Chapter Seventy-Three
“Flo, would you quitfussing with it?”Jamie said, batting her hand away.“It’s fine.”
“Your grandmother would give me hell if I let you walk out there with that thing sagging the way it is.”
“Fine.”Jamie looked down as she pinned the boutonniere for the third time, trying to keep it from flopping down.He could hear his father and Mike chatting away in French just outside the door.Who knew that Mike was fluent in French, Italian, and German!I’m still learning so much about this wonderful man.Another recent revelation was that Mike had the patience of a saint.
“There.”Flo leaned back, looking at her handiwork.“That’s done it.”She took Jamie by the shoulders.“You’re so handsome.Your...grandparents”—she dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief— “so proud.”Then she almost hugged him but seemingly thought better of it.
“Thanks, Flo.”Jamie kissed her cheek.“You’d better run along now.It’s almost time.”
She blew her nose again.“Yes, I should.”She looked Jamie up and down, appraising him.“Okay.I’m going now.”
When she opened the door of the room they’d been assigned to get ready in at the local golf course, Mike was standing there, his hand raised, ready to knock.“Oh.I was just about to see if Jamie was ready.”
“He’s ready.Looking as handsome as a prince,” Florence gushed, dabbing at her eyes again.
“I’m not stealing him away.”Mike laughed softly, hugging her.
“I know, I know, it’s just I’m so happy.”She pushed away from Mike.“Now let me get by before I completely break down.”
Mike kissed her cheek before standing aside.He looked at Jamie in his new dark blue suit.“You look good enough to eat.”
“Pfft, you’re going to have to wait.It took long enough to pass Flo’s inspection to go through that again.”Jamie smiled at Mike.“You’re looking particularly handsome, too.”While their suits weren’t exactly matching, they were very similar.
Mike kissed Jamie, their lips barely brushing.“I hope you know how happy I am.”
“I think so.I am too.”Jamie leaned in for a more substantial kiss but was rebuffed.
“Nope.No more kisses until I have a ring on this finger.”Mike laughed, taking a step back.“Need to make sure you show up.”
“I’m here, aren’t I?”Jamie huffed.“After all the fuss, I wish we’d just gone to the courthouse.”
Mike laughed heartily.“You’d have a whole lot of people pissed at you if we’d done that, and you know it.”
“Okay.Yes, you’re right.Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“Come on, Jamie.”Mike held out his hand.“It’s not that bad.”
“Why is it you’re always right?”Jamie took the offered hand.“I know logically that it isn’t all that bad—it’s just I hate being the center of attention.And this...everyone is going to be looking at me.”
“Oh?”Mike smirked.“What am I?Invisible?”
“Damnit, of course not.”Jamie took a deep breath.He looked into Mike’s brilliant blue eyes, seeing nothing but love and again, patience.“I love you and I’m going to marry you.So, yeah, I’m about as ready as I’m going to be.How did we end up with so many people?”
