Three of Hearts (22 page)

Seth knew the tea cups and saucers meant a lot to Mae, and knowing his spitfire was the cause, he felt the need to apologize. “I’m sorry Mae. Can I replace it?”

Touched by his offer, but fully aware that it was irreplaceable; she just smiled and told him, it was ok.

Sure that she was just being gracious, Seth let the subject drop.

“As much as I’d love to shower with you, I better be getting back over there. I told Aidan I would take him to the videogame store.” Seth gave her a lingering kiss on her lips and exited through the interior door.

Mae headed off to the shower; once she was through she wrapped her long hair in a towel and another around her body, knotting it against her breast. She walked to her walk in closet and selected a shimmering pale blue dress. The square neckline and sleeveless cut fitted nicely to her form without clinging. The hem came to right below her knee and she paired it with silver open toe heels. Once dressed and her hair dried, she put it in an elegant updo, securing it with a silver rhinestone hairpin. She wore small silver hoops in her ears and added her bangle bracelets from her date with Seth. She put all her necessities in her small silver beaded clutch and grabbed her sheer silver wrap.

She wanted to say goodbye to Seth and the kids before she left, so double checking to make sure she had everything, she headed through the interior door.

Seth and the boys were sitting on the couch watching the TV, while Megan was coloring on a giant pad of paper on the floor.

Megan turned at the sound of the clicking from Mae’s heels on the hardwood and said “Mae you look like a princess.”

Seth stood from the couch and made his way over to Mae. She looked breathtaking. The color made her eyes glimmer and the touches of silver from head to toe gave her a posh, elegant radiance. “It will not be fair to the bride if you show up looking this beautiful,” he whispered. She mouthed, “thank you.”

And with that, she headed out.

FIFTEEN

She arrived at the wedding, which was being held at the bride’s family home, twenty minutes before the ceremony was to start. As she parked her car and made her way toward the large white tent, she wondered where Leo was. Feeling awkward, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed his number. It went directly to voicemail. She tried lingering out front but one of the ushers noticed her and asked her if she needed help finding a seat. She told him that she was waiting for someone, so he left her alone. She continued to try to reach him on his phone but she kept getting his voicemail. The tent was filling up fast and people were starting to look in her direction, so she decided to go in and sit in the back and hopefully could put eyes on Leo. She was just about to sit down in the last row when she heard her name being called. She turned to find Leo coming toward her from the direction she was moments ago.
Did
he
just
get
here?
He looked rough. His suit was pressed but his shirt looked like it had been rolled in a ball on the floor, his hair was sticking up in the back and his days growth gave the impression he just woke up.

Mae headed in his direction and the closer she got to him the worse he looked. When was the last time he slept?

“Hey Mae, thanks for coming.” Leo said softly but Mae thought he was about to cry. Tucking her arm through his she ushered him off toward back of the house.

“What happened last night after I got off the phone with you?” Mae said trying to keep her voice hushed.

Just then an older man in a sharp tux with a yellow rose in the lapel hurriedly came toward them. “Leonard, what is going on? Why aren’t you in your tux? Where were you? We’ve been trying to call you all morning. Your mother has been a wreck thinking you were dead in a ditch somewhere.”

Squeezing his eyes shut and knowing he would have to face his father whether he wanted to or not, Leo raised his head and took a deep breath.

When Leo opened his eyes, his father and his mother were coming toward them as well as his two brothers, one being the groom.
Great
just
what
he
needed,
his
family
to
make
him
feel
shittier
than
he
already
does.

“Leo, are you alright? Where have you been?” Vinnie, his oldest brother and the one getting married asked as he wrapped his arms around his youngest brother.

Leo’s family engulfed him and Mae found it hard to believe that people who were so concerned and worried wouldn’t support one of their own.

Leo apologized for being late and told his family that the person he wanted to bring wouldn’t come with him because Leo felt he couldn’t be honest about who he truly was.

