Page 140 of Even After This
Spence looks at both of us. “What?!”
Sally hugs her kids and yells from the back, “That’s amazing!”
Harlan pulls off his giant costume head just in time to pick up an excited Alex and put her on his hip. He places his other hand around my waist and looks down to grin at me, then back to the audience.
Mama Lee remains sitting but hugs Prissy, then looks at her son, emotion behind her eyes. The rest of the Holcombes rush to Harlan, and the boys and William give manly, back-slapping hugs while Gracie tells me how happy she is for us.
Molly stands, watching the joy, then her eyes find mine and something good passes between us.I love you, she mouths.
I loveyou, I mouth back to her.
Hannah runs up to me and almost tackles me in an overexuberant teenager hug while squealing something about marrying Hercules. Taylor rolls his eyes at his sister and says a quiet “That’s cool, Aunt Meredith.”
My mother snaps a picture of all of us and says, “Can I post this on Facebook? My book club ladies are going to love this.”
“No, Mom!” both Molly and I say while laughing.
Almost everyone knew the big news already. Prissy, Penelope, and Alex were a given. Prissy probably keeps state secrets but would never keep something from her best friend about her kids. Which means Mama Lee knew. But Mama Lee already knew because she’s a mom and moms just know things about what’s bestfor their kids, even if their kid is a famous movie star. William knew because he kept badgering Harlan until Harlan told him in a huff that he should back off because he was going to propose. William said once Harlan’s good mood returned, he knew I had said yes, so he told his wife and kids.
Molly knew, which I figured meant my parents knew because there hasn’t been a secret about me that my sister has ever kept. But Harlan had also asked my parents for permission to marry me, so they knew.
The four people who were truly surprised were my niece and nephew and Spence and Sally.
The one secret we were able to keep from everyone was Harlan’s Rocky the Bighorn Sheep costume. And, honestly, seeing him in that thing is almost better than announcing our engagement.
When Alex grows up and gets married, at her rehearsal dinner I will thank her for not asking me to wear Rockina’s horrendous matching costume.
Once the congratulations die down, everyone heads into the house for some light snacking, leaving Harlan and me on the porch alone.
Harlan stalks to me, a smoldering look on his face and the bighorn sheep mask dangling off one hand, its horns sticking out from his side.
“You are simultaneously the sexiest and funniest man alive right now,” I say, grinning at him. “I told you that you could have a future in mascot wear.”
With his eyes not leaving mine, he drops the mask on the floor and swoops—yes, swoops—me into his arms. Without saying a word, he kisses me something thorough, long, and lovely.
Once finished, he pulls back and whispers against my lips, “Happy?”
I lean further into him, giving him all my weight. “Yes.”
He draws back more and studies me. “So how long do youthink we have until Molly has her dream wedding planned for us?”
“She’s already planned it.”
“What? I mean, she knew I proposed, but what?”
“She’s known for three weeks,” I say as if this explains it. Because it does where Molly is concerned.
Realization crosses his face, and he nods. “A tactical error on my part.”
I run my hands up and down his back. “You wanted to ask her permission. You made a trade. It’s understandable.”
“She’s made some big changes in her life. Maybe she’s going to let you do this on your own.”
“She just told me she had some ideas and wants to have some girl time while she’s in town, which means she’s planned it.”
He looks over my shoulder. “She totally has it planned.”
“Yup.”
