Dad tsked, shaking his head at me. “Not a good idea. Especially not in your condition.” He looked at Parker. “Son, what exactly are you gonna do to keep my baby girl safe?”
“Anything necessary,” he said before I could speak up.
“I need more than that.”
This time, I didn’t let Parker push me aside as I stepped between them. “Yes, please tell him how you plan to smother me and keep me safe.”
“Blake can take care of herself,” Parker said to my satisfaction. “Though she does tend to be a little reckless. Pushing a guy through a window wasn’t her best moment.”
“What happened to you not dictating my life while I’m pregnant?” I asked.
“Sir, the wedding will be next weekend, and I can assure you, I will do everything in my power to keep Blake and our baby safe.”
“Good man,” Dad said, clapping him on the shoulder. He turned to me, beaming with pride. “You found a good one here.”
I thought I had, too, but after my future husband just decided our future for the both of us, I was no longer so certain in my decision. Right now, I was thinking more about the first time we met, and how pushing him out a window looked pretty damn good right now.
My lips curled in a smile that made Parker shiver. “Trust me. I know.”
“Ma,”Parker smiled, hugging his mother as we walked through the door.
“Showoff,” I muttered before plastering a smile on my face and leaning in to hug the older woman. I really did like her. She was sweet and made excellent food. It had been so long since I’d had a mother figure in my life that I couldn’t help but feel a little sad every time I saw her.
“I hope you’re taking good care of my future grandchild,” she murmured as she hugged me.
“Of course.”
“Oh, I’m talking to Parker.” Spinning, she pinned him with a glare. “What’s this I hear about you sneaking out of the house without saying goodbye?”
“Krista,” he cursed under his breath. “I was trying to let her sleep.”
“Well, what if she had needed something?” Clara snapped. “What if she had gone into preterm labor?”
“She’s not even three months pregnant!”
Dad slapped the back of Parker’s head as he pushed his way inside. “Ma’am, I’m Blake’s father, Dean.”
“Oh, it’s so nice to meet you. And look! All your boys!”
“Well, aside from one. He’s got a big boxing match coming up.”
“How wonderful! Well, everyone, come in and make yourselves at home. Blake, I have something to show you.”
She took my hand and pulled me through the house, bypassing her husband as he made his way to the gathering. I had no idea where we were going, but I was extremely grateful for the reprieve from the onslaught of company.
“Now, I don’t want to assume anything, but I know you don’t have a lot of time to find a wedding dress, and I thought I might be able to help with that.”
“Oh...” I had no idea what to say. Was she going to make me wear some hideous dress from her wedding? And how was I going to say no to that?
Flipping on the light in the spare bedroom, she opened the closet doors and pulled out a garment bag that had to be forty years old. I held my breath in dread as she slowly unzipped the bag. God, this would be really hard to say no to.
“Now, I know it’s a little old-fashioned. There are no big slits up the thigh and it’s not low cut, but it’s a classic.”
I gasped when she pulled it out and showed me the full dress. It was beautiful. With a full skirt, the bodice had a scoop neck and a lace overlay that flowed over the shoulders and created tight sleeves.
“Wow. That’s…”
“It was my mother’s. I wore it at my wedding, and I had planned to pass it down to one of my girls, but they both nixed the idea. And since Baileyis?—”
