“Yes,” Rooster admitted, “but I’d much rather have your approval. I’m sincere. I love Lauren, and I will do everything within my power to be a good husband and to make her happy.”
“I have to say you’ve got guts, young man.”
“Your blessing would mean a great deal, sir.”
“By heaven, you’ve got balls. Let me talk to her mother and we’ll get back to you about getting to Vegas within the next twenty-four hours.”
“Then we have your approval?” Rooster asked.
“Yes, you do, but I want it understood there won’t be any wedding until we’ve done a background check on you.”
“Fair enough. I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
“Let me talk to my daughter,” Bill Elliott said.
Rooster gave the phone back to Lauren. She smiled as she took it from him. “Yes, Daddy,” she said. “I love him, too. He’s a good man, and once you meet him you’ll agree with my choice.”
They spoke only a moment longer, and then Lauren returned the phone. “He thinks we’re both a little nuts.”
“Can’t say I blame him.”
Rooster reached for his dinner.
“Mom is calling my sister, and I think the whole family is planning to show.”
“Good.”
“Is there anyone you want to invite?” she asked.
The only real family Rooster had was Max. His parents were both gone, and he was an only child. “Max and Bethanne.”
Lauren nodded and then giggled as she reached for her fork. “My dad is right, we’re both a little nuts, but Rooster, I have to tell you I’ve never been this happy in my life.”
He nearly melted under the strength of her smile. Truth was, he felt the same. It’d been a very long time since he’d been this excited or this content.
Chapter Twenty-four
Bethanne was startled out of a sound sleep by her cellphone. Half sitting up, and leaning on one elbow, she glanced at the digital readout of the bedside clock. She hadn’t been sleeping well for the last several days and, exhausted, had fallen into bed after what had proved to be a troublesome week.
“Hello,” she whispered.
“Bethanne, sweetheart, did I wake you?”
Instantly, she was alert. “Max? Is everything all right?” He wouldn’t be calling if it wasn’t important.
“Yes, it’s wonderful.”
She rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “It’s after midnight.”
“I know. Sorry to wake you, love, but what I have to tell you is amazing.”
It must be, for him to call this late. “What’s going on?”
“A wedding.”
“A wedding,” she repeated, sitting upright now. “Who’s getting married?”
Max chuckled as though highly amused. “Rooster and Lauren.”
This made no sense whatsoever. “Hold on a minute, I thought Rooster was in New Zealand.”
“So did I. Apparently, he couldn’t bear to be away from Lauren and flew back, surprising everyone. He met up with her at some conference she was attending in Las Vegas.”
“He flew to Las Vegas?” Bethanne was having a hard time taking in what Max was telling her.
“After Rooster arrived the two decided they were in love and they might as well get married.”
Bethanne was shocked. “It’s a bit rushed, isn’t it?”
“That’s what I said, but Rooster isn’t about to change his mind, and from what he said, Lauren feels the same. He asked me to be his best man.”
“When’s the wedding?”
“Sunday afternoon. Lauren’s parents and sister are all flying in, and I’m going, too. Can you manage a couple days away? I know it’s not good timing for you.” This was the first weekend in two months that they hadn’t been able to be together. Bethanne knew how busy Max was with Rooster out of the country, and she had her own reasons for begging off. It’d been a dreadful week, and she feared her troubles with Annie would only weigh him down.
“Bethanne?”
“Sorry, I was mentally reviewing my schedule. When do you plan to leave?”
“Seven tomorrow morning. It was the only seat available. Santa Rosa has a small airport, and I didn’t want to drive into San Francisco if I could avoid it.”
“Do you have a reservation for a room?”
“Yes. I saw to that right away. Can you make it happen?”
Mulling it over, Bethanne leaned back against the thick pillows, sighed, and said, “I’ll be there.”
“Great.” His tone grew serious then. “This has been a lonely weekend without you.”
