A Bride for Sam (A Red Maple Falls Christmas Wedding Novella) Read online

  Kate scoffed. “You are far too trusting. I can guarantee you he put more than half the bottle in.”

  “He once got everyone at our parents’ Christmas open house drunk by spiking the punch with an entire bottle of rum,” Hadley said as she chased the Jell-O shot with a water.

  “Lesson learned.” Sarah nodded to the still full Jell-O shot in Shay’s hand. “Do you not want yours?”

  “You know me and too much alcohol. I want to look alive tomorrow.”

  “You’re a mother of a toddler. Good luck with that,” Sarah said.

  “Wait, where are all the kids?” Hadley asked, suddenly realizing all her nephews were MIA.

  “Having a sleepover at grandma and grandpa’s,” Shay said with a smile.

  “Mom said she was too old for a bachelorette party,” Kate added.

  Just then Betty and Terry walked into the kitchen, their penis headbands still in place, arms wrapped around each other’s shoulders and singing Santa Baby.

  Cassie muffled a laugh, Shay didn’t even bother, and Daisy joined the duo making it a trio. While Betty and Terry could use a few singing lessons, Daisy’s voice was as silky smooth and beautiful as ever. She kicked her leg up like a Rockette, and pretty soon the older woman joined in. Hadley was scared of someone breaking a hip—especially Terry who was teetering on her usual five-inch heels—but Kate joined the other end, giving her someone else to hold onto.

  Daisy kicked her leg high, a smile wide on her face, demanding attention. The girl was meant to be on stage and while Hadley would hate when the time came when Daisy would go home, she understood that New York, though too far away, was where she belonged. She had a gift and the world deserved to experience it. But damn if she wasn’t ecstatic that her sister was here with her tonight.

  Hadley joined the line, and pretty soon the rest of the girls did too, until they were all laughing so hard they could barely hold themselves up.

  “Oh my God, my abs hurt,” Cassie said, bending over and clutching her stomach.

  “I haven’t felt my abs in thirty years,” Terry said, causing them all to laugh harder.

  It might not have been the typical bachelorette party where the girls got decked out to the nines and headed out to a club or a bar or spent the weekend in some party city, but it was everything Hadley could hope for. She was surrounded by the people she loved most, singing Christmas songs and enjoying each other’s company, and to her it couldn’t be more perfect.

  After another round of Christmas songs and telling Betty it was a terrible idea to go door-to-door caroling, they all collapsed on the sofa and loveseat in the living room, surrounded by empty platters and glasses.

  “I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard,” Kate said, swiping at tears.

  “That’s because you girls don’t know how to let loose,” Betty said.

  “Stick around we’ll teach you,” Terry added which caused even more laughter.

  There was a knock on the door, and Sarah jumped up from her spot, stripped down from her blazer, and in a t-shirt and jeans she made her way across the room to the front door. She opened it and more giggling ensued.

  Walt, Terry’s husband, walked into the room with Hadley’s grandfather.

  “Grandpa!” Hadley exclaimed, and he gave everyone a wave. When he spotted Daisy, a genuine smile formed on his face. “Get over here, you.” Daisy jumped up from the couch and gave him a hug.

  “Good to see you, kid.”

  “Good to see you, too, old man.”

  “We’re here to pick up the riff-raff,” Walt said. Walt was a stocky man with white hair that was once red. A wide nose that fit his face sat between two cheeks that were always flushed. He was an intimidating man until he smiled, and his entire face brightened like a Christmas tree, transforming him into the gentle giant everyone knew him to be.

  Terry waved her hand at him. “Come back later. We’re just getting started.”

  Walt didn’t even flinch, probably used to Terry’s antics from over the years. He narrowed his gaze on her. “Don’t make me carry you out of here.”

  “Ha! The last time you tried to pick me up was 1996 and you threw your back out.”

  “No, no… Walt is right,” Betty said, getting to her feet and swaying slightly. Hadley reached out to steady her, but Betty managed on her own. “We should go. We don’t recover like we used to.”

  Terry laughed. “Speak for yourself, Great-Grandma.”

  “This great-grandma needs her beauty sleep. After all, I have an aisle to walk down tomorrow.” After Sam proposed, Betty had asked if she could be their flower girl, and since Hadley couldn’t deny her grandmother—and if it wasn’t for Betty’s meddling she and Sam may never have gotten to where they were—Hadley happily agreed. Tomorrow Betty would be in a glittering merlot-colored gown, sprinkling white flower petals down the aisle.

  “And you,” Hadley said to Terry. “Need to be fresh faced and ready to marry me to the man of my dreams.”

  “I suppose you’re right. Okay girls.” Terry stood from the couch, and Walt helped her into her leopard faux fur coat. “It’s been a blast. I will see you all tomorrow.”

  Hadley gave each of them a hug goodbye and waved them off at the door. She loved both of those women fiercely, admired their larger than life personalities, and only hoped that when she was their age she could appreciate life as grandly as they did.

  “What are we going to do now?” Sarah asked. “It’s only eight-thirty.”

