, Ros. I’m holding onto her because she almost fainted in my arms, and it scared me to death because I love her. I don’t want to let her go.”
Daddy and Mama exchanged looks that were a mix between surprise and hidden amusement. I couldn’t hide my smile. Mama just looked at her and asked, “Daisy?”
Daisy looked into Jack’s eyes, and said, “It’s true. I love him too Mama.” I heard Jack draw a sharp breath. “I was trying to tell you before, but I thought that I would just fake a fainting spell and tell you I love you for the first time in front of my family,” she joked. Placing her hand on his cheek, and said again, “I love you, Jack Riley.” In a blink of an eye, his lips were on hers in a sweet kiss.
I snaked my arm around Luke’s waist and he wrapped his arm around me. Daddy just chuckled and shook his head. “Well, it’s about damn time,” he said.
Daisy looked up at him. “What?”
“Oh, you two weren’t foolin’ anybody. Your Mama and I saw the way you two looked at each other the past few months every time you were together. Thank goodness you two finally worked this out. I thought I was gonna go even more gray worrying about you both.”
Jack smiled at him, and Daisy started to move toward Daddy. She reluctantly broke away from Jack and moved into Daddy’s waiting arms. Laughing, she said, “I can’t believe you knew about this.”
“I’m your Daddy. I’ll always know,” he said. Just then, his eyes met hers, a knowing look on his face. Something unspoken passed between them, and her eyes widened. He leaned in and whispered something into her ear, and she threw her arms around his neck in another hug. When she pulled back, they both had tears in their eyes.
“Calvin, is everything okay?” Mama asked.
He wrapped his arms around Mama and said, “Everything’s fine.”
Daisy stepped back over to Jack, and he said, “Daisy, I love you, but you are making me crazy here. Will you please tell me why you’ve been so sick and didn’t tell me?”
She looked at me for a moment. I nodded at her in encouragement, and she smiled. “Yes, but, can we go somewhere quiet and talk about it?”
“Sure. Of course we can,” he said, and he placed her wrap around her shoulders. “But first things first, we need to get some food in your system before you faint for real this time.”
“Okay, that sounds good. We can order pizza at your place. Is that all right?”
“That sounds good to me.” He and Daisy said their goodbyes to Mama and Daddy, who looked happy at the news of Jack and Daisy finally being together. Daddy’s happiness seemed to be something more. I bet he knew about the baby already. He was a doctor after all.
I hugged Jack goodbye, and he whispered, “Thanks for encouraging me to listen, Lilly. I owe you one.”
“You do, so be ready to pay up someday.” He smiled at me and handed me off to Daisy. I hugged her tightly, and whispered, “Good luck.”
“Thanks Lilly. I’ll call you in the morning. Go have fun with your man,” she said.
“Oh I will.” With a wave, she and Jack walked out together, hand in hand. “Well,” I said to Mama, “I think we’re going to head out too, if that’s okay.”
She smiled at me. “Of course it’s okay.” Kissing me on the cheek, she whispered goodbye. She then moved to Luke, kissing him on the cheek. “You take care of our girl now, you hear?”
“I will, I promise,” Luke said, and my father reached out to shake his hand.
“You two have a good night,” Daddy said. “I think I want one more dance with my beautiful wife before we head home.” He took Mama’s hand and led her out onto the dance floor.
“You ready to go?” Luke whispered to me, desire in his voice.
“God yes,” I purred, and we quickly walked out of the reception hall and ran to his car. I hope he wasn’t afraid to speed, because if we didn’t get to the lake house soon I was going to make him pull over and jump him right in the car.
Chapter 20
Christmas Day
The last four days with Luke had been a dream. After a hot night after the wedding, I couldn’t bring myself to leave him, which was good because he wasn’t willing to let me go. He insisted that I stay with him for my last week in town, and we spent most of those days naked in bed. It was heavenly. Every time we made love was a new experience. He would do something to my body or touch me somewhere that would turn me on in a split second and the outcome was always earth shattering. All thoughts of California had been banished because I was falling deeper and deeper in love with him every day, and I just didn’t want to tarnish my memories with him by agonizing over my impending departure. But, it was coming up in two days, and I just couldn’t bear to dwell on the fact that I’d have to leave him.
It was now Christmas Day, and Luke and Jack had mad
e plans to go to a children’s ward in a nearby town to cheer up the patients for Christmas. I was excited because I was coming with him, and I couldn’t wait to see him dressed up as Santa. The thought was strangely titillating. Daisy was coming along with us as well, so it would be nice that to someone to talk to. We had talked on the phone daily, but I hadn’t seen her since the wedding. Jack and Daisy had been inseparable. Once they talked and she told him she was having a baby, their relationship went from finally admitting their love and agreeing to try to full blown relationship status. To say he was excited to be a father was an understatement. Since Daisy’s apartment was still being worked on and it was going to be a much more expensive problem to fix, he insisted that she move in with him. Jack told her that even though he knew that it was a big step and it was a little scary, he wanted her living with him so he could be there for every moment of her pregnancy. He was so ecstatic that he already wanted to get things for the nursery even though at that point Daisy was only eight weeks along. She was able to rein him in a bit, and he agreed to hold off buying anything until she was in her second trimester. They were so cute together, and I was so happy for them.
We had spent a quiet Christmas morning together in front of the fireplace downstairs. I had woke up early to make him breakfast and I had a little blanket set up downstairs for us to have a nice Christmas breakfast in front of the fire. It was the best Christmas morning I could remember. We sat there, him in his boxers and me in one of his old tee shirts, eating and talking and laughing. Soon it was time for us to get ready to leave, so we ended up in the shower together. Luke naked was a beautiful site to see but Luke naked and wet…the thought almost made me explode.
After getting ready to leave, Luke and I had just finished lunch, and he was upstairs getting his things together for the afternoon. I was sitting on a stool at the kitchen island and checking my messages when Luke came down the stairs. He was carrying a duffel bag that more than likely contained the Santa suit. “Hey, baby. What are you doing?” he asked, walking over to me and kissing me.
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