Bethanne felt the same. “I miss you like crazy.”
“Me, too.”
They chatted only a few minutes longer. Bethanne closed her eyes and sighed. Rooster and Lauren, she mused, and then grinned. She was pleased for her husband’s best friend and business partner, and for Lauren as well. It hadn’t taken much to realize the two were falling in love. With another couple she might have been concerned, but not with these two. They were both well-grounded, mature adults who knew what they wanted in life. She was happy for them, and neither one came into the marriage with a lot of extra baggage.
Despite this unexpected bit of good news, Bethanne’s heart felt heavy. She hadn’t seen or heard from Annie all week, nor had she shown up at the office. Her daughter seemed to have taken Bethanne’s words to heart and was looking for employment elsewhere, although Annie hadn’t bothered to let anyone at the office know of her decision. Bethanne had again been tempted to ask her ex-husband to intercede on her behalf. She’d battled indecision all week, hoping to hear from Annie, but it was not to be.
Annie hadn’t called, and Bethanne had stubbornly refused to give in. Bethanne was willing to admit her daughter had come by that obstinate streak naturally.
Awake now, she tossed aside the covers and went downstairs to her computer, logging on to the traveling website she most often used. Thankfully, she was able to book a flight for late Sunday morning with a return early Tuesday. Because she was unsure what time the wedding would take place, this seemed to be the best option.
Once she had the flights booked, she texted Max the information. He seemed excited and happy, but Bethanne doubted that she would be able to hide her misery. If Annie had quit without notice, and that seemed to be the case, then he would find out eventually, anyway.
Max met her at the Las Vegas airport at baggage claim. They hugged, and after retrieving her suitcase, he led her toward the parking garage. No sooner had she clicked her seat belt into place when her husband turned toward her.
“Okay, what’s wrong?”
She forced a laugh. “What makes you think anything is wrong?”
“Bethanne, please. We might not have been married long, but I know you, and one look told me you’re upset about something. I heard it in your voice this week, too.”
Tightness gripped her chest, and she looked down at her hands. “It’s Annie.”
Max sighed. “I should have known.”
“She didn’t show up for work all week.”
“Have you talked to Andrew?”
That had been the first thing she did. “Yes, but he hasn’t heard from her, either.”
“What about Grant? He must know something.”
“I’m sure he does, but I refuse to call him. After that last stunt Annie and Grant pulled, that’s exactly what they’re looking for me to do. They want me to go running to Grant for help, and I refuse to do that. Eventually, Annie will wake up to the fact that her father is a player.”
“Oh, sweetheart, I’m so sorry.”
“You did nothing wrong,” she rushed to tell him. “If this is what Annie wants, then it’s her choice.”
Max’s face darkened with a thick frown. “I’m flying back to Seattle with you.”
“Max, no. This is my problem.”
“But—”
“Please.” She pressed her hand over his forearm. “Let me handle this my own way.
”
He looked away and seemed to think long and hard before he responded. “I don’t know that I can bear to see you this unhappy, not if it’s in my power to make matters right.”
“Nothing you say or do will change Annie’s opinion of you. For you to even try plays right into her hands. I can’t tell you how sorry I am about all this. I’ve tried to keep you out of it entirely—”
“Which is why we weren’t together this weekend. Right?”
She had no option but to agree. “Right.”
Max took hold of her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her knuckles. “We’re together now, though,” he whispered suggestively.
Bethanne recognized that gleam in his eyes and laughed out loud. “Max Scranton, how can you think about sex at a time like this?”
“How can I not when the woman who owns my heart is sitting right next to me?”
Tipping her head so that it rested against his shoulder, Bethanne felt the weight of the world drift away. “You make me so happy,” she told him.
“Good, that’s my goal. Don’t worry, love, we’ll get through this thing with Annie.”
“Of course we will.”
“But for right now we have a wedding to help plan and an overly anxious groom.” Max paused and chuckled. “I don’t know when I’ve seen Rooster more flustered.”
