Marrying the Wedding Crasher

by Melinda Curtis

  Joe rolled under Agnes’s Buick.

  “And I’m assuming that’s a yes?”

  “Tell Gabe that tile needs to be nearly free or he’s buying Sam school clothes.” Joe chuckled. “And he can take her shopping. I bet she needs more new bras.”

  “Gladly.” Let the big man sweat that one out.

  * * *

  VINCE PUT ON his dark blue suit in a hotel room in Cloverdale with sweaty palms.

  He was crashing his brother’s wedding.

  He had apologies to give and amends to make. To his family. To Harley.

  He didn’t know if anyone would listen.

  He arrived early at the family property. The house had been painted robin’s-egg blue. White shutters had been added to the windows and fresh grass had been rolled on the front lawn. Vince almost didn’t recognize the place.

  Someone must have fixed the riding mower. The field once filled with dilapidated cars was now mowed to a civilized height. White folding chairs had been placed in neat rows on two sides of a white gazebo. White ribbons and bows had been placed down the aisle. And on the garage parking lot there were more tables and chairs than ever before, many beneath pop-ups to provide shade.

  Vince parked on the road and went in search of his brothers. He found them inside the upstairs apartment, along with the best man, Will Jackson, Joe’s best friend from high school.

  His reception was frosty.

  “No,” Gabe said when Vince closed the apartment door behind him. He hadn’t yet put his suit jacket or tie on. His tie hung loosely around his thick neck and his biceps strained the cotton material of his shirt sleeves.

  “Hear me out.” Vince held up his hands in surrender.

  “We’re not doing this now.” Joe was attempting to knot his tie. The last time he’d tried to do so had been his first wedding day. He’d needed Vince’s assistance then, too.

  “Hey, Vince.” Will spoke like the voice of reason. His blue suit was a cut above those worn by the Messinas, but then again, he’d made his fortune in the tech world. He could afford nice things. “Let’s go outside and talk.”

  “Maybe later, golden boy.” His childhood name for Will.

  Vince came forward. “At least, let me get your tie right.”

  “Fine.” Joe lifted his chin. “But don’t talk.”

  “And tie mine before you leave.” Gabe buttoned up his collar.

  Will glared at Vince and leaned against the wall.

  There was no way Vince wasn’t talking. “Mom left here and had to get professional help to sort herself out,” Vince said simply. “She’d been smoking two packs a day and steadily losing weight and her mind. I had no idea she was that sick.”

  Joe’s eyes clouded with pain, but he wouldn’t look Vince in the eye. Gabe swore under his breath. Will’s glare reduced to a hard stare.

  “Mom wanted me to drop out of school.” That had been her cry for help. He’d been too young to recognize it. “And when I told her no, we argued.”

  “Those hall passes...” Joe’s voice trailed off, still refusing to look at him.

  Gabe was looking at Vince, but he wasn’t really seeing him.

  Will went to the window, his turned back giving them a small measure of privacy.

  Vince finished tying Joe’s tie and turned to Gabe. He hesitated, mouth dry.

  His older brother looked lost. He never looked lost. “You should’ve told me.” Gabe’s voice was rougher than sandpaper on rusted metal. “I was the oldest.”

  “You took my girlfriend.” Vince moved in to tackle Gabe’s tie. “You snuck out of the house at night more than I snuck out of school during the day. You were so busy carving trees in Harmony Valley, who could talk to you?”

  “You should have told me.” Joe’s brows were crowded together on his forehead. “I was here. I was here the entire time.”

  “I should leave you guys alone to hash this out.” Will moved toward the door.

  “Stay.” Joe pleaded. “You lived through this with me as much as they did, probably more.”

  “Ouch,” Gabe said.

  Vince finished with Gabe’s tie and faced Joe. “Mom moved to Texas. She’s using her maiden name. She’s dating a good man... My boss.” Might just as well get all of the messy details out on the table. “And I finally worked up the nerve to talk to her this week.”

