Always (Spiral of Bliss #5) - Nina Lane Page 0,125
Liv turns her head to meet my gaze, and a warm smile curves her mouth.
And then we’re both remembering our own wedding, and the first moment we saw each other in the registrar’s office, the first time I kissed her, the first time we made love, the first time we looked at each other as husband and wife, the first time we saw our children.
After Archer and Kelsey have walked back down the aisle, Nicholas and I meet Liv and Bella beneath the arch of the trellis.
“My legs hurt,” Bella whines, shifting her feet.
I bend to pick her up. Liv takes my other arm, and a thousand more memories between then and now flood the space between us.
Nicholas attaches a leash to Patch’s collar, and the five of us start down the aisle together, past the friends who have become our family. When we reach the end of the aisle, I set Bella down. Miraculously cured from her legs aching, she runs toward a stream of kids heading away from the wedding site.
Liv calls after her, “Bella, don’t get your dress…oh, never mind.”
She reaches out to take my hand as we follow our children to the playground.
The terrace of the Wonderland Café is decorated with linen-draped tables, flowers, and glowing, multicolored paper lanterns. Allie and Liv closed the café for a “special event,” and the wedding reception lasts well into the evening—dinner, dancing, music, cake, more dancing.
I don’t see much of Liv, as she and Allie bustle around watching all the kids, supervising the service, and making sure everyone is having a good time.
“May I have this dance?” I stop beside Florence Wickham, who is sitting at her table, tapping her toes in time to the music.
“Oh, of course, Dean, aren’t you lovely?” She puts her hand in mine and rises.
I lead her to the dance floor and guide her to the music of “Renegades.”
“Olivia looks so well, Dean,” she says, sorrow passing across her face. “I’m still just gutted over what she went through, but do you know, she never failed to stay in touch. She always asked me how things were in Florida, told me what was going on in town, and assured me that my plants were doing just fine. She even told me when my peace lily bloomed.”
“That’s Liv.”
“She is such a treasure. Have I ever told you that?”
I can’t help smiling. “I’m sure you have, Florence.”
“Not that you need telling,” she remarks, patting my chest.
There’s a tap on my shoulder, and we look up to see Mr. Jenkins standing beside us, peering at me over the tops of his bifocals.
“I gotta cut in here, feller,” he tells me.
I wink at Florence and let her go. She smiles, giving my biceps a squeeze before moving into Mr. Jenkins’ arms.
I leave the dance floor and return to the terrace. Archer is sitting at one of the tables, his suit jacket off and his tie loose around his neck. He gestures to the empty chair beside him, and I sit down.
“When do you leave?” I ask.
“Tomorrow morning. A week on the road with just the two of us, and then we’re meeting up with the Storm Hunters crew in Kansas City.”
“What’s going to happen with the whole wedding thing on the show?”
“Kelsey agreed to the romantic storyline, but she gets full script approval and no one is allowed to use the words girly or tame.”
I grin. “Sounds about right.”
We watch Kelsey as she steps onto the dance floor with Nicholas, taking his little hands in hers as they start to dance.
Archer shakes his head in admiration. “She’s something, huh?”
“Yeah.” I reach up to loosen my tie. “You’re the only guy who’s ever figured her out. Who’s ever been worthy of her.”
I feel his surprised glance. “You think I’m the only guy who’s ever been worthy of her?”
“Well, yeah.” Uncomfortable suddenly, I look at him. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Archer shrugs. “Just…I don’t know. I mean, that’s good to hear, man.”
He nods to the steps of the terrace, where Liv is talking with Allie.
“The West brothers both married up, huh?” he says.
“Way out of our stratosphere,” I agree, pushing to my feet. “Hey, I got you something. Wait here a sec.”
I go into the café and get a large wrapped box out of the walk-in refrigerator. I return to Archer and plunk it down on the table in front of him.
“I guess it’s a wedding present, but more for you than Kelsey,” I tell him, sitting back down.