Page 67 of To Belong Together
John retook his seat, and the phones lowered back to tabletops. Erin gave him a questioning look.
“Wouldn’t have helped.”
She frowned.
“It’s been a long time since I heard ofTales from Fairhill Castle.” Angie’s voice drew his attention the other way. She’d leaned forward to see past Mark, who sat between her and John. “What gave you that idea?”
John would much rather pass the remainder of the night in silence, but she’d asked a direct question, so he mustered an answer. “She used to carry it everywhere.”
Angie seemed poised to launch another question, but Erin stole the floor.
“There was a series of books I loved as a kid, but something tells me it wasn’t nearly as poetic.” The mirth in Erin’s voice attracted attention like a glittering light display, and in moments, she’d launched the conversation toward the books the others had read, diverting the attention from John and his speech.
As Angie told about one of her own childhood favorites, John looked to Erin.
She met him with a knowing glance. She’d rescued him on purpose, and he mouthed the wordsthank you.
The corner of her mouth rose to acknowledge him, but then she tipped her head toward the wedding party.
Wait staff was delivering meals, but Kate ducked away from the table, headed toward the ladies’ room.
Tanner, in conversation with his brother, didn’t seem to notice.
Stacy deposited her napkin by her plate, glared at John, and followed Kate.
After dinner,most of the wedding party gravitated toward the bar. As soon as the seats opposite Erin and John opened up, the couple Erin had pegged as his parents moved in.
John’s mom waved over one of the older ladies. The white-haired woman picked up her purse and moved without hesitation, though her hand had a slight tremor as she pulled out a chair next to John’s dad.
“John.” His mom tipped her head toward Erin.
“This is Erin.” He rested his fingers on her shoulder again, as he had most of the time they’d been seated. Because of her short hair, his touch was plain for all to see. He must not care what conclusions his family drew. The spot where his thumb rested against the base of her neck would be warm for a week.
He angled to meet her eyes. “Erin, these are my parents, Patricia and Hank, and my grandmother, Shirley.”
Patricia leaned forward with a smile. “The toast came together.”
“You think?” His fingers twitched on Erin’s shoulder, one more hint in a long line to suggest he hadn’t followed his plan. But why? What had gone wrong?
He’d intended that speech to right things with Kate, but then he’d hardly said two sentences, and he’d been extra quiet ever since. Erin was covering for him as best she could, but she wanted the story. Would he share it with her?
Patricia nodded. “Very touching to quote the book.”
John shifted in his seat, gently ran his thumb an inch up and down over the base of Erin’s neck, and offered his mom a tight smile. “Well, I tried.”
“She’ll come around.” His grandmother patted the hand he rested on the table.
So the whole family knew about John and Kate’s rift.
Hooting by the bar prompted even John’s grandmother to turn and see what caused the ruckus.
Tanner dipped Kate with one arm, the other hand high on her exposed thigh as they kissed. He righted her again, and she cheered as her grandmother turned back to the table, lips pursed.
The women asked Erin the standard get-to-know-you questions. She answered, turning questions back on them when she could. John’s dad proved he was listening with one- or two-word interjections, and John proved it by the occasional movement on her shoulder or neck.
When he started circling his thumb at the spot where her neck met her shoulder, she completely lost track of what she was saying.
She faked a cough and repeated a few words to find her place again.
