Three and a Half Weeks(194)
He laughed. “There you go. But, no. I want you to see the love shining through, love for you and only you. If I hadn’t met and had relationships with all those other women, how would I have almost immediately known that you were the one? They were merely yardsticks on which to measure how much I love you, and how high a bar you set, baby.”
I let it go after that. How could I not when he said such lovely things to me?
Now I dig in again, and like a juicy steak that gives you colon cancer, this discussion was going to be unhealthy for us to have. “They are not coming to our wedding. What is wrong with your mother? Did you not tell her of your history the day of the lunch she gave?”
“I told her, Ella. But here’s the thing: Kaylie is one of my sister’s very best friends and Diana is my father’s partner’s wife. How in hell can my mother not invite them?”
I do not want to back down on this one. But I may have to bend because I see his point. “Can you at least ask her if it’s possible before the invitations are sent out? I think I should be able to feel comfortable at my own wedding.”
“I will. But, Ella, even if they are present, it’s not going to make a difference. There will be so many guests there and we’ll be busy. Chances are you won’t even see them. Kaylie will be with Zoe and Diana will be with her husband.”
“Was she good in bed?”
His eyes pop open, wider than the Continental Divide. “Are you seriously asking me that?”
“No, it was a joke. Yes, I’m asking; I want to know. Was she?”
“Yes, she was… proficient. But it was just mechanical sex: there was no affection involved. When that’s the case, it can never be too good, now can it?”
“I wouldn’t know, Ian, for as you yourself have pointed out on numerous occasions, I hadn’t had any sexual experience before you. Perhaps I should rectify that so I can have yardsticks by which to measure you?”
Smoldering eyes zoom in on me. “Do so at great peril: your own, and whoever has the audacity to touch you.”
“You’re not smiling. You would kill me if I cheated?”
“Kill you? Ella, what’s gotten into you? Are you trying to provoke a fight?”
What has gotten into me? It must be nerves. Maybe I am trying to goad him into an argument so I could call off the wedding. I’m nervous about taking this step. Isn’t it usually the man who gets cold feet?
So I backed down. “Just ask your mother. Do it for me. Okay?”
Later that week, when I walked through the entrance hall of Ian’s house, I heard his and his mother’s hushed voices. The fact that they were hushed just made the prospect of eavesdropping that much more appealing. I tiptoed closer and, peeking in, tried to listen.
“… and it wasn’t.”
“Ian, I don’t want to disappoint her.”
“Mom, you cannot allow Zoe to invite whomever she desires. I’ve already told you about her friends. I won’t allow Ella to be uncomfortable at her own wedding.”
“Okay, agreed. So we’ll ditch Kaylie Ayres. What about Diana Benson? Why the no-go on her?”
“Do you really want to know, Mom?”
Faith just looked at her son in consternation. What is it she does or doesn’t want to know? “I’m afraid of the answer but you’re just going to have to spill, Ian. I have to invite them—he’s your father’s closest colleague.”
“Mom, before I knew who she was I had a thing with her.”
Faith stared at her son uncomprehendingly. “A thing?”
He had the good grace to blush. “Yes, a thing. Must I spell it out?”
“Ohhhh, a thing.” Now she was blushing. “A thing. Really? My God, what’s wrong with that woman? She’s too old for you.”
“Not to mention married, Mom.”
“Not to mention. Huh. Well, then, you tell me what to do, since you put me in this position, Ian. How am I to explain to your father? Moreover, how will he explain it to his longstanding friend and colleague? Please guide me on this one.”
I watch as Ian tells me in body language exactly how agitated he is. It’s time for me to intervene so I walk into the room, clicking my heels on the hardwoods. “There’s no need, Faith. Ian, it’s fine if Diana Benson attends our wedding. I’m not going to get hung up on insignificant matters.” I lean down to give him a kiss and I smile at Faith. The look of relief on both their faces is downright comical so I allow myself a giggle.
“Any other problems we need to address?”
The night before the wedding we have a small party for our friends. It is just us, Ian’s sister, Jackson Delacroix, Mariah, and Mason, plus Daniel and Olivia fly in early enough to join us. We are all gathered in the great room when Daniel and Olivia make their entrance.