Luke takes my hand and kisses my fingers as he guides me to my seat between him and Mark.
Suddenly the ballroom doors swing open, and the room erupts into applause.
Neil is smiling lovingly down at his bride as Lucy’s mouth drops and she looks around the large room, realizing that she recognizes everyone here.
She turns to Neil with a shocked smile and he dips her way down low and kisses her tenderly. I can’t hear what he says to her, but I’m quite sure he says, “Happy anniversary, my love.”
I can’t stop smiling.
Lucy is wearing a beautiful black evening dress and Neil is in a black suit and red tie. They look young and happy and still very much in love.
As they make their way through the crowd to our table, they stop to shake hands and give hugs to other guests. I turn to Luke and grin up at him.
“They look so happy. I’m so happy for them.”
“Me too.” He kisses my forehead, and I decide to be the bigger person here, to try to make things right with his sister.
“Samantha.” I lean around Luke toward his sister to get her attention.
“This is a great party. You did a fantastic job.”
She looks stunned for a moment, then plasters the fake smile on her face, and my heart sinks. No smoothing things over tonight. “Thanks, Natalie.”
I look up at Luke and shrug. He shakes his head ruefully and we turn our attention back to his parents.
Lucy hugs me tightly on her way to her seat. “Oh, Natalie, this is amazing!”
“I’m so happy that you’re surprised and happy, Lucy. Happy anniversary.”
“Thank you.” She kisses my cheek and then enfolds Luke into a hug.
“Hello, dear.” Neil sweeps me up in a hug, all smiles. “Were you able to finish the project you were working on?”
“Yes, and I’ll have it with me tomorrow at brunch.” We are hosting brunch at Luke’s house tomorrow morning to give his parents their gifts and have a private family celebration.
“Perfect. Thank you.” He smiles at me kindly, and moves on around the table.
“My parents love you,” Luke murmurs in my ear.
“It’s mutual.”
We take our seats and Neil stands, tapping his water glass with his spoon and the room hushes. Someone hands him a microphone.
“I want to thank you all for coming tonight, and extend a special thank you to my lovely daughter, Samantha, for being my partner in crime these past few months. It’s been daunting keeping this little secret from my beautiful bride.”
He smiles down at her and she blushes prettily. “I am a very lucky man. As of tomorrow, I have had the honor of spending every day with the best person I’ve ever known for thirty five years.
Luce, you are my best friend, the love of my life, and I would do it again every single day. Thank you for putting up with my shenanigans, for our three gorgeous children, and for teaching me how to cook a steak.”
As we all laugh, Lucy wipes a tear from the corner of her eye and grins at her husband.
“Happy anniversary, my love. Here’s to thirty five more.” Lucy stands amongst the applause and Neil kisses her soundly.
The band starts to play a bluesy tune and a delicious dinner is served.
“So, Natalie, how was Tahiti?” Lucy smiles warmly across the table at me.
“Warm, romantic, and completely perfect.” I respond with a wink. “I didn’t want to come home.”
Luke kisses my fingers. “We’ll go back.”
The band begins to play At last by Etta James, and Neil stands. “I believe this is our song, beautiful.”
He takes her hand and we all watch as he moves her effortlessly across the dance floor. They are gazing at each other as though they’re the only two in the room.
“Your parents are so in love,” I murmur to Luke.
“Yeah, it gets a bit gross for a kid to watch.” He shakes his head, but his eyes are full of humor. “Shall we join them?”
“Sure.”
As he leads me out to the dance floor, I see other couples, including Jules’
parents; get up to dance to the sweet song. Luke pulls me into his arms and we glide around the floor.
“I love dancing with you.” I run my fingers down his cheek and his blue eyes light up.
“We should do it more often then.”
“Yes, we should.” I smile up at him and his eyes are suddenly so serious.
What’s wrong? Is he still nervous about the crowd?
“Nat, I…”
Jules sweeps by on the arm of one of Luke’s cousins. “Definitely glad I came stag,” she mumbles to me as she passes, smiles and shrugs, then gives us a finger wave, clearly enjoying her night.
“You were saying?” I ask Luke.
He exhales and pulls me tightly against him, nuzzles my ear with his nose, and whispers, “I love you.”
The evening moves quickly, and magically. Luke keeps me tucked close to his side all night, glaring at anyone who dares ask me to dance, and I can’t help but laugh at my possessive man.
No one asks for an autograph, and Luke poses politely for the photographer Samantha hired for the occasion, knowing the photos will be the property of the family.
“There you are!” I turn at Stacy’s excited voice and hug her tightly.
“Well, hello pretty girl! I told you when we bought it, that dress is a knockout.” I stand back and admire her beautiful white off the shoulder dress. It fits her body perfectly and she glows with happiness.
“Thank you. Yours is stunning too.”
Isaac pulls me into a hug. “Hey, brat.
Thanks for helping Stacy find that dress.
It’s torture. I have two more weeks before I can touch her and I think I’m going to die.”
We all laugh at his pained expression and I pat his cheek. “Poor boy. I think Sophie’s worth it.”
“Yeah,” his face transforms into a sweet smile. “She is. Hey, dance with me?”
I look up at Luke and he shrugs and turns to Stacy. “Do me the honor, beautiful?”
Stacy blushes bright red and takes his hand as he leads her onto the floor. I know how she feels, he’s a heart throb.