Honeymoon Phase By Amy Daws Read Free Chapter 39

Luke

It’s wedding prep madness on Fletcher Mountain as my brothers and I assist the rental crew who are here to set up the large outdoor tent for the reception tomorrow night. The tent comes equipped with ceiling heaters and clear sides that zip closed to keep the warmth in without impeding the view of Fletcher Mountain. It’ll feel like we’re in one of those clear igloos I see at restaurants in Denver. But here we’re in the middle of the mountain. It’s spectacular.

My mom and Everly are buzzing all over the place, literally wearing matching headsets as they transform the space into a winter wonderland of garland, pine cones, wood accents. They bark orders at Dakota, Trista, and Cozy, who all took the day off to help prep for the big day tomorrow. Even John’s girlfriend Edith showed up to help with all the decorating. For a small wedding, this is looking like quite the production.

Wyatt walks out from behind his house, carrying a large box of twelve-inch logs sliced into cookies, similar to the pieces I cut off for the lumberjack competition.

“What the hell are those for?” I ask as he sets them down on the nearest table.

“Those are the wedding favors for guests!” Everly exclaims, walking over to us with her own box in hand. She sets it down and pulls out a mason jar with a white LED tea light candle inside. The jar is wrapped with a piece of twine that holds a sprig of eucalyptus and baby’s breath around it. She sets it on top of the round wooden slab and smiles. “They’re the table centerpieces and everyone gets to take one home at the end of the night.”

“Eucalyptus was marked as her favorite green filler plant on the quiz,” my mom says, rushing by with a box just like Everly’s. “Think Addison will like them?”

I smile and nod even though I don’t really know for sure if eucalyptus is her favorite plant. I just knew that was the scent on the lotion she wears every day, and it was an option in the multiple choices, so I marked it.

I watch as Everly and my mom begin placing the centerpieces along the long wooden tables that are covered with deep green velvet runners down the center.

A bar is stationed in the corner with a hot cocoa sign that’s written out in calligraphy on a chalkboard. There are twinkling fairy lights running up the beams that support the tent casting the space in cozy, yellow lighting.

“Another truck is coming!” Ethan yells from the pasture where he’s chasing Trista’s alpacas around like a wild man. Rufus is MIA, likely fearing for his life.

A loud beep sounds on Everly’s headset. “Grandma, the chair rental guy is here. I’m going to go meet him and tell them where to set them for the service.”

“By the bench, dear.”

“Copy,” Everly says and marches off.

Calder calls out to Everly. “Do you want me to bring out my—”

“Shhhh!” Everly hisses at Calder. “No, we’re not revealing that until later tonight after the dinner.”

“Got it, boss.” Calder salutes.

I cut him a look. “She’s even got you in on this shit?”

Calder waggles his brows. “Oh yeah . . . I’m all in, bro. Speaking of which, I need to go check on the car service guys your wifey had us book for everyone tonight. They’re doing pickups at Judy’s, and I need to make sure those guys have four-wheel drive. Better go find my phone.”

He takes off to resume his work and I look around, seeing that everyone seems to have a job, except me. Glancing at my cabin, I decide that maybe my wife could use some help inside, so I make my way out of the tent to head up the hill.

It was Addison’s idea to host the rehearsal dinner at our place and do all the cooking even though I said we could have the Mercantile do the food. They’re already catering tomorrow night, so it would have been very easy to add to their list, but my wife would not be deterred.

As I walk into the house, my nose is filled with the scent of savory meat and smoked spices that makes my stomach growl. Addison opted for a cowboy-style dinner of brisket, short ribs, corn on the cob, and some kind of twice-baked potatoes that she made me taste test earlier in the week. And of course, she worked her ass off late last night making fresh sourdough bread rolls and cinnamon butter to go with everything.

My wife is an overachiever.

Which is only confirmed when I find her in the kitchen wrapped in nothing but a bath towel as she bends over the oven to temperature check her meat.

I’d like to temp check her right now.

She turns her head when she hears me coming. “How’s it going out there?” she asks, closing the oven and shooting me a nervous expression.

“It’s total chaos,” I reply, stifling down my dirty thoughts.

Her face falls. “Shit . . . I should go out and help.”

“No, you shouldn’t,” I bark firmly, glancing at the windows to see the curtains are all still closed. “Everly and my mom insisted this all stay a surprise and that’s what we’re doing. No peeking.”

She groans and grips the towel wrapped around her head. “I shouldn’t have let them do all the planning. They’re probably going overboard.”

“Oh, they’re definitely going overboard,” I confirm and laugh at my wife’s panicked expression.

She spins to walk away, but I capture her in my hands, pulling her back to me. “Relax, they love this shit.”

She shakes her head. “I just . . . I’m starting to feel guilty about everything.”

“Don’t,” I rasp, pressing a kiss to her lips. “They love doing this. They love you.”

“They do?” Her brows lift and she looks up at me timidly, like it’s even in question.

“Of course they love you. You’re . . .” my chest contracts with the emotion swelling inside of me “. . . easy to love.”

