"Seven and Seven, please, and white wine," Jack told the bartender.
"You got it."
Jack couldn't take his eyes off Beth. She was standing across the room talking to Clara who was every bit the radiant bride. However, Jack wasn't noticing Clara. His heart was with Beth.
Her dress fit perfectly and only accentuated her perfect curves. He wanted her back in his arms on the dance floor or even not on the dance floor. At least nearby would be nice but the bartender was taking forever.
"I see who you're staring at," Jesse said, walking up. "You've got it bad, huh?"
"I love her, man."
Jesse nodded. "You're my best friend, bro, so here's the cliff notes version of my threatening big brother speech. She's my sister and you know how I feel about that."
"I do."
"You really love her?"
"Yes."
Jesse smiled and hugged Jack. "Then I'm happy for you both. But remember that because she is my sister, I don't want to hear details of kissing or whatever else."
"Don't worry, I'm not sharing that with anyone."
"Good." Jesse patted his back. "Now I'm going to back to my wife."
The look of pure love and desire on his friend's face as he walked back over to his new bride was something Jack absolutely wanted to experience. With Beth, of course.
"Here, you go, sir."
Jack tipped the bartender, a bit more than he deserved, but he was just happy to be rejoining Beth.
Her eyes met his as he made his way over and held. She blushed as he boldly stepped close and kissed her right in front of everyone. "Jack," she whispered, taking her wine.
"I couldn't help it, Beth. I've been wanting to do that all night."
"I saw you talking to Jess."
They sat down at their table and he moved his chair a bit closer. "Yeah. A long overdue conversation."
"About me?"
"Yep. It was a good thing, Beth. Don't worry."
"What did he say?"
"That he's happy for us. He knows I love you and he's okay, as long as I don't tell him about our kissing or anything."
"I should hope not," she said with a laugh, sipping her wine.
"What do you say we go for a walk or something?" he asked.
"I want to dance with you."
"We could dance on our walk."
"I'd like to dance here and then we can go."
A slow dance started then. It was Ed Sheeran's Kiss Me.
"May I have this dance, Beth?" He held out his hand and she slipped hers into his.
"Of course."
"Settle down with me
Cover me up
Cuddle me in
Lie down with me
And hold me in your arms," Jack sang quietly in her ear as he held her as close as he could.
Jack had no idea what this was doing to Beth as he held her and sang to her. He had no idea that all she wanted at this moment was to marry him. She wanted to blurt out a proposal but she knew what everyone would think about that. He made her feel so safe and loved and wanted. That's all she had ever wanted with a potential husband and he was it.
"Jack," she whispered in his ear. "I think we need to talk."
"I'm listening."
"No, I mean let's go for a walk."
"I thought you wanted to dance."
"I want….let's just step outside for a while."
He nodded and took her hand, following her outside into the warm evening. The sun was setting beyond the trees so they headed to the nearby gazebo where they could watch the sky turning orange and red. "Beth, what's on your mind?"
"Marry me, Jack."
He stood there, stunned. "Huh?"
"I want to marry you. Soon."
"I want to marry you too but aren't I supposed to ask you?"
"That's usually how it's done but I needed to say it. I love you so much and you make me feel so safe and loved and I want to feel what Jesse and Clara are feeling today. I've always known that you were it for me and now I can finally do something about it." She took his hands and looked up into his handsome face. The face she wanted to wake up next to every morning, forever. "Will you be my husband?"
"Yes."
She smiled and kissed him, not holding back one bit. "I can't believe you said yes."
"You know I love you. Why would I not say yes?" he asked, kissing her neck, making her shiver.
"I guess I just didn't know if you were a more traditional guy and wouldn't like me to ask you."
"I'm traditional in some ways but in others, not so much. Like for instance, I'd like to buy you a ring, but I would like you to come with me to pick it out."
"I would love to."
"Great. And I'm okay with having a small wedding, but if you want a big one, I'm good with that too."
"Maybe small. Then a larger reception after our honeymoon."
"Okay but as far as timing, we maybe should either get married before the B and B opens, or wait until our cottage is built. Otherwise, I'm not sure we will get much privacy."
"Jack, we open in like five weeks."
"I know. It's not much time but if we are having a small wedding, we can make it simple. Maybe even get married in the backyard of the B and B."
"I guess we don't have to decide anything right now."
"Maybe we should have dinner with your parents?" he mentioned.
Back at the B and B
Bree sat down next to Mike on the couch. "Sorry about that. The boys are usually pretty good going to bed."
"That's okay." He reached for her hand and slipped his fingers between hers.
"You look pretty handsome in that suit."
"Thanks. You look cute in your…"
"Pajamas and no makeup?"