  “That’s it?” Hadley asked before looking up at the clock that hung above the fireplace. “It feels so much later.”

  “Nope, still early,” Cassie said.

  “Why don’t we head out to Calhoun’s?” Kate suggested.

  “But that’s where the boys are,” Shay said.

  Kate smiled. “Exactly.”

  ***

  Calhoun’s, one of the few bars in town, sat just on the town border and was a favorite hot spot for their beer selection and great burgers—two of Hadley’s favorite things. If she ever had to choose what her last meal would be, it would definitely be one of Calhoun’s burgers.

  The girls all stumbled out of Shay’s vehicle, since she was the only one not drinking, and made their way to the door. “May I suggest you all order water as your next drink?” Shay said.

  “Remember when you were fun?” Kate said with a giggle, and Shay rolled her eyes. The last time I was that drunk, Matt had some poor guy on the floor, ready to haul him off to the station.”

  “Poor guy? If I remember correctly the guy was creeping on you and the night ended with you over my brother’s shoulder.”

  “The big ogre couldn’t help himself. Such a control freak.”

  “And you married him anyway.”

  “I had no choice. The bastard stole my heart at sixteen and never gave it back.” A smile spread across Shay’s face. “It was also the night I fell in love with him all over.”

  “After you threw up,” Hadley said.

  Shay laughed. “I try to leave that part out.”

  “Why? It’s the best part. And didn’t you leave him outside while you went and brushed your teeth?”

  “Maybe.”

  “How have I never heard this story?” Sarah asked. “This is epic.”

  “Definitely one for the memory books,” Shay said as she opened the door to Calhoun’s. She stepped inside, and Hadley followed along with the rest of the girls.

  The smell of greasy burgers and beer hit her as she walked in, and her stomach growled in response. She reminded herself that she had a wedding dress to fit into tomorrow and scanned the bar.

  The place was busy, which was typical for a Friday night, but even amongst the crowd her eyes immediately found Sam’s as if they were two attracting magnets that always came together. He was just about to take a sip from his glass when he saw her and lowered it. A spark ignited in his gaze as he walked away from the guys mid-conversation and went right to her.

  “What a
re you doing here?” he asked as he took her in his arms.

  “We’re crashing your party,” she said, looking up at him and smiling.

  “Someone’s been drinking.”

  “Nuh-uh.”

  “Oh really? Then why are your eyes red and glassy and your lip is doing that little curl at the corner?”

  “My lip doesn’t curl.” She swatted at it, trying to push away whatever he was talking about, but he took her hand in his and bent, pressing a kiss to the edge of her mouth.

  “It does when you’re drunk, and it’s adorable.”

  “I wasn’t going to drink, but Sarah had Jell-O shots and she let Cooper make them.”

  Sam laughed and turned his attention to Sarah. “Rookie mistake right there.”

  Sarah patted Cooper’s chest. “I should’ve known. It won’t happen again.”

  “Hey Billy,” Sam called to the bartender. “Can we get a water?”

  Billy nodded and grabbed a glass. He filled it and pushed it across the bar. Sam picked up the cup and handed it to her. “Drink up. I need you to be able to walk down that aisle tomorrow.”

  “Trust me, nothing is going to keep me from you.”

  He snaked his hand around her waist and pulled her close. “Just in case.” He tilted the glass to her lips, and she took a sip to pacify him.

  “Satisfied?” she asked.

  His aquamarine eyes that were more green than blue tonight because of the olive-green Henley he was wearing, stared down at her. “I’d be more satisfied if you let me come home with you.”

  “You and I both know that’s not going to happen. It’s bad luck to see me before the wedding.”

  “Haven’t we had enough bad luck? What else can possibly—”

  Hadley thrust her hand against his mouth. “Shhh!” She felt the vibrations of his laugh on her hand. “You’re going to jinx us.”

  He kissed her palm, and she dropped her hand. “As long as after tonight we are always in the same bed at night.”

  “That’s a deal I can keep.”

  She pushed up on tiptoe and pressed a kiss to his lips.

  “You should sit,” Matt’s voice rose beside them.

  Hadley pulled away from Sam and turned to her brother whose eyes were fixated on his wife. Shay planted a hand on her hip. “I’m fine.”

  “I didn’t ask if you were fine.”

  Shay glared at him, her eyebrows drawing together in a menacing curve. Hadley knew them well enough to know they were having a silent argument, but why would Matt be so concerned about Shay sitting?

  “The last time you cared so much about Shay sitting was when she was pregnant,” Hadley said, and all eyes turned to her. “Wait a second… You haven’t had a single drink tonight.”

  Shay’s features softened and she and Matt exchanged a look.

  “Oh my god! You’re pregnant!” Hadley screeched.

  Matt wrapped his arm around his wife’s shoulders, and Shay smiled before nodding the confirmation.

  Hadley bounced up and down then grabbed Shay and pulled her into a hug. Sam gave Matt a hug, and ecstatic congratulations flew around the group.

  “How far along are you?” Hadley asked.

  Shay rested a protective hand on her stomach, and Matt linked his fingers with hers. “Twelve weeks,” she said.

