Then the recessional began—Joe Cocker’s “You Can Leave Your Hat On.”
More cheers and laughter.
Austin and Lexi linked arms and danced together back through the spiral. They’d gone maybe twenty feet when Austin scooped Lexi into his arms and spun her off toward the rose arbor.
Now, finally,finally, Eric got to touch Victoria. He stepped forward, offered her his arm, and the two of them walked back down the aisle together.
“You look beautiful,” he whispered to her. “I could barely take my eyes off you.”
“Thanks. You, too.” She gave a furtive smile. “Can we talk?”
“I think we have to sign the marriage certificate and then pose for a bunch of silly photos. There might not be time until after lunch and all the speeches. But, yeah, we definitely need to talk.”
They passed Megs and Ahearn.
“What’s the matter, Megs?” Eric teased. “Got something in your eye?”
“It’s these new contact lenses.” Megs dabbed her cheeks with a tissue.
“Right.”
When Victoria laughed, it felt like the rising of the sun.
* * *
They signed the marriage certificate, then posed for photos for the better part of an hour. Vic hadn’t managed to get a single private moment with Eric. Guests now took their seats in the party tent, the sides of which had been tied back, while the catering staff hurried to set up a buffet.
It was then Vic finally saw Eric alone, strolling across the grass.
She lifted her skirts and hurried over to him. “Do you have a second? I really want to talk with you.”
He glanced toward the tent. “They’re about to open the buffet, so we don’t have much time.”
“I wanted to apologize for how I reacted last night.”
“You have no reason to be sorry.”
“You’re not angry with me?”
His brows drew together, and he pulled her with him behind the rose arbor. “I’m not angry at all. I’m sorry for what I said last night. I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. But, hey, we’ve got all night to talk this through.”
Somehow she didn’t think they’d spend much of the night talking.
He ducked down and kissed the swells of her breasts.
“Bobbing for apples?” a man’s voice asked.
Lexi’s dad.
Eric drew back, tried to look casual. “Hey, Bob.”
Vic’s face burned.
“Come on.” Eric took her hand in his, and they walked together toward the tent.
Then Vic saw him—Bear.
He stood on the sidewalk in front of the inn, watching, hat and Bible in his hands.