planned it. Her eyes stung, but she blinked hard and flung her arms around Eric instead. “Didn’t I tell you I wanted a nice, quiet wedding?” she whispered, giving him a look of mock reprimand.
He kissed her on the cheek. “You didn’t say anything about the reception.”
She scanned the room, taking in the crowd, the simple, elegant white and pink floral centerpieces on every table and another, larger table near the far wall, piled high with gifts. “How’d you put this together so quickly?”
“This is where a highly efficient assistant comes in handy. All I provided was the credit card.”
He was fibbing, of course. Knowing Eric, he’d probably supervised every detail. Now she really was going to cry. “What am I going to do with you?”
“If your father wasn’t standing next to us, I’d be happy to offer some suggestions.” He grinned. “But why don’t we sit down and enjoy our lunch instead?”
The wedding party took their seats at a raised table at the front of the room, then Eric signaled for the banquet staff to start serving. First came French onion soup, followed by mixed green salad with Ally’s favorite vinaigrette dressing, then the main course, a delicious coq au vin with sautéed mushrooms and garlic mashed potatoes, all washed down with glass after glass of ice-cold French champagne.
Ally chatted, giggled and stuffed herself silly, reaching over every few minutes to clasp Eric’s hand. Finally he leaned over and asked, “Something wrong?”
“What’s the matter? Can’t a wife hold her husband’s hand if she wants to?”
“Relax, okay? I’m not going anywhere.” He pressed a soft kiss to her palm, then rose, dinging his spoon against his wineglass to get everyone’s attention. The room fell silent. “I’d like to thank you all for coming today, especially on such short notice. I promise you, it won’t happen again.” The room dissolved in laughter. “Most of you are used to hearing me give long speeches, but today’s a day for celebrating, not talking, so I’ll keep my remarks brief. To my bride’s father, Gabe Taylor, and her good friend, Holly Martin—thank you for standing up with us today. Since my own family’s unable to be here, I’m touched and grateful for your support.” Was it her imagination, or was his voice actually cracking? He licked his lips, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he glanced down at her, genuine warmth in his eyes. “And to my wife Allison, whose humor and wisdom have guided me through difficult times. Here’s to happier times for both of us for many years to come.”
Eric drained his glass, and the entire room followed suit. Ally was about to spring up and plant a kiss on him—until Eric’s gaze locked on something in the distance. All the color bled from his face.
The banquet staff was wheeling in the cake, a four-tiered confection dripping with fresh flowers and whipped cream icing, but Eric barely glanced at it. Instead, he tossed his napkin on the table. “I’ll be right back.”
“What? Where are you—” But he was already heading for the nearest door. Ally stared after him, torn between following and staying put, but her body’s stubborn refusal to move effectively settled that dilemma.
Holly was at her side in an instant. “What’s going on?”
Apprehension settled in Ally’s chest and closed around her heart like a cold fist. Every pair of eyes in the room was focused on her now, and she didn’t care for the attention one bit. It felt like a million tiny invisible pins, all jabbing at her at once. “No idea. Maybe he’s not feeling well.”
At least, she hoped that was the reason. But what if he’d changed his mind? Realized too late what a mistake he’d made, and left her to deal with the fallout? No, that was ridiculous. Eric would never do such a thing.
Would he?
“He seemed perfectly fine a couple minutes ago,” Holly said.
“I’ll go check the men’s room.” Her father patted her on the
He kissed her on the cheek. “You didn’t say anything about the reception.”
She scanned the room, taking in the crowd, the simple, elegant white and pink floral centerpieces on every table and another, larger table near the far wall, piled high with gifts. “How’d you put this together so quickly?”
“This is where a highly efficient assistant comes in handy. All I provided was the credit card.”
He was fibbing, of course. Knowing Eric, he’d probably supervised every detail. Now she really was going to cry. “What am I going to do with you?”
“If your father wasn’t standing next to us, I’d be happy to offer some suggestions.” He grinned. “But why don’t we sit down and enjoy our lunch instead?”
The wedding party took their seats at a raised table at the front of the room, then Eric signaled for the banquet staff to start serving. First came French onion soup, followed by mixed green salad with Ally’s favorite vinaigrette dressing, then the main course, a delicious coq au vin with sautéed mushrooms and garlic mashed potatoes, all washed down with glass after glass of ice-cold French champagne.
Ally chatted, giggled and stuffed herself silly, reaching over every few minutes to clasp Eric’s hand. Finally he leaned over and asked, “Something wrong?”
“What’s the matter? Can’t a wife hold her husband’s hand if she wants to?”
“Relax, okay? I’m not going anywhere.” He pressed a soft kiss to her palm, then rose, dinging his spoon against his wineglass to get everyone’s attention. The room fell silent. “I’d like to thank you all for coming today, especially on such short notice. I promise you, it won’t happen again.” The room dissolved in laughter. “Most of you are used to hearing me give long speeches, but today’s a day for celebrating, not talking, so I’ll keep my remarks brief. To my bride’s father, Gabe Taylor, and her good friend, Holly Martin—thank you for standing up with us today. Since my own family’s unable to be here, I’m touched and grateful for your support.” Was it her imagination, or was his voice actually cracking? He licked his lips, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he glanced down at her, genuine warmth in his eyes. “And to my wife Allison, whose humor and wisdom have guided me through difficult times. Here’s to happier times for both of us for many years to come.”
Eric drained his glass, and the entire room followed suit. Ally was about to spring up and plant a kiss on him—until Eric’s gaze locked on something in the distance. All the color bled from his face.
The banquet staff was wheeling in the cake, a four-tiered confection dripping with fresh flowers and whipped cream icing, but Eric barely glanced at it. Instead, he tossed his napkin on the table. “I’ll be right back.”
“What? Where are you—” But he was already heading for the nearest door. Ally stared after him, torn between following and staying put, but her body’s stubborn refusal to move effectively settled that dilemma.
Holly was at her side in an instant. “What’s going on?”
Apprehension settled in Ally’s chest and closed around her heart like a cold fist. Every pair of eyes in the room was focused on her now, and she didn’t care for the attention one bit. It felt like a million tiny invisible pins, all jabbing at her at once. “No idea. Maybe he’s not feeling well.”
At least, she hoped that was the reason. But what if he’d changed his mind? Realized too late what a mistake he’d made, and left her to deal with the fallout? No, that was ridiculous. Eric would never do such a thing.
Would he?
“He seemed perfectly fine a couple minutes ago,” Holly said.
“I’ll go check the men’s room.” Her father patted her on the
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