My Sweetheart (25 page)

             
Meredith looked at Tate worriedly. “Well, you know Jane’s a nerd right? I mean, she doesn’t look like it but on the inside she’s a total bookworm. I thought it was cute,” she said sounding disappointed in Tate’s reaction.

             
Tate held up a hand to Meredith and shook his head as he stared at the picture until everyone felt a little awkward. He finally looked at Jane, and there was so much emotion in his eyes she caught her breath. He finally turned to Meredith and smiled at her before picking her up and hugging her tightly.

             
“Meredith, I will never call you a brat ever again. You are an artist. Thank you for taking these pictures. I can’t believe you did it for free. You could charge hundreds and hundreds of dollars for portraits like these,” he said setting her down and taking the portrait out of her hands and handing it to Tawni.

             
Jane squeaked as Tate pulled her into his arms and tilted her back over his arm. “You do make me feel like a prince in a fairy tale. You’re definitely the queen in my story,” he said and kissed her again, making the last kiss look like a peck.

             
Meredith groaned loudly and covered her eyes. “You two are worse than Feke and Tawni.
Enough!
I’m going to set up the smaller portraits on the tables.”

             
Jane ended the kiss and stared up into Tate’s warm eyes. “I’m glad you like my pictures.”

             
Tate frowned. “I didn’t even know you’d had them taken. I can’t believe you had all this done in two weeks,” he said standing up straight and looking at the portrait again with a smile.

             
Jane leaned up against his shoulder and grinned. “She did them two days ago and took them to Costco. One hour printing too.”

             
Tate started to say something but stopped when Kit walked up to her still wearing shorts and a t-shirt and a frown. She gestured to Jane’s portraits and glared at her. “What the heck Jane? I share my reception with you and you go behind my back and get amazing bridal portraits done. So rude! Your portraits make mine look fussy and boring. I’m furious,” she said putting her hands on her hips.

             
Jane grinned and shoved her hands in her pockets. “Meredith took these two days ago in our backyard and down at the school. We were done in an hour and a half. She got these blown up at Costco for me. It was all under a hundred bucks,” she said, wincing as Kit’s eye turned stormier.

             
Kit stomped her foot like a two year old and stepped closer to Jane. “I want her to take my bridal pictures. I’m throwing the ones I have out and getting new ones. I could just scream,” she said and then spotted Meredith.

             
“
You!”
she shouted at Meredith, making her head swivel in Kit’s direction. “Yeah you. We’re having a little chat right now,” she yelled across the lawn and started jogging toward Meredith who was backing up quickly and looking for her car.

             
Jane laughed and clapped her hands as Kit cornered Meredith and began pointing and talking furiously. Within seconds, Meredith’s fear was replaced with a cocky grin.

             
Tate laughed and kissed Jane on the cheek. “Kit just made Meredith’s life. Sweetie, guests will be arriving in about a half an hour. Maybe you should go put your dress on and put your hair up, hmm?”

             
Jane looked down at herself and squeaked. He was right. She hugged him quickly and then ran for the house, stopping to grab Kit on her way. Layla helped her with her hair and her dress running back and forth between her and Kit just like she had this morning.

             
Jane grabbed Layla’s hand before she could run back to Kit and frowned. “Hey, you’re going to be worn out if you keep this up. How are you feeling?”

             
Layla smiled and hugged her. “I only threw up once this morning and I took a nap when you guys did so I’m good. You don’t worry about me. This is your day Jane. It’s all good.”

             
Jane hugged her back and turned and looked in the mirror. She turned left and right, checking her dress and let out a happy sigh. She’d worn her long warm brown hair up in a twisted up do. Layla had added miniature daisies throughout the twists and she admitted that she liked the whimsical touch. She walked over to the window and noticed they already had guests arriving.

             
She leaned up against the wall staring down at the people walking around smiling and talking. She saw Tate hurrying over to greet his aunt and uncle and the big smile on his face. Toa put his arms around Tate and hugged him hard, not letting go for a long time and she could feel the love that Toa had for his nephew. His aunt pulled his face down and kissed him and then Kam was there picking him up in his big arms and squeezing tightly.

