Page 27 of One Chance to Stay (Bears of Firefly Valley #4)

Patrick: What are you all wearing?

Amanda: Something slutty. Warm. But slutty.

Jon: Matching suits.

Tyler: He made me do it.

Jason: We made the mistake of buying something.

Simon: Mistake? I look cute as all hell.

Chris: I look like a designer Christmas tree.

Bobby: He’s not lying. I’m almost ashamed.

Bobby: Almost.

“Not my brightest idea,” I mumbled.

I pulled at the crotch of my pants, painfully aware of the high inseam.

The suspenders were let out as far as they’d go, but it wasn’t enough.

There were at least three inches between my boots and the hem of the pants.

Even the jacket struggled to cover my belly.

When I reached under my beard, the fake beard, I scratched the real one.

Here we go, Santa.

I slung the red sack over my shoulder as I started along the walkway.

The sun had dipped behind the mountains, the light quickly fading.

Instead of descending into darkness, Firefly created a spectacle for Walter and Audrey’s wedding.

I passed through an audience of snowmen, several tipping their top hats in my direction.

White Christmas lights decorated nearby trees, keeping the darkness at bay.

Every so often, a colorful sphere sat on the ground, lighting the walkway as if it glowed.

Firefly had created a winter wonderland to celebrate the big day.

I feared I had gone too far. Walter had given me his Santa costume without hesitating. He had bought it, hoping Audrey would agree, but she demanded he stand at the altar in a suit. Did I take the Christmas theme too far?

“There he is!”

“Oh, my.”

Tyler came charging down the path with Jon in tow. The two men wore green vests, green pants, and bright red ties. I knew the moment I left the library, Tyler would call Jon. Firefly probably had an impromptu town meeting to discuss my plan. I’m surprised I hadn’t been invited for a Q&A.

“This is the cutest thing ever.” Jon gave me a big hug. “I approve.”

“You said you were delivering gifts!” Amanda stood between Jason and Simon, dressed in a provocative interpretation of Mrs. Claus. If I didn’t know better, I’d say Jason and Simon acted as her bodyguards. Though seeing them dressed as chubby elves, they couldn’t be any less menacing.

“I—”

“It’s Elsa, isn’t it? Cheating on me for your winter queen.” She threw the back of her hand to her forehead, leaning back until Jason caught her. “What will the kids think?”

The bell on Simon’s cap jingled as he shook his head.

At least this proved I hadn’t gone overboard with the costume.

I’d fit right in at the wedding. How many of them had these outfits lying around, ready for a Christmas-themed event?

Did Firefly require it when moving in? Or did it come as a care package?

I bet they had a committee providing two flannels and a casserole with a welcome note.

“I should?—”

Amanda lunged forward, grabbing my cheeks. “Six o’clock. Slow turn. Be subtle.” Her eyes had gone wide, an intensity she normally reserved for the ladies at the bar.

I turned as if I were talking to Tyler. I thought she wanted me to see an audacious outfit worn by him .

Seamus stood next to Grace as she carried on with a lively conversation.

From head to toe, he wore a dark red flannel— a suit made of flannel.

Pants. Shirt. Vest. Jacket. Even the bowler cap on his head matched.

I fought back a gasp when I realized it wasn’t suit material, but actual flannel.

Seamus had that gem hidden in his closet?

“Don’t lose him in the sheets,” she whispered in my ear.

“Leave him alone,” Jason chided. “He does look rather handsome.”

“We’ll discuss your coming-out party later.” With that, she gave me a smack on the ass. “Let’s go find Bobby and Chris. I need everybody in town to see these legs.”

Amanda knew my secret. Jason knew it, too.

I should have guessed the moment Tyler revealed the plan to Jon that he’d activate the text chain.

Before talking with Grace, I would have been nervous.

Her confession lowered my anxiety, but it didn’t eliminate it.

Now that they all knew I had a thing for a gentleman in town, I assumed they’d turn it into a gala at Spectrum.

Seamus would die the moment the Glitterati Guild pulled him on stage.

As they walked away, I was left standing there alone, bag dangling at my side.

Seamus continued staring at his feet, not participating in Grace’s conversation.

She had done her part, dragging him here.

If he hadn’t wanted to come, he’d have said so.

He wouldn’t have come wearing his best Canadian tuxedo.

