Ch 13
A/N: Hey guys, I know this took a lot longer than I ever imagined that it would. Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me through this whole time I appreciate it more than you would believe (you know who you are). Hopefully you like this last chapter and as always please read and review.
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"Kat you look stunning." Eli said taking in her appearance. She had on a Kelly green sheer summer dress with gold accessories. Her hair was up in a messy bun with stray curls playing around her neck and shoulders. A pair of strappy wedges finished out the ensemble.
A slight blush painted her cheeks, "Thank you. And don't you look handsome. Ready to go?" She asked grabbing her purse and stepping outside.
"Sure."
After locking her door she held up her keys to him. "I take it you'd like to drive."
He smiled, "Only if you don't mind."
She shrugged and handed them over to him. After opening the door for her he went to the driver's side and started the car. They drove in silence for a few minutes before she looked over at him, curiosity written over her features, "I do have to ask one thing though."
"And what's that?" He asked, glancing her way for a moment.
"Why is it that we always wind up taking my car?"
"That would be because I don't own a car."
Her eyebrows shot up "You don't what?"
"I don't own a car." He stated simply.
"How is it that you don't own a car?" she asked incredulously.
"I've lived in a city my entire life, it's this crazy thing called a bus."
She turned in her seat to study him closer, "You're telling me you've never owned a car?"
"No, I've never owned a car."
"So what are you going to tell me next? That you don't have a driver's license?" She asked with a bit of fear.
"I have a driver's license. I got it back in high school. I just don't really see a point getting a car when there is perfectly good transportation for much cheaper."
Shaking her head she said, "Coming from a small town that's not a choice. Where I'm from if you don't have a car you don't go anywhere. I mean the closest movie theater was 15 miles away."
"Now that I can't imagine." He said pulling the car to a stop in front of a small church. "You ready for this?" He asked squeezing her hand.
She laughed lightly, "It's not like I've got anything to be worried about." As she got out of the car she added, "It's not like I'm getting married."
"True," he shrugged walking to her side of the car and offering his arm to her, "I'm the one who should be worried."
She shot him an exasperated look, "I hate to break it to you, but you're not getting married today either."
"No," he agreed, "I've just got to be the best man. I have to stand up for my boss, I have to remember the ring, and I have to give a speech at the reception. I'd rather be the groom, it's less stressful."
"Somehow I think that every groom in the world would disagree with you on that." She laughed lightly as they started towards the church.
"As long as you're marrying the right person I don't see why it should be stressful."
Reaching the doors of the church they stopped. She looked up at him and asked, "And how do you know it's the right person?"
He put his hand under her chin and stroked her cheek with his thumb, looking into her eyes he said just above a whisper, "You just know."
Blushing profusely she averted her eyes, "Ok isn't this getting to be a bit much for a first date?"
"You're right." He smiled, dropping his hand from her face. "I should probably get moving. I don't want to get fired when I'm not on the clock."
"Oh wait!" she stopped him with a hand on his arm. She dug through her purse for a second, emerging with a small velvet box. "If you don't want to get fired, you may want to remember the ring."
"Thanks," He said leaning down and kissing her cheek then turning into the church.
A moment later Ria walked up to her on the arm of a blond guy that Kat recognized as their waiter from the bar. "Hey Ria!" Kat said brightly.
"Kat," Ria smiled, "You remember Zack right?"
"Of course," Kat smiled knowingly at Ria, then shaking his hand, "Nice to meet you again."
"Oh yeah, you too." He said nervously, shaking her hand then dropping it.
"Come on, let's go find a seat." Ria interjected suddenly.
They chose an unoccupied bench fairly close to the front of the church. Zach, obviously trying to act like a gentleman let the ladies slide in first. Kat couldn't resist asking once they'd sat, "Ria," she whispered, "why didn't you tell me about him?"
"What about him?"
"Um, how about the fact that you're dating him?"
She shrugged, "We just started dating."
Kat looked at her with confusion, "Was this before or after he was our waiter?"
"Before." She said simply.
Kat looked back at her stunned, "But the other night you acted like he was just another sleazy guy that you had to blow off."
"Nothing was official then. We'd only been out a couple of times. I'd also warned him that we'd be coming in that night. I told him that I wasn't going to flirt with him then even if he tried."
Kat shook her head, "You lied to me."
"I did not. I said I was seeing someone, I just didn't say who it was."
Kat just continued to stare at Ria in awe, shaking her head, "You lied to me."
Ria shook her head and let out an exasperated sigh. Kat sat here silent for a minute, taking the time to take in her surroundings. There were very few people there. When Gillian had told her that they were going to keep it small, she'd still expected a few more. Without counting here couldn't have been more than twenty. The church was decorated beautifully but not overdone. Gillian had made a deal with Cal that as long as he agreed to a church wedding that they'd keep it simple. The most striking feature was that behind the alter there were two doors opened granting them a gorgeous view of the sun hanging low over the river.
