Something Blue, page 22
“Why is he here?”
Aurora plopped down on her bed. “Not sure how I’d know the answer to that question, but I’m going to hazard a guess that he’s here to win you back? Maybe? He looks pretty repentant. I mean, as much as a six-foot-tall brick-house cowboy can.”
Beth nudged her sister with her foot. “I can’t see him like this. I probably look awful.”
“Oh, you totally do.”
Beth pulled the covers back up with a groan.
“But I don’t think he cares.” Aurora tugged the covers down until she and her sister made eye contact. “Why don’t you go wash your face and brush your teeth, and then go talk to him? I’ll stall him.”
She lurched forward and hugged her sister. “Thank you.”
“Ugh, get off me. You’ve got five minutes.” Aurora left and Beth rushed to the bathroom to clean up.
Even if Sawyer wasn’t here to make up, she didn’t want him seeing her like this. Exactly five minutes later, she was clean-faced and fresh-breathed, walking out onto the back porch in shorts and a T-shirt she’d thrown on.
“Hey,” she managed, clearing her throat when she saw him.
He looked the same as he always did. Tall and unyielding, but his smile made her melt. “Hey,” he said, his voice quieter than normal.
“Sorry you had to wait.”
“No, it’s fine. I don’t mind.” He glanced around. “Can we sit?” He motioned to the rocking chairs.
“Sure.” She took her usual chair, and he sat beside her, pulling his a little closer and angling it to face her a little more.
“I went by to see Shelby this morning,” he said.
Her heart galloped in her chest. “You did?”
“To tell her how sorry I am, for what I did, and the things I believed.”
Somehow, her heart managed to pick up speed. “And did…did she accept your apology.”
“Well, first she cried. A lot.”
Beth smiled despite herself. “Sounds about right.”
“She did that for a little while. Then she said all she’d wanted was my acceptance.”
She nodded. “That sounds right too.”
Sawyer reached for her and took her hand. “Beth, I’ve been awful about this whole wedding. I was suspicious and shut off from ever even giving Shelby a chance, and I should’ve told you what I was worried about, what I was thinking. I didn’t realize it until the other night, but I’d made my mind up as soon as I heard Garrett was engaged. I was so caught up in seeing him going through what I went through that I couldn’t see anything else. I hurt you in the process, and I am so sorry. I should’ve listened to you and trusted your judgment.”
Beth bit her lip to keep it from trembling.
“I didn’t expect to get close to you. But I did. Because you’re smart and caring and beautiful and strong. And protective like me. I screwed it up. I know what I did was awful, but I promise I will only ever be completely open with you from now on and, I hope, maybe in time, you can forgive me?”
With a great deal of effort, she kept the tears at bay, and nodded. She had some things she wanted to say, but she was afraid she’d cry if she started talking.
“Will you say something?” he asked.
Well. She could try.
“I…I was just hurt by what you did.”
“I know.”
“No, I don’t think you do. See…you hurt my friend because you thought the worst of her. But you hurt me because…because I was falling for you.”
Sawyer’s breath caught.
“And I don’t want to be with a man who doesn’t trust me or believe me.”
He was immediately beside her. “You won’t be. I promise. If you’ll give me another chance, I’ll prove to you how much I believe you, and believe in you. I’ll make up for the awful things I did.”
Beth reached for him, touching his hair, cupping his cheek. “Not all the things you did were awful, and I’m not perfect myself. We all deserve a second chance.”
Sawyer leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers.
He kissed her until the worry and doubt began to melt away. Sawyer was human. Sometimes he seemed so much larger than life that she forgot he was as fallible as anyone else.
Beth leaned back enough to meet his gaze. “So, did Shelby forgive you?”
“She did. And I may have made amends with a little gesture.”
“What kind of gesture?”
A smile crept across his lips. “You know Amber? We were there for her birth? She now belongs to Shelby.”