"Absolutely."
"I'm glad you came by after the wedding. Was it romantic?"
"I don't know how to answer that. I'm a guy."
"You are a romantic guy, Mike Hickam. You brought me flowers and bought me lunch and you helped with the boys and told me about your family."
"Those things make me romantic?"
"Well, the flowers and the lunch part, yes. The rest just makes you kind and loving."
"The aquarium," Mike blurted.
"Huh?"
"The aquarium. I want to take the boys to the aquarium. Both of us. What do you think?"
"I think they would love that."
"And you?"
"Anytime I'm with you, I'm happy."
"Great. How about Saturday?"
"Alright."
He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "I really like you, Bree."
"I really like you, Mike."
He leaned toward her and softly touched her lips with his. It was so sweet, much like the man that sat next to her. She took the initiative next and returned his sweet kiss with one of her own. That second kiss turned to a few more and they didn't even notice that Xavier had walked into the room.
"Mama?"
She pulled back suddenly and blushed. "Hey, what are you doing out of bed?"
"I'm scared."
She lifted him up and put him on her lap. "You are getting much too big for Mama's lap, sweetie."
"No, I'm not," he whined.
She cradled him and ran her fingers through his hair to relax him. "Tell me why you're scared."
"I had a bad dream, Mama. I don't want you to die!"
"What? Honey, no, please don't worry about that happening. I'm not going anywhere for a long long time."
"But it happened, Mama. In my dream, you died."
"It was just a dream. Dreams aren't real. Now let's go back upstairs."
"No, I want to stay here with you. Mike won't let you die, will you, Mike?"
He looked down at the boy and smiled. "Not if I can help it, bud."
"Can I sit on your lap?" he asked Mike.
"Sure." He lifted him up and over to his lap and laid him down. "Now close your eyes," he told him gently. "It's late and time for sleep."
Bree watched as her son listened to his new hero and closed his eyes, snuggling into Mike's chest. "Why were you kissing my mom?" he asked, his eyes still closed.
"Xavier, sleep," Bree told him, burying her now red face in Mike's shoulder.
Beth walked in a while later after Xavier had fallen back to sleep and Bree and Mike were watching a movie on the TV.
"Hey guys," she whispered to them.
"Hey," Bree said with a smile. "Did you have a nice time?"
"It was more than nice," she told her with a wink.
After Mike took Xavier upstairs, kissed her goodnight and left, Bree wandered into the kitchen and knocked on Beth's door.
"Come in."
"Hey. Better than nice, huh?"
"Yes."
"What happened?"
"I proposed."
Bree sat down on the bed and smiled. "You what?"
"I proposed. In the gazebo out back at the park."
"Wow. Did he say yes?"
"Yep."
"Wow."
"Wow? No other response?"
"It's fast."
"Not really. I've known him almost my whole life." Beth sat down on the bed and pulled her knees up. "I've been in love with him for so long, Bree. I watched Jesse and Clara say their vows today and I knew that I wanted that too. So I asked."
"Well, I guess when you know, you know."
"Yeah."
"So when is this wedding going to be?"
"Either before the B and B opens or after he builds our cottage."
"Okay, don't you open in like five weeks? And what cottage?"
"Wow, we really need to talk more," Beth teased.
"I agree!"
"So I told Jack at the park the other day that I wanted to build a cottage on the back of the property to live in. Now that we are getting married, it will be a good place for us."
"And the five weeks part?"
"I don't want to wait until the cottage is built. That will be like six months or more."
"Then five weeks it is."
"Well, less than. We need to go on a honeymoon for a week or so. I'm thinking a month from now at the longest."
"Holy moly, Beth. Well, I'm here to help as much as I can."
"Thanks so much. I appreciate that."
"A month?" Charlotte squealed on the phone. "I need to get a dress and plane tickets and a gift and…"
"Whoa, Ma. Just bring yourself and David, if he wants to come."
"I need a special dress, son. You are getting married."
"Alright then. Get a dress, but if you came in jeans and a t-shirt, I wouldn't complain."
"Is Tommy coming?"
"Yep. He will be here."
"Great. Both of my boys in one spot. Doesn't happen all that often."
"Nope. Do you think David will come?"
"Yes. He wants to see you boys and he has been talking about planning a trip up there soon anyway."
"That's good. Well, I need to get back to work. I need to somehow finish Beth's B and B before the wedding."
"Are you close?"
"Yeah. It should happen on time if nothing else pops up."
Jack knew that he shouldn't have said the words. He wasn't really superstitious but it felt like just as things were going smooth, a wrench was thrown in the works.
Two weeks before the wedding, Jack got a phone call from clear out in Philadelphia that would change his life forever.