Her lower lip disappears between her teeth as she stares at my chest, mulling something over. What I wouldn’t give to have the power to reach inside her mind and hear what she’s thinking.

Just say it, Addison. Say you love me. You look at me like you do. You touch me like you do. Why can’t you just say it?

“How much hair did you get cut this morning when you went to town?” she asks, changing the subject as she pulls my hat off and musses my locks.

“A decent amount. I thought it would look better for the pictures.” I drag my hand through my freshly trimmed beard as well. “Do you hate it?”

She shakes her head. “No, I like it. I . . . love it.”

My brows pop. “Love it?”

“Yeah.” She combs her fingers through my tresses, scoring her nails on my scalp as I melt into her like I always do when she touches me. “I . . . love it,” she confirms, making it very clear she’s capable of using that word. I stare deeply into her eyes, willing her to say more, but she inhales sharply and looks away. “It’s getting late, and my dad is going to be here soon, so I better get ready. You too, Fletcher.”

She pushes me away playfully and I struggle to hide the disappointment on my face. We’re so close . . . and yet . . . so far away.

Addison

My heart races as I hold a glass of wine to my lips and glance around the dining room table consisting of my dad and Edith, Luke’s mom, his three brothers and the ladies, plus Everly, Ethan, and Stevie.

I smile as I watch Stevie at the far end of the table struggle against Trista’s attempts to wipe barbecue sauce off her cherubic little cheeks. Wyatt is grumbling next to them while dabbing at a barbecue sauce stain that Stevie managed to smear all over his white button-down and a strange premonition hits me.

I swear I can see me and Luke in a similar scenario. The two of us at this table with a little one of our own. Arguing over whose fault it is. What would the baby look like? Me or Luke?

My heart races with that imagery because it doesn’t make me panic. It makes me happy. It makes me feel excited about the future.

I twine my fingers through Luke’s on top of the table, and he turns to smile at me, pulling my hand up to press his lips to my knuckle. He laughs at something Ethan said, looking away as his eyes crinkle in the most delicious way. His new haircut and trimmed beard give me butterflies as he sits there in a dark green dress shirt that brings out his eyes. What a husband he makes.

When I finally pry my attention away from him, I catch Everly grinning at me from across the table. I shift in my seat, adjusting the turtleneck of my cream sweater dress self-consciously because I swear, I’ve caught that girl looking at me all night. I’d be developing a complex if she didn’t seem so happy.

Everyone is happy.

I am happy.

I am in love.

I push back from the table, needing some air because no matter how many times I say that in my head, it still sends me into a mini panic. “I’m going to get the dessert.”

“Can you wait a second on that, Addison?” Johanna asks from her place at the end of the table. She stands up from her seat between Trista and Edith and holds her glass up. “I feel like I’m doing a lot of toasts these days.” She eyes Trista and Wyatt, rubbing her hand on Trista’s back affectionately. “I don’t love doing them, but I know Steven would if he could so . . .”

Everyone’s smiles twitch as she sighs heavily, staring into her wineglass. “It’s an accomplishment to fall in love with another person. To open your heart and decide to let someone in. It puts you at great risk of being hurt because, well . . . your heart is open. It’s more vulnerable and that can feel scary.”

Her hand trembles so she brings her other up to steady it. “Luckily, you two kids started off as friends, so your hearts opened to each other slowly over time. You always knew it was in safe hands. Which is why none of us were really that shocked to find out you got married on a whim without telling anyone first.”

The table laughs and Luke squeezes my hand, kissing it again. God, this all feels real.

“But I’m real glad to have tomorrow to celebrate the two of you,” Johanna continues. “This wedding has given me the opportunity to get to know you more, Addison, and it is painfully obvious why it was so easy for my Luke to fall in love with you. You are salt-of-the-earth goodness, honey, and I’m thankful you see in my son what I’ve always seen. His big, open heart. To Addison and Luke.”

“To Addison and Luke!” Everyone cheers and clinks glasses.

My dad holds his drink up to me, catching my eyes for a long moment before I feel Luke’s hand on my cheek as he turns me toward him.

He presses his lips to mine in a sweet, soulful kiss that I lean into, prolonging the contact because in some strange way, it feels like the first real kiss I’ve had with him. My heart is open too now. It’s as vulnerable as Johanna said. And somewhere along the way, I’ve given it to him completely and I hope he’s given me his in return.

“Okay, guys!” Everly claps her hands, ripping us from our moment. “The officiant texted and she’s on her way up the mountain so we can head outside to do the rehearsal now. Bundle up, it’s going to be cold.”

I move to glance out the window and Everly sidesteps to block my view. “Not yet! I need a ten-minute head start so, Luke . . . control your woman.”

Luke laughs as Everly throws on her coat and runs outside with Jo to greet the person in charge of the service tomorrow.

“Quite the ordeal,” my dad murmurs under his breath as he slips his work coat on and zips it up to his chin.

“They all mean well.” I glance over to Luke, who’s waiting at the front door for me.

