Oliver followed, but kept glancing over his shoulder at the closed door.
“She’s in good hands. If nothing else, Kelsey’s mother is a drill sergeant. She’ll have her sitting down with her feet up.”
Oliver gave me a tight smile. “I was beginning to think you were the Terminator, but you’re as nervous as the rest of us poor bastards on our wedding day.”
“I’m not having second thoughts.”
No, I was too worried that Kelsey was. I knew what I wanted, what I needed and it was her in my house and in my life. Period.
“Impressive. Even with a divorce in your rearview.”
I glanced up at him. “Good pep talk.”
“Sorry. I mean, this isn’t a shotgun wedding or anything, right? We don’t have to save you?”
“No. My idea.”
“Or is it the teacher we’re watching the back door for?”
“Shut up.”
Oliver grinned and clapped a hand on my shoulder. “If it makes you feel better, I think she’s into you. Kinda into you.”
The sing-song quality of his voice had me narrowing my eyes. “What are you, twelve?”
“More like Sage is going through a Harry Styles phase. I requested Beethoven for the IQ improvement component for the baby. She rejected my request. For the last month, that’s all I’ve heard.”
“So glad I have a boy. None of that boy band crap in my house.”
“Just you wait. Kelsey has been hanging out with Sage for the last two days.”
I shook my head as we turned into the doorway labeled Ford-Kramer wedding. My mother was sitting on one of the benches with Wes on her lap. Considering he never sat on anyone’s lap anymore, another layer of guilt threatened to put me on my ass.
Was I making a mistake rushing this along?
Wes had been unnaturally quiet for the last week as Kelsey’s boxes started arriving.
My mom looked up when I walked in and Wes wiggled down to run to me. “Daddy.”
I crouched and fixed his tie. “Being good for Gram?”
“I’m bored.”
“I know, buddy. The ceremony is going to start in a few minutes then we’ll go get some dinner.”
We’d made reservations at The Cove. The least I could do was make sure she had a nice dinner, even if we couldn’t pull off a full reception right now.
There hadn’t been time to save for a reception, or to pull anything together. Another mark in my bad bet column. But I’d make it up to her. I’d make it up to everyone.
August crossed the room to me. He was opening and snapping shut a small ring box over and over.
Wes pulled out of my hold and rushed to August. “Can I see the rings again?”
Aug flipped open the box.
“Can I hold them?”
“Gotta be careful with them. Leave them in the box, okay?” I smoothed down his little tie. The suit was a Kohl’s special. It would be in the donation pile in three months, but maybe we’d get Christmas out of it at least.