Your Fierce Love (The Bennett Family)(45)

As we order a new round of drinks, Summer touches her earlobe, and Pippa  nods almost imperceptibly. Aha, we're entering the meddling part of the  evening. Our target: Caroline. The operation shouldn't be too  complicated because we're only looking for a confession-though a hint  would also suffice-about her feelings for Daniel, see if there's still  something there. Summer and Pippa said that a bachelorette party is the  perfect occasion for getting the scoop. Alcohol is involved, emotions  are all over the place, secrets might be spilled...or lured out.

Of course, since I love meddling, I was completely on board with their  plan. Gives me a chance to see the sisters at work on someone other than  me, and sharpen my own meddling skills. Who knows when they'll come in  handy?

Plus, I've picked up a few tricks, and this is my moment to shine. While  sipping on our drinks-just orange juice for me-I do my part, guiding  the conversation toward everyone's college days. Nostalgia should kick  in any second now. As soon as everyone brings up fond memories, I stir  them to college flames, since Caroline and Daniel were together during  their senior year.

Caroline holds up her hand. "I say we talk about the wedding."

Aha, that's an evasive maneuver if I ever saw one. She also narrows her  eyes at me, which pretty much means she saw right through my tactic.

Ahem, I still have a lot of sharpening to do when it comes to my  meddling skills. Summer winks at me, as if saying, Don't worry. We have a  plan B.

I'm pretty sure the girls have as many plans as there are letters in the  alphabet, and if not, they'll make one up on the spot, because they're  creative like that.

Speaking of creativity, there's something I meant to ask them, and I seize my opportunity, moving next to Summer.

"One question: Did you two have something to do with my building not  being ready in time?" I'm still renting out the condo, and Blake and I  broke down the wall between our apartments. We'll keep living there  until our little family becomes not-so-little.

Summer forms an O with her mouth. "Of course not. We're matchmakers, not mean girls."

I elbow her playfully. "Hey, I was just curious, that's all."

Just as I wonder what their plan B implies, Pippa turns to Caroline.  "Speaking about the wedding, we still need to put someone in charge of  handing out the thank-you gifts to the guests at the end. Daniel's on  it, but he needs assistance. Could you help him, Caroline? Or would it  be too uncomfortable for you? You'd be doing us a huge favor."

"When you put it like that, how can I say no?" Caroline sighs, a dreamy  expression on her face. Pippa smiles triumphantly, and I bow to the  master.





Epilogue

Clara



"No, you can't come in. You're not allowed to see the bride before the  ceremony." Jenna Bennett is employing her most stern motherly voice,  talking to Blake through the cracked door.

"Mom, I don't give a rat's ass about antique traditions. I'm coming in."

Jenna steps back, muttering about how he can't respect rules even on his  wedding day. I grin, beyond happy he isn't one to respect traditions  because I was hoping I'd get to spend a few minutes alone with him  before everything kicks off.

"Fine, I'll leave you two alone, but just for ten minutes."

I admire my asymmetric, braided bun in a sideways mirror.

"Thanks, Mom."

Once we're alone, he closes the distance to me, slowly looking me up and  down. My dress is magnificent, a princess-style white gown with a satin  and lace bodice, and a voluminous skirt-satin only. I won't deny I feel  a bit like an elephant, what with my middle looking as if I swallowed a  football, but that doesn't keep me from grinning like a lunatic. I  understand what Alice meant at her own wedding about not being able to  stop grinning. Too much excitement and happiness bubble inside me for a  simple smile to do them justice.                       
       
           


///
       

"You look beautiful, Clara." Taking my hand, he lifts it, kissing my knuckles. "I wanted a few minutes alone with you."

"Great minds think alike."

"Mom driving you crazy?"

I shake my head, whispering, "Not at all."

Biting the inside of my cheek, I fight against the wave of  emotions...and lose. Everyone warned me not to cry because I'll ruin my  makeup, but I'm a pregnant woman getting married. It'd be weird if I  weren't crying. Still, I'm determined to keep the tears at bay for as  long as possible.

"You know how much I love your family, and I'm very lucky to have all of  them in my life. I like being smothered and loved, and everyone  meddling in my business."

Blake smiles, resting his hands on my bare shoulders, his thumbs  pressing gently just where the fabric of the bodice meets my skin.

"You've lucked out, because I'm going to smother and love you for the  rest of our lives, and my family will meddle for that long as well."

"Ah!"

"What's wrong?"

"Beanie kicked hard. I think he loves romantic promises."

Taking Blake's hand, I put it exactly where Beanie kicked, on my lower left side. He's still now, but then … .

"You make me the happiest man, Clara. The happiest. I can't believe I'm  so lucky to have you. I promise I will take care of you, of our family.  Any fears, I'll be right here, fighting them with you. Any dreams, I'll  fight for them next to you." Tap, tap, tap. Beanie kicks almost every  third word, until I get misty-eyed and Blake's voice becomes hoarse with  emotion. "This is my promise to you, and to our son."

"And I promise to always be all the things you need, even those you  don't know you need. The partner in crime, the shoulder you lean on. The  one person you come to and open up to no matter what. I will take care  of and spoil you. Both of you."

Beanie kicks harder, right where his dad's hand is on my belly, as if he  knows we're talking about him. Blake lowers himself on his haunches,  kissing my belly.

"Don't worry, buddy, I'll teach you all the tricks about how to marry a great woman."

"What would you have said if we'd had a girl?"

"I'd have told her no man will ever be good enough for her."

"That's a double standard if there ever was one."

Blake rises, touching my nose with his. "I can't wait for you to fight me on it."

There is a knock at the door, and Nate's voice reaches us. "Clara, it's time."

"Come on in, I'm ready."

Nate steps inside, beaming, offering me his arm. He's the one walking me  down to the altar and giving me away to Blake, who leaves the room as  someone calls his name in the distance.

***

My heart pounds so hard during the ceremony that I have trouble hearing  everything the minister and Blake are saying, but of course Beanie sets  me straight as soon as my husband speaks his vows, because he kicks like  nobody's business. Even though we're in a church full of people, and  though we're only supposed to be holding hands during the vows, I place  Blake's palm on my belly so he doesn't miss all the tap-dancing Beanie's  doing. By the time the ceremony ends and Blake kisses me, we're both  teary-eyed.

The party stretches until the early hours of the morning. The guests  leave in small groups, until there's just very close friends and family  left. The sheer number of cousins the Bennetts have is mind-boggling. So  far, I've been able to chat only with the Connor clan-mostly with  Landon-but I can't wait to get to know the rest better too.

"Well, I think Beanie's gonna be a tap dancer," I say, dropping in a  seat at one of the large round tables where most of the family gathered.  "He's been active all night."

"You two still haven't decided on a name?" Sebastian asks.

"No, but we really don't need your assistance," Blake informs him. Then  raises a finger in warning toward Logan, who just opened his mouth. "Or  you, Logan. You named your son Silas. You don't have a right to vote."

"Ours are named Will and Audrey," Sebastian remarks.

"Don't think I forgot you wanted to name poor Will, Seamus. I have a good memory, brother."

"Hey, that's news to me. And I really, really like that name." I sit  straighter in my chair. Blake whirls to me, eyes hard and determined.

"Babe, we're not naming any offspring Seamus. Don't fight me on this."                       
       
           


///
       

Ah, well...I'm going to bide my time. I found over the past few months  that the larger my belly becomes, the easier he caves in to my requests.  Not about names so far, but I still have two months to work on that.

"Say, how did Caroline and Daniel end up being in charge of giving  thank-you gifts to the guests?" Blake asks, taking me out on the dance  floor again.