Page 157 of Lavender Lake
“And after that, we should fight crime,” I quipped.
“In black jumpsuits. We’d look great in black jumpsuits.”
I looked at Hadley who’d devoured half of her salad already. “Hey, did you know Amber is here with Harlan?”
She kept her eyes trained on her food. “Yes. I meant to tell you . . . I invited her.”
“Youinvited her?” I hissed.
“She actually called me several days ago. Amber got a job at the Huckleberry Hill Crier and offered to do a piece on the wedding.”
“And you said yes?” I demanded. “Why?”
“Because,” Hadley said, finally looking at me. “We’re not in high school anymore. And I want to put all of that mess behind us. She held out an olive branch and I took it.”
“You could’ve warned me,” I murmured.
“I wasn’t in the mood for one of your . . .” She paused.
“Meltdowns?” I supplied.
“Tantrums.”
“Uhm,ouch.”
She smiled and touched my arm. “Come on. Rise above with me.”
Once the salad plates were cleared away by the catering staff, Declan rose from his seat. He took an empty flute and tapped his butter knife against the crystal.
“Don’t worry, my speech won’t be long,” Declan said, a smile tugging at his lips. He looked at Hadley, and then the guests. “First, I want to thank you for coming to our wedding and celebrating this day with us. A few months ago, after I proposed to Hadley, I had an idea for a wedding gift.”
Hadley raised her brows. “A gift? This is news to me.”
A couple of people chuckled.
Declan placed his hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “I had this idea, but I had no skill in the execution. So, I enlisted Wade and his father, who happens to be an expert brewer.”
Declan inclined his head in the direction of the mobile bar.
“They helped me brew and bottle a stout beer that would be ready to drink at our wedding,” Declan said.
Wade, along with several catering staff, came to the tables and began handing out half pints of dark beer.
“I’m saving one for you,” he said, looking at his wife. “And in six months, we’ll toast the birth of our child. But for now, our guests will get to enjoy the fruits of my labor.”
Hadley rubbed her belly. “This is a fruit of your labor, too, you know.”
There was another round of laughter.
“Everyone have some beer?” Declan asked, looking at the guests. He lifted his glass. “To Hadley, and a beautiful life together.”
I raised my glass of beer and brought it to my nose. It was strong and smelled of malted chocolate.
“How is it?” Hadley asked me.
“Delicious,” I lied.
Poet frowned. “You didn’t even drink?—”
