My Sweetheart (21 page)

             
Layla smiled but nodded her head in agreement. “You’re right, we can’t force them. But we have Michael and that man can convince anyone of anything.”

             
Kit raised an eyebrow in disbelief while Jane grimaced. “Layla, I don’t know. It might just make everything worse.”

             
Layla frowned. “It was actually Michael’s idea. He’s Tate’s biggest fan right now. The way he systematically and calmly did everything he could to track you down and save you really impressed him. Well, that and the way he beat the living daylights out of the guy afterwards.”

             
Kit laughed. “Hey now. Isn’t Michael impressed with Hunter too? He helped track Alex down at his sister’s house and then body slammed the jerk on the ground.”

             
Layla held up her hands. “I’m sure Michael is just as impressed with Hunter. Heck, they’ve been best friends since college. This isn’t a contest silly. All I’m saying is that Michael wants to make this right for Tate. Let him try.”

             
Jane closed her eyes but nodded. “Okay, but I don’t think there’s much hope. Tate thinks it’ll take a few years at least.”

             
Kit wrinkled her nose. “I’m not that patient. Layla, sic Michael on them pronto. I want Tate’s family at our wedding. I want them to look at Tate and Jane and see how much they love one another. If they could just see it, they could understand what a good, beautiful relationship they have.”

             
Layla smiled to herself and nodded. “I agree. Michael’s going to war.”

             
Jane took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Okay then, let’s see what your man can do.”

             
Layla stood up and stretched out her aching back. “Oh honey, you have no idea. Just wait.”

             
The sisters wandered out into the backyard and found Hunter doing his best to teach Michael and Tate martial art moves.

             
“Now Tate, just use Michael’s weight against him and kind of tip him up and over. Follow the movement of his body with yours, and that’s when you can slam him on the ground. At least that’s what I did,” he said, grinning as Tate picked Michael up.

             
Layla squawked and ran to stand in front of Tate. “Tate, please don’t hurt Michael. He’s the father of my baby,” she said, holding her clasped fists up in front of her face.

             
Tate laughed and gently set Michael down. “Looks like I’m going to have to practice on you Hunter.”

             
Hunter frowned and put his hands on his waist. “Now, normally I would love to have you break all the bones in my body, but seeing as I’m getting married very soon, I really want to enjoy my honeymoon. I can’t walk through the streets of Europe if I’m in a body cast.”

             
Tate looked disappointed but spotted Stella staring up at him with big eyes. “I guess I’ll just have to practice on Stella then,” he said and grabbed her throwing her up in the air and catching her as she giggled and laughed delightedly.

             
Michael kissed Layla’s temple. “Thanks for saving my life there hon. I had too much pride to chicken out. Your timing is impeccable.”

             
Layla laughed and hugged him as she grinned at Stella begging to be thrown again. “I do what I can.”

             
Jane and Tate hung out for another half hour, before hugging and waving goodbye to everyone. As Tate drove her home, she looked up at him and felt butterflies in her stomach.             

             
“We’re really getting married Tate. I will be your wife and you’re going to be my husband. And not just someday, but really
really
soon. Does that freak you out at all?”

             
Tate looked over at her appraisingly. “Sounds like
you’re
a little freaked out. Second thoughts?”

             
Jane shook her head quickly. “No, never, but I feel like I’m on a roller coaster and I can’t catch my breath. It’s a good feeling though,” she added when she saw Tate frowning at her.

             
He pulled up in front of her house and walked around to open the door and picked her up in his arms. She could use her crutches, but this was faster. He carried her easily up the stairs but instead of opening the door for her, he sat down with her on one of their oversized porch chairs.

             
She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked up into his eyes. She could tell he wanted to say something to her so she waited patiently. He finally sighed and leaned his forehead against hers.

             
“Are you sure you’re okay with getting married so fast? If you want to wait, I’ll wait. I’ll wait six months if you want me to. I’ll wait a year, even two. I’d wait forever for you Jane. That’s how much I love you. So tell me now and I’ll call Hunter and Kit and tell them we’re delaying the wedding. I don’t want you to feel pressured. I mean, you just went through a traumatic experience. I don’t want to take advantage of you at a time in your life when you’re vulnerable. Maybe we should wait.”

             
Jane felt her heart stutter inside her chest and she felt sick to her stomach at the thought of waiting even one more day than she had to. “I know this is right Tate. I have the right to be nervous. Every bride does, but that doesn’t mean I want to wait.”

             
Tate blew out his breath in relief and smiled slightly at her as his shoulders relaxed. “What are you so nervous about?”

             
Jane’s eyebrows went up a little. “Oh, this and that,” she said turning red and looking away.