Her jaw dropped. “You didn’t. Sawyer, that is a very nice gift.” And very thoughtful, considering the circumstances. “I bet she bawled.”
“There was a little bawling, yeah.” He chuckled. “And she hugged me, and accepted me and my apology so wholeheartedly I felt like an even bigger heel.”
Beth smiled. “That sounds exactly like Shelby. I’m glad you’re getting to know the real her, and that she forgave you.”
He caught her chin, his brown eyes bottomless. “But do you forgive me? It’s all pointless without you.”
Sawyer would always be there for her, supportive and strong. He’d ensure she remembered to live her life instead of only managing other people’s.
With him, she wanted to do so much more than work. She wanted to experience each day, even without planning. From the ordinary to the amazing, she chose to spend it with Sawyer.
“I forgive you,” she said, and pulled him down for another kiss.
He kissed her like she was the air he breathed. Like he would never get enough.
“I thought I’d lost you,” he said, his voice gravelly with need. “I never would’ve forgiven myself for ruining this.”
She pressed her lips to his, silencing his doubt. “You don’t have to worry about that now.”
He slid his hand down to the small of her back, arching her into him. “I’m going to make it up to you, though. You’ll see.”
Her smile felt wicked. “Do you want to start now?” She raised an eyebrow.
Sawyer had her on her feet, leading her to her room, before she could blink.
As he eased her onto her bed, he smiled. “I was wrong earlier. I’m not just falling for you, Beth Shipley. I love you.”
Nothing could stop the smile that took over her face, her soul. “I love you too.”
Chapter 23
Beth smoothed down her cream-colored maid of honor dress and hurried over to Garrett.
“Are you sure Dodger is going to walk down the aisle obediently and not take off after some squirrel mid-march?”
Garrett patted the pocket of his tux. “Dog treats. My magic wand. He’ll be glued to my side.”
Beth took in the dog’s bright eyes and bow tie. “You better behave,” she told him. “Okay, then y’all can get in position as soon as—” Her breath caught.
Sawyer.
He joined them, and he was the best-looking thing she’d ever seen in her life.
Didn’t he know this was the bride’s day?
“Hey.” He kissed her on the cheek.
“Hey yourself.”
“You look beautiful, baby,” he said.
Her face felt like she’d landed on the sun. “Not so bad yourself.”
Garrett cleared his throat. “Can I get married now?”
“Right.” Beth shook the Sawyer-induced fog from her head. “Sorry. Y’all take your places. Go.”
The two of them, along with Dodger keeping lockstep like a good boy, took their places at the altar. Beth hurried around to the side of the house, where Shelby waited, looking like a woodland fairy princess in her ivory A-line gown and small white flowers attached at the crown of her veil. Her bouquet was a bundle of white roses, white peonies, and the greenery of eucalyptus and dusty miller.
“You look like a princess.”
Shelby pinched her quivering lips together. “I feel like a princess. Like the luckiest girl in the world.”
Beth opened her eyes wider and fanned her face. “Stop that or you’ll ruin your makeup and I’ll ruin mine.”
“I’ll try.”
“How about we get you married?”
Shelby nodded, sniffing back her emotions.
Beth left her as Shelby looped her arm into her father’s and headed toward the aisle. The string quartet played softly and she stood a little taller, doing her best to glide down the aisle without trembling.
The day was finally here.
She’d planned this wedding in the shortest time frame yet, but so much had happened it seemed ages had passed.
When she said yes to this wedding, she didn’t even know Sawyer Silva. Now look at them. Look at him.
He beamed as she came to a stop on the other side of the altar, a knot forming in her throat.
She was not going to think about the two of them and how much she loved him and weddings and— Stop it.
The quartet transitioned seamlessly into Pachelbel’s Canon in D.
Shelby rounded the corner and floated down the aisle like a dream. Beth glanced at Garrett, to find his eyes misted over. Next to him, Dodger looked up at him expectantly, then to Shelby.
