Standing By: A Knight's Tale #2 (33 page)

“You, you restored it?”

He nods.

“You made it happen, it evolved.” I squeeze him tighter.

“Like the Phoenix.” He pulls a handkerchief out of his pocket to wipe my tears. “I promised that your dream wouldn’t die in the ashes, didn’t I?”

“You’re so perfect, Mitch, I don’t know what I’d do without you and I never want to find out.”

“Well,” he scoops me from the floor and twirls me around. “We’ll make sure you have plenty of Mitch to go around. I’m glad this DTR moment had a good outcome. I’d hate to lose a favor to Jake and another to Liam.”

“Damn it, Mitch, you Knights need to stop competing and betting.”

“Impossible, because there’s this wager about us getting the wedding preparations finished within two weeks—before he and Em did. Then there’s the baby—”

“A baby,” I sigh thinking about a little bundle to call him or her ours, then I react to what he just said. “I’m not having a baby right now, Mitchel.”

“Great, you’re just like Emma, a spoil sport.” He nuzzles my neck, making me giggle. “Babies, wedding, all that will be done whenever you decide, Hayes. As long as we both agree that we belong to each other.”

*

“Maui,” I tell
Dad over the phone. We’re inside the elevator, heading to share the news of our engagement with the Knights. I felt it was fair to tell Daddy about it a few minutes before.

“I already knew he’d pop the question last night, cupcake. In fact, I knew you’d say yes. I had to calm the poor boy he was a wreck.”

“Do you think we can pull it off?” We decided yesterday to marry five weeks from today.

“I—yes, but there are so many other beaches, Cupcake,” he says. “We’ll discuss the list of what I have gathered, and you can confirm where you want, if it’s Maui, then it’ll be there. Just with one condition.”

“Anything,” I squeal.

“This isn’t a loan; it’s me paying for the wedding of my little girl.”

“Deal, it’s hard to get used to—” I try to apologize about the request for a loan to pay for my wedding. “But you’re right, you’re my dad and if you want to spoil me, I will let you. I love you, Daddy. I’ve got to go.”

“Love you too, talk soon.”

I agree and place my phone back inside my purse after we hang up. The doors of the elevator open. The perks of owning a three-level home on top of a building is that the elevator opens into the foyer, and not the hallway. The house is silent. I admire the photographs on the walls, as we make our way to the living room. Old and new pictures of the Knights. Rachel and Ed,
pre-demons
—as she likes to call her lovely children. Then the pictures of the said
demons
. Blond boys with wide grins and busy eyes. I bet the three were already thinking who or what to terrorize after they posed for that picture. There are pictures of them as grownups with grandparents, uncles, cousins and even a few of me with them during Em’s wedding, the opening of the café, Christmas and so on. Rachel loves to preserve the memories of every event. Mitch says she has a similar wall in their London home.

As we round the corner passing the wall, we find the living room filled with not only Knights, but also the Welsh family. I spot Daddy in deep conversation with Jake and Parker—I guess they aren’t in Seattle.

“This was supposed to be the moment when you say surprise and raise your glasses,” Mitch says out loud. Liam lifts his glass and does it. “A little too late, don’t you think.”

“What is this?” I ask. Because it isn’t my birthday and actually, I can’t believe my father is in town and didn’t say anything about it.

“A poorly organized engagement party.” Parks steps out of his group and hugs me tight. “I think Mitch can only put together one event at a time. I’m just thankful there wasn’t an electric shortage or a fire with all those flowers and lights and whatever else he made us set up yesterday. Congratulations, Hay-Bear, this time it’s for real… and you’ll be sober.”

I close my eyes for a second, wondering if they’ll stop with the jokes but I know better. Brothers take any chance they can to tease you, take the Knights for example. My brothers are learning fast from those three.

“I can’t believe she said
yes
at the first attempt,” Jake says. “Damn it. Congratulations, bro.”

“Surely Mitch didn’t shove the ring at her and say,” Emma changes her tone of voice, to imitate Jake’s, “‘
Damn it woman, you better say yes so we can do it by Christmas.
’ Do it. He didn’t ask me to marry him only that we can do it.”

