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“Okay, great. See you soon.” She shut the door resolutely in his face, all but skipping back to the master bedroom. “That was Rafe. It’s time to go!”
Another flurry of activity ensued as Leah and Nora left, Juniper picked up her bouquet and Mikayla straightened Billy’s tie. She made sure he had the rings in his pocket before grabbing her own bouquet.
They took the short walk across to the Long House, with the mid-afternoon sun dipping low in the winter sky. As they lined up at the double doors at the end of the house, Mikayla turned to Juniper, standing behind her, with her arm linked with Violet’s. A brief tingle of anger spurted as Mikayla thought about Juniper’s parents and sister declining the invitation to the wedding Juniper had graciously extended to them, overcoming William’s righteous objection to do so. But that was Juniper; generous, kind and loving and the best friend a girl could ever ask for. This was her day and Mikayla couldn’t be prouder to stand beside her as she married the man of her dreams. They grinned at each other and with her heart almost bursting, Mikayla reached past Billy to push at the doors. They swung wide, pulled by two black clad attendants, and she nudged Billy gently forward.
The room was hung with acres of white tulle intermingled with fairy lights. Candelabra lined the walls, fat pillar candles augmenting the soft glow of the fairy lights. A long, dark blue carpet flanked by rows of white fold out wooden chairs formed the aisle up the center of the room, with tables spread out in the lower half of the room. The lilting strains of an old Celtic love song soared across the room.
Billy balked as he approached the edge of the carpet and all eyes turned to him. He was too little to see over their heads to where William was waiting, so Mikayla bent down and whispered, pointing to Rafe sitting in the first row, looking down the aisle at them. Billy nodded and stepped resolutely onto the carpet, marching up the aisle. When he got to Rafe, he patted his pocket and whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, “I’ve got the rings in my pocket!”
“Good job, buddy. Go show your dad.” Another gentle nudge had Billy stepping up on to the raised platform and running to William, who picked him up so that he could see over everyone’s heads. Mikayla walked slowly down the aisle, holding her hand out for a low five with Rafe as she went past. “Nice catch,” she whispered, referring to his deft handling of Billy.
“Nice handball,” he whispered back. She laughed quietly, then moved to the dais to stand next to William and his sister Cassie, who was acting as his best person, and turned to watch Juniper and Violet walk down the aisle.
As Juniper and William exchanged their vows, Mikayla felt a lump in her throat and blinked back tears. It was all so lovely. She took a deep, shuddering breath, willing herself not to give in to the tears. She definitely did not want to ugly cry at her dearest friend’s wedding, even if it was with happiness. Without meaning to, her gaze slid to Rafe and her heart knocked hard against her rib cage. Jesus, he was looking at her like he wanted to devour her. But then he grinned at her and she smiled back before looking away, happy to note that at least she wasn’t on the verge of bursting into tears anymore. She pulled her attention back to the ceremony just as the celebrant said, “You may kiss the bride.”
Laughter rippled through the room when, quick as a flash, Billy leaned forward and kissed his mother, then with a hand around the neck of both his parents, he said, “Now you!” and pushed their heads together.
“Thanks, buddy,” William chuckled as he slid an arm around his wife’s waist and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her lips.
Then the ceremony was over, and guests were stepping forward to congratulate the happy couple. William’s mother, Gwen, was the first to throw her arms around Juniper and squeeze her new daughter-in-law tightly. An army of attendants moved about the room, rearranging the furniture. Fold out chairs were tucked under the tables as they were wheeled into position, the centerpieces made by Juniper and Leah placed carefully in the centre. They had put them in place with military efficiency and precision. Of course, this is what the Locke’s did best, corporate retreats and the ensuing functions, which went a long way to explaining how Juniper and William had been able to pull together so much in less than three months.
Mikayla stepped down off the platform, smiling at Rafe as he handed her a glass of white wine. She clinked it against his beer bottle before taking a sip. “Well, that went well. Billy was funny.”
“Yeah, that was hilarious.”
They stood in companionable silence for a while, then Mikayla’s eyes narrowed. “Do you think that guy’s checking me out?”
“Which guy?”
“Over there, talking to William’s sister, in the red shirt and hideous tie.”
“Probably. You look—”
She glanced up at him as he cut off what he was about to say. “I look what?” She frowned in confusion and rubbed her nose. “Have I got something on my nose? Is that why he’s staring at me?”
“No. You look hot.”
She beamed at him. “Aww, thanks, mate!” She surveyed the room. “Maybe I’ll get lucky tonight. Weddings tend to get me in the mood. But not with the guy in the red shirt, that’s for sure.” Rafe didn’t respond. Mikayla took another sip of wine, noting a little disconsolately that there didn’t seem to be a single guy in the room she could rustle up an even mild interest in. “On second thought, reckon I’ll just hang out with Leah. And you.”
“I’ll be here.”
She smiled at him again. “I’m gonna go chat with Violet. Grab me some chicken sticks if they come round, will you?”
“Sure.”
Mikayla made her way over to where Violet had just sat down at a table in the corner, sending her partner Jasper off to get them some drinks from the bar.
“Hey.” She dropped her bouquet on the table and pulling out a chair, sat down.
“Hello, love. Wasn’t that a lovely wedding?”
“One of the best.” Mikayla watched William and Juniper as they chatted to his parents. There was no mistaking the glow on them. “I’m so happy for them both.”
Violet gave a joyful sigh. “Me too.” Jasper came back with a glass of wine, kissing Violet on the top of the head before wandering off.
Mikayla could feel Violet’s gaze on her before she said, “You’ll be next.”
Mikayla gave a start. “Me? Don’t think so.”
