“Spoken like the only type of woman who can handle him for the rest of his life. Come on, dear. You’re gonna need a drink, too,” my mother said.
The three of us tracked down Abby’s parents before we scooted out to a side room. I introduced everyone and we got to talking as the crowd slowly trickled into the reception hall. Abby’s face was shining with joy as the five of us stood around and talked, and it seemed that my mother and her parents were going to get along just fine. The three of them left to find their way into the reception, leaving Abby and I in the room together.
Alone, for the first time that day.
“You look—phenomenal,” I said.
“Really? You like the dress?” Abby asked.
“Yes. It was worth all the times Ted came into my office to lock himself away from Maggie,” I said.
“I still don’t believe they’re not dating.”
“Don’t worry. The entire building is expecting them to cave eventually,” I said.
“I don’t think I’ve seen this suit before,” she said. “Is it new?”
“It is. I figured if you got a new dress then I should get a new suit.”
“Well, I like it on you. But do you know where I’m gonna love it?” she asked.
“Where?”
She grabbed the collar of my jacket and pulled me towards her body, her breath pulsing against my lips as my arms slid around her waist.
“On the floor of our suite,” she said, with a whisper.
My lips descended to her neck as she giggled, her body molding into mine as she offered herself to me.
“But first! Dancing. Come on, handsome. I believe you owe me a first dance.”
“Anything you want,” I said. “All you have to do is ask.”
“Or I could just tell you and you do it,” she said, as she pulled me from the room.
“That, too. But then you run into the possibility that I could decline.”
“Are you saying you don’t want to dance with your wife?” she asked.
I pulled her back into me, her body twirling before I caught her around her waist.
“I’m saying we have the rest of our lives to dance. Right now, I simply want to enjoy you.”
“Well, enjoy me as we go talk. Because I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten all day.”
“Unacceptable. Come on. I shall hunt down food for my new bride,” I said.
“My hero,” she said, with a sigh.
“You’ll be calling me more than that before the night is over,” I said.
“Promise?”
I stopped us just before the entrance to the reception hall and claimed her lips with my own.
“Always,” I said.
Chapter 24
Abby
The reception was a blast. There was a live band playing all the hits from any decade requested. Colin spun me around the dance floor and dipped me during all the songs. Good food was plentiful, drinks flowing, and not a single person was sitting in their seats. The dance floor was packed with people talking, laughing, and trying to balance their drinks in their hands.
People came up and hugged our necks. Maggie pulled her date over to meet me and I couldn’t get over how much he looked like Ted. Colin’s eyes grew wide beside me as Maggie threw herself at the poor man, and I giggled as they danced away. The afternoon was magical, and it bled into an evening that was filled with talking and future plans.
We told people not to get us any wedding presents. We didn’t need anything nor did we want for anything. All we wanted was for people to gather, enjoy themselves and have a good time. Colin’s mother pulled me away long enough to get me to do a shot of tequila with her, then she slipped an envelope into my hand.
“From me to you guys,” she said.
“El, now we told everyone not to get us gifts,” I said.
“I know. I don’t take direction well. Anyway, if the two of you don’t want to use it, then save it. If you guys decide to have kids or something, you can use it for them,” she said.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Rude. Why don’t you just open it?”
“Can I wait to open it with Colin?” I asked.
“What the hell are you asking me for? Now, take one last shot with me before you go back to dancing.”
I threw another shot of tequila back with his mother before she hugged my neck. I really enjoyed her. She had spunk. She had this fiery attitude and reeked of dominance. I could tell she was a woman that had endured a lot in her life, and she was stronger because of it. I was in awe of women like that. Who could walk through the mire of life and come out on the other end stronger than before they went in.
I hoped to be like that someday. Stronger because of the bad in my life.
Folding the envelope in half, I tucked it away in the bosom of my dress. My father stole my hand, and twirled me onto the dance floor just as a slow number settled in. Colin was dancing with his mother and I was dancing with my dad, and I saw Ted out of the corner of my eye ask my mother to dance. I wrapped my arms around my father and leaned into him, taking in the comforting smell of his mint chewing gum.
“Always chewing that gum, Daddy.”
“Keeps my jaw busy,” he said.
“I still feel bad that you guys weren’t at the ceremony on the island,” I said.
“Now hush that nonsense. This reception is beautiful. I got to see the light in your eyes as you and Colin took your vows for a second time. That is special and it means you really can’t go back on them.”
“Thanks for walking me down the aisle,” I said, as I looked up into his eyes.
“That’s what fathers do. They work their asses off, love without strings, and give their daughters away to good men. Anything less is considered a crime,
