***
“Claire?” Mark eyed me for what had to be at least the tenth time since we’d hiked down the mountain and driven back to Grandview.
“I’m okay,” I assured him, surprised to find that, for the most part, I spoke the truth this time. The combination of physical exertion from the short hike and the drive back to Bob and Marta’s had gone a long way in calming my rattled nerves. Twisting in the seat, I smiled at Mark’s profile as he navigated the car through the grove of trees and up the long, winding driveway that led to the house. “Are you ready to tell everyone about the wedding?”
“I am,” he grinned. “You think they’ll be mad at us for not inviting them?”
“Hmmm,” I considered, tapping a fingernail against my bottom lip. “Well, Aries won’t be, and I’m mostly sure that Ashley will be more excited about having a father than disappointed over missing the wedding ceremony. I’m pretty sure that to a young child, the actual wedding is some boring grown-up thing. Anyway, she’s never been to a wedding, not with me at least, so she probably won’t spend much time thinking about it, other than to ask a question or two. Bob and Marta, now…that may be another story,” I warned him, though surely he had been aware of the fact well beforehand.
“Ouch. You’re probably right about that. I hope Marta isn’t cooking with those big pots and pans.”
“The cast iron?”
“Yeah, those are the ones.” He cringed.
“Don’t worry.” I patted his bicep and stared up at the house with trepidation. “She hardly ever uses that set…”
“Comforting,” he snorted, putting the car in park and leaning over for one last long, slow kiss before we had to face the music.
“Mark?” I stared up at him several moments later. “Ready?”
“Let’s do this.”