Just then, Leo’s father seemed to notice Mae standing off to the side. Opening a space up in their close circle, he said to Mae, “And you are, Miss?”

Leo spoke before Mae could, “Dad, Mom, Vinnie, Al, this is my friend Mae, she agreed to come with me today.”

They all greeted her. It was Leo’s father that looked confused, turning to Leo, he spoke evenly “Leo, why didn’t you bring the man you are seeing? I assume you are still seeing him?”

Leo was shocked; did they expect him to bring Robert? Looking at his family with such astonishment he barely got the words out, “you knew I was seeing a man? You wanted me to bring him with me?”

Not realizing he raised any of his sons to be anything but proud of who they were and honest with him, his father laid a hand on Leo’s shoulder and said “of course, I wanted to finally meet the man that makes my son happy.”

Leo’s mother and both his brothers echoed the same sentiment and Mae was filled with joy that Leo was being accepted and loved by the ones who always should.

After a quick couple of apologies, Mae was escorted by Leo’s dad to sit up front with the groom’s family, while Leo joined his brothers at the front where the minister waited. Just as Leo’s brother Al, fixed Leo’s tie, the processional music began to play.

The beauty and sentiment of the ceremony moved them deeply, and Mae and Leo kept connecting gazes that spoke so much of how each was feeling. When the ceremony was through and the groom kissed the bride, everyone cheered.

After the wedding party exited the tent, Mae tried to find Leo. While she tried to locate where he had gone, she was surprised by him grabbing her from behind and talking nonstop of how ignorant he had been of his family’s support and all. When the laughter and festive joy started to subside, Mae took Leo’s hand and placed her phone in it and said “Call him. Tell him there is a family eagerly waiting to meet him and it won’t be a party without him.”

Giving him privacy, Mae walked toward the other tent, where the reception was to be held. She admired the tables covered in different hues of yellow accentuated with touches of royal blue here and there. There was a giant dance floor and waiters in white tuxedo jackets walked around with trays filled with scrumptious looking treats. Mae gladly took a flute of champagne from a passing waiter when she received a tap of her shoulder. Turning and finding Leo’s brother, Al, in front of her, Mae lightly choked on the fizzy liquid. Once she was able to catch her breath, she introduced herself.

“Nice to meet you officially, Mae. You must have thought we were the most uncaring and arrogant family in the world,” Al said trying to hide his embarrassment over Leo thinking they would care any differently because of his sexual preference. As far as Al was concerned, if Leo could find the kind of happiness that he himself had found with his wife Mary, then he didn’t care if Leo’s significant other was green with purple polka dots and sported a third eye.

“Let me escort you over to our table and introduce you to my wife Mary and our kids. That way you’ll have some company while Leo is off trying to right his wrong.” Al said kindly.

Mae was introduced to Al’s wife and children, as well as Leo’s grandmother and an aunt and uncle. The conversation flowed quite well and finally the wedding party was being introduced into the tent. Once Leo was introduced he made his way over to the vacant seat next to Mae and gently kissed her on her cheek. As everyone watched as the bride and groom twirled around the dance floor before taking their seats at the sweetheart table for two, Mae couldn’t help but wish Seth was here with her.

Once the toasts were given and the food started being served, Leo handed Mae back her phone. He didn’t need to say anything, just by watching the smile on Leo’s face and the animation of the way he spoke to the table at large, Mae knew Robert was on his way.

After the cake had been cut, Leo’s phone vibrated in his pocket, he took it out and peeked at it and got up. “I’ll be right back” he said and walked off.

Leo’s father looked at Mae and nodded just once before turning to his wife and kissing her cheek. Without any words, he communicated loud and clear to her that he was happy and proud that Leo had invited Robert to join him, as he should have.

Robert arrived, walking behind Leo; his charcoal suit looked fabulous with his black dress shirt and silver satin tie. His signature sunglasses were on his head, and he was enthusiastic as he was introduced to everyone. Al had brought an additional seat for Robert to join them at the table and we all witnessed the light kiss that Robert and Leo shared as other wedding guest tapped their glasses to make the bride and groom kiss.

