I sent her a grateful smile. Suzanne had taken care of my family after I left, and she’d done an excellent job raising my daughter. She was a good match for my ex-husband, and I liked her a lot. She was a kind-hearted soul who’d welcomed me back into the family when I first reached out to Jack and April. I owed her a debt of gratitude.
“Thank you both. But you’re the star here, April. It’s your special day.”
My daughter looked luminous in an off-white mermaid dress that hugged her long, lean figure. It was an off-the-shoulder design with a belted waist and was paired with a ruby necklace her father had given her. Her long brown hair, the same shade as mine, was pulled up in an elegant twist, and the make-up artist had given her a smoky eye and red lips that matched her necklace. It wasn’t the lipstick that she’d sent me and Reed out to get, I noted with a shake of my head. Reed had been right about her making up that errand to push us together. Regardless of her lip color, my little girl looked amazing.
I walked towards my daughter and handed her a small box that I’d tucked into my clutch.
“This is for you.” I suddenly felt self-conscious. “It’s a wedding present. I mean, if you want it.”
“Oh Mom, thank you! That’s so sweet.”
“You don’t even know what it is yet,” I teased.
April opened the box, revealing an ankle bracelet with little blue stones.
“It’s an ankle bracelet,” I explained. “I thought it could be your something new and something blue,” I told her, referring to the old bride’s saying. I’d seen it in the window of a jewelry store a few months ago and had immediately fallen in love with it.
She threw her arms around me and gave me a big hug.
“Mom! I love it! Thank you so much!”
The wedding planner bustled over. “Let me put that on you so you don’t crease your dress.”
I held April’s skirt out of the way while she fastened the jewelry on my daughter’s ankle. It fit perfectly.
“Perfect!” the wedding planner decreed. “It’s a beautiful piece.”
April held her ankle out, showing the bracelet to the other bridesmaids and Suzanne. They oohed and ahhed over it and I felt a rush of relief that it was something she liked. It meant a lot to me to be included in April’s wedding, and I’d wanted to give her the perfect gift.
“Okay Moms, it’s time to get seated,” the wedding planner announced. Suzanne and I each gave April a hug, then headed out towards the wedding chapel area.
Reed was waiting for me just outside. He looked completely dashing in an expensive dark black suit with a thin blue tie. The suit fit him perfectly, as if it had been made just for him. Maybe it had been. His hair was slicked back neatly, and his beard was freshly trimmed. He gave me a smile that damn near melted my panties off.
“You look incredible,” he told me sincerely.
I’d gone with a jewel toned blue dress that coincidentally was almost the same shade as his tie. It was an A-line design with a sweetheart neckline, cap sleeves, and a fitted waist. The skirt puffed out a bit before hitting me just below the knee. I’d paired the dress with black shoes with a chunky heel. Like April, the hairstylist had pulled my hair up into a sophisticated twist, with tendrils of hair framing my face.
“Thanks, I haven’t looked this good since my own wedding.” I smiled and smoothed down his tie. “You’re looking pretty handsome yourself.”
He gave me a quick hug, and I inhaled the spicy scent of his cologne.
We sat together in the second row, right behind Renee, Jack, and Suzanne. Jonathon’s siblings sat next to us.
The minute the ceremony started the tears came. Reed silently handed me tissue after tissue that he’d stuffed in his pocket. For someone who’d never had a serious relationship, he was particularly thoughtful.
The wedding went off without a hitch, and afterwards the family and wedding party went outside to take photos. The sky was darkening with twilight by the time we came back into the ballroom for the reception.
I picked at my dinner, not really feeling hungry. My mind was swirling with emotions between the wedding and what was happening with Reed. We were all going home tomorrow, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d see Reed again. If I wanted to see him again.
In retrospect, it was foolhardy of me to start something with him knowing that we’d likely run into each other at family events. And yet, everything felt so natural with him, and that freaked me out even more. I’d been in love once before, and I’d ruined it. Even though Jack and April had emerged largely unscathed, I couldn’t help but wonder if I really had it in me to have a successful relationship. Maybe I was too damaged. Maybe I had too much baggage.
And maybe he doesn’t want more than a fling anyway,the voice in my head suggested. Yet my mind kept going back to when he’d said he was “all in”, and when he’d asked me about dating once we were back in the city.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
I looked over at Reed, who was watching me intently. We’d been seated next to each other for the wedding dinner, April’s doing I was sure. Not that I minded. Reed was a charming and witty conversationalist, and I could talk to him all night.
I shook my head at his question.