With the help of bobby pins we were able to force back her bangs. Sienna’s first call when she gets back on the mainland will be to her hairstylist.
Sienna had barely recovered from announcing the wedding wasn’t going to happen when Ben stepped in and suggested he and my mom get married instead. At firstmy mom was shocked, but then tears began pouring from her eyes and she said yes and kept crying and then they kissed and she kept crying.
Sienna borrowed Wren’s bridesmaid dress. Mom was already decked out in her elegant mother-of-the-bride dress, and ready with her hair and makeup done. Ben was in his suit.
I beam at Klein, standing up for Ben and looking so handsome in his khaki woven suit and pressed white shirt. All I can think about is taking it off him. Me and my lascivious acts.
As if he can read my mind, Klein narrows his gaze and shakes his head slightly, playfully admonishing me. I can’t help it. I’m a fool for that man.
The ceremony continues.
There aren’t rings to exchange. Sienna returned hers to Shane when she drove to his house, bad bangs bouncing in the breeze, and told him the wedding was off.
Ben dips my mom backward, kissing her. The kiss deepens. It’s embarrassing. My dad stomps away, straight to the bar.
When he’d learned the turn this day was taking, he’d said, “Absolutely not. I paid for my daughter to get married, not my ex-wife.”
Mom looked hard at him for a bloated second, as if reminding him of something, and said, “What was the total? I’ll transfer it to your account immediately.”
He’d frowned and walked away, but showed up when it was time and pouted in the back. I’m not sure what to make of his attendance.
The reception doesn’t go to waste, either. I slip the DJa note explaining the name change. A gold cursive S & S sits atop the cake. When nobody is looking, I pluck it from the cake and toss it in the trash.
Speaking of the cake… It is divine. Vanilla with tart and sweet lemon curd filling, and vanilla bean frosting. Worthy of a flight across the country, a rental car, and a ferry. Maybe even worthy of facing the familial pain I’ve been running from.
Klein spears a giant slice of cake with his fork. “This cake does not disappoint.” He wraps his arm around me, feeding me a bite while he snaps our photo.
Swallowing, I say, “Good thing, considering that’s all you’re here for.” I wiggle my eyebrows at him. He feeds me a bite.
“I got everything I came for, and a whole lot more.”
“You can do better than ‘a whole lot more,’ Wordsmith.”
“Plethora.”
I shake my head.
“Profusion.”
I raise an eyebrow.
“Superfluity.”
“I don’t know what that means, but I accept.”
“I got everything I came for, and a superfluity more.”
I wrinkle my nose. Klein grimaces. “Never mind.”
I finish my cake and set the plate on the table. “Maybe wordy isn’t always better.”
Klein’s hand slides up the inside of my thigh. Even covered by my dress, it blazes a hot trail on my skin. “Wordy isalwaysbetter.”
I nod solemnly. “Yes, Word Daddy.”
He sighs and shakes his head.
This is too fun, though, so I continue. “Hot Hemingway?”
