Vince's Place

by Sandra R Neeley

  Nick had sat quietly, letting Vince speak. His heart had been hesitant because he suspected that Vince was a shifter. And shifters’ social customs were the reason his son was dead. He sat forward, mimicking Vince’s stance. “I believe that there is one thing you haven’t covered. Is there something else you neglected to tell me about yourself?”

  Vince glanced at Natalie. Natalie nodded her encouragement and slipped her hands around his arm, holding his arm to her chest as she leaned against him in a show of solidarity.

  “I’m a shifter, sir. My beast is a Lion. My blood family is small, only myself, my sister and her husband. But my clan family is large and strong, growing by the day. They welcome everyone into their family, they do not discriminate. We have Bears, Lions, Foxes, Wolves and humans. We are all equal, and we love and protect one another. Natalie is a part of my family. They love her and accepted her just as they did me. I understand your hesitation. Natalie told me of your son and the loss of him. I’m very, very sorry for your loss. But please understand, the situation he found himself in does not apply to me and my family. Those were the old ways, the ways followed centuries ago. Those ways no longer apply to most of us. And if they did, I’d have walked away from those who tried to make me live that way long, long ago. I am what’s best for Natalie.”

  Nick stood and took the few steps over to where Vince sat looking at him. He stuck his hand out, waiting for Vince to take it. Vince stood and placed his hand in Nick’s.

  “I know you are, son. Take care of my little girl. Welcome to the family.” Nick pulled Vince in for a man hug where they pounded each other’s backs.

  “Thank you, sir,” Vince said, smiling.

  “Nick. My name is Nick. Drop the formalities.”

  “Yes, sir. I mean, Nick.”

  “Let’s eat,” Nick said, holding out his hand to pull his daughter up off the couch. Natalie stood quickly and hugged her Daddy. “You’ve done good, Nat,” Nick told her. “He’s a good man.”

  Angie walked up behind Vince and looped her arms around his left arm. “Tell me, Vince. How do you cook your burgers? We’ve been to Vince's Place many times, just for the burgers! They’re amazing!”

  Chapter 28

  Vince stood in the backyard of the house he’d bought for Natalie. Maverik stood at his side. Preacher Manley stood beside them in the latticework gazebo Vince had placed beside the small koi pond he’d built near the rear of the back yard.

  The gazebo was decorated with white and silver ribbons, bows and streamers. There were silk roses placed all around the yard of silver and white, and on the chairs and trees and shrubbery in the back yard as well. Vince and Natalie decided they wanted a small wedding, with only family and close friends attending, and the back yard of their home was the perfect place.

  Natalie had chosen a short-sleeved gown, white with silver edging at the seams. There were tiny silver seed pearls sewn in intricate patterns over the bodice and ending in points at the waistline of the gown. Her hair was swept up loosely into a French twist, with tendrils flowing down and framing her face. Tiny white flowers were pinned in her hair, bringing extra accents to her delicate hairstyle.

  The strains of the wedding march played as Valerie and Delilah, acting as co-matrons of honor, led the way down the short white linen aisle with Natalie and her father, Nick, following a close distance behind. Maverik looked over at Vince and smiled at the look on his face. He was so completely in love with Natalie. Vince stood, almost spellbound watching her walk toward him, to tie her life to his forever.

  “I’m a lucky male,” Vince finally managed to whisper to Maverik.

  “Yes, you are,” Maverik agreed.

  Nick placed Natalie’s hand in Vince’s, then turned to take his seat beside his wife. His eyes passed over the rest of the people seated there to witness the marriage of his daughter to the love of her life. These were good people. They all were here to support and celebrate with the happy couple. He sat down and leaned toward his wife who had tears in her eyes as she watched her daughter, standing hand in hand with her love as they exchanged their vows. “You did good this time, Angie,” he said softly, kissing her cheek.

  Angie looked at him, a curious look in her eyes.

  “This,” he said. “Natalie and Vince. I’m glad you got them together.”

  Angie smiled at Nick. “Actually, it was all already done. I was just the safety net in case they couldn’t work it out on their own. Who knew, though? I certainly didn’t.”

  “It had to be meant to be,” he said. “You chose him for her and invited him to dinner, only to find out that she’d already chosen him for herself.”

  “And he chose her. I told you to trust my feelings,” Angie teased, turning her attention back to the vows taking place in the gazebo just a few feet away from them.

  Angie and Nick held hands tightly as Vince and Natalie repeated their vows, then shared a kiss, their first as man and wife.

  Vince held Natalie’s hand in his, and they turned to face their guests. He held her hand up like the champion of a prize fight and beamed proudly at everyone. “She’s stuck, now!” he said, chuckling.

  Hoots and whistles answered him as Kaid and the boys all shouted out their enthusiasm.

  Vince and Natalie started their short walk back up the aisle toward their house, where the reception would be, while all their friends and family tossed handfuls of birdseed at them. Natalie loved to watch the birds in the morning while she had her coffee, so she’d decided that rather than rice, she’d make little net baggies filled with birdseed for everyone to toss.