“He didn’t?” I gasp, stepping back and glaring at Jacob.

“Oh, he did, I swear that only I can put up with his lack of romanticism.” Emma brushes her auburn hair out of her face; her hazel eyes wide open and her voice somewhat playful. “The New Year’s Day proposal was the worst, but I can’t tell you much about it.” Then she whispers. “In-laws here.”

“My brother is a sap, babe.” Jake’s growl is followed by a chuckle. “You got the normal one of the set.”

“No, your brother sucked out the romantic gene when you two were toasting inside the oven,” Emma says. “You never give me flowers but Mitch filled her apartment with them over Christmas.”

“Because she asked,” Jake says.

I watch them bickering about the flowers, there’s always a lot of kissing between them, but they barely exchange sweet words.

“No, she didn’t ask,” Mitch corrects with a cocky grin, then kisses my cheek and I think he’s having fun being the perfect boyfriend and soon-to-be husband. “Don’t worry, bro, I’ll give you a lesson or two on how to not be an ass with your girl.”

“Hey, I’ll have you know that I’m not an ass.” Jake walks forward and attempts to grapple him into a headlock.

“You two aren’t planning on ruining my party, are you?” I point at them and then put myself between them and start poking each one vigorously. “Because if you attempt to even flick one another with your fingers, I’m throwing you out the window.”

“She’s going to stab me, Mitch,” Jake rubs his chest. “I should file for a restraining order, then she won’t be allowed to poke me to death.”

“You two are a couple of babies,” I tell him. “Now if you want me to stop poking you, give me a hug and stop being such a brat.”

One by one, the family members congratulate us.

“About the wedding,” Rachel brings that up as she hugs me. “If you want, we have a house down in the Florida Keys.” Of course, they have one there and no doubt another in Bali. I smile at her, wondering if she’s trying to take charge of our wedding as she did with Emma’s.

“We’re not sure yet,” I tell her. “I’ll put it on the list of possibilities.” Before I commit to anything, I want to talk this through with Mitch. Then Dad and possibly Mom, who might say
I’ll help
or
If it’s not even worth of a princess, I won’t
. Either way I respect her decision, and it doesn’t hurt me any longer, it’s her loss not mine. “Almost all the guests are in this room and I hope all of you can reserve that weekend. We’ll give you the details soon. I need to contact Kenz, and see what works best for her.”

“What do you want with Kendall?” Parker asks.

“Maid of honor,” I reply.

“I can be your maid of honor,” Emma interrupts. “You were mine.”

Emma is great, we are building a friendship but it’s hard to explain that unlike her, I do have other friends with a stronger bond. Friends that will be going to the wedding.

“Right, you have a sister and friends.” Emma takes a deep breath, and I catch a glimpse of sadness in her hazel eyes.

“Hey, you’re about to become my sister too,” I tell her. “And of course you and Jake are part of the bridal party.”

“Thank you,” she forces a smile. Jake reaches her hand and pulls her to his chest. “Sorry, I went to visit my nephew earlier and he reminded me so much of Chloe, my sister. If you had been able to meet her, you’d have loved her, Hayley. She was great.”

Mitch, Jake and Liam narrow their eyes and stare at me, I bet in hopes that I don’t open my mouth. I could answer something like, “
No, I wouldn’t have loved her.
” Actually there was a time I hated her for hurting Mitch and for making it impossible to reach inside Mitch’s heart when I was falling hard for him—or at least that’s what I thought. Now, however, I feel sorry for that poor woman whose life ended too soon and sad for Emma.

“So, the cake I made yesterday morning for an important client,” I change the conversation because if we continue down this road, I might say things that Mitch doesn’t want me to disclose. Things that might create drama. I don’t want to tarnish Emma’s memories of her sister, even if she was a crack whore. “It was actually for our engagement party, nice cover, Mitch.”

In no time, everyone remembers this is a party about celebrating, and there’s plenty of food that Parks and Rachel prepared for the event.

“Congratulations, Hay-Bear,” Daddy takes the plate of food I prepared for him. He’s wearing a suit and a big smile. “I’m starting to like Mitch.” He winks at me. “No, I love him like a son, sweetheart, he’s a good man and you’re an incredible woman—but still my little girl.”