“Is he happy?”
“He’s giddy.”
“What about Lauren?”
Max pulled out of the parking space and followed the signs to the airport exit. “She’s at a conference for most of the day. From what Max said, they’d originally planned the wedding for today, until Lauren remembered she had obligations until late in the afternoon.”
Bethanne grinned. “Ah, young love.”
“Actually, the timing has worked out well. The extra day gives her parents the opportunity to fly in, along with her sister.”
“Wonderful.” They merged into the freeway traffic. At this point, Bethanne didn’t have a clue where Max had booked a room. Not that it mattered.
Max glanced in his side-view mirror before he changed lanes. “As I started to tell you, Rooster is beside himself. He’s already booked the chapel, found a minister, and made a reservation for the honeymoon suite.” He chuckled. “Want to make a guess which one of the three he took care of first?”
“Max!”
His smile grew bigger. “In addition to everything else, he’s dealing with jet lag and is punch-drunk with love.”
This was a sight Bethanne was eager to see.
“I’ve never seen him this happy,” Max said, turning serious. “He said you and I inspired him. He’d mostly given up on falling in love, I think. He had a bad experience in his early twenties. He’s dated over the years, but never seriously. Shortly after he came onboard with me my life fell apart. I’m grateful he was there when I needed a friend most.”
Bethanne pressed her hand over her husband’s thigh, knowing that he was referring to the death of his wife and daughter.
“I basically abandoned him and the business,” Max continued. “It hasn’t been until the last year or so since I’ve been back that I’ve come to realize how much responsibility Rooster took upon himself. Not that I would have been much help even if I had been around. He buried himself in work. By all that’s right, he deserves Lauren. I couldn’t ask for a better friend or partner.”
By the time Bethanne was in the room and had unpacked her suitcase, it was noon. She was about to join Max when there was a knock on the door.
When she answered, she found Lauren standing in the hallway.
“Lauren,” she cried, excited to see the other woman. “Congratulations.”
Her friend flew into the room. “I don’t have another meeting for an hour. Bethanne, I’m so grateful you came.” She started pacing the confined area. All at once she stopped. “Tell me, honestly, do you think Rooster and I are crazy?”
“No,” she responded thoughtfully. “I think you’re in love.”
“We are,” Lauren confirmed, “we really are. I’ve never felt like this, and Rooster says it’s the same with him.”
Walking about the room, Lauren couldn’t seem to hold still.
“Are you having second thoughts?” Bethanne asked, just to be certain.
“No,” she cried, as if this should be a major concern. “That’s just it. Shouldn’t I? I mean, we barely know each other, but we’ve talked every day, sometimes for hours and hours. I can’t believe we’re doing this, but it’s what I want, what Rooster wants, too.
“We promised ourselves that if either of us had a change of heart in the morning we’d call the whole thing off. We didn’t. If anything, we were more convinced than ever that we belong together.
“I’m overwhelmed with joy, practically squirming with it, and yet if two weeks ago you’d told me I’d seriously be considering marrying a man I barely knew, I wouldn’t have believed it possible.”
Bethanne understood all too well.
“Shouldn’t I be worried?” Lauren demanded. “Shouldn’t I be having second thoughts? A rational person would, don’t you think? Am I off my rocker?”
“Well …” Bethanne wasn’t allowed to finish.
“But I don’t,” Lauren said, and hugged her stomach as she continued on her rapid walk back and forth across the room. “Nothing has felt more right in my entire life.”
“Rooster is a good man.”
“I know. Do you know what he did?”
Again, Bethanne wasn’t given the opportunity to respond.
“Rooster insisted on talking to my father. He asked my dad if he’d be willing to let him marry his daughter … me. Really, who does that anymore? I’d mentioned Rooster to my mom and sister, but my dad hadn’t heard a word about him, and here was this man my dad didn’t know, asking to marry me.”