  The entire clan was there, and they all made their way inside behind Vince and Natalie, while the caterers they’d hired began to set up the buffet table on the back patio where the rows of chairs to watch the wedding had been.

  Once inside, the photographer steered the guests to the cake table in the dining room. “We’ll go ahead and do the cake first so that it can be sliced and placed out on the buffet table for convenience,” he explained.

  Natalie looked around the room and sure that everyone was there, took the cake knife in hand, and Vince placed his on top of hers. Together they cut into the towering four-layer cake that Joanne had made for them. It was a traditional almond cake with pineapple filling and white butter cream frosting with silver rosettes and ribbons wound round it.

  They fed each other a piece of cake with Natalie bursting into giggles when Vince pretended to miss the piece she offered him and smeared it on his own face. Her thumb was pushed into the frosting when he did it, so he took her hand in his, slipping her thumb into his mouth and sucking the frosting from her skin, while he stared into her eyes. Lots of catcalls and whistles sounded off around them.

  “I can do that now. It’s all legal and everything!” Vince yelled at them, smiling.

  After the cake was cut, they meandered a bit, talking to everyone for a few moments until the caterers advised them that the buffet was ready. Then the wedding party moved back outside to eat. It was a very casual atmosphere, ten round tables with white table cloths. In the center of each table were silver metal containers filled with forks, knives, and spoons. There were three buffet tables set up. The largest and main one for the carved ribeye station and a baked potato bar, and the Alfredo pasta with your choice of shrimp or chicken, salad, and big soft, buttered dinner rolls. Another for beverages of all kinds and ice and hot steaming coffee for any who may like some, and another filled with an array of dessert choices as well as dozens and dozens of little paper plates with a slice of Vince and Natalie’s wedding cake on each.

  There was a swing set at the very back of the yard on the other side of the koi pond, and Remi was swinging while he looked studiously at his dinner roll. Daisy sat beside him on her own swing, which had been hung low enough for her to reach though she didn’t even try to make it move. Bane stood beside Daisy waiting for her to decide she wanted to swing again, and Jobe kept him company.

  Janie sat with Daniel and Avalei
gh and sipped Sprite while she tried to not notice too much of what everyone else ate so her stomach wouldn’t revolt. This new baby was really doing a number on her.

  Bam and Everly were on the other side of the yard, dancing, swaying slowly to the sounds of the music the D.J. was playing with their newborn daughter asleep in the infant sling Bam wore strapped to his chest. There were two other children there, one about six and the other five. They were Brandi’s children and had been staying with her for the last few weeks becoming acclimated to being with their mother again, and she to them.

  Vince and Natalie stood arm in arm in the open double French doors of their home, looking out on their back yard, filled with their family and friends, laughing, talking, eating and sharing a good time. They were all here to witness their marriage.

  “We are blessed,” Natalie said.

  Vince hugged her closer to him. “We are indeed.” He looked down at her. “Happy, Mrs. Nobles?” he asked, nuzzling her ear.

  “Deliriously so. Are you?” she asked.

  Vince looked down at her, turning to face her. He cupped her face in his hands, while he gently kissed her lips, just barely touching his lips to hers. “I am. I didn’t know this feeling existed. I had no clue. I’ve finally found my place. And it’s right here, beside you.”

  “I love you, Vince,” Natalie said, lifting up a bit on tip toe to reach his lips.

  “I love you, too,” Vince replied, bending her backward while he kissed her for all he was worth.

  “Hey!!! None of that now! You still got company!” Maverik teased, his arms swaying back and forth as he rocked Havoc in an effort to get him to fall asleep. Valerie, having finished her duties as co-matron of honor, sat beside him, a peacefully sleeping Hellen balanced on her chest, secured with one arm and hand as Valerie held a glass of rose’ wine in the other.

  Vince straightened bringing Natalie back to a standing position. He nipped her bottom lip. “Can’t wait to get my hands on you and take you out of this dress,” he whispered.

  Natalie giggled. “Right back at you, Lion,” she said, smiling. “But I mean out of the suit, you know,” she added.

  “Ya’ll gonna stand there all afternoon just looking out over your celebration?” Kaid called out from the table where he sat with Delilah who held Barron, letting him stand as infants will on her lap. They shared the table with Angie and Nick and laughed easily together as they got to know one another. Kaid watched Vince and Natalie, his heart full at watching the love between his friend and his friend’s new wife.

  Some of Natalie’s friends from the hospital were there as well, interspersed through the tables, though Dr. Fuches wasn’t one of them.

  Goldy and Ms. Sadie sat with Joanne and Amos at the next table. The men laughed and spoke of hunting and told wild tall tales of youth, while Sadie and Joanne swapped recipes and quick tricks in the kitchen.

  Vince clasped Natalie’s hand in his and started outside. “Nope. We coming to mingle,” he said.