             
Tate tilted her chin toward him and looked into her eyes as if he were looking into her soul. “You never have to be nervous with me. About
anything
. I promise.”

             
Jane bit her lip and laid her head on his shoulder, tilting her face up so she snuggled into his neck. “I trust you,” she whispered.

             
Tate sat with her like that for a long time, holding her as they watched the sun set. The feeling of being on a roller coaster gradually faded and in its place was a peaceful warmth that wrapped around her and let her know that she was right where she should be. With Tate.

             
The next week passed by too quickly for Jane. She had one more physical therapy session and then she was rid of her crutches. She did not want to spend her wedding reception sitting in a chair. No, she wanted to be dancing and having fun with her husband.

             
Michael had gone by Toa and Pika’s house on Tuesday but according to Layla, he had come up against a brick wall. Toa and Pika refused to even discuss the situation with Michael and he’d ended up leaving unsuccessful. Jane hadn’t been surprised at all.

             
Meredith was insisting on throwing her and Kit a bachelorette party. She figured if Kit could share her reception than Jane should share her party with her sister and insisted that Kit come as well. After closing up the bakery Saturday night, Kit, Layla and Jane met Meredith and Tawni and a few other girls they knew from town to Pablo’s the Mexican restaurant she loved so much. It turned out to be pretty tame and more like a bridal shower than a bachelorette party although she and Kit were pressured into dancing with Enrique their waiter. Meredith took tons of pictures on her phone and swore she was going to post them to Facebook. Jane promised she’d never help her cook ever again if she did though.

             
After opening a few presents, Jane glanced at her pile and grinned. She now had a marriage advice book, a black negligee, from Meredith of course and picture frames from Tawni. Kit received her share of gifts too which was so sweet considering these girls hadn’t even met her sister. Tate was still on duty but walked in the restaurant, making Meredith shake her finger at him.

             
“So nosy Tate! You had to check up on us to make sure we were behaving ourselves, didn’t you?” she said glaring at him.

             
Tate laughed and shrugged as Jane jumped up to kiss his cheek. “Trust but verify. Words to live by.”

             
Meredith snorted but then entertained herself by showing Tate every single picture of Jane dancing with the waiter.

             
Tate grinned, his eyes narrowing at her as he clicked through the pictures. “Well, now I know what kind of bachelor party I can have.”

             
Jane’s mouth fell open and her eyebrows snapped together. Kit’s eyes went big and she stepped back. “Oh you just messed up.”

             
Jane walked over to Tate and pushed a finger in his chest. “You’re not the only one who likes to check up on people. I find you dancing with any pretty girls and you’ll be sorry.
Very
sorry,” she said, watching as Tate’s eyes grew warm with laughter.

             
“
Hmm
, consider me warned. You ladies enjoy the rest of your evening. Tell Enrique that he and I are going to have a serious conversation soon.

             
Meredith laughed and Tawni giggled. Jane sighed, still mortified that he’d seen the pictures. “Meredith, I’m going to kill you.”

             
Meredith laughed and took a sip of her Virgin Margarita. “People have been saying that for years and yet, here I am. Still very alive. Oh don’t worry about Tate. Trust me, there will be no dancing for him at his party later tonight. Kam’s in charge and I think they’re just going to the movies and out to eat.”

             
Jane glanced after Tate and frowned. “He better if he knows what’s good for him.”

             
Tawni shook her head and picked up a chip as Layla excused herself to go to the ladies room. “Feke will be there watching out for him, don’t worry.”

             
Jane laughed a little. “I don’t, not really. But my sisters were teasing me the other day. They’re worried that women will throw themselves at Tate because he’s so hot.”

             
Meredith looked at her in surprise. “
Tate?
Have you seen Kam? Now that’s a man who has to fight off women. Tate’s okay, I guess.”

             
Tawni giggled. “No, you’re right Jane. Tate is gorgeous. But Feke is, no offense, a lot better looking and he doesn’t have any problem keeping good looking women at arm’s distance.”

             
Meredith looked at Tawni like she was insane. “
Feke?
Tawni, he’s cute and everything, but he’s . . .” Jane zoned out Meredith and Tawni bickering as she watched Toa and Pika walk into the restaurant. She swallowed nervously and watched as the hostess seated them at a table four down from theirs.

             
Jane looked down at her hands and knew that she would do anything to make Tate happy. Even face down his aunt and uncle if it meant there was even a chance that they’d soften towards their marriage. With only a week away, they were running out of time. It was now or never.

             
Jane slowly stood up, feeling queasy and chilled and made her way to their table. They were both studying their menus and didn’t notice her. She took the time to look at them closely and noticed that Toa looked tired and kind of sad. Toa’s salt and pepper hair was cut ruthlessly short and the conservative polo shirt and khakis were in stark contrast to Pika’s bright flowered dress. Pika kept her long dark hair braided down to her waist and wasn’t wearing any cosmetics that she could tell. This was a woman who had spent her life taking care of her family.

