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I pushed away those thoughts because they felt too huge. Instead, I focused on the material tacked behind the larger wrought iron cage with the fat cabbage roses in deep burgundy and white tucked into the chain and along the top of the cage. More of the long wheat things were sprayed behind the perfectly in bloom flowers.
The scent of eucalyptus drifted toward me and…was that fabric softener?
“The Chief’s dad is pretty amazing. He added the little dryer sheet fans to the flowers to keep the bugs away. There aren’t as many this time of year, but the yellow jackets are mean. Don’t need them stinging the wedding party.”
“Genius.” I let his hand go and went right to the bird cage that was hung a bit lower. My fingertips flirted with the edges of the flowers and the sweet fan, but what I really wanted to focus on were the tiny birds inside the cage. “Is this what you were working on?”
“Yeah. Lovebirds. They mate for life.”
Happy to have small hands for the first time in my life, I was able to snake my way into the small door. My eyes misted as I noticed the pillow at the bottom of the cage with their rings in it.
The whole thing was at the perfect height for me to grab the rings during the ceremony. He’d thought of everything.
“The other cages have our family.”
I swallowed, afraid to ask if I was in one of the cages.
“My dad is the magpie. Typical since he lives for the shiny things in his shop. My mom is the little Blue Jay. Angry and too smart for their own good. My dad drives her crazy, but they love each other.” He winced as his mother’s voice bellowed from the house.
I swallowed down the lump in my throat, blinking away the emotions that tried to drown me at all the thoughtful touches he’d added. They showed just how much he knew his family.
“See? She’s just worried about the schedule. I’m pretty sure the only reason she didn’t have a meltdown is that Tab gave her an extra two weeks to nail down the details.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets. “She’s more traditional than I ever expected.”
And she was going to end up with her youngest son’s baby mama, who made chaos look orderly.
“Anyway, I don’t know too much about your family, but the two owls seemed to fit, and there you are.” He slid his palm down my back. “Hummingbird. Tiny and fierce, and they love to eat,” he said, his voice low.
I laughed. As usual, even at the height of my overwhelming emotions, this idiot could always make me laugh.
He brushed his lips along my ear. “I hid a tiny egg in there.” His arm came around my front, teasing the belt of my romper. He poked my belly. “For our little one.”
“It’s so perfect.”
“I hope to make you something for our wedding day. Different, of course.”
I whirled around on him, pushing him back. “Don’t talk like that.”
“Why shouldn’t I?” His expression was intense. “We fit. Even without the baby, we fit better than anything I’ve ever known. You have to feel it too.”
I shook my head.
“You can lie to yourself today because it’s Tab and Brady’s day. But I know where I stand. With you. Always.”
“Mav! I need your help.” His mother’s voice rose to reach us.
He cupped my cheek. “I’ll wait until you believe it.” Then he took off across the lawn, leaving me there in the most beautiful spot I’d ever known.
For a moment, I let myself imagine.
And believe.
TWENTY
Pushingmy feelings for Vanessa down and into a box to get through the day was proving a bit more difficult than usual. Probably because every time I turned around she was staring at me with those huge, confused blue eyes.
I could see the tiredness around the edges, but she was in flight mode.
She talked a good game most of the time, but I had shaken her today. At this point, it was go big or go home. I’d wait for her to come to her senses.
