Mack turned back to Dean and found a woman in a pink ‘something’ standing in front of her. She had no idea what to say, as anything she would have normally said flew out of her head. She’d never seen anything like it before, and had no idea what the woman was wearing. It looked to be a dress covered with feathers in different shades of pink.
“Hello, I’m Mack.” She held her hand out, trying not to be too rude and stare.
“Beryl. So you’re the woman who has my godson in such a spin, and his mother in such a bad mood.”
Stunned, Mack felt tongue-tied, but Dean, thankfully, came to her rescue. “Aunt Beryl. I thought you were in England?” He leaned forward and placed a kiss to either side of her face.
“I arrived back two days ago to find your mother with her panties in a twist looking for you. She wanted to know the best time of year for you to get married.” When she saw the look on Dean’s f
ace, she giggled like a fifteen-year-old schoolgirl. “Don’t worry. I told her you’d get married when you were good and ready, and not before, and definitely not because she wanted you to.”
Dean grinned and then sighed in relief that he had someone else in his corner. “Thank you for that. This is Mack. The woman I’m in love with.”
Beryl chuckled. “She introduced herself, although she left the love bit out of the introduction.”
Mack decided she liked Beryl, once she got over the shock of seeing her dressed in feathers.
“I can assure you, the feeling’s mutual,” Mack added, taking hold of Dean’s hand.
“Well, it’s been interesting. Now if you’ll excuse me.” Beryl walked off toward another couple who had just arrived.
“Dean, I haven’t seen you for a while. How are you?”
While Dean had a conversation with a guy named Adam, Mack noticed two blond women talking and glaring in their direction—their faces twisted in anger. Was it Cynthia and her mother?
Mack thought it best to look away so they didn’t come over. She looked back at Dean, who had let go of her hand and put his arm around her waist instead. He just wanted her as close as he could get her and wanted her to know he was there for her.
She snuggled into Dean while she carried on looking around at the lovely tables covered with pale lilac tablecloths, vases overflowing with calla lilies along with an assortment of beverages and food. Even the trees around the garden had been decorated with lilac-colored ribbons.
She felt so out of place at Dean’s family home, and really wished she’d refused when he’d asked her to come with him. She’d only agreed so Cynthia couldn’t get her claws into him. But realistically, she trusted Dean to be true to her.
“I don’t believe we’ve met.” Mack turned slightly as Dean sighed at the inevitable.
“Cynthia, Gladys, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Mackenzie Harper . . . Mack, this is Cynthia Brandon and her mother, Gladys.”
“Hello.” Mack held her hand out in greeting, only to be ignored, once again. Dean tightened his hold on her and stiffened.
“Auntie Mack!” Lucas shouted. A hush fell over the gathering.
Lucas saw he had Mack’s attention across the garden. “I need help. I can’t find my weenie!” he shouted.
“Hell,” Mack whispered under her breath, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“I’m coming, Lucas,” she shouted back as she pulled away from Dean, ignoring Cynthia and her mother, who’d turned their back on them.
“Mack, I’ll come with you. Sounds like a guy thing.” Dean followed her, trying not to laugh.
Usually, Lucas never wore anything tucked into his jeans, in order to make it easier for him to go to the bathroom. When she’d gotten him dressed, she’d forgotten, and she’d put a shirt on him then tucked it into his jeans and made him wear a belt. She’d wanted him to look smart.
They finally reached Lucas and each took hold of one of his hands to lead him back to the bathroom. Once there, both Dean and Lucas stood their ground and refused to let her inside, making her wait outside by the door.
Mack giggled once they had both disappeared.
“Hey, what’s so funny?”
“Oh, Thomas. Lucas and his mouth again.” Thomas raised an eyebrow in question. “He just came out into the garden and shouted to me across the lawn ‘I can’t find my weenie.’”
Thomas was silent for a moment, and then he roared with laughter, which caused a few people to turn in their direction.