Summer Wine
Page 21
Epilogue
Betty was staring at her in awe, making Rebecca self-conscious.
“You’re not going to ask me who’s wearing the pants in this relationship, are you?”
Betty laughed. “Oh, I know who’s wearing the pants--I’m kidding! Look at you. You’re gorgeous. Can’t you see me turn green?”
Rebecca cast a nervous glance at her image in the full-length mirror. She couldn’t help smiling at what she saw, in spite of the butterflies in her stomach going crazy. The white pantsuit fit her perfectly. Cynthia had done a great job on her hair and make-up, a natural look nevertheless different from every day.
This wasn’t every day. This was her wedding day, complete with a wedding cake topped by two adorable—and female—figurines. She felt herself tear up a little and wondered if the whole day would be like this, beautiful but raw emotion. It would be better once Callie was by her side.
“Thank you,” she said to Betty. “You have no reason to be jealous though. You and Charles are going to Hong Kong. Can you say hello to David and Susan when you see them?”
“We sure will. Before I forget it. I don’t know if you have something old yet, but you know what they say.” She produced a delicate silver bracelet from her purse she fastened around Rebecca’s wrist. “It’s almost a hundred years old. I believe that qualifies.”
“Betty.” Now her vision was blurry, and Betty’s eyes welled up too. “I could have been a better friend. I’m so grateful you even still want me here.”
“Of course.”
They hugged, and Betty continued, “You borrowed the necklace from your mom, and I know for a fact these clothes and shoes are brand new, so I assume anything blue is for Callie’s eyes only.” She stepped back in time to see Rebecca blush. “Who says tradition can’t be fun?”
There was a knock on the door, and Rebecca’s mom stepped inside. “Are you ready?” she asked softly. Betty excused herself.
“I so am,” Rebecca said. “We’ve been waiting a while, but the past few days have been torture. I don’t think I could make it another day.”
“Well, you don’t have to. There’s this amazing woman waiting for you so you can say I do.”
“Stop, Mom. You’re making me cry.”
“It’s your wedding day. If that isn’t a good moment for happy tears, I don’t know what is.” She had a point. Even the short skype conversation in which Tomaso and his family had congratulated them, had gotten emotional.
“Rebecca, I’m so glad you can do this officially. It might not make a difference to the heart, but it’s so much better for you two, and the girls.”
“It does make a difference to the heart as well.”
Equal marriage had arrived in the sleepy town of Autumn Leaves as well. She and Callie could have their dream wedding here at home.
“I can see,” Margaret said. “I never thought I’d have a daughter-in-law, let alone one that writes naughty books on occasion—”
“Mom.”
“That’s beside the point anyway. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this happy, even with everything you had to deal with. It’s good you cleared things with David too.”
Rebecca nodded, content in everything else that lay between the lines. She had had the courage to trust in her parents after many years they’d been on the periphery of one another’s lives. She’d be married to the person she loved, in the eyes of the law, and, she believed, the eyes of a God who had never left her, in doubt or grief. She couldn’t bring herself to care much about anyone who thought otherwise.
“Let’s go,” her mother said. “I know for a fact that Callie is just as impatient as you are.”
* * * *
“Ready?” Sean asked, and Callie nodded, even though her stomach was in knots, and she wished she hadn’t chosen heels so high. She hoped her vanity wouldn’t come back to bite her. My beautiful lesbian wedding, she thought, suppressing the giddy laughter that wanted to bubble up. She was already drunk—on happiness.
“Good. Please don’t faint on me. I’ll never hear the end of it.” There was a hint of worry in his affectionate tone.
“I’ll be okay,” Callie assured her brother. “I think.”
He chuckled. “I know you’ll be. The aisle in the justice clerk’s room isn’t quite that long. Just walk slowly, and don’t forget to breathe.”
“Easy for you to say.”
Callie knew she was as ready as she’d ever be to expose herself to the looks of everyone present in the room, half of Autumn Leaves as it seemed, her mother, the girls, Asha and Gracie, and all of their friends. If she made it through the next half hour or so, there’d be an abundance of champagne, wedding cake and white chocolate cupcakes, and later tonight, it would be just her and Rebecca celebrating their love…The thought made her face heat. She wondered if Rebecca was any less nervous, since this wasn’t the first time. It would be the last time though—her nerves were probably in tatters as were Callie’s.