             
Jane grinned as more cousins surrounded Tate and she felt gratitude well up in her heart for her husband’s family and their support. Granted it was late coming, but they were here now and that’s what mattered.

             
Kit walked up behind her and they stared down at the beautifully decorated yard and the well-dressed guests.

             
“You ready princess?” Kit asked her softly.

             
Jane reached out and hugged her sister. “Thank you for everything you’ve always done for me. I remember when we were little and we never had much, but when you got a treat from school you’d always save it and bring it home so you could share with me and Layla. And now you’re sharing your reception with me. You’re the best sister in the whole world,” she said closing her eyes against the tears of gratitude that were threatening her mascara.

             
Kit held her back just as tightly and kissed her head. “Anything I have is yours Jane, you know that. Well, except for Hunter of course. I can’t share him. Everything else though,
yours
.”

             
Jane looked up, grinning at her sister. “I love you Kit.”

             
Kit nodded her head. “I know. You keep telling me you love me at least twenty times a day. If you really want to pay me back for sharing my reception with you, you’ll get down there and smile, chat, laugh, have fun and dance until you’re sick. I want you to enjoy yourself and be so happy you could float. Okay?”

             
Jane laughed and let Kit go. “I will if you will.”

             
Kit grinned and took her by the hand as they walked out of the room and towards the large open doors leading out to the reception. “This is going to be a night to remember.”

              As Jane walked down the stairs with Kit at her side, the crowd magically parted and Tate and Hunter appeared, side by side as if it had been scripted. Tate held his hand out to her and she moved toward him, smiling shyly.

             
Tate took her by the hand and then led her from group to group talking and introducing her to his friends and relatives. Jane laughed and talked and forgot every single name she heard, but with Tate’s arm around her, she didn’t want the evening to end.

             
She would catch glances every now and then of Kit and Hunter and they’d lift a hand and wave and smile at each other. Jane was surprised at how debonair Hunter looked tonight. He might have fired Tony, his image stylist, but you would never know it. Since falling in love with Kit, he didn’t have to fake confidence anymore. His natural charm and intelligence acted like a magnet to people now that he wasn’t self-conscious and insecure. Add in a chiseled profile and he and Kit looked like they were made for each other.

             
Meredith walked up and took a quick picture of her and Tate and then wandered off again. Jane smiled after her friend, amazed at how signing up for Meet and Match had not only introduced her to a lifelong friend, but had introduced her to Rugby and put her in the way of Tate. If not for Meredith, she’d still be looking forward to seeing Tate briefly at the bakery once or twice a week.

             
Tate gently guided her to the next group of guests and Jane came face to face with Garrett
. Her Ex.
Garrett stared at her for a moment without any expression and then he blinked and his face hardened in fury.

             
“Are you kidding me? We just broke up two months ago. And now you’re
married!
” he said, his voice getting louder and louder as his hands clenched at his sides.

             
Tate frowned and put his arm around Jane’s shoulders, bringing her in close to his side as Kit, Hunter, Michael and Layla quickly appeared at her side, surrounding their small group. Julie took the guests who had been standing by Garrett and ushered them to the refreshment table.

             
Jane reached out a hand, feeling sick with guilt as she realized she hadn’t once thought of Garrett since she’d gotten engaged. She should have at least sent him an email warning him.

             
“I didn’t realize you’d be here Garrett, but I should have. I’m so sorry this is the way you’re finding out. It’s all happened so fast that I haven’t even had a moment to think clearly.”

             
Garrett closed his eyes as if he were vibrating with rage. Michael stepped forward and put an arm on his shoulder. “Garrett, it’s my fault. You’re one of my best friends. I should have been the one to tell you. With Layla being pregnant and sick on top of the wedding I just wasn’t thinking.”

             
Hunter shook his head and moved to stand in front of Garrett. “No buddy, I take full responsibility. I invited you to my wedding reception because you’re my friend but we switched it at the last moment so that Jane could have a reception too. I’m sorry man. I know this is a horrible shock for you. What can I do to make this better?” he asked, softly in a calming voice.

