Page 17 of Skipping Stones
Anna laughed and Kirsten playfully tossed a throw pillow at her friend. “Not our Derek of course,” she explained. “They’ve been friends for too long for that. But with someone like him.”
“Well, she’ll have to take care of herself over there,” Anna said. “Maybe MJ can help her. But back here, this new look of yours will surely help your dating life. I think I know a few good options!”
Another throw pillow came her way, and the women giggled like schoolgirls.
* * *
Derek rushed to the tailor before they closed. His wedding suit was ready, and he had to ensure it didn’t need last-minute alterations. It was a pain in the neck, but at least it wasn’t like Olivia’s gown. His fiancée seemed to have had endless fittings, probably because her schedule was keeping her from eating properly. Olivia had lost several pounds she couldn’t afford to lose in the run-up to the nuptials.
As the tailor tugged on the jacket and smoothed its lapels, Derek thought once again about how much he wanted this wedding to be over. It was just two weeks away but had become a huge source of stress for both of them. They simply had too much going on and he was frightened something was going to break. They’d bickered about it, Derek trying to get Olivia to slow down just a little bit. He hadn’t been successful.
The old tailor nodded his approval. The groom would look perfect. As he headed back into the dressing room to change, Derek admitted he wasn’t taking his own advice. He was deep in a domestic violence case and was bound and determined to get it tied up before the honeymoon. His client, impoverished since birth, had chosen the wrong man. She’d been routinely beaten by her husband and Derek was going to get results for her and her children.
Heading home, Derek stopped at the local market. It had been ages since either of them had cooked. Maybe, if he planned a nice meal tonight, they could have a quiet evening with no talk about their cases or the wedding. He had a basket full of food when his phone rang.
“Hi, Derek. I’m going to be late for the charity event tonight,” Olivia said in a rush.
Derek felt deflated. He’d forgotten about this one. He turned and started putting things back on the shelf. “Why don’t I come and get you from the office when you’re ready and we’ll go together?” he suggested.
“No, this event is important,” she said. “You should be there for the whole thing. I’ll come as soon as I can. Promise.”
“We need a vacation.”
“Honeymoon’s coming. Just two more weeks.”
Derek smiled. “I love you, Olivia.”
“Love you too! Now I have to run so I can finish. See you soon!”
Derek walked home slowly. Yes, this wedding couldn’t be over soon enough.
8
Derek stood on the top stops of the Silver Lake church. The sun was shining, but he hardly noticed. By his side was his beautiful bride, the diamonds in her ears almost as bright as her eyes. Aiden had kept him calm that morning—the best best man ever, he joked—and all his friends and family were there to be part of it. A perfect day. The fact that the hassle of wedding invitations and the million other decisions was behind them was just a bonus. Now he was married to the most beautiful, most talented, most driven woman he knew. They were a family and their whole life was ahead of them.
“Can you believe it?” he whispered to Olivia as they started down the steps hand in hand. “I’m your husband.”
“And I’m your wife,” she whispered back, glowing with the excitement of the day. “I love you.” She stopped at the bottom of the steps and kissed him. A light breeze carried the sensual jasmine scent of the perfume Olivia always wore, and which she matched in the bouquet she was carrying. “For now and for always.” Olivia’s lace overlay gown was deceptively simple, hugging every curve and flaring out at the bottom slightly, mermaid style. She wore a satin bolero for church, but it would be coming off soon. The dress had a plunging neckline, with netting to hold everything together, but it was the deep cut of the back that was the star of the show. Derek’s hand crept up under the cropped jacket now, touching her bare back. He was anxious to get her alone tonight.
* * *
Linney had watched the service with her grandmother on one side of her and Kirsten on the other. Anna and Danny, who were sitting in front of them had just turned around to chat.
“It was a beautiful wedding,” Linney said. Anna was dabbing at her eyes and Danny stroked her arm tenderly. Kirsten sniffed and Linney reacted. “Don’t you start crying too! It’ll be your turn soon enough,” she teased.
“Or yours, maybe,” Anna jested, as she folded her handkerchief and put it back in her purse.
“That would be nice,” Linney’s Gran said. “I’d like to see you settled, dear. Maybe you’ll bring Mac home to meet me.”
“I’m working on him,” Linney said, but her voice was flat.
The group made their way to the back of the church, following other guests. Danny took her grandmother’s arm as she shakily descended the steps. “Thank you,” Linney mouthed to him at the bottom, and he nodded. Gran seemed even more frail than she had at Easter, and Linney realized she needed to put on her research hat and start looking at retirement homes. For when they needed to, she told herself. Gran didn’t need one just yet. She put that thought away as they reached an impromptu receiving line in the church gardens.
The wedding party had been small—just Aiden, who Linney had met several times in Toronto—and Olivia’s best friend from law school. Linney gave Aiden a friendly hug, and a perfunctory kiss on the cheek to the maid of honour who she didn’t know well. Moving down the line ahead of her, Gran congratulated Derek’s mother.
“Well, you did it!” Linney said to Derek and Olivia when she reached them. “Congratulations, you two. May you have all the happiness you deserve.”
“Thank you, Linney.” Olivia reached out politely to hug her.