Page 90 of Four Weddings to Fall in Love
Without Kim here, staying in bed has lost most of its appeal, so I get dressed—shorts and a T-shirt, not my suit—and clean up the mess we made in our rush to tear off each other’s clothes.Once everything has been set to rights, I read a little before putting on the kettle for tea.
She returns just before the water boils, carrying a bag with cold noodles and other dishes from one of the nearby Korean restaurants.She also has a box from a bakery.
Once she’s set the food down, I kiss her.It hasn’t been long since I last saw her, but I want to touch her as much as possible.I can’t get enough of this woman.
She giggles as she opens up the box.“It’s a rhubarb vanilla custard tart.Since you like strawberry rhubarb pie, I thought—”
“I love you, did I tell you that?”
She keeps laughing as I kiss her neck.
Everything seems perfect and effortless right now.It won’t always be that way, but I know it will always be worth it, as long as I’m with her.I trust we’ll be able to talk and figure everything out.I trust we’ll take care of each other.
She takes the tart out of the box.“How about we eat dessert first?”
What an appalling, chaotic suggestion.I’m sure she’s saying that just to piss me off, but I give her what she wants.
A stern glare.
Epilogue
Kim
TheSaturdayoftheThanksgiving weekend is a beautiful, sunny October day.North of Toronto, the maple trees are orange and red, and it’s just warm enough to have lunch on the patio at the hotel where I first met Max.He says the first words he heard out of my mouth were “fucking hell,” which sounds about right.
Unlike that day in June, we’re not dressed up for a wedding; I’m wearing jeans and a light sweater, and Max is similarly casual.We peruse the menu as we wait for our friends.
It’s been several weeks since the fourth wedding of the year, the wedding that didn’t actually happen.Despite my lack of recent experience with relationships, everything is going well.I’ve had dinner with his family a couple of times, and we’re seeing them again tomorrow for our Thanksgiving meal.I’m looking forward to it.I’m also looking forward to visiting my brother out in B.C.next week.
My parents continue to be pleased my relationship with Max, and Mom fawns all over him.But if she’s ever a jerk to my boyfriend, I will shut that down as fast as I can.
I close my eyes and enjoy the warmth of the sun on my hair, the light breeze on my skin.There won’t be much more nice weather this year.
Max slides his hand into mine.“You know what you want yet?”
“Nope,” I say.“You?”
“Yes.I looked at the menu yesterday.”
Of course he did.I open my eyes and smile at him, just as Malcolm and Tessa sit down next to us.We have a prime spot beside the heater.It isn’t necessary now, but it might be if the sun decides to hide behind the clouds.
“So, you two really are together,” Malcolm says.
“You’ve known for a while,” Max points out.
“I needed to see it to believe it.I couldn’t quite imagine it at first, but I get it now.”Malcolm slaps Max on the back.
“Well,Icould imagine it.”Tessa smiles at me.“I’m so happy for you.”
I’m very happy it worked out, too.Once upon a time, I didn’t believe a relationship could be like this for me, but now, I know better.
Under the table, I squeeze my boyfriend’s hand.
“How’s your brother doing?”Malcom asks Max.“Leo, I mean.After, you know…”
“I’m not sure,” Max says.“We’ll see tomorrow.”
After we have lunch with our friends, we walk around the little lake, then go inside—our room should be ready by now.