  “You mean you hadn’t before?” Joe’s skin was turning a blotchy red.

  “No.” Vince thrust his hands in his pants’ pockets. “I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I was...” No sense denying it. “I was afraid she’d be angry that I tracked her down.”

  “And was she?” Gabe asked. There was a bottle of whiskey on the counter. Gabe poured himself a shot and downed it.

  “No. She was sad. Apologetic. At peace in a way that I wasn’t.”

  “Well...” Gabe laughed, but it lacked his usual humor. “You’re a mess. We all know that.”

  Vince shrugged.

  “What about Harley?” Joe pinned Vince with a hard look. “What about the baby?”

  Vince couldn’t speak.

  Joe didn’t let up. He moved in closer and his tone turned mean. “If you went to all those lengths to protect Mom, you need to work twice as hard to protect that baby. I know firsthand how hard it is to be a single parent.”

  “I offered to marry her. It was the least I could do.” Gabe took his suit jacket off the hanger.

  Vince scowled. He should’ve known better than to trust Gabe around Harley.

  “Don’t get your pants in a wedgie.” Gabe slid into his jacket. “Just so you know, she turned me down both times I asked.”

  “You asked her more than once?” Vince might have slugged Gabe if he wasn’t afraid of getting blood on his shirt before the wedding.

  Gabe straightened his lapels. “To my enormous surprise...she remains loyal to you.”

  Vince had to stop himself from sagging with relief.

  “I’m beginning to regret having a meeting in the city these last few days,” Will said. “I missed out on all the good stuff.”

  “You need to patch things up with her.” Joe laid his hands on Vince’s shoulders.

  Until that moment Vince hadn’t been sure Joe would forgive him. “I don’t think I can fix this.” He’d said some awful things. Some truly awful things.

  “I’ve never seen anything you couldn’t fix.” Gabe slapped him on the back. Hard.

  “Even Mom called you the Fixer.” Joe released him, beginning to smile.

  “You had some skill in the repair department,” Will allowed.

  They were joking with each other again. In that moment Vince knew he and his brothers were going to be all right. That is, if they could get past one more surprise.

  “There’s just one more thing.”

  Gabe rolled his eyes.

  “I’m going to pour everyone a shot.” Vince reached for the whiskey. “Mom’s downstairs.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  “WHERE SHOULD MY horseradish potato salad go?”

  Harley had been put in charge of organizing the dishes dropped off for the potluck reception that was to follow the wedding. She turned to face the woman carrying the horseradish potato salad.

  It was Eunice, the elderly woman with purplish-gray hair who quilted in the window seat of the bakery and watched over the toddler boys. She wore a pink-flowered dress and white feathered mules. “I wanted to make my famous ham, hollandaise and banana casserole, but my neighbor, Duffy, said that should only be served to family. I’m not entirely sure what that means.”

  Harley’s stomach turned at the unappetizing combination. “It means he wants to keep that special recipe a family secret.”

  “Oh.” She smiled and blinked her eyes in that Kewpie doll way of hers. “Yes, it does.” She patted Harley’s
flat stomach. “And how is the baby today?”

  Harley stiffened. This wasn’t the first time she’d been touched inappropriately like that in Harmony Valley. Being pregnant was like a license to touch in this town. “I’m feeling good.”

  Eunice leaned in close, widening her blinking eyes, which were an interesting shade of brown, almost violet. “I’ve been in the labor room. You need to keep up your strength.” She squeezed Harley’s bicep. “Although you are a wiry one. Are all architects that strong?”

  “No.” Harley took possession of the horseradish potato salad and backed away. “You should find a seat, before all the good ones are taken.”

  “Harley?”

  A very tanned middle-aged couple stood at the door to the garage sales office. The man was blond and fit, and wore a simple gray suit that looked expensive. The woman wore a blue sheath with beaded trim. Her brown hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail. Her makeup was flawless. She wore wide silver bangles along with a simple white corsage on one wrist.

