A Merry Vested Wedding

She grinned. “Are you ever going to get tired of calling me that?”

I bent and kissed her. “I have waited a long time to be able to call you that, so nope. I will never tire of it. Pops and Nan are leaving, and I think I’ve partied enough.”

She grimaced. “I won’t argue there. My feet are aching from all the dancing. And I’m hungry.”

“If you’d eat something, you wouldn’t be so hungry. You’ve only picked all night.”

“I can barely breathe in this corset thing, let alone eat,” she admitted. “I want out of it.”

“That’s a plan I can get behind. Go say good night to Pops and Nan. I’ll get you a snack.”

She rose up and kissed me, her lips warm and soft. “Thank you.”

“Anytime.”

She floated away, her skirts billowing around her. I headed to the kitchen and ten minutes later found her still talking to Nan. Pops stood to the side, Nan’s coat draped over his arm as he listened to their conversation, a bemused smile on his face.

Sandy looked incredible. Her pure-white hair was swept up and away from her face, the vivid blue of her dress lovely with her coloring. She had lots of laugh lines around her eyes and mouth but refused to worry about them. “I’ve earned them,” she liked to say.

Still, her eyes were bright and her smile wide. She walked with a slight limp since her hip replacement, but she was active and energetic. Aiden made sure of that. Jordan was tall and strong, always close in case she needed him. They were a great couple and the best grandparents around. We were all lucky to have them as part of our lives.

Nan saw me approach and beamed. “There he is. You ready to take your bride away from all this?”

I kissed her cheek. “Her feet hurt and she’s hungry.” I indicated the basket I was holding. “I had the kitchen pack up some tidbits for us.”

“Already a good husband.” She patted my cheek. “Just like your father.”

My dad doted on my mother. She was devoted to him as well. It was a good example to try to follow.

I glanced around, noting Gracie in a serious conversation with her plus-one. He was listening to her, leaning on a pillar, sipping a brandy with a small smirk on his face. She looked pretty hot and bothered, but he seemed at ease and not at all put out by her gestures or the words she was flinging at him. Cami, Emmy, Mom, Katy, Liv, Fee, and Becca were at a table together, watching them. Heather was dancing with Reed, the two of them wrapped around each other as per usual.

“Where are the guys?”

Jordan snorted as he slipped Sandy’s coat over her shoulders. “On the balcony with a bottle of scotch. I think Bentley is wallowing, and his boys are with him for moral support.”

Addi’s gaze drifted to the glass doors. “Daddy,” she murmured, looking sad.

Sandy chuckled. “He’s fine. Let him have his pout with his band of misfits. It’ll be their turn soon enough.” She indicated Grace and Heather. “I think Richard needs to prepare himself.”

“I think he’s accepted Reed. He likes him.”

“It took a while, though.”

“True.” Richard had thought Reed and Heather were only friends. Until the time he flew in unexpectedly and caught them kissing in the office. That had been an interesting day.

Reed and Heather were still a fairly new item. When she arrived in Toronto, he had been friendly and offered to show her around. None of us thought anything about it, until they started arriving at the office together, holding hands. I knew Bentley had spoken to them, reminding them of the policies in the office.

“You break up? You keep it between you. I have zero problem getting rid of trouble. You understand?”

They only seemed to grow closer. They kept their PDA behind closed doors for the most part. Although their teasing and quips often made me chuckle during meetings.

I was talking to my dad in the hall when a familiar voice rang out.

“Mad Dog!”

We turned to see Richard striding down the hall.

He and my dad shook hands and gave each other a one-armed hug. “What are you doing here?”

“Heather sounded strange on the phone. I was a bit worried, so I decided to come see for myself what was going on.”

My dad and I exchanged a glance. I hadn’t noticed anything off with Heather. “She seems fine to me,” I offered. “But I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to see you. She’s in her office,” I added.

“I’ll go surprise her.”

He disappeared around the corner, and I heard a knock, then silence, followed by another knock. Heather only ever closed her door if she needed privacy.

I frowned and looked at my dad, panicked. “If Heather’s door is closed…” I let my voice trail off. “Does he know about Reed?”