Page 66 of The Love Ambush
“They won’t even notice. Get up like you’re going to the bathroom and meet me outside.”
I don’t even hesitate. Daphne’s family is nice, but every time there was a lull in the conversation, someone else asked if I was sure about not marrying Levi. They’re a lot, and I’ve reached the end of my social battery.
Outside, I find a bench on the sidewalk and sit in the sunniest spot, tilting my head back to enjoy its warmth on my face. It’s in the mid-fifties today, and it is lovely. The birds are chirping, and people are out, laughing and enjoying the weather.
I do my best to live in the moment and enjoy the peace of having nowhere to be and nothing to worry about.
The kids are at a movie together right down the street, and I’m free to just be me for a little while. It’s been so long, I’m not sure I even remember who I am without a million things to worry about.
“My daughter is a grade-A stick in the mud,” a scratchy, elderly voice says.
I look over as Grandma Hester sits on the bench next to me.
“There’s a lot of wedding planning to do today,” I say. “I can understand not wanting to get high. Whatever you put in the brownies was incredibly intense.”
She smiles, her blue eyes sparkling in the sunlight. “We got the good stuff for the family. Not that my daughter appreciated it.”
“Family is tough,” I say. And boy, do I feel that down to my bones. But it’s worth it. No matter how much drama it would involve, it makes me sad to think my parents will never see me get married.
She pats my knee. “Oh, I’m just complaining. I’m a very lucky old woman, and I know it. My kids and grandkids are good, kind, hardworking people, and I couldn’t possibly love them more.” She sighs. “But a wedding is supposed to be a fun celebration,and they’re all worrying too much about every little thing. So what if there’s a brawl at the wedding? At least we can be sure no one will ever forget it.”
I laugh. “You must have attended a lot of weddings.”
She purses her lips. “Is that a polite way of saying I’m old?”
She doesn’t fool me for a moment. She’s no actor, and her angry face is not convincing. “No, that’s my polite way of saying weddings are boring.”
The laugh that bursts from her is almost as delightful as the sun shining down on us. It’s bubbly and free and joyful. I want to be this woman when I grow up.
She slaps her thigh. “Oh, honey, you are a delight.”
“You’re very kind.”
“And that boyfriend of yours is a vision. Why aren’t you jumping at the chance to marry him?”
“We aren’t even officially dating yet. We just ho—, um, we just admitted we like each other yesterday.”
She nods with a knowing smile. “Uh-huh. Morris and I met at Woodstock. He was a looker back then.” She fans herself. “We had the best chemistry and the sex…” She gazes off into the distance like she’s remembering. “We got married a week after we met. I found out I was pregnant with Rosie about six weeks later. My parents and his parents disapproved and said we’d never last, but I knew we would.” She pats my shoulder. “When you know, you know.” The pat turns into a surprisingly fierce grip. “So do you know? Because a double wedding would certainly make this week memorable.”
I wish I had her level of certainty about life and love, but I’m not even sure I should have left the house without gloves this morning. “I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
She sighs. “Feel free to change your mind at any time, even if it’s during the ceremony. Daphne won’t mind.”
“I wouldn’t get your hopes up.”
She shrugs and gets to her feet. “It was worth a try.”
She wanders off, and I lean my head back and close my eyes, trying to come up with one thing I can be certain about in my life. Maybe that’s what I need to be happy. If I could just make a decision and never doubt myself, everything would be so much easier.
“I hate to interrupt your peaceful moment,” Levi says. “But we need to go before they come out here and find us.”
I tilt my chin to see Levi smiling down at me with a fondness that makes me warmer than the sun. Maybe because he’s put me in shadow and the chill is hitting me.
He offers me a hand, and I take it, letting him pull me up.
He doesn’t let go, but pulls me tight against him, pressing a kiss to my lips.
When he tries to back away, I don’t let him. As much as I hate to admit it, I’ve missed him. It’s like everything I’ve been fighting against feeling for him is hitting me all at once, and now there’s nothing to hold me back. It’s thrilling and terrifying at the same time.
