Same evening, after dinner
Lucas sat down on the couch and put his arm around Elizabeth with a sigh. "Finally."
She looked up at him and smiled, touching his beard that she loved so much. She had missed him more than she thought possible.
"I missed you, Lucas."
"I missed you too, honey."
"Ten more days and you don't have to leave me."
"I can't wait."
He lowered his head and kissed her slowly and softly, making her want more but he pulled back.
She took his hand and kissed his knuckles. "Baby? Tell me what's on your heart."
"First, I love that you called me baby."
"Noted."
"I'm…worried about my dad."
"Tell me about your trip. You were not very forthcoming with details while you were there."
He sat forward and ran his fingers through his hair, elbows on his knees. She put her hand on his back, rubbing her fingertips up and down. He was definitely struggling.
"You know, I've tried so hard since Nathan died to live my life with no regrets."
"I know."
"But my biggest regret isn't ignoring the custody issue for Van for years or waiting a few years to say something to you about how I felt about you."
"No?"
"No. My deepest regret is not keeping in better contact with my parents. I used every excuse in the book not to call them. I let them disapprove of my marriage and divorce and then I just stopped communicating."
She hugged his arm and kissed his cheek, letting him vent. She saw a tear falling so she reached up and brushed it away.
"I love them, Beth. I do. I didn't realize how much I missed them until I got there."
"Are they coming to the wedding?"
"No. Dad is still in a wheelchair and in order for Mom to come, she'd have to get someone to stay with Dad."
"Oh, honey. What if we went there?"
"To London?"
"Yeah. Why not? You, me and the girls can travel there."
"What about The Bluff, Beth? That's our place." He really couldn't imagine marrying her anywhere else. It meant so much.
"Or what if we made it so we had someone filming it on Zoom?"
"That's a great idea. Yes, we can Zoom for sure." He gave her a brief kiss and smiled. "Thank you, Beth. I'm marrying such a genius."
"Keep thinking that…because I have something I want to talk to you about."
…..
Courthouse, downtown Denver, the next day
"I do," Allie said, smiling at Tim.
"And do you, Timothy Lawson, take Allison Grant to be your wife? To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, in sickness or in health, until death parts you?"
"I do." He pressed a kiss to her forehead and grinned. He was happy. She was finally his wife. It took all he had not to kiss her for real right then but he'd be patient.
"For inasmuch as Timothy and Allison have consented together in marriage and have declared before these witnesses and in my presence, and by virtue of the laws of the State of Colorado, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss each other."
Tim wrapped his arms around Allie and gave her their first married kiss, letting himself fully enjoy it. He knew from the last year that life wasn't always going to be perfect but he knew that he needed Allie almost more than air to breathe. She kept him calm and logical and he needed that.
"I love you so much," he whispered, kissing her forehead again. "Thank you for marrying me."
"I love you too."
Allie tried to ignore the feelings she was having about not having her sisters and Mom there. She had made that decision and assured Tim that she was fine with it but it felt wrong that they weren't watching and supporting them.
When they got in his truck and he started it, she looked over at him. So handsome in his gray suit, his wavy hair brushed back. He looked back at her, loving her knee length cream colored lace dress.
Then he noticed her tears. "Babe? What's with the tears?"
"I wish my family had been here."
"Sweetheart, you told me you were sure."
"I was but I'm not anymore. Please don't hate me."
"First of all, that could never happen."
"And second?"
"Why don't we call everyone and see if they can go out to dinner?"
"Like everyone everyone?"
"Yep. Chief, your aunt Elizabeth, your cousins, my mom and sister."
"Are you sure you don't mind?"
"Of course not. Tonight though, after dinner, we are going to Boulder to that B and B though. No changing that." She blushed and sighed.
"So lets see if Saturday night they can."
"I have to work, Allie. But we can see about tonight or tomorrow night."
"Okay. I'll call."
She called her mom first. "Hi, sweets," Beth answered almost immediately.
"Hi, Mom. Are you busy?"
"Not too busy for you. What's going on?"
"Tim and I were wondering if you and Uncle Luke were available for dinner tonight."
"I think we are free. Where should we meet you?"
"Where, Tim?"
"316? They have the best steak."
"Steakhouse 316 in Boulder, Mom. Say maybe 6pm."
"Sounds delicious. We will see you then."
"Okay. I'm going to call Marley and Ivy and see if they want to come too."
"Alright, sweets. See you tonight."
After all was said and done, they would spill the beans that night at 316 and hopefully celebrate a little too.
……
Steakhouse 316
"Are you serious?" Marley asked. "You got married. Without any of us there?"