  The man started to laugh. “You don’t recognize me without my sunglasses and baseball cap?”

  “Jerry?” Harley rushed over to hug him. “I don’t recognize you because you’re not yelling. What are you doing here?” And then it sunk in. Vince’s mother was dating Jerry. Harley introduced herself to her baby’s grandmother. “Do Joe and Gabe know you’re here?”

  “Yes.” Gwen’s cheeks deepened in color. “I was nervous. I haven’t seen them since...”

  “I’m sure they were happy to see you,” Harley said hopefully, dragging the corner of her lips up. The fact that she was still here and no one was yelling had to mean something positive had happened. “I’m happy to finally meet you.”

  “Vince told us you were expecting,” Jerry surprised her by saying. “You need to be careful about what you carry on the job site from now on.”

  “Jerry, now isn’t the time to talk about work,” Gwen scolded her beau. She hugged Harley, kissing her cheek. “I’m so happy for you. We both are. I’m a wonderful babysitter and I’ll be in your corner if Jerry pushes you too hard.”

  It was telling she said nothing about Vince. He’d been banned from attending the wedding and it was probably too expensive for him to fly all the way back from Texas.

  “It’s all right.” Harley’s smile felt easier, because Gwen was very sweet. “I’ve been thinking about making a career change.”

  Jerry’s eyebrows went up. “Not before the Randall job. It’s herringbone everywhere. No one does herringbone like you do.”

  “Maybe not before the Randall job,” Harley allowed. She still had rent to pay.

  “Good.” Jerry seemed pleased. “By the way, I’m hoping Gwen gets wedding fever and finally agrees to marry me.”

  “You don’t have to tell everyone.” Gwen blushed a fiery red. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you today.”

  “Wedding fever,” Jerry repeated, chuckling. “Let’s go find a seat on the groom’s side.” He glanced at Harley. “Do you know which side is the groom’s side?”

  “No clue.”

  “It’s the right side,” Gwen said. “Maybe we should hide somewhere until the ceremony starts. I don’t want to be recognized and have to explain where I’ve been.”

  That wasn’t such a bad idea. “You can walk over by the bridge. The bride created the art on display. She’s quite talented.” Harley pointed out the mermaid riding the surfboard above the garage doors. “She made that mermaid, too.”

  “She welds,” Jerry said with a gleam in his eye.

  “That doesn’t mean she’s going to go to work for you, Jer.” Gwen took his hand and led him toward the bridge.

  The guests began coming in droves, dropped off by the party bus or walking from cars parked along the road. Harley was busy for several minutes grouping salads together on one table and entrees on another.

  “Harley?” Sam rushed up in a tea-length, gray satin dress, wearing makeup and carrying a small, pink-flowered wreath. “Brit wanted you to wear this in your hair.”

  Harley accepted the delicate circle of flowers. “Why?”

  “She said all family members are wearing flowers. Gotta go.” She hitched up her skirt and scampered off.

  “Harley.” That voice.

  It traveled up her spine like a slow hand on a cool night.

  Harley shivered. She wasn’t supposed to see Vince today. She wasn’t ready to see him today.

  Harley turned slowly.

  Vince looked like he hadn’t slept in the days since he’d been gone. There were bags under his eyes and lines crossing the bags. His cheekbones looked hollow, as if he hadn’t been eating, either.

  Harley didn’t think she looked much better. “Vi-ince.” His name came out in a half-broken squawk. “Does Joe know you’re here?”

  He nodded. “I wanted to talk to you before the ceremony.” He wore a nice blue suit and a gray tie with white polka dots. His hair was the only thing that had held up to the stress and still looked fabulous.

  “Harley?” Vince said her name as if she hadn’t been paying attention.

  Which she hadn’t. “Yes?”

  “Come with me.” Vince took her by the arm and led her into the ranch house. He probably wanted to smooth things over with her before the ceremony so as to avoid a scene.