As the sun touched down on the river the first strains of music floated into the church. Cal, basically bolting, made it to the front of the church and started to fidget with his jacket. Next came Eli with Emily on his arm. As they approached their bench Emily gave them an excited wave as Eli shot Kat a wink and a smirk. Once they'd reached the front, the music suddenly changed. Everyone got to their feet as Gillian entered the church.
Although every eye in the building was on her she had eyes for only one man. Kat also noted that Cal had stopped fidgeting and never tore his gaze from her's. A rare genuine smile was permanently etched across his face. As she made it to the front Cal immediately took her hand. Gillian handed the single red rose that she'd chosen in place of a bouquet to Emily and joined both of her hands with Cal's.
If anyone asked her later Kat couldn't have told them a single word that was said from that moment on. She was too busy in a fantasy world. She couldn't help imagining what she'd like to have at her own wedding. A small smile played across her lips as she realized that this was close to the perfect one. There were only a couple of things that she'd change. For one thing it would be a winter wedding. The only other thing that she could think that would make it perfect would be that the best man and the groom would be switched.
Realizing that she'd completely missed the entire ceremony she snapped out of her fantasy world as she heard Gillian saying I do.
The small crowd erupted in applause and cheers as Cal pulled Gillian to him capturing her lips. As they broke away Gillian's face was painted with a light blush as if they'd just been caught in her office again.
Instead of running back down the aisle, the couple exited through the doors in front. After a moment everyone else followed. There was a dance floor set out behind the church along with a buffet table, a DJ, and one long dining table. The whole area was covered with a sheer material so that you could still see the setting sun and soon the stars that would follow.
Kat and Ria found seats next to each other as there were no place cards. As Cal and Gillian joined them in the middle of the table she announced, "We knew that there wouldn't be many people joining us today so we decided to keep it casual. And since we feel that you all are already part of our family why should we make family sit at separate tables?"
A little while later, after everyone had gotten their fill of food and conversations had started to take the place of clanking dishes, the DJ made the announcement that it was time for the couple's first dance. Kat couldn't help the smile that spread across her face as she instantly recognized the song, "Read my Mind" by Reba McEntire. She agreed that there wasn't a more perfect song for them as she listened to the first few lines.
Kat was lost in the music as she felt a tug on her skirt. Surprised, she turned to see who the culprit was. She broke out into a huge smile as she recognized those brown eyes. "Pete!" she jumped up and gave him a hug. Donna followed closely behind, "We couldn't make it to the ceremony, but wanted to be sure to make it to the reception. You all did so much to help us out, it was the least we could do.
"Really I'm just so happy that this little guy is being well taken care of." Kat said ruffling his hair gently. "Why don't you go grab something to eat? Just make sure you save a dance for me Buddy, ok?"
"Sure Kat! That's why I'm here." He smiled then followed his mom to the buffet table.
As the song changed she felt Eli's hand take her's and leaned in to whisper in her ear, "May I have this dance?"
"Of course. She answered as he pulled out her chair.
She wrapped her arms around his neck as they stepped onto the dance floor and started gently swaying to the music. She couldn't stop smiling as she looked up into his eyes. "Enjoying our first date?" he asked brushing a stray piece of hair away from her face.
"I couldn't think of a better beginning."
"Good." He smiled leaning into her.
"Hey," she backed up slightly, "a lady never kisses on a first date."
He looked back at her in disbelief, "You're kidding right?"
"No." she said honestly.
"Well couldn't you make an exception this once?"
She seemed to think about it for a minute, "Um, nope."
"Aren't we a little past this Kat? It's not like we've never kissed before."
"True." She thought about it for another moment, "I guess I can make an exception this once. Just don't tell my grandmother."
He laughed lightly and leaned into her, this time placing a gentle kiss to her lips. It was cut short however, by the sound of a throat clearing behind them.
Cal shook his head mumbling, with a look of disgust on his face "It's like catching your kids."
"Thanks Cal." Eli said pulling away from Kat. "Congrats by the way. Never thought I'd see the day when you got married again."
"I'm going to choose not to take offence to that, Loker." Cal challenged him stepping into his personal space.
"Actually," Gillian interrupted before the boys could go any farther, "we just came over to talk to Kat for a second."
"Okay?" she said slightly confused.
"We'd like to offer you a job." Cal stated bluntly.
"I thought I already had a job?" she answered honestly, albeit confused.
"Yes, but we heard what happened with your other job. So we'd like to offer you a paying job." Gillian explained.
"Of course I'll take it!" She answered excitedly.
Cal looked at her pointedly, "That means a heavier case load. If you're getting paid I want to know I'm getting my money's worth."
"Certainly, I understand."
"Alright, well we can hash out the details later; we just thought we'd make the offer tonight."
"Thanks guys, I really do appreciate it." Kat called after them as they went back to dancing.
Eli smiled down at her, he eyes shining brightly with excitement. "So what do you think of our first date now?" He asked.
"It's perfect." She beamed pressing her lips to his once more.