"It was a spur of the moment thing…"
"I don't believe that for a minute," Ivy said. "My guess is you decided and then after you felt bad so you asked us here for dinner."
"Ivy…" Elizabeth scolded gently.
"No, Mom. We all said we were going to be each other's bridesmaids and she just stole that from us. That's not fair, Allie."
"Look, Tim and I love each other and we made the decision. We wanted to make it a private ceremony, just us."
"Why? We are your family," Marley reminded her. "Sisters."
"Of course we are."
Marley and Ivy sat back and crossed their arms, looking every bit the twins they were.
Elizabeth tried to hold back her tears but they fell nonetheless.
"Mom?"
"Allie, you are a grown woman and you made your choice to elope. You can't go back on it. But, I can't deny that it hurts that you excluded us."
"Dad's not here," Allie said quietly. "Its not fair that he's not alive to walk me down the aisle."
"No, it isn't fair, but I would have done it. I would have been honored to do it because I raised you from the age of four years old, Allison Grant. You are my daughter in my heart and that's where it counts. Didn't I deserve to be a part of your big day?"
Lucas would have gladly walked her down the aisle too, but he wouldn't have deprived Beth from that honor. He didn't say anything. He just held Elizabeth's hand as she dried her tears.
"Mom, sis? What are your thoughts?" Tim asked.
"Well, Timmy. I'm not at all happy about this either but like Elizabeth said, we can't change the past," Wilma said. "However, when the time comes for me to become a grandmother, you better tell me because I want to be included. Got it?"
"Got it," Tim agreed. Allie smiled and took Tim's hand.
Maggie got up and walked around the table, hugging both Tim and Allie. "Welcome to the family, Allie. I've always wanted a sister." Then she turned to Tim. "I'm mad at you, Timmy, but I forgive you."
"Chief, nothing to say?"
"Its not my place, Lawson. I think all the ladies here at the table said what needed to be said."
"Chief, I'd like to know."
"Well, in about nine days I'm technically going to be your uncle-in-law so as your uncle, I think you made an impulsive decision and you hurt a few people. However, we are all family here, so I know that we will all forgive you in time and put it past us."
As the dinner continued, everyone decided to put on a more celebratory mood so as not to ruin the newlywed's night.
Finally, as they walked out to their cars, Elizabeth hugged Allie, crying a bit, but mostly keeping it together. "I love you so much, Allie. You know that."
"I know. I'm sorry, Mom."
"No. No more apologies. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
Lucas and Tim walked up, both taking the hands of the women they loved. "Where will you be going on your honeymoon?" Lucas asked.
"We have a B and B a few miles from here. That's where we will be tonight. We can't go far because I am scheduled to work Saturday…"
"Not anymore. If Beth is okay with it, I'd like to pay for you to take the whole weekend at the B and B."
"Chief, you don't need to do that."
"I'd like to. As a wedding gift."
Beth gave Tim a hug and smiled. "We'd like to."
"Thank you. Both of you."
When Lucas and Beth returned back to her house, he parked and took her hand. "What's on your heart, love?"
"I can't believe she did that. I would have walked her down the aisle, Luke. No hesitation."
"I know."
"I want to be happier for her but she excluded her family. That hurts."
"Happiness will come in time. In the meantime, we have just over a week until we will have a honeymoon of our own."
"Ireland. Wow. I can't believe we are going there."
"Three weeks of married bliss. Sounds like heaven," he told her, a smirk on his face. They had waited for what seemed like forever to take the big step. Some of the time, it was harder than other times to pull back. Now they wouldn't have to.
"I'm going to go inside, put my pajamas on and watch a movie. Want to join me?"
He did. Of course he did. With no hesitation, he nodded and they walked in together.
"Popcorn?" he asked from the kitchen.
"Yes please. Extra butter tonight. And salt."
He smiled and pulled out her popcorn air popper. Grabbing a large bowl and melting the butter, he waited for the popping to stop and then grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses.
He sat down in the living room to wait, turning on the tv.
He smiled as she wandered in with his Denver Fire Department t-shirt on and a pair of skin tight leggings that made him sweat and his heart race.
"Good grief," he muttered to himself, doubting that this was a good idea.
"What's up?" she asked, blushing at his comment.
"You look…" he said, shaking his head.
"What? I look…" she laughed.
"Hot. You look so hot."
He rubbed his face with his hands and groaned, making her laugh again.
"You're not so bad yourself in those dark jeans. I love your long legs."
He sighed and turned connected to Netflix, needing a distraction. "California murders okay?"
She burst into giggles and stole the remote. "Absolutely not. I think a rom-com is perfect."
He put his arm around her and stared at the tv. Nine days. He could make it.