Page 28 of One Chance to Stay (Bears of Firefly Valley #4)
Audrey stood in front of the selectman, smiling at her partner. I hardly knew him, and never spoke with her, but the look between them… Without a word, I could see the story of their love written in wet streaks and beaming smiles. The audience applauded. I went to join and?—
A finger hooked about my pinky.
Glancing down, Seamus had, in the smallest way, surrendered to the moment.
A pinky opened the door, and with love in the air, I gladly walked through.
Turning my head forward, I squeezed his hand.
With all eyes focused on the couple on stage, our actions hid in plain sight.
The sentiment, however, couldn’t have been louder if he spoke.
Our journey had barely begun. We fumbled with our thoughts, our motions, and even our intentions.
Yet, I couldn’t help but wonder if there’d be a moment where we’d stand on the stage for all to witness.
Did Seamus think about remarrying, or did he find it out of reach?
In his flannel suit, I imagined him standing on the top step, wondering how he got so lucky.
Wedding fever had taken hold. It might be nothing more than a fantasy, but the idea of him smiling… While we both thought ourselves the luckiest man alive, I squeezed his hand. Who knew if we’d get there? I honestly didn’t know if I wanted it, but I wouldn’t mind planting the seed of possibility.
I tried for a subtle glance. He watched, unblinking, face blank.
A master of expression, he withheld any hints about his emotions.
That is, until his body betrayed him. The tear rolled down his cheek, and I wanted nothing more than to wipe it away.
For now, I’d respect his space. I squeezed his hand tight, hoping he could feel the emotions running rampant in my chest.
“The couple have prepared their vows,” said the selectman.
I’d start with the man who opened the door with a rifle in hand. I’d tell the story of how a calamity of errors led to us, with a bottle of bourbon and dancing. The crowd wouldn’t believe it, at least most of them. I wanted Grace to smile as she remembered the dad who showed up in a Santa outfit.
“Audrey Presland, the first time we met, you said I was over the top, too much, and had a flair for drama.” Walter chuckled.
“You got me.” The crowd laughed. “And you spent the rest of the night making faces at me.” She flipped her hands, turning her fingers into glasses as she pushed up her nose, tongue sticking out. “That’s when I fell in love.”
They were two of a kind.
“You were like a gift?—”
“Oh,” I whispered. While Walter continued confessing his love, I let go of Seamus’s hand.
He had distracted me from the reason behind my costume.
Pulling the sack from my shoulder, I reached in, fishing around for the box.
Not wanting to interrupt the nuptials, I gave Seamus a gentle elbow to the ribs.
When he glanced down, I pulled out a rectangular present.
Watching his face, he looked from the box to his daughter and back.
I hoped the red wrapping paper gave him enough clues to connect the dots.
When he chewed his top lip, I knew I had struck a nerve.
More than that, if he figured out its origins, he’d know that I wasn’t alone in the planning.
Walter laughed. “I knew I had a partner for life when you promised we could outrun the cops. We’ve been on the run ever since, and there’s nobody I’d rather have in my hideout.”
Seamus took the box, turning it over in his hands.
Grace had helped me pick out the closest paper to the night he showed up at her door.
His eyes traveled upward, the same timidness I had witnessed time and time again.
Now they were filled with tears. I glanced at the package, urging him to open his gift.
His finger slid along the seams.
“After today, we’ll never need to testify against one another.”
My head shot up. I must have missed something. Had Walter confessed to being on the lam? Was he reciting his vows or setting up an alibi? I would need to ask for a recap of this speech. At the same time, it’d be the least shocking thing to happen during this wedding.
Seamus gripped my hand. I turned to see streaks glistening along his cheeks, vanishing into the white of his beard.
The flannel-clad bear stared at the half-opened package, the label on the deer pellets exposed.
I stood between a memory his daughter cherished and one revealing his depth.
I wanted to whisper, “You’re not alone. We see you. ”
The edges of his lips… Seamus smiled.
He returned to the couple on stage, his hand holding mine as if he wanted to keep me from running away. If only he knew. I might be running, but it wasn’t away from him. The cheesy thought had me chuckling. I gave myself grace and blamed it on the beaming couple on stage.
Audrey had nearly finished her vows. “And the way you threw toilet paper over his house, I had found the man I wanted to spend my nights with.”
The selectman’s face scrunched up. “That was my house!”
“Kiss the bride!” Harvey gave Walter a playful shove.
Walter and Audrey kissed. Then they kissed . The cheers faltered when she dipped him. Parents covered the eyes of children as the couple went from chaste to foreplay. After a minute of slobbering, even Harvey took a step back. He moved between the crowd and the couple, pointing down the green.
“We hope you’ll join us for the reception at the American Legion. Plenty of food and drinks for everybody. When I pry apart our lovely couple, they’ll join you for cake and dancing.”
As the crowd stopped focusing on the gazebo, Seamus let go of my hand. With a final squeeze, we parted. I wanted him to know I’d be there, ready when he found his courage. I looked forward to the slow courting. It’d give me time to work through my own baggage before trying to match it with his.
“Thank you,” he mumbled.
“Are you coming?”
Seamus shook his head. He had come this far. I hoped he’d break free from whatever held him back. That wasn’t for me to decide. What I wanted, and what he needed, might not align, and I’d meet him on his terms.
“You’ll owe me a dance,” I whispered. I shot him a grin as I backed away, tossing the sack over my shoulder. “Ho. Ho. Ho. Young man, make sure to mind your manners. Don’t forget Santa checks his list twice.”
I nearly bumped into a young girl, her eyes wide as she spotted the fabled Saint Nick. I had come prepared. Without missing a beat, I reached into my pocket and produced a candy cane.
“And my list says you’ve been nothing but nice.” Her mom’s eyebrow went up, suggesting otherwise. “Mostly nice still counts!” I handed her the treat and shot Seamus a wink before heading toward the Legion.
I’d put in some face time with the locals. But already, I planned my escape. Before tonight ended, I’d be standing on a snow-covered porch.