Everyone was dancing; even Mae twirled around the dance floor a couple of times; once with Leo and the other with Al’s daughter, Isabelle. When the music shifted to a slow song and all the couples were dancing close, Mae thought this was a good time to head out, after all Leo and Robert were happy and enjoying the company of all. Mae was just about at the edge of the tent when she felt someone tug on her hand, it was Leo followed by Robert.

“Leaving already?” Leo said with a smile that proved just how happy he truly was.

“I think you guys have got it from here. Please tell your family thank you for me and what a magical day it was.” Mae said as she kissed Leo first and then Robert. With a parting wave she headed toward her car.

Due to the overcast and hazy weather, Mae put on her favorite sun glasses and rolled down the windows. The breeze was wonderful and pulled at her updo. So when she arrived at the next red light, she took her hair down and finger combed through it. The heavy mane fell in soft curls and the sensation made her scalp tingle. Oh what she would give for one of Seth’s head massages.

The drive back to Seth’s didn’t take much time at all. Whether that was due to her excitement to see him or her lack of observance of the speed limit, Mae would never tell.

When she pulled into the drive, she noticed that the speedboat was not at the dock. Seth must have taken the kids out. This would give her time to go in and change before he returned. Mae had just made it up to her apartment when she noticed the dozen white roses on the dining table. Attached was a card that read

I
Love
You
—
S

Would this man never cease to amaze her?

Inhaling another long breath of their sweet scent, she made her way up the stairs with a new bounce in her step and eagerness for his return.

She changed into her jeans and decided to pair it with one of her new tops that she recently bought for the warmer weather. The one shoulder design and batwing sleeve was dressy enough for her date, but still casual enough for Cal’s. The sapphire blue of the top looked great with her black platform sandals. She opted for no jewelry around her neck but instead wore a large chunky silver cuff on her bare wrist and thick silver hoops in her ears.

Mae decided to head down to the dock to await their arrival. She sat down on the edge of the dock, as Conner and Michael did when they were fishing. She made sure to remove her shoes before draping her feet over the side.

She raised her head to the warm sunshine that was finally filtering through and closed her eyes to lose herself in the serenity of the lake. She listened as the water lapped against the shore and as the birds chirped in nearby trees. She even could hear faint music coming from across the lake. The sun felt so warm on her skin that even the breeze off the water couldn’t chill her.

She lost track of how long she sat out there before she heard the familiar hum of the boat’s engine approach. She opened her eyes and saw multiple hands waving to her, she eagerly returned the waves, and got to her feet. Opting to keep her shoes off, she picked the pair up by their ankle straps, from where they laid on the dock.

Seth’s smile was as wide as his shoulders. With his head shining and the dark tint of his Ray Bans, he looked delicious. He turned the motor off and called to her, “Hey honey, where you going looking like that?”

Delighted by his playful banter, she answered back in kind “I have a hot date with a gorgeous man tonight, so thought I should look my best.”

Receiving high fives and in Megan’s case, a hug, as the kids went by her toward the house, Seth stepped up onto the dock and grabbed her by the waist.

Removing his shades so she could see how she made his eyes smolder he leaned down and said against her lips, “Don’t get me wrong, honey, you sure do look damn fine, but as far as your best, that’s when you are naked and climaxing.” He then kissed her with all the pent up excitement that he felt since she left him six hours ago.

Loving his taste and how he could make her toes curl from just kissing, Mae was hesitant to break their contact. When she finally did, she rested her head on his chest and just enjoyed the feeling of being in his arms.

God, she felt good Seth thought. Between her luscious body, her intoxicating scent and her soft lips, Seth just couldn’t concentrate on anything that didn’t involve him being inside her.

Placing a few kisses on the crown of her head, he moved his hands up to the nape of her neck and rested his thumbs on her cheeks; he leaned in for one more touch of her lips.