“I’m not saying it like it’s a bad thing. This is all very nice.” He offers me a crooked smile as he helps Edith with her coat. “I’m happy for you, Addie.”

“Me too, sweetie,” Edith confirms as she wraps her arm around my dad and smiles warmly at me.

I stare at the two of them holding each other, finding each other even later in life than I’m sure they wanted. But they just work. It’s plain as day and I’m happy for them. I’m happy they have each other. Edith is good for my dad, and he deserves it after all the pain he’s suffered. His suffering has been greater than mine in many ways. He lost a wife, a son, and became a single father all in one horrific night. It’s a wonder he’s even allowed himself to find love again at all.

Without thinking too much about it, I attack them both with a hug that clearly shocks them as they harrumph in stereo into my ears. Their bodies tense with surprise, but Edith catches up to the moment quickly as she squeezes me back, her sniffles echoing in my ears while my dad begrudgingly accepts the forced affection. It’s not the most elegant of embraces, but if my old man can soften up enough to accept love, then surely I can too.

“Alright, alright. Don’t get all soft on me.” He huffs out an awkward noise and wiggles himself free.

Edith’s smile is grateful, and I feel excited about the future of our relationship now. So much has changed, and I hope this means only good things to come for our family.

My dad nods toward the door, ignoring my tears. “Let’s go see what all the fuss is about. They probably flew in fucking penguins or some crazy shit.”

I can’t wipe the smile off my face as I hold Luke’s arm, and we shuffle out into the cold, boots crunching over the snow-packed driveway toward the yellow lights shining just past the tent that’s all closed and dark. According to Everly, I don’t get to see that space until tomorrow. The girl seems to be running the show now that she’s here and I wonder what we’d do without her.

“Whoa,” Luke says, stopping us in our tracks. “This is beautiful.”

I inhale sharply as I take in the sight of where our ceremony is happening tomorrow, positioned directly in front of the memorial bench of Luke’s father like we’d planned. It’s the perfect lookout point on Fletcher Mountain, and it feels as if it was meant for exactly this kind of setup. And what a setup it is.

Yellow twinkle lights illuminate several white chairs lined up neatly in the snow with an aisle down the middle framed with garlands and glowing lanterns. The city of Jamestown glows at the base of the canyon walls, just below the captivating view of the starlit winter sky.

Everly and Johanna appear before us, smiling ear to ear. “Everything is lit with LED lights because Uncle Wyatt is a freak about open flames up here,” Everly says, nudging her uncle.

“Eighty-five percent of forest fires start because of careless humans,” Wyatt grouses.

“Yeah, yeah, we got it,” Everly murmurs, side-eyeing me.

“Do you guy like it?” Jo asks, turning around to stand beside me and take it in from my vantage point.

“I love it,” I reply, moving toward her to give her a hug. “You knocked it out of the park, Jo . . . and Everly, I suspect.”

Everly squeals excitedly and claps her hands.

“Where did that pergola come from?” Luke asks, frowning back at my mom. “Was that from the rental company?”

Calder steps forward with a sheepish smile on his face.

“You made that?” Luke asks, his face slack with shock.

He shrugs and waves his hand casually. “Yeah, you know, I had some extra wood lying around.”

“Jeez, man.” Luke shakes his head in disbelief.

“It’s stunning,” I offer, stepping closer to admire the wooden pergola draped with Edison bulbs, asymmetrical evergreen garlands, white roses, and hunter-green velvet ribbons.

“I thought we could put it over Dad’s bench after the wedding stuff is over. Give us a little shade when we sit there.”

“It’s too much,” Luke says, stepping closer to Calder and pulling him into a hug. “That was too fucking much.”

They clap each other on the back, not saying anything, and we all watch as they share a quiet brotherly moment together, Johanna fighting back tears.

“Wait until you see inside the tent tomorrow,” Everly whispers to me.

“I’m already blown away,” I state, still taking it all in.

“Are we all ready?” a woman dressed in a tan one-piece snowsuit asks, walking up to us with a binder in her hand. “I’m Sharon and I’ll be doing your service tomorrow. I know it’s cold, so I’ll make this rehearsal quick and easy so we can all go home and . . .” The woman’s voice trails off as she looks up into the night sky. “Oh my, it’s snowing!”

Everyone’s heads lift as large, puffy snowflakes begin to float and swirl all around us, illuminated by the moon’s silvery glow. It’s beautiful and feels like some sort of magical gift. Luke’s eyes find mine and we smile at each other as the flakes cling to our lashes and hair.

“Well, this wasn’t in the forecast but will certainly make for some beautiful pictures tomorrow,” Sharon says with a bright smile. “Let’s begin, shall we?”

Luke moves toward me, taking my hand in his and leading me down the snow-kissed aisle. I never thought this would be my life. I’d been determined to miss out on this, if I’m honest. And now I understand Luke’s annoyance that I’d planned to marry a logger. Nothing about the wedding would have been real or special. And despite the fact that I’ve never dreamed about getting married, Everly and Jo have somehow made this a wedding of my dreams.

Fact: I’m about to marry my best friend . . . and I’ve never been happier.