Shortly after dinner was served, Becky got up and headed to the bathroom. I waited a minute before standing up and walking to the hallway where the bathrooms were located. I leaned back against the wall, resting with my foot onit.
The hallway provided enough privacy that even if someone from our table looked over, they wouldn’t seeus.
A moment later, the door swung open and she stepped out. She paused when she saw me waiting in thehallway.
“What, Travis?” she demanded, crossing her arms. My expression somber, I stepped away from thewall.
“I just wanted to let you know that the woman I was pictured with in Nashville is my mother, Becs. If you’re looking for a reason to be pissed at me, you’ll have to find another one,” I toldher.
Her eyes flashed with regret and embarrassment, and she dropped her gaze to the floor, unable to look atme.
I stepped a little closer, tipping her chin so she’d finally look at me. “You are the only woman I’ve been with in twoyears.”
“But…I thought…” she trailedoff.
“That I was carrying on with every girl I met?” I filled in the blanks she’d left, smiling sadly. “I tried to—you told me to, and I thought I meant what I said about not wanting commitment. Ididmean it, when I said it. But...you were all I wanted, and you’re still all I want. One day—sooner or later—you’re going to believethat.”
It took everything I had to pull my hand back and walk away, but I knew I needed to give her space toprocess.
Becky
After the rehearsal dinner,we headed to the Armstrong’s farm while the groomsmen went to Brock’s cabin. Tessa invited all of the bridesmaids to spend the night at her family’s farm so that her cousin, Cheyenne, could do our makeup and hair in themorning.
I brought Aiden with me to Tessa’s, knowing that sleeping arrangements at Brock’s would be even more cramped than they were at the Armstronghomestead.
“Why couldn’t I go with Uncle Brock and Uncle Braden?” Aiden asked when I tucked him into Tessa’sbed.
“Because, you’re going to bed now anyway. You’ve got an important role tomorrow, and you need your sleep,” I responded, kissing him on the forehead. Aiden was the ring bearer, and he’d been excited about it ever since Brock had askedhim.
“Okay,” he said, yawning. He was already half asleep. Once his head touched the pillow, it would only be a matter of minutes before he drifted off. He’d always been that way. “Love you,Mom.”
“Love you too, Aiden. Goodnight baby,” I whispered, kissing his cheek before I snuck out of Tessa’s bedroom. I closed the door gently and headed backdownstairs.
In my absence, the girls had spread out sleeping bags and pillows. I paused by the railing, watching the scene play out before me with a small smile on my lips. I’d never gone to a slumber party before, and I’d imagined this is exactly what one would belike.
Elle was passing around glasses of wine, and everyone was chattering withexcitement.
“I can’t believe tomorrow isfinallythe day!” Tessa exclaimed. She was sitting cross legged on the floor with a large glass of wine inhand.
“I know! How are your feet?” Cheyenne giggled, shoving Tessa’s foot with hertoes.
“Toasty warm!” shegrinned.
Katie motioned for me to join her. She’d spread out a sleeping bag for me beside hers, and held out a glass of wine for me. I sat down, accepting the glass gratefully. It had been a hectic, stressful last fewdays.
“I told you there was more to the story than meets the eye,” Katie said low enough for only me to hear. My eyes flickered over to Cheyenne andTessa.
I felt embarrassed whenever I looked at Cheyenne. I’d jumped to my own conclusions when I’d seen the pictures of Travis with a blonde woman in Nashville, and when Cheyenne had sat down beside him…I’d actually thoughtshewas the blonde woman in thephotos.
When Travis cornered me outside of the bathroom to tell me the woman was his mother, I realized how foolish I’d been. None of those pictures had suggested a sexual relationship, but I’d let the so called article get into my head, like the insecure fool that Iwas.
“We’ll see,” I sighed. “This is what I meant when I said I had way too many issues. Travis isn’t going to want to stickaround.”
“I call bullshit,” Katie retorted quietly. “He’s really into you.” I paused, thinking about our exchange in the hallway of the restaurant a few hours before. He’d been so sweet, so reassuring, although I knew my accusations had woundedhim.
Getting comfortable, I laid-back with my head on the pillow. My limbs were heavy with exhaustion, and it wasn’t long until I drifted off, the sound of quiet chatter a welcomelullaby.
The ceremony had been breathtaking, there simply wasn’t another way to describe it. I was forever grateful that Cheyenne had brought her airbrushing kit and used waterproof mascara. Had she not, I likely would have cried off all of my makeup watching Tessa and Brock as they stood beneath the arbor and vowed to love each other in sickness and inhealth.