  Not that she’d make one.

  Mayor Larry caught her eye and gave her a thumbs-up. He’d misread the entire scenario.

  Vince wasn’t here for her. He’d brought his mother back as a wedding gift to Joe.

  The kitchen cabinets had been put in yesterday. The countertops wouldn’t be added until next week. The house was beginning to look like a home built in this century.

  Vince stood in the middle of the living room, looking sad and uncomfortable. “I’m sorry.”

  “For what?” There’d been so many harsh words exchanged between them, Harley wasn’t sure what he was apologizing for.

  “I’ve been a fool.” Of all the truths he’d told, this one rang clear as a bell. He believed it.

  “I understand.” She sighed. “You can’t rationalize fears. I just... I hope we can find common ground and parent together.”

  He scowled at her.

  So. Harley’s stomach knotted. He hadn’t gotten over his aversion to being a parent. She wouldn’t talk about this here. Not now with the entire town ready to bear witness to him tearing what was left of her heart to pieces.

  “Thank you for the idea for my balconies.” She forced herself to smile, even if she only smiled at a spot over his left shoulder. “It could work out.”

  “I don’t want to talk about balconies.” His words were as flat as her putty knife, but sharper edged.

  “Oh.” She had to get some distance between them if she wanted to avoid crying. Harley walked down the hall. “Do you want to see what I’ve done in the master shower?” It was simple traditional subway tile on the walls and classic small-octagon black and white tiles on the floor.

  “No.” He grabbed her arm, bringing her to a halt. “I want to talk about us.”

  “There is no us.” He’d made that very clear earlier in the week. “Don’t let Gabe force you into something you don’t want.”

  “Gabe couldn’t force me...” He ran a hand through his hair, making the bangs stick straight up. “Can we start over?”

  “Completely over or just today over?”

  He claimed her hands. His were big and warm and released butterflies in her chest. “I’ll go back as far as you let me.”

  Harley held her breath, trying to hold in butterflies.

  “I talked to my mom. About my father’s illness. Turns out...he was diagnosed much earlier than I thought. His teens. She thinks I’m fine.” He spoke in fits and starts. His discomfort was almost a tangible thing in the air. “But she’s not a doctor, so
I went to a psychiatrist. He said I was fine.”

  “Do you believe them?” Because he didn’t sound confident. And his eyes. They were darting around in panic mode.

  He didn’t want to be a father. He was trying to patch things up because it was the right thing to do.

  Harley felt sucker punched.

  “I doubt I’ll ever shake the fear that I might develop the disease.” He straightened and met her gaze squarely. “But I truly want to pursue a relationship with you. And have our baby.” That last statement came out more like an afterthought.

  She nodded absently.

  “For years I’ve been under the assumption that my fate was grim.” His dark eyes seemed deep and endless. “For years I kept people at arm’s length.”

  She was unable to look away, although it felt like she was seeing a train barreling toward a barrier. She being the barrier and he the careless train.

  In the days after Vince left, this had been the conversation she’d longed for. But it lacked one thing. Heart. She remained unconvinced of his sincerity of feeling for her and the baby.

  “But then you came along and I told you so much I’d kept hidden away... I couldn’t keep it inside when I was with you.”

  “You only told me because we struck a deal. Between friends.”

  “You know we’re more than friends. We should get married. Because we love each other.” His voice was flat. His patience had worn thin.

  Hers was entirely gone, buried beneath the remains of the relationship they’d once had. “I’ve had days to think about what we had.”

  The corners of his mouth turned up hopefully.

  “And days to think about what we didn’t have.” She held up a hand when he would have said more. “Most relationships launch slowly. You get to know someone. And then you...get to know someone.” She whispered this last. “You learn to know their boundaries. How they like to have fun. What makes them feel loved. How to trust each other. To know your lover’s reaction in times of stress. We have none of that.”

  “What are you saying?”