Chapter 42

Chapter Forty-Two

Abby

Aunt Lori: Are you sure he’s coming to the party?

Me: Yes, like I told you a million times before, Fernando is coming. The rest is up to you!

Aunt Lori: I’ll try. Although who knows how many others I’ll have to fight off just to dance with him.

Me: You say that, but he always smiles wider when he sees you, Aunt Lori. Be yourself, don’t hold back, and you’ll win him in no time.

Aunt Lori: Easier said than done. I haven’t gone on a date in decades.

Me (typed but deleted): I wish I would’ve helped you earlier. I’m sorry.

Me (actual reply instead): You are amazing and Fernando will be lucky to dance with you. Just be yourself. heart emoji

Aunt Lori: Thanks, child. But focus on your day. This is the wedding reception you should’ve had all those months ago.

Me: Thanks! Let’s hope nothing goes wrong… fingers crossed emoji

T wo and a half months later, my husband finally led me out for our first official dance onto the temporary dance floor at the edge of my family’s apple orchard.

Oh, I wasn’t wearing a white wedding dress, and we’d been married for almost four months now. However, we’d decided to make it a party to remember instead of trying to pretend we’d just gotten hitched. And it’d been Rafe’s idea to have it near the orchard since he’d missed the chance to propose to me there, as was the tradition in my family.

It also made me feel closer to my parents since they couldn’t be there.

Once Rafe pulled me close, we moved to the music. My family cheered, and I couldn’t help but smile.

Rafe said, “Are they cheering because they like seeing you happy, or because you won’t be moving back home?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Do you want me to stomp on your toes? My boots can do some damage.”

He chuckled and kissed me, mollifying me a little, before whispering, “Hey, it’s their loss and my gain if it’s the latter.” He pulled me a little closer. “You’re my wife, Abigail. Mine. I’m not letting you go, no matter what happens.”

While most of the harassment had stopped now that Travis was in custody for statutory rape—he’d seduced at least two students in the past twenty years, and I still shuddered to think I’d fallen for his false charm too—but things wouldn’t fully calm down until our battle with CGN was over. It was going well, even if it was still a long shot.

To be honest, if they merely forgot about us, I’d be happy.

But today was about celebrating and not worrying about the past. I’d have plenty of time for that later.

So I tightened my grip on my husband and said, “Good, because I’m not letting you go, either. No matter how much you tease me.”

“You tease me right back. Remember the singing flower delivery you ordered for the opening day of the training facility?”

A few weeks ago, I’d had a quartet come dressed in inflatable dragon costumes to sing before the official opening celebration for Rafe and Mark’s business. “That was good, you have to admit.”

He grunted. “Mark and your brothers are never going to let me live it down.”

“Hey, it was an homage to your years with the Manchester Dragons FC. I thought it was cute.”

“Cute isn’t exactly what I’m going for. Reformed? Yes. Responsible? Of course. But not cute.”

I grinned and moved a hand to squeeze his butt. “But you are cute.”

“With you, maybe. But the last thing I need is for adolescent and teenage clients to hear you calling me cute. If you think I tease too much, you have no idea how much boys can josh each other.”

“Josh each other? Are you like fifty years old?”

He poked my side. “Shall we call a truce? The dance is nearly over, and I don’t want to have your brothers glaring at me later if I have to get revenge during the cake tasting.”

“I thought you could handle my brothers?”

Even Zach had come back for the party. He’d been on the road for over a month already, and had been doing well. However, it was nice to have him around again to help lighten the mood. Zane had struggled a little when his twin had left.

Glancing to the side, I saw Zach and Zane whispering together about something. Oh no. That didn’t bode well.

Rafe followed my gaze and said, “I don’t even want to guess.”

The music started to fade, and I stilled and kissed Rafe. “Will you go see what they’re up to? Please? I don’t want any Wolfe sibling shenanigans to turn this party into chaos.”

I gave him my best puppy dog eyes, and he sighed. “Fine. But it means I don’t have to do the chicken dance later.”

“You’re no fun.” I gave him a playful shove. “But I’ll just do it with my friends. Now, go. They’re sneaking off, and I don’t like it.”

As Rafe went after my brothers, Emmy, Katie, and Amber all surrounded me.

Emmy nodded toward the left and whispered. “Look at Aunt Lori.”

I did my best to be discreet. She was talking to Fernando, and like he always did, he smiled and looked at my aunt like she was an oasis in the desert. “I wish she’d stop being so nervous when it’s obvious he’s interested.”

Katie nodded. “Yes, but it’s been a really long time since your uncle died. We’ll just have to keep playing matchmaker until she sees how much that man wants her.”

Amber shook her head. “I can’t believe she’s waited this long to even try dating again. I mean, my dad barely waited a year after my mother died before he remarried.”

Emmy asked, “Did you ever find out why?”

Amber replied, “I was too little to remember, and I’m afraid to snoop into my own past.”

I wrapped an arm around Amber’s shoulders and squeezed. “Well, if you ever need our help, just say so. After all you’ve done to help us—not to mention the amount of baked goods you’ve made over the years—we’re more than ready to help you.”

She smiled. “Thanks.”

Before I could ask if she was worried about something now, Rafe returned. Alone.

Amber shooed me, and I rushed over to him. “Well? What happened? Where are Zach and Zane?”

He smiled and kissed me. “It’s nothing bad, I promise.”

Before I could press further, fireworks shot into the air. One after another, an array of colors and patterns filling the sky.

Rafe turned me so he could pull my back against his front and wrap his arms around me. Placing my hands over his arm, I leaned back and watched the display in the arms of my husband. Surrounded by my family and friends, it was hard to believe even a year ago that I’d thought I would never have this.

But I’d mended relations with my family, stopped holding back with my friends, and finally fell in love with a man who’d never hurt me intentionally.

The future might not be certain, but that was okay. With so much love in my life, I could face whatever came my way.