“Mrs. Ashland, hello. As always, the party is incredible.” She and the staff had worked together for months to put everything together.
Nora tutted and pulled me into a warm embrace. “Call me Nora, sweetheart. You’ve always been and will always be family, my dear.”
Tears welled in my eyes, and I whispered a soft, “Thank you,” before she moved to give her son a kiss on his cheek. He had to bend in order for her to reach, and it would have been comical if it weren’t so sweet.
His father, Thomas, gave me a quick peck on the cheek, his arm bracing around my back for a second. “My wife is better with words, but I am glad the two of you finally saw what we’ve always known.”
“Thank you, Mr. Ashland.”
Thomas gripped Beckett’s hand and reminded him to take care of me. I was going to start crying soon, if I didn’t get a breather.
Beckett’s family had always welcomed me into their home, and the entire group of them had become a sort of surrogate family for me, but I hadn’t expected them to be this magnanimous about our relationship changing.
It was a relief and a weight off my heart to know that his parents weren’t upset that the relationship between me and Beckett had evolved.
Thankfully his parents were called away by another guest, and we had a moment alone.
Beckett tipped his head close to my ear. “Do you feel better?”
As emotional as I was, I did, actually. I nodded in answer as someone else called for Beckett’s attention. He kissed my temple, and with his hand on my lower back, guided us to whoever wanted to chat.
A little bit later, Beckett gracefully extracted us from a conversation with Jim Turner of Turner Timber Co., right as Thatcher scooped me into a hug with a whoop of, “Finally!” and causing Beckett to drop his hand from my back.
Thatcher spun us once, and I laughed at his enthusiasm. “Put me down, you weirdo.”
He gave me a gentle squeeze as he did and whispered, “I’m so happy for you two. It’s about time.”
“Thanks.” I squeezed him back. Thatcher was one of my favorite people – even when he’d gone through a phase of pulling at my ponytail for an entire summer. It would make me shriek and then Beckett would chase Thatcher off.
The realization struck me, and I stepped back into Beckett’s arms. “How long have you suspected?”
Thatcher only winked at me and gripped Beckett’s shoulder. “Happy for you, Becks. Good job not fucking it up.”
“And we’re going to warn you now,” Noah, the youngest of them, appeared out of the crowd. “If you hurt her or break her heart, we’ll kick your ass.” He gave his oldest brother a shit-eating grin before he pulled me into a hug.
“So much for brotherly loyalty,” Beckett muttered.
Thatcher shrugged. Noah let me go and said, “She’s always been a sister to me and Thatch, and you’re not the first guy we’ve threatened on her behalf.”
“What?” My voice was almost a shriek as I whirled on Noah. Beckett laughed, the rumble vibrating against my back.
Thatcher said, “Why do you think that guy you brought to the party a few years ago left without saying anything?”
I had no words. That guy, Charlie, had left me at the party, and then never called me again. I’d been so confused and hurt.
Anger heated my skin and I stepped away from Beckett. “You assholes. I was upset for weeks. Why would you – how could you – I … Oh, I am so mad at you!”
“Woah. No, no, Clara,” Thatcher started, clearly surprised at my reaction.
Noah stepped in, a hand against Thatcher’s chest. “Clara, he was bragging to a group of us about how he landed you and planned to get you to sleep with him that night. I won’t repeat what he said because it was gross as hell. He didn’t know who Thatch and I were and what you mean to us. We threw him out of the party and told him where he’d end up if we found out he talked to you ever again.”
My anger deflated. Oh. Well, ew. “You should have told me.”
“Maybe. But we did tell Beckett.”
I looked up at him. He’d been silent the entire conversation, letting me handle the revelation. “You knew?”
He nodded. “It’s why I was ready with ice cream when I drove you home that night.”