When her gaze fell on Rebecca, the unmistakable emotion in her expression, it was all of a sudden easy. She didn’t falter in her step. Her mind was clear and calm, no room for anything but pure unadulterated happiness.
They exchanged giddy smiles, in a world of their own. Callie had secretly feared she might miss her cue and make all the guests, but worse, Rebecca, wait--she didn’t. When she said the magic words “I do”, she’d never been this sure of anything in her life. After Rebecca’s turn, they kissed and exchanged rings with trembling hands.
Father Langdon spoke a blessing, something he had promised Callie a long time ago, and they signed the papers. Kissed again.
“I hope the dress is okay,” Callie whispered to Rebecca. “If you don’t like it, I’m not above blaming a little girl. Maggie loved it.” In fact, Maggie had said she looked like a princess.
“You are so beautiful,” Rebecca whispered back to her. “I wish I could be alone with you right now.”
Callie drew a sharp breath, and Rebecca laid a cool hand against her heated cheek. “Since we can’t do that, let’s go for second best and have some champagne.”
“I like that idea.”
* * * *
They had taken a moment for themselves, sharing another glass and a piece from the delicious wedding cake when Asha found them. She looked shell-shocked, and for a moment, Rebecca was tempted to tell her to keep whatever she was about to say, to herself. Whatever it was, it could wait another day.
“Guys,” Asha said. “I’ve got some news.”
“Sit down,” Callie said, exchanging a concerned look with Rebecca. “You look like you’re about to keel over.”
“That’s because I am. I got this call…it’s about your children’s book. Did I say it was good news? You should sit down too.”
“No, you didn’t say that.” Rebecca shook her head, unsure whether she should be amused or irritated. Callie had won awards before, and her sales were good enough for her to be comfortable. Callie’s shrug told her she was just as clueless.
“The Girl who lived in a Castle,” Asha said with a hint of impatience, as if they were supposed to read her. “A movie. Animation, it’s going to happen. Do you get me, Callie, this is big!”
“I see. Wow.” Callie sounded a bit baffled as well. “This is great news—and thanks so much for scaring the hell out of me. We’ll talk about this tomorrow, okay?”
“Aren’t you curious?”
Callie stole another glance at Rebecca. “I am, but I also got married. I already have everything.”
Asha laughed before she got to her feet and embraced both of them. “Enjoy your day. I’ll have to go work now and discuss contracts. You know what? There’s no one for whom I’d rather see this happening. You’re a freaking personified happy ending, and I love it.”
“I believe that was a compliment,” Rebecca mused when she was out of earshot. She studied Callie for a moment before she asked,
“Do you think anyone would mind if we snuck away for a bit?”
Calli
e looked around their guests who were talking, laughing, dancing. Maggie was spending the night at Stella’s, Dina was invited to Sara’s new apartment. It looked like they had an opening to escape.
“Doesn’t look like it,” Callie said. “What’s on your mind?”
Rebecca took her hand and pulled her up. “Come with me?” She couldn’t have kept the longing out of her voice if she’d tried, but Callie didn’t mind.
“Of course. Don’t you know by now that I’ll go anywhere with you?”
“I do,” Rebecca said, confident and proud in knowing there were no more questions. She had all the answers she ever needed.
Books by Barbara Winkes
www.amazon.com/author/barbarawinkes
Thriller/Romantic Suspense
Indiscretions (Carpenter/Harding I)
Insinuations (Carpenter/Harding II)
Incisions (Carpenter/Harding III)
Intrusions (Carpenter/Harding IV)
Halfway Home (Jayce & Emma I)
Familiar Places (Jayce & Emma II)
New Rooms (Jayce & Emma III)
Close Quarters (Jayce & Emma IV)
Secrets
Amber Alert
Urban Fantasy:
Rise
Romance:
The Interpretation of Love and the Truth
The Design of Everything Perfect
Autumn Leaves (Callie & Rebecca I)
Winter Storm (Callie & Rebecca II)
Spring Fever (Callie & Rebecca III)
Summer Wine (Callie & Rebecca IV)
Thank you for reading!