He’d always been there for his sister, always been her sounding board and confidant, but he’d never confided in her, thinking it was a show of weakness. Not anymore. So Liam did something he’d never done before: he told her everything. Too much, probably, if some of her reactions and the repeated “TMI” were any indication.
Jenna sat on the sand halfway through his story, listening and watching him pace. When he stopped speaking and went still, she popped back to her feet. “So, do you love her?”
He started to deny the emotion out of habit, but her stern look stopped him and he answered the only way he could. “I... How do I know? For sure, I mean.”
“Nothing’s guaranteed, Liam. Not even love. You have to take a chance.”
“I deal in statistical probabilities and historical trends, not chance.”
She punched him lightly on the shoulder. “You and that ilk thing. Cut your crap.” She took both of his hands and stared up at him. “There are a hundred, athousandquestions I could ask you—does she make your breath come short? Do you relax, really relax, around her? Do you feel like you could tell her anything? Do you trust her? Do you love waking up to her face? Do you miss her the minute she begins to walk away? They’re all valid, Liam, but there’s only one question that really matters.”
He waited.
“If she walks out of your life, walks out and never comes back, will you be a better man or a broken man?”
“Broken,” he whispered.
“There’s your answer.” Jenna smiled, her true smile. “No matter what you think of Mike, I am crazy in love with that man. Your opinion—the world’s opinion—will never change that for me. He’s my One, capitalO. I would give up everything for him, Liam, and he’d do the same for me. The beautiful thing, though? Love doesn’t mean losing one thing to gain another. It’s gaining something that enhances everything else in your life. There are compromises, yes,” she said, one hand waving those invisible compromises off like they were a swarm of gnats. “But compromise isn’t loss, either. It’s just bending what you want to make it suit two lives instead of one. Only a fool would miss his shot at his one, Leem, and you’re no fool.”
He pulled her back in for a tight hug. “I’ve been exactly that.”
“You’ve certainly been foolish,” she admonished, her words a bit warped as he had her face mashed into his chest. “But a fool? You’re a Baggett, dear brother. Dad neither raised nor tolerated fools within his clan.”
Only Jenna would call the elder Baggett “Dad.” The thought made Liam smile, an action not at all common when remembering the old man. “Just so.”
“Mike and I got married.”
He stiffened. “Beg your pardon?”
“In the hospital. Ella showed up with a beautiful bridal bouquet, my dress, his tux jacket and the rings. I guess she got some guy named Arvin out of bed in the middle of the night and got our stuff together. She made my bouquet.” Jenna pulled her phone out of her little handbag and showed Liam pictures. “She asked us if what we had was worth fighting for—no matter who fought against us.” She looked up. “Ella so meant you, Liam.”
“I got that.” His tone was dry as dust.
“Just making sure you’re keeping up. Anyway,” she continued, “she asked us and we both said yes. She’d asked the doctor about Mike’s possible release and they’re keeping him for at least twenty-four hours of observation, so he wouldn’t have been out in time for the wedding. So she said we should get married by the hospital chaplain and then show up, after they let Mike go, for the wedding dinner and share the good news that way.” She grinned. “She repeated something Mike had said about how it couldn’t be all that bad if he left here married to me, so she made it happen.” Jenna sighed. “She’s a total romantic, and the ceremony was beautiful and we had Mike’s doctor give me away and the charge nurse was my maid of honor. It was lovely.”
“You got married...in a hospital?” he choked out.
“Like you gave me any other option,” she retorted.
And he shut up.
“Don’t let her go, Liam. Please. I’m going to tell everyone what happened and encourage my agency and my studio to use her for events. I’m going to ask my friends to use her. Whatever it takes, I want to help her get back on track. But most of all? I don’t want you two to lose each other. Please.”
Liam nodded, his vision watery with what he deemed gratitude. “Where is she?”
The sun had long since cleared the horizon and begun to warm the day. “I think she was going to catch the first available flight to the main island and head home from there.” She glanced at her watch. “If you hurry—”
“I’ll catch her,” he said. He kissed Jenna’s cheek. “I love you, Jen.”
“And I you, Leem.” She beamed up at him. “Go get your one.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ELLASTOODINline waiting to board the tiny puddle jumper for the first of four flights she’d take to get home. Professionally, she’d done what she could to pull a rabbit out of the hat and save the wedding. At first, Jenna had been unsure of Ella’s plan to have them married at the hospital. Sure, it had been a long shot.But no shot will make it if you don’t take it.Her dad’s words had marched around inside Ella’s head as she pulled things together and took the shuttle to the hospital. They hadn’t even faltered at Jenna’s reserved greeting. But when Mike had looked at Jenna, motioned her over and said, “Be my wife. Now and always,” Ella had wanted to meltandpump a fist in the air.
The ceremony had been short but sweet, and it had been evident how in love the bride and groom were. Whatever came their way, they’d handle it. And provided Mike continued to improve, there would be one hell of a reception on the beach tonight. Thanks to Arvin, there would be no shellfish anywhere near the food, and he and his team would be following the original plans, save one thing. The bride and groom had thought it was kind of cool to have the sports drinks incorporated—despite their garish color. So those would stay, just not on the table. They’d be going home in everyone’s swag bags.
The door to the plane opened, and the pilot stepped out onto the boarding ladder clipped to the side of the plane. “Good morning! This is flight one-nine-one-Alpha-Tango-Delta that will take you to the main island. It’s a forty-minute trip from takeoff to touchdown. Welcome aboard.”