“What did your dad say?” Bethanne asked.
Lauren stopped walking and sighed expressively. “Dad was so taken with Rooster that he basically agreed, but he did mention that he was having a background check done on him.”
“I doubt there’s anything there that would be cause for alarm.” Although she didn’t know Rooster as well as Max did, Bethanne was confident she was right.
“Tell me, Bethanne, are we crazy?”
“No,” she said softly.
“I’m so grateful you’re here. It means the world to me.”
“I’m glad I’m here, too; it’s important to Max, and to Rooster, too. He’s told us often enough we’re his family, but now he has you, too.”
“You know what?” Lauren said, sitting down on the edge of the bed and gripping her hands together. “I’d begun to doubt that there were men like Rooster left in this world. It’s almost as if he’s too good to be true.”
“I believe Max told me that Rooster said basically the same thing about you.”
Lauren’s eyes went soft. “My parents and sister will arrive this afternoon, and Mom insisted I buy a new dress … I didn’t pack anything appropriate for a wedding, but then it isn’t like I’d planned to get married this weekend.”
“Have you been in touch with Elisa and Garry?”
“Yes.” Lauren planted her hands on top of her head. “But I can’t tell them. Not right away. Their daughter eloped, and they’re headed to eastern Washington to meet with their daughter’s husband and his family. I have to be at the store Tuesday afternoon. Is that nuts? Rooster and I aren’t going to get any time for a honeymoon; I’m not worried, though. We’ll take one later.”
“Is Rooster flying back to Seattle with you?”
Lauren nodded. “He has the next several days free, and as soon as Elisa and Garry are back we’re going to take off ourselves, just the two of us. My parents mentioned holding a reception in Seattle later in the summer.”
“That sounds perfect. Be sure and tell them I’ll be happy to help with that.”
“Thank you; that’s so kind.” She bit into her lower lip. “I wish I could tell Elisa, b
ut she’s already got so much on her mind with her daughter and her new son-in-law that I don’t want to add to it.” Lauren checked her watch. “I’ve got to get back to the convention. I stopped by to let you know how grateful I am that you’re going to be here for the wedding.”
Rooster didn’t have much experience with these matters; Bethanne was the expert when it came to weddings and such, being that she was in the business. Still, Rooster was astonished at how well everything had come together. From all outward appearances it looked as if this wedding had been planned weeks in advance.
The hotel’s wedding chapel was filled with the most gorgeous arrangements of white flowers. Rooster stood with Lauren under an archway with drooping white and blue wisteria. Amazingly, his bride, along with his future mother-in-law, had found the most beautiful beaded white dress that fit Lauren as if it had been custom-sewn for her. Lauren’s sister was at her side as the matron of honor.
Max stood beside him as his best man, and, frankly, Rooster was grateful. Twice during the actual ceremony he went light-headed and feared he was about to pass out. While it could be attributed to exhaustion, the time change, and excitement, he knew otherwise. This was love so intense it threatened to overwhelm him. Ever since he’d lost his parents, he’d drifted, anchorless, basically alone. Lauren had changed that. No longer was he a sole entity. With her in his life, he had hope and a future. Every time he thought about having children with her, he could feel his blood pressure skyrocket. Naturally, he hoped for a son, but he certainly would be pleased with a daughter as well.
When it came time to repeat their vows, he could barely get the words out fast enough. When Lauren repeated her vows, her gaze found his, and tears welled in her eyes as she said the words. Her voice seemed to reverberate around the chapel. To his astonishment, he felt moisture fill his own eyes, which he quickly blinked away.
The room seemed to be filled with happiness. After the ceremony, when the pronouncement was made and he’d kissed Lauren, they were instantly surrounded by family and friends. He saw that many of them had felt the same emotion, the same overwhelming sense that while this marriage might have been arranged quickly, the two of them, Lauren and he, were meant to be together.