“I love you, Daddy.”

Hayl

“T
hat’s a beautiful
dress,” Emma says while she snaps a picture of me.

I feel like a star being photographed by two different professionals, plus my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. “Mitch mentioned it was your grandmother’s dress.”

“Yes,” I pick up the flouncy skirt and let it go. “We made a few modifications. Like covering the satin skirt with a layer of organza, cut a few inches off the skirt to avoid mopping the floor with it. And taking off the long sleeves—it’s too warm for them.

“Are you ready?” Rachel, my soon to be mother in-law asks. She’s wearing a lilac dress, the other wedding color. My bridesmaids are wearing minty color dresses.

My only concern is why Kendall isn’t here. Mitch said she’d be, but we’re only a few minutes away from the wedding and my best friend is MIA.

“Look at you, wearing white and dressing people like an after dinner candy,” I hear the voice before I see the almost six feet green-clad person approaching me. The dress she wears has a sweetheart twist knot bodice with a high-low hemline “No, really, purple is more my color, bitch.”

“That vocabulary of yours is always impressive,” My neck muscles slide away from my ears with relief. “Where’s Ike?”

“The groomsmen have him,” she says. “You think I’d drop the B word if he was around?”

“I thought you weren’t going to make it,” I fan my eyes to make sure I don’t cry. “I missed you so much.”

“Miss this?” she shakes her head.

We hug each other. “There are plenty of stories I need to tell you but you’re going to have to wait. God, I can’t believe that you abandoned me for so long. Are you okay?”

“I’m resilient,” her smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “I missed you too, Hay.”

Before I can promise her that we’ll fix everything and that she needs to accept my help, Dad arrives, dressed with a white linen shirt and a pair of white slacks.

“Showtime,” Dad approaches me and everyone starts taking positions. Rachel kisses my cheek and heads to the front, where she’ll walk down the aisle with Mitch. Kendall is the first one in line; she’s pairing up with Liam: followed by Emma and Jake, Allison and Cade, Barb and Parker and the last two are Laila and Ben. “This is the only time I’ve given orders in the past year.” He whispers as the other ladies move around.

I look at my bouquet, which contain the same flowers Mitch used to propose. I tied two white ribbons around it, in memory of Mel and the other for Grandma Welsh, knowing they’re in spirit with me. Daddy told me the other day that Mel and I were the perfect example that blood isn’t always what makes a mother and a daughter.

As Laila and Ben begin to walk down the aisle towards the purple, orange and yellow sky, Dad speaks. “I only want to tell you two things: one, always be happy and two, I’m here for you, always. No matter the circumstances, I’ll support you. Oh yes, and three, keep that boy out of trouble.”

As the music begins, signaling our turn to walk toward the gazebo, the sun begins to set, turning the clouds a pale-rose tone. Mitch’s face brightens, crinkling eyes and charming smile looking out at me as if anticipating the best thing of his life. Right when Dad and I walk past the third row of chairs, Mitch moves from his spot taking a few strides and meets us right in the middle of the aisle; halfway to where Daddy’s is supposed to walk me to.

“Patience,” I say.

“And give you the chance to drop my ass? I don’t think so.” He kisses my nose. “Sir.”

“When in doubt, read that letter, Mitchel,” Dad says. “As many times as you need. Learn from others’ experiences, son. Take care of my little girl, she’s special.”

“We’ll take care of each other, sir.”

I walk with Mitch the rest of the way and hand my bouquet to Kendall. For a small wedding, this is a big bridal party. Four groomsmen and the best man—Liam along with Kendall and four bridesmaids. Mom threatened me that if I didn’t wait until the end of next year when she could book St. Patrick’s Cathedral—we’re not Catholic—and the Ritz-Carlton to hold the reception venue, she wouldn’t go. Dad tried to bribe her, Mitch too, and absolutely nothing moved her. If she knew I’m wearing a dress that’s almost a hundred years old without shoes, she’d die. Not me. After so many years of drama, an entire year of learning so much about myself and the man that holds my hand, I’m ready to take that step.