He kicked at the snow along the bank before looking in my direction.

I gave him a slight wave.

His eyes narrowed.

I pulled my beard down, smiling. He put his hands on his daughter’s shoulders, kissing her cheek before walking in my direction.

Over his shoulder, Grace gave two thumbs up.

She had pulled off her part of the plan, and now I needed to uphold my end of the arrangement.

Slinging the bag over my shoulder, I walked toward Seamus.

We stopped, staring at one another. If I weren’t wearing the white gloves, I’d have reached out and run my hands along his chest. I didn’t care who saw.

They’d assume I wanted to see if the fabric was as soft as it appeared.

I’d be bold enough to let strangers see me touch a man who, despite his reluctant attendance, made the event worthwhile.

“Nice suit,” we said in unison.

“Did Grace get you that?”

He looked down. “No.”

“So, you had it lying around in your closet?”

Seamus looked down before gripping the collar of his jacket. “It’s festive.”

He wasn’t wrong, but I also don’t think he understood why it seemed out of character. I wanted to hug him for stepping outside his comfort zone. “So, what made you come?”

His expression threw accusations like daggers. “Grace got a bee in her bonnet about me attending.” He stepped forward, stepping within my bubble. To any onlooker, we were having a private conversation. For me, he took leaps and bounds, giving those in the know a display of intimacy.

“I think the idea wasn’t entirely hers.”

“Guilty.” I flashed a smile, going overboard, so it showed through the snow-white beard. “I wanted to see you.”

“You could have come by.”

“I wanted to see you in public.”

“Why?”

Good question. Why did I want to drag him from the comfort of his house and force him to sit through a wedding?

Seamus might not realize it, but there were people here, me, Grace, even Walter, who wanted to rekindle relationships.

I still wasn’t sure what caused the falling out, but I hoped that seeing people who cared for him would help him mend old wounds.

“Because I’m not the only one who wanted you here.”

He raised an eyebrow as I prepared to launch into a lengthy explanation. As the string quartet started playing, the bridesmaids zipped down the path, urging people to take their places. Grace slowed as she approached, stopping long enough to kiss her dad on the cheek.

“You two handsome men, find your spots.”

I was about to trudge further up the path to where the townspeople congregated, but I froze as Seamus offered his arm.

He kept his eyes forward, intentionally avoiding eye contact.

Yet again, he proved that there were ways to express himself without words.

In his dapper suit, I couldn’t help but swoon.

“Why, thank you, good sir.” To the onlookers, it was two grown men in tawdry outfits making a spectacle. If they only knew the importance of such a simple gesture.

I linked arms as we headed toward the crowd. For now, the final piece of my surprise would have to wait until after the happy couple said their vows.

There wasn’t an emotion left by the time Walter and Audrey joined hands.

The quartet had played a jaunty number as a few hundred people gathered around the gazebo.

Harvey escorted his best friend up the path.

They wore matching kilts, down to the furry white sporran cinched around their waists.

When they got into the gazebo, Harvey spun the groom around, dipping him low before planting a kiss.

The crowd cheered. Everybody celebrated their friendship, a genuine display of healthy masculinity.

I might have thrown in a few hoots and hollers.

Grace and Megan arrived in green cocktail dresses.

Out of everybody in attendance, they looked the most like a normal wedding entourage.

Seeing the addition of matching oversized green puffy jackets made them fit in with the over-the-top grandeur.

Instead of flower petals, they tossed fistfuls of pine needles.

Everything about this wedding had been turned into a spectacle filled with laughter.

I found myself swept up in the magic only found in small towns.

How had Walter convinced Audrey to…

“Wow,” I gasped.

Audrey didn’t let Walter do a damned thing.

Dressed like the Elf on a Shelf, she would walk several feet before pausing, posing like a broken doll.

Her hands covered by white mittens, and a pointy red hat atop her head, she had gone the extra mile.

Her skirt, made of tulle, dragged along in the snow blending wedding elegance and humorous Christmas chic.

She posed next to us, giving everybody a chance to take photos. This was the perfect union.

As she climbed the steps of the gazebo, Walter’s eyes widened. The admiration and joy were enough to leave me choking back tears. Walter lost the battle, wiping his eyes by the time she reached the top. Tears streamed down his face, glistening from the Christmas lights strewn about the ceiling.