His tail beat against Garrett’s pants leg like he was equally as smitten with the newest member of their family.
The sting of joyful tears threatened, and Beth willed them back down. Not now, not yet. She could get through this and bawl after all the pictures were done.
Garrett and Shelby shared their vows, but Beth barely heard them. Sawyer kept smiling at her, and it was all she could do to keep her feet on the ground.
“You may kiss your bride,” she heard the minister say, and everyone began clapping.
Her gaze drifted to her sisters, sitting in the front row, as beautiful as ever. Next to them sat Joe and Lina, holding hands, glowing. Joe swiped a tear away with his free hand, the big softie.
They both looked ten years younger than the day she’d met them.
The new Mr. and Mrs. Silva led the recessional up the aisle and Sawyer held out his arm for Beth.
“You ready?” he asked.
For whatever life had in store, she thought. Beth took his arm and held him tight.
A few hours later, she sipped her champagne, finally able to breathe for a moment and simply enjoy the evening.
The outdoor wedding and reception venue was perfect for the relaxed yet classy vibe Shelby was after, and there were enough high-end accoutrements to keep Evelyn and the Fredericksburg society snobs happy.
Her friend glowed with joy as she danced with her husband. They’d all been through a lot of pain and growth with the planning of this wedding, and each of them deserved this moment to bask in the beauty and success, but none more so than Shelby.
“You’re over here alone, staring and smiling, so I’m going to take that as a good sign.” Cece joined her, walking slowly with the boot, but in good spirits. She lifted up her margarita in an air toast. “You did it. You pulled off the wedding of the season and managed to just about completely book out the inn for weddings through the spring and summer.”
Beth clinked her glass against her sister’s. “We did it.”
Cece quirked her lips. “Yeah, I suppose. But mainly it was you.”
Beth fought the blush rising in her cheeks. “Have you seen Sawyer lately?”
“Earlier I did. I think he was rehearsing his best-man’s toast on the back steps and asking me where I got this prickly-pear margarita. I think he’s nervous about talking in front of all these people.”
“I’m sure he is. He hates being the center of attention. How’s the margarita?”
“Best I’ve ever had. Seriously. Try this.” Cece passed her glass and let Beth have a sip.
Sweet with a wisp of tanginess and a bite of tequila. “That is tasty.”
“Aurora let me help her work up the final recipe. We came up with a zesty version, too, that has a punch of heat, but figured the nonheat version would appeal to a larger crowd.”
“You guys did a great job. Where is Aurora?”
“She hasn’t left a ten-foot radius of the wedding cake. She’s keeping a hawk eye on it, though I’m not sure why. I think she’s just nervous about what people will think, or that it might—I don’t know—spontaneously implode.”
They both laughed at the visual.
“It’s not going to implode, and it will taste divine. It’s by far the most beautiful cake I’ve ever seen.”
Beth searched the crowd until she found Aurora only a few feet away from the cake, watching it like a mother watches her newborn.
“Hey, beautiful!” Sawyer approached, tucking his toast note cards into his jacket.
“Whatcha got there?” She slipped a finger into his lapel.
“What? Nothing.”
Beth tilted her head, more than a little surprised. “Are you really that nervous?”
“Huh?”
“About the toast.”
“Oh. Yeah. But it’s my job. Just have to get it over with. You want a drink or anything?”
Okay, he was officially acting weird. “I have a drink.” She held up her champagne glass as proof. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, no. I’m great. Let’s dance.” He took her hand and pulled her to the dance floor without waiting for an answer.
Beth found room on one of the high-top tables to set her drink, and let herself be hurried to the parquet floor they’d put down this morning. Above it, a white tent, strung with lanterns and tiny lights, lit the dance floor and the band.
Shelby’s parents were dancing, and Evelyn looked happy—finally. Joe and Lina laughed as he twirled her, and Beth caught how happy that made Sawyer.