             
Garrett finally opened his red blazing eyes and stared at Hunter as if he were crazy. “How can you make this better? Make Jane
my
wife and get rid of this jerk,” he said motioning towards Tate.

             
Jane could feel Tate stiffen but then bit her lip as Tate’s cousins circled around them. She glanced at them nervously but Kam caught her gaze and winked at her. They weren’t here to hurt Garrett, just to keep the peace.

             
Tate let go of her and stepped forward, patting Hunter on the shoulder and moving to stand directly in front of Garrett. Garrett stared at him with furious hate-filled eyes and Jane swallowed sickly.

             
“Garrett, I know you honestly care for Jane. I knew it that first day I met you in the bakery. I was feeling a little of what you’re feeling now that day. But I want you to know that I have loved Jane from the very beginning. I turned my back on her because I wanted to honor my family but I realized the only way to honor my family was to honor myself and accept the fact that I love Jane with all my heart. I have and I always will cherish her. I’m sorry for your hurt here today, but I want you to know that you’ll never have to worry if she’s loved or being treated well or if she’s safe and happy. I promise you, she will be.”

             
Garrett stared at Tate for a moment and glanced at Jane one more time. He shook his head and shoved his hands in his pockets and looked at his feet. “Well, there’s not much I can do about it now,” he said tiredly.

             
Jane watched as Garrett moved to the side of Tate and stood in front of her, staring at her sadly. “I really thought if I gave you enough time, you’d come back to me,” he said softly, his angry eyes turning soft and sad. “I wish you all the happiness in the world Jane,” he said and turned around and shoved his way through the wall of men surrounding him.

             
Kam turned and watched him go with a frown. “I think I’ll just keep an eye on him for a while,” he said and walked after Garrett.

             
Jane let out a shaky breath and was immediately hugged by Tate. He kissed her temple and tilted her chin up. “That wasn’t fun, but don’t let it ruin our evening okay? It was sad, but it’s now in the past.”

             
Layla touched her shoulder and smiled at her. “He’ll be okay Jane. It was just a shock seeing you married is all.”

             
Kit nodded her head and frowned after Garrett. “He’s tough. If Iraq couldn’t kill him, you won’t.”

             
Jane snorted and shook her head. “I just feel kind of horrible right now, like one of those horrible girls who go around breaking guy’s hearts for fun. I hate that he’s hurting because of me.”

             
Tate sighed and took her hand. “This sounds harsh, but there’s nothing you can do. It’s time to serve the roasted pig. My uncle Toa will serve us first. Come with me,” he said and led her toward the large pit covered with leaves and rocks.

             
Jane’s sadness and regret faded as Tate fed her morsels of pork and Samoan delicacies. All of Kit and Hunter’s friends were fascinated by the Samoan food and traditions and surrounded the pit wanting to join in. Hunter especially loved the pork and the Kale Moa. Toa held his hands up for attention and motioned for Tate and her to come forward. Kam and Feke had lit a few bonfires by the water and a line of young Samoan men lined up in front of the fires.

             
“This could not be a Samoan wedding without our traditional wedding dance,” Toa announced to the crowd of over two hundred people.

             
Jane glanced around at Kit and smiled wide hoping this was okay with her, but Kit and Hunter were holding hands and staring at the men, their eyes happy and excited. Jane relaxed into Tate’s arms and looked up into his face. Tate was practically glowing with happiness. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “This is exactly how I dreamed my wedding reception would be like,” he whispered excitedly.

             
Jane jumped a little as the men began chanting. They were all wearing skirts to their knees and leis made of leaves around their neck. They started slapping their thighs and chests and twirling around, growing louder and faster. She grinned and clapped her hands as Tate yelled along with the crowd. When the men finally finished, Tate picked her up, holding her high above his head as she laughed and screamed to be put down. Hunter, not to be outdone, lifted Kit just as high and the crowd roared their approval.

