“I’m sorry.” I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes again. “They were all staring at me. I felt like a trapped animal, so I told them May twentieth.”
Cole laughs. “Well, you told them the truth, at any rate. Let’s wait until we have to and then we will climb that mountain when we get to it. Come on, we need to tell your parents and then get to the airport. Luke’s probably already out front, waiting for us.”
I fix my face so it doesn’t look like I’ve been crying and then Cole and I head out to the backyard.
“Hey kids, grab a plate there’s still plenty left.” My dad signals to the overstuffed table of food.
“Mr. Cook, thanks so much for all your hospitality, but I have a business deal I’ve been working on this week, and unfortunately, it requires my immediate attention. We’ve got to head back to Las Vegas this evening.” Cole says.
My mom comes up and stands next to my dad. “That’s a shame. I’m sure Katie will miss you while you are gone.”
“I’m sorry. When I say we, I mean Kate and I.”
Oh no, this is going to get nasty. Don’t beat around the bush, be direct. “I’m going with Cole back to Las Vegas.”
There’s a sudden silence in the backyard from the adults. My dad’s face turns a bright red shade. “Katie, I don’t think that’s a good idea. You have responsibilities here. You need to find a job to pay your bills, you have a house payment.”
Shoot, my mom’s right. I don’t even know how I’m going to pay the power bill next month.
My mom purses her lips. “I know it’s difficult to be away from the person you love, but sometimes you have to do hard things. Besides, we can start planning the wedding that will keep your thoughts occupied while Cole’s gone.”
Cole’s hand tightens around mine, and I watch him take a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Kate, but I think we just came to the mountain.”
I whip my head around to look at him, my heart ready to burst right out of my chest, the tears set to run. I swallow the fear in my throat and nod. “Mom, Dad, everyone…” My words catch in my throat.
“Mr. and Mrs. Cook, I know you’re aware that Kate and I tried to elope while she was in Vegas.”
My mother’s pleasant demeanor disappears.
“Cole and I are married.” The words fly out of my mouth. “We’re married. No one stopped us.” Cole wraps his arm around me to help steady me. “When I said May twentieth, I meant this last Monday, not a year from now.”
Cole’s arm tightens around me, and he gives me his amazing smile. “Look, I know this is fast, but Kate and I love each other.”
“No.” Ben stands up from the table. “No one wanted you two to get married, Katie. There was an entire room that will back me up when I say that we stopped the wedding. Cole’s own dad didn’t want him to marry you. Laura was there, she’ll back me up.”
I glance over at Laura, but she doesn’t make eye contact with me. “Elvis, the minister, whoever he was, didn’t finish the ceremony.” She looks at Ben and then finally at me. “This is crazy, Kate. Just let Cole go back to Las Vegas.”
I glare at Laura. How could she! My best friend, the one person who’s supposed to have my back no matter what. Anger and sadness pulse through me. They are fighting each other, ripping my heart in two.
“Come on, Katherine.” My mother holds out her hand for me to take it. “Your place is here with us. Not with Mr. Holt.”
I just stare at my mother’s hand. This day will haunt my dreams. I reach my hand out towards her and feel Cole’s grip on me loosen. I take another step, his hands fall away completely and a tremor rolls through me. I look around at everyone. They stand transfixed, looking at me with sympathy and pity. I turn to Cole, who has put his hands in his pockets, a very controlled look on his face, but I spot the racing vein in his neck that tells a different story. Out of everyone here, Cole is the one who sees the real me, who accepts all my faults and blemishes. My family thinks I’m sad, broken, always in need of constant scrutiny and fixing.
“Cole.”
His eyes meet mine, he does his best to give me that tooth-paste ad smile and for an instant it’s there, before his doubt and worry wipe it away.
“What is it, Cookie?”
“I’d like to go home now to Las Vegas.” He wraps me in his arms, crushing his lips to mine. Immeasurable love sweeps through me, all doubt banished.
I face my parents. “We’re married. We have the license to prove it. I love Cole. I love you…” The backyard erupts into a frenzy of people talking over each other. I hear my dad call me irresponsible and immature. My Aunt Kathy yells that if I don’t stay, I’m as good as digging my mother’s grave. I look past everyone to Laura, who’s still sitting at the table, silent tears streaming down her face. Part of me wants to go to her to tell her it’s okay. But it’s me she has betrayed. Me, she has hurt. Those should be my tears, not hers. I hear a thud behind me. Ben has charged Cole, but Cole beat him to the punch. Unfortunately, Ben doesn’t take the hint and the two square off. It’s a boxing match without the gloves.
I run over to intervene, coming up behind Ben to push him, but his elbow comes back, catching me hard in the chest. I feel all the air leave my body with one breath and I’m knocked off balance.
Large hands grab my shoulders, easing me to the ground. “Mrs. Holt, are you all right?”
“Kate!”