The Best Man (Blue Heron #1)(36)
“We weren’t gonna have sex!” Abby wailed. “If they’d even tried anything, I would’ve bitten everyone.”
“You’re drunk. I can’t believe my little girl is drunk,” Pru said, her voice baffled.
“And you’re a sex addict,” Abby said.
“Underage drinking is against the law,” Levi said, his voice mild. “What you were doing was stupid, Abby. Your mother is right. Two boys, one girl, stupid. And that gorge is dangerous. A hiker broke his neck out there last year, and it took us four hours just to get him out. He’s paralyzed for life.”
Abby’s eyes filled with tears. “Everyone hates me,” she said, then promptly puked into the garbage can, making Everett gag in sympathy.
“Levi, can I take her home?” Prudence asked, and Faith’s heart gave a tug. Poor Pru looked years older.
“Absolutely,” Levi said. “I’ll come by tomorrow.”
“Okay, baby,” Pru said, holding Abby’s hair away from her face. “Let’s get you home. We’ll deal with this when you’re sober.”
“Like you’re so perfect,” Abby sobbed. “Auntie, didn’t you ever do anything stupid when you were my age?”
Why yes, honey, as a matter of fact. Faith cleared her throat and didn’t look at Levi. Her face felt hot. “Well, sure. But there’s stupid, and then there’s life-threatening. Let’s go home and clean you up, and you can enjoy your very first hangover.”
“Am I gonna be arrested or something?” Abby asked, looking at Levi.
“Go home and sleep it off, Abby,” he said. “All three of you kids will have to do some community service. But don’t you ever do something like this again, you got it? Josh Deiner is not someone you want to hang out with.”
“Okay,” she muttered, tears dripping down her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Mommy.”
“Let’s get you home. Your father’s going to have a fit, you know.”
This brought on more sloppy crying. Faith sighed and grabbed Abby’s backpack.
“It was so great seeing you,” Everett whispered, beaming. “Want to have a drink sometime?”
“No! I mean, sure, to catch up, but not romantically, okay? Because I babysat you.” Faith smiled firmly.
“You know, I used to think about you when I—”
“That’s enough, Everett.” Levi’s voice was calm.
“Right, right! Sorry, sir!” Ev looked at Faith again. “You look great.” He blushed, and she couldn’t help a smile.
“Faith.”
Levi’s voice made her jump.
“Yes?”
“Give her a talk. She obviously worships you.”
For the first time in a long time, it seemed like Levi was looking at her with something other than contempt. And you know...a man in uniform...with those big, brawny arms... Her knees felt abruptly weak. “Okay. Thank you, Levi.”
And she forgot, at least for a little while, that Levi was the one who ruined her wedding and outed the man she loved.
CHAPTER TEN
NATURE HAD PULLED OUT all the stops the morning of Faith and Jeremy’s wedding. The sun shone over the lake, burnishing it a deep, aching blue, and it seemed that every flower and tree was at its most beautiful as the limo drove from the Hill down to the village square. Faith wore a Cinderella dress, the tight, beaded bodice catching the light and throwing rainbows through the car, the tulle skirt so puffy that it almost obscured Abby, who was chattering with excitement. Prudence looked strange and beautiful out of work clothes, her eyes crinkling in a smile. Both her sisters wore pink, Faith’s favorite color, and Colleen, as maid of honor, had a dress slightly deeper in shade. Faith hadn’t wanted to choose between her sisters, so Colleen had gotten the nod.
“You girls,” John Holland said, his eyes damp. “So beautiful.”
Faith realized she was clenching her bouquet. She wasn’t nervous. Well, a little. But not about marrying Jeremy, of course not. No, it was probably just stage fright. There’d be three hundred people at the church, after all. So yes, it was probably just that. Once she saw Jeremy, those nerves would disappear.
He’d called her last night to tell her Levi had been delayed in Atlanta and would have to meet them at the church, not to worry, he’d be there.
“That’s good,” Faith had said. The truth was, she wouldn’t have minded if Levi got stuck and missed the entire wedding; she hadn’t seen him since high school, and she wasn’t really looking forward to that bored, condescending air he always had around her. Then again, surely all that childish stuff was done. She was about to become his best friend’s wife, after all. Besides, no negative thoughts would be allowed on the night before her wedding. “It’ll be great to see him,” she added. Points for positive attitude.
Jeremy hadn’t said anything.
“Honey? You still there?” she whispered.
“I just wanted to tell you that being your husband is everything I’ve ever wanted,” Jeremy said, his voice husky.
“Oh, Jeremy,” she whispered. “I love you so much.”
That’s what she should be thinking of on this beautiful June morning. Not the tremor in her stomach. Maybe she was just missing her mom, because what girl didn’t want her mother on her wedding day, to exclaim and shed a few tears...and, if the case called for it, to reassure.