“I love them together,” she told him.
“Right?” His smile grew bigger. “Never would’ve predicted it, but they’re so great together.”
Beth took his hand and let him lead.
Sawyer was a surprisingly good dancer. Or maybe not so surprisingly anymore.
She remembered being shocked at his more cultured side early on. Her cowboy loved more than just horses and his ranch. He knew about art and wine, and dancing, apparently.
The band began to play a slower song and Sawyer pulled her close. “Now what are you grinning about?”
“You.”
“What did I do?”
“Nothing. Just being you.”
His smile stole her breath. “You should be smiling about yourself. I’ve heard people oohing and aahing about the wedding and this reception while I was walking around. The lanterns look great, all the white flowers and greenery. It’s like a garden. And oh, man, that cake looks delicious.”
“That was the goal. A sort of enchanted garden. With peaches and peach trees too.”
“You and Orchard Inn are going to be the toast of the town.”
She didn’t bother to stop her huge grin.
“You’re going to be a very busy lady from now on. My girl, in high demand.”
Beth giggled, burying her face into his neck. “Oh, stop it. Not really. Keep going.”
“Think we’ll manage to find time for each other?” he asked.
She straightened, only to find him grinning. “You know we will.”
“Yeah, I know we will.” He spun her with the music. “Just keeping you on your toes.”
And boy was he good at that.
They danced to almost every slow song and fast song alike. They took breaks for his toast, and hers, and to debate on whose brought more tears from the crowd. They ate cake.
Oh, heavens, the cake.
Beth had two slices, figuring she needed it with all the dancing. Cece, ever the best hype-woman in the world, couldn’t stop raving about it.
Aurora’s cake was nothing short of phenomenal. Moist and flavorful. Beth was pretty sure she saw Shelby tear up again when Garrett fed her a piece for the photographer.
And if supply and demand were any indication of success, the barely one-eighth of the bottom layer remaining on the table meant everyone would soon be wanting an Aurora specialty.
After cake, and more dancing, it was finally time for Garrett and Shelby to leave the venue and head to their honeymoon suite down the road. Tomorrow they’d leave for Hawaii.
“Come on, you’re going to want a good spot to see this.” Sawyer took Beth’s hand and led her to the front steps of the inn.
In lieu of sparklers or confetti, the couple had opted for lighted tree branches, fitting the garden theme, and the guests lined the driveway, creating a kind of arch over the couple’s path.
As everyone gathered, Shelby joined them, her dress bustled to reveal the ivory-colored cowboy boots on her feet.
The slow clomping of hooves got louder as Garrett came around the corner with two horses, one a black stallion, and the other a very light gray.
Beth’s hands flew to her mouth, a knot in her throat, and stomach, as Garrett helped his new wife onto the docile quarter horse.
Shelby took the reins like a pro, having worked with her new instructor several days a week for the past few weeks.
Her huge smile told the tale, full of joy and pride.
“She did it.” Beth clutched Sawyer’s arm.
“Yeah, we practiced that about fifty times with her in an old prom dress. I thought Uncle Joe was going to bust a gut laughing.”
Garrett mounted his horse and Shelby showed complete control as she maneuvered her horse to ride along beside him.
“She’s doing great.” Sawyer looked almost as proud as Shelby.
“She had a great instructor.”
“Eh, she’s just a good student.” Sawyer beamed as his star pupil rode by.
Shelby and Garrett waved to the crowd as they rode down the center of their lit path, on their way to begin a life together.
The lump in her throat felt ready to choke her, and Beth’s heart was so full she thought it might burst.
“I may need that drink now,” she whispered to Sawyer.
“You big softie.” He kissed her on the temple.
His eyes looked a little misty too.
“C’mon. Let’s try a margarita, and I want to show you something.”
There was no wait at the bar, as most of the guests had begun to depart when the bride and groom left. Only close family remained, picking over the cake and dancing to the last songs.