  The afternoon passed quietly, good food, good music, family and friends. As it began to wind down, Vince found himself watching Brandi as she stood to the side, keeping an eye on her kids as they played with Remi and Daisy. They’d gone through an adjustment period, but it had actually been a lot easier than she’d expected.

  “You sure about your plans?” a voice behind her asked.

  Brandi turned and smiled at the male standing behind her. “I am. I really think it’s the best thing to do.”

  “It’s a hell of an opportunity,” Vince answered.

  “Yeah, it is. And I can’t help but think that my father-in-law knew that I could handle it, otherwise he wouldn’t have left it to me.”

  “I think you’re right. I think he knew his wife and your husband for what they’d both become. He changed his will to leave all his holdings, the company included, to you.”

  “I agree. Then I think when they found out about it, they flew into a rage, and his own wife had him killed. Then, my husband came after me to try to force me to sign over the company,” Brandi said. She looked down at her hands and back up at Vince. “Thing is, all I wanted was my kids, I’d have happily signed over the company and all the land holdings just for rights to my children. It didn’t have to be the way it was.”

  “I know. But, the way it worked out, you got your babies and everything your father-in-law meant you to have as well. Worked out good,” Vince said.

  “Except you got hurt,” Brandi said, still hurting a bit that she’d been the cause of his injury.

  “You didn’t do that. One day you’ll see it that way, too,” Vince said.

  Natalie wandered over to them. “Brandi, your kids look just like you,” she said. “We’ve really enjoyed having them around these last few weeks. You sure you have to go?”

  Brandi hugged Natalie. “Congratulations,” she said. “I loved getting the chance to see you two exchange vows,” she said to Natalie and Vince. Then she answered Natalie’s question. “Yeah, I need to go see what I have before me. My mother-in-law’s in custody, and with the evidence they have on her for ordering my father-in-law’s death, she’ll likely never be free again. My husband is missing, no one can even find him. And his dad left the company to me. So, I have to go see to it.”

  “You going to run it yourself, or sell it off?” Bane asked, standing nearby and listening.

  “Haven’t decided. I’m going to take my time and see what I’m up against. Then I’ll just follow my heart and do what seems right,” Brandi answered.

  “Well, you’ve always got family here. You know that right? Just call if you need us, we’ll be there,” Vince said.

  “I do know that. I appreciate it more than you think.” Brandi hugged them both then turned to her kids. “Come on, ya’ll. It’s time we headed out.”

  “But we haven’t had cake yet!” they cried in unison.

  “Alright, get some cake, and we’ll stay a little longer, then we’re heading out.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” they called, jumping from the swing set and running toward the cake table. They really were good kids. They’d just been caught up in the manipulative lies of their grandmother. But they clearly loved their mother and were happy to have her near again.

  Hours later, the food put away in their kitchen, the tables packed up and taken away, their friends and family driving away as they waved goodbye, Vince and Natalie stood in the doorway of their home, arms around each other. They were tired, but deliriously happy.

  “Well, that’s that,” Vince said. “All said and done. What do you say we go have a long hot shower and climb in bed?”

  “Ohhh, a shower and sleep sound wonderful!” Natalie said teasingly.

  “Sleep? Who said a word about sleep?” Vince asked, pretending to be put out.

  “Isn’t that what you meant by climb in bed. I’d so love to go to sleep. Can’t think of a thing I’d enjoy more.”

  Vince lowered his hand and swatted her behind. “I can show you a thing or two I’m pretty sure you’d enjoy more.”

  “I don’t know about that. I’m pretty tired,” Natalie teased.

  “We’ll see about that,” Vince warned, locking the door behind him and turning to follow her into their home.

  Natalie paused at the foot of the stairs, her finger tapping at her chin. “I suppose, if you could manage to catch me, before I get out of the shower and go to sleep, you might possibly be able to keep me awake for whatever else you’ve got planned,” she said, before turning and running up the stairs as quickly as she could.

  Vince grinned. He loved to chase his Mate. It was one of his favorite games, and she knew it only too well. “Run, baby!” his Lion snarled. “When I catch you, I’m going to be sure you understand just where my place is. Right inside you!” He started up the stairs, his footfalls heavy on the carpeted steps.

  Natalie shrieked with laughter and slammed the bathroom door shut behind herself, the clicking of the lock easily heard as she locked it..

&nb
sp; “I’m coming! You better not lock that bathroom door! I will remove it from its hinges!” he called, chuckling to himself when he heard the clicking again when she thought better of it and unlocked the door.

  Vince purposely took measured steps, slowly advancing, giving her time to undress and get into the shower. He peeked into the bedroom and saw that Valerie had set it up for him just as he’d asked. Two buckets of ice. One with champagne and two glasses. One with small individual containers of tapioca and rice puddings packed in the ice, and two silver spoons lying atop the ice. On the bedside table was a sampling of all the foods they’d had their wedding catered with and a couple of bottles of water. He planned to not leave the bedroom until well into the next day. This night was about nothing but his Mate and himself.