             
Jane thought of what it would have been like for them, to be raising a growing family on a small income and to make room for an angry out of control teenager. But they’d done it and they’d loved Tate and they’d turned him around and given him a life that he could be proud of. Because of these two people she now had the man of her dreams. She owed them her gratitude whether or not they approved of her or not.

             
Jane cleared her throat nervously and Toa and Pika looked up at her curiously before their faces hardened and their eyes cooled.

             
Jane clasped her hands in front of her. “I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Jane Kendall and I love your nephew Tate Matafeo. We’re getting married in a week and I’d love for you to come and support him. He loves and honors you both so much I know it would make the day complete to have you there at our celebration,” she said, her voice going high and squeaky with nerves.

             
Toa set his menu down and shook his head with a frown. “Tate is like a son to me and you’ve taken him away. You’ve taken him away from us, away from who he is and away from everything that he holds dear.”

             
Jane closed her eyes in pain as if she’d been slapped, but she’d known what she was getting herself into by walking over. She opened her eyes and looked at Pika with a trembling smile. “I know I can’t change your mind, but I just wanted you to know that I love him. I love his good heart and his kindness and his courage and his gentleness. I know that you two saved him and you helped him to grow up into the man he is today. I just want you to know that regardless of how you feel about me, I’m grateful to you. I respect you and I honor you. Please,
um
. . . enjoy your dinner,” she said hastily and turned away, walking back to her table.

             
Meredith and Tawni were staring at her with their mouths open while Layla and Kit were grinning at her proudly. Jane collapsed in her chair and laid her head down on the table as she waited for her heartbeat to slow down.

             
Layla patted her back. “You are one brave woman.”

             
Kit glanced over her shoulder at Toa and Pika and smiled. “Well, they finally met you. I say we should have introduced you a long time ago. Who could resist you Jane?”

             
Jane raised her head and stared at Kit as if she were crazy. “Trust me, I’m
very
resistable. That was
terrifying
.”

             
Tawni sighed and snagged the last nacho. “You are fearless Jane.
Oh crap.
Here they come,” she said quickly wiping her mouth on her napkin and plastering on a polite smile.

             
Jane froze while Kit and Layla stiffened with frowns on their face. They weren’t the type to stay silent if she was about to get torn apart verbally.

             
Pika came to stand beside her and Toa stood directly behind Pika. “Jane, I’m sorry if Toa upset you. What you said just now touched my heart. I will think about this more,” she said and nodded her head at the table, before turning and walking away with her husband back to their table.

             
Meredith let a long breath out and stared at her in surprise. “
Wow
. Just wow.”

             
Kit grinned and danced in her chair a little while Layla laughed softly. Jane covered her hot cheeks with her hands as a small hopeful smile lifted her mouth. “Did she just say she’d think about it?”

             
Layla nodded and reached over to pat her knee. “It’s your dimples. They’ve gotten you out of trouble your whole life. They’re magical those two little glorious mutations on the side of your mouth. It’s insane how many speeding tickets you’ve gotten out of because of them.”

             
Kit nodded. “I agree. I always thought it was so unfair she got the dimples. But she is the baby of the family. Spoiled rotten. And now look at that. Michael couldn’t budge them with dynamite and all Jane did was go over there for one minute and she’s already got them eating out of her hand.”

             
Jane snorted and shook her head, but Tawni held up her hand. “Jane, they’re right. Meredith hasn’t said anything, but they gave Kam an ultimatum on Sunday. They told him he needed to break up with her or he’d be disowned too.”

             
Jane’s mouth fell open in horror as she stared at Meredith.

             
Meredith frowned and shrugged her shoulders. “Kam’s been so eaten up over it that he hasn’t been able to eat or sleep. He has to give his mom and dad an answer this next Sunday.”

             
Tawni reached over and grabbed Jane’s hand. “If you could change their minds though. If they’ll go to your wedding and see you and Tate happy together they might soften and change their minds about Kam and Meredith.”

             
Jane nodded and glanced at Toa and Pika quickly. They looked like they were having an intense conversation. “Well, let’s pray my dimples work then.”

             
Layla and Kit helped her carry all of her presents up to her room and then said good night. Jane made her way over to her window overlooking the back yard and stared up at the bright full moon and sighed.

             
If there was any way she could change Toa’s and Pika’s mind, she needed to find it right now. She leaned her head against the cool glass of the window and closed her eyes, sending a prayer up to heaven that their hearts would be softened. When she opened her eyes she felt more peaceful. Somehow things would work out. She was sure of it.