             
Jane and Kit laughed before pulling their husbands back to the tables where it was time to cut the cake. Kit and Hunter smashed their cake all over each other’s faces, laughing like naughty teenagers. Kit’s cake had been made by a bakery in Seattle since Kit had been too busy to make her own. Jane looked at her small cake and smiled. She’d made it herself the day before and was very pleased with it. It was four layers in square stacks. She wasn’t the cake maker, Kit was, but she’d watched and learned over the months. And besides, there was no way she could order a cake on her time schedule and not have it cost a fortune.

             
She had made the largest round on the bottom, with white fondant and then painted with food coloring to give it an ombre look. The next smaller round was in pale pink with the darker shades of pink flowing up into the third round in an orange fading up into the smallest round that she’d painted a yellow that faded up into a soft cream. The cake itself was lemon flavored and she’d placed lemon curd between the layers.

             
Tate cut a piece off the top layer and held it smiling teasingly at her. Jane stepped forward cautiously and cut a slice and held it in her hand. They took a step toward each other as the crowd went silent. She could sense Meredith sneaking up to get the money shot. If Tate smashed that cake in her face, she knew she probably wouldn’t be happy about it. Kit was insane to want cake shoved up her nose, but that was Kit for you.

             
Tate leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Open up Sweetheart,” he said and opened his mouth up for her bite. They both carefully and slowly fed each other the cake, grinning at each other as they pulled away, clean and happy.

             
Jane laughed in relief and took another bite of cake. Tate finished off his piece and closed his eyes. “
Mmm
, delicious,” he said and looked at the cake, hoping for another piece.

             
Kit walked over, frowning at her cake. “Mine was dry,” she hissed, glancing at her tower of pale silver fondant with pearls and white ribbon surrounding each layer. It was very classy looking and very elegant.

             
Kit walked over and ignored everyone as she cut a slice and took a bite herself. Her mouth kept working as she glared at Jane. “First your portraits, then that pig and now your cake. Jane, if you upstage me on one more thing, I’m kicking you out of this reception and you can hitchhike back home,” she said, loud enough that at least thirty people heard.

             
Light laughter erupted throughout the crowd as Jane hugged Kit, laughing softly. “Your cake was perfect Kit. Honestly, it looks amazing and you wanted to shove it up Hunter’s nose. Now if you want to
eat
the cake, you want mine. Kit, you’re sharing your whole reception with me. I’ll share my pig, my photographer and my cake with you. I already told Meredith to take just as many shots of you as she does me.”

             
Kit relaxed and smiled. “Good. You know, this reception would be a disaster without you.”

             
Jane shook her head laughing. “Stop it. It would have still been incredible. We’re just adding a little spice to the event is all.”

             
Hunter hugged Kit from behind and overheard the last comment. “Not a little.
A lot
. I’m dying to try your cake Jane. Do you mind?”

             
Jane laughed and started cutting the cake for everyone, handing out plates to everyone who wanted a piece.

             
Toa and Pika appeared at her side, smiling. Tate stepped closer and put his arm around her shoulders and his hand on his uncle’s arm. “Are you enjoying the party?” he asked.

             
Toa nodded and smiled at Jane. “It has been wonderful. Pika and I are happy for you. Seeing you together and seeing the love and happiness that you have with one another is a comfort. After your honeymoon, you must bring your wife to dinner. We want to get to know her better,” he said and leaned over and hugged Jane.

             
Jane’s heart burst as she hugged Toa back and then Pika. She looked at Tate and smiled, seeing the joy there. If they’d gone ahead and gotten married without Toa and Pika’s blessing, they would have still been happy, but having them here and happy multiplied their joy.

             
“I can’t wait,” Jane said and stepped back into Tate’s arms.

             
Toa looked thoughtful for a moment and stepped closer to them. “You know I was against this relationship from the start but I was wrong. When Tate is with you I see something in his eyes I’ve never seen before. There’s a gentleness in his eyes when he looks at you. You will be good for one another,” he said with a firm nod of his head and then took his wife by the hand and walked away without another word.

             
Tate held Jane’s hand and lifted her face to his for a light kiss. “You are a miracle worker,” Tate whispered in her ear.

             
Jane laughed and shook her head. “Hardly, but I am a little surprised. All I had to do really is tell them how much I loved you.”