The dam breaks and the tears fall. I look over my dad’s shoulder, trying to calm myself down. The whole room is watching us. I spot Hunter holding Ryder just off to the side, he waves Ryder’s little hand at me.
I laugh. “Thanks Dad. You don’t look so bad yourself. You know, for being a grandpa.”
“Such a smart ass.” He laughs. “Your mom and I are really proud of you MacKenzie. You’ve grown up to be such a great young woman and a wonderful mom to Ryder. You really stepped up.”
“Oh Dad,” I manage to choke out.
“Just because I gave you away today, it doesn’t mean you’re not my baby girl anymore. I’m always going to be here, whenever you need me.”
I take a few moments to compose myself, “I love you Daddy, more than you’ll ever know.”
The song comes to an end as my dad says, “I love you too baby girl.” He kisses me on the cheek and I hear him sniffle.
The song ends and the DJ starts playing Cupid Shuffle by Cupid. I’m so happy for the upbeat song; I think I’ve cried enough for one day. Mason is sitting at the table looking miserable. I dance over to him and force him onto the dance floor. He knows better than to say no to me today.
Mason stands to the side while I dance and he looks on, laughing at me and Aunt Betty. Our Aunt Betty is in her seventies, she’s a trip to hang out with. You would never know she was that old by the moves she has.
When the song ends, I link my arm with Mason’s and pull him down to the beach with me. I’m all sweaty from dancing and need some fresh air.
“Wow, look at it out here. I love the way the beach is lit up with these candles.”
Mason doesn’t reply, he just sighs loudly.
“You hanging in there?”
He looks at me like I’ve lost my damn mind. “You let her bring that Cole guy?”
I knew he was going to ask that. “Mase, what choice did I have? She asked, I couldn’t exactly tell her no.”
He sighs again, “I know.” He digs his feet in the sand.
We stand there for a few minutes; the reception carrying on behind us, the ocean crashing in front of us.
“Don’t make me regret what I’m about to tell you.” I say to Mason.
He looks over to me and nods.
“Hailey is taking care of Ryder from Sunday until Tuesday at my house. If you can find the time in your busy ass schedule, stop over there.”
“Is he going to be there?” Mason questions.
“Cole?”
He nods.
“No. It’s not like that with them, Mase. Hailey isn’t ready to move on, she’s still heartbroken. I’m hoping that this time I’m giving you guys to ‘play house’ will help. I know you had plans to move her in with you.”
He snaps his head over to me.
“Remember, no more secrets between Hunter and me.” I wink.
He laughs, “This ought to be good.”
I get chills from the mental images flashing around in my head. “No, we don’t talk about that shit. I don’t ever want to know.”
We both laugh.
I see a couple standing up down near the ocean, it takes me a minute to figure out who it is. Once the wind picks up and they walk a little closer to one of the candles I can tell its Hailey and Cole. Hailey turns towards the ocean again while Cole keeps walking. I tap Mason with my elbow and nod in her direction. Mason stares at her with a painful expression on his face. Cole passes by us and I give him a little wave.
I lean over and kiss my brother on the cheek, “Go talk to her. I’m going to go get Hunter and get out of here.”
Mason groans, “I didn’t really need to hear that last part, Kenz.”
I laugh as I start to walk away. “Try to keep her from walking in on us huh?”
He shakes his head and wanders over to Hailey. As I walk back up on the deck Hunter swoops in and wraps me in his arms.
“There you are, baby.”
I wrap my arms around his waist, “You ready to get out of here soon?”
“Hell yes.” He moans in my ear.
Hunter and I walk over to the DJ and ask him to play one last song for us since we are heading out when it’s over.
The Time Of My Life by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes starts playing. Hunter and I start singing it to each other, laughing and carrying on. Damn, I love him with everything that I am. He’s so handsome when he isn’t worrying about the rest of world.
He pulls me close to him. Our fingers entwined and hands down to our sides, chest to chest, and our noses just about touch. He stares into my eyes and it makes me weak in the knees. “I’ve got one last little gift for you.”
“Yeah?” I say breathlessly.
He lets go of my right hand and reaches into his pocket. He pulls out a little blue Tiffany’s box with a white bow.
“Hunter, I think you’ve given me everything a girl could possibly need. You didn’t need to do anything else.” I say as I reach with shaky hands to take the box.
“I didn’t buy this recently.” He says as I slip off the bow.
When I take off the top of the box, nestled inside is a diamond encrusted key. I look up at him, a bit confused.
Hunter kisses me. “It’s the key for the locket I gave you a two Christmases ago. I told you it had a key and I would give it to you when I was ready.” He kisses my lips again and a tear slips down my cheek. “I’m ready CC.”
I put the lid back on and slide my arms around his neck, “I love you. I love you so much that sometimes I feel like this is all a dream.”
Hunter wraps me tightly in his arms and lifts me up off the ground. “Then is a dream that I don’t want to wake up from.”
I kiss him until we are both breathless.
After the song ends, Hunter and I walk around and say our goodbyes to our friends and family. We tell a few of my cousins we will get together soon and we promise to stop down to see Bentley and Zeke when we get back. I thank Logan for coming and tell him we’ll stop and see him when we visit Bentley and Zeke. I smile over at Dominic and thank him for coming as well. He barely meets my eyes when he congratulates us again.
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into letting him come.” Hunter says as we make our way over to Mom, Dad, Hunter’s mom and Ryder.
I pat him on the stomach, “Hey, if it wasn’t for him screwing up then we may not be together.”
Hunter stops walking. “I was coming after you one way or another, CC. It just took me a little too long to realize that I couldn’t live without you.”