  “Why didn’t you tell us?” Sam asked.

  “We didn’t want to take away from your wedding,” Matt said.

  “Are you kidding me?” Hadley exclaimed. “This is the best news ever. I’m going to be an aunt again!”

  “Just don’t tell Mom and Dad,” Matt said. “We want to be the ones to tell them.”

  “Of course.” Hadley threw her arms around Matt’s neck. “I’m just so happy for you two.” She pulled him in for another hug, but she couldn’t help but notice Kate standing off to the side. The smile that was always so prominent on her face was stretched thin. Caleb had his arm around her and held her close, pressing a kiss to her head.

  Kate had made it clear that she wasn’t ready for kids, and as far as Hadley knew, that much hadn’t changed, but she’d been so caught up in the wedding and her own life that she wondered if Kate’s desire to wait was over.

  She made a mental note to find some time to speak with Kate before she left on her honeymoon. She couldn’t fly off to white sandy beaches, thinking that something was bothering her sister.

  Chapter 11

  Since the minute Sam woke up he had a smile on his face. Today was the day. In a few short hours he would be married to Hadley, and they could officially start their lives together as husband and wife.

  Marrying Hadley was the start of a new beginning, but their story had started so long ago, back when they were only kids. Though it wasn’t romantic, it was special, so instead of closing a book on all the moments that lead them to this very one, they were opening a fresh page and starting their sequel.

  Sam looked around at the men surrounding him—men who had been there for him even when his own mother was incapable. Matt, Mason, Cooper, Jonathon, and Harold Hayes were just a part of their journey and especially part of his.

  He loved all of them and couldn’t be happier that they were with him now. His gaze swung to Chase, the kid who was no longer a kid, who Sam had seen so much of himself in, and who was now the guy he relied on most on the job. The day Sam brought Chase to the firehouse to try and change his destructive path he never would have guessed that the scrawny kid with the bad attitude would turn out to be one of his closest friends. He was as much a part of Sam’s family as the Hayes’ men.

  “You okay?” Matt asked, resting a hand on his shoulder.

  “Couldn’t be better.”

  “You sure I don’t have to go get a heater and defrost your feet?”

  Sam laughed. He knew Matt was kidding, but he had a feeling a piece of him was serious. He didn’t want Sam running out on Hadley now, but like Sam had told him what now felt like centuries ago, he loved Hadley and he would never do anything to hurt her. It took Matt a long time to realize that Sam was no longer the commitment phobic guy he once was, but he hoped any doubts he may still harbor would dissipate in time.

  “No defrosting necessary. I’m just eager to get married.”

  “First, we celebrate,” Cooper said, coming behind them and clapping a hand on Sam’s other shoulder.

  Chase let out a groan and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Didn’t we do enough of that last night?”

  “Can’t hang with the big boys?” Cooper asked. Funny since he was only a year older than Chase.

  “I can!” Travis Morgan exclaimed. He was five-years-old and getting bigger every day. His brown tweed suit jacket and orange bow tie were sure to make the guests ooh and ah as he led little Matthew down the aisle.

  Travis’ big brown eyes lit up as Sam bent down and rustled his hair. Travis’ father had died in their family home during a fire when Sam was unable to save him. He carried that loss with him every single day. He had sworn when he recovered from his own injuries that he would help Travis and his family and he stuck by that vow.

  Travis had since become a huge part of his life and it only made sense to include him in the most important day of Sam’s life.

  Chase didn’t even bother to deny it. “At least one of us can,” Chase said, doing his best to give the kid a thumbs up. “I feel like my head went through a meat grinder.”

  Sam laughed. “I told you to drink water before you went to bed.”

  “I would have if I didn’t pass out first.”

  “What you need is a little hair of the dog,” Harold said, and Chase reared back in repulsion.

  “Trust me it works. The old man knows what he’s talking about.” Mason opened a growler and poured it into seven Solo cups. He passed the plastic red cups, and Chases reluctant to accept, finally did. Mason filled a cup with apple juice and handed it to Travis.

  Matt held up his cup and everyone turned their eyes to him. “To Sam, the man who I’ve always c
onsidered my brother and a part of this family, but after today it will be official. I couldn’t ask for a better guy for my sister, but if you hurt her I will kill you.”

  “I second that,” Cooper said.

  “I want to… I guess third that, but it’s just so cliché,” Mason said.

  “Can you come up with something better?” Matt asked.

  “No,” Mason deadpanned.

  Sam laughed. “Cliché or not I get what you’re all saying and you have nothing to worry about. I would never hurt her.”

  Cooper nodded to Sam. “But if you do, we know where you live.”

  Mason let out a disappointed sigh. “And to think you’re a published author.”

  “Shut up.”

  “You two knock off your nonsense,” Harold Hayes said, waving his wrinkled weathered hands. “It’s my turn to speak.”

  Everyone quieted because when Harold Hayes had something to say, they knew damn well to listen. He was a stubborn old man who didn’t want to believe he was in his eighties. Sam couldn’t count how many times he and Matt had to go over to the house after a frantic call from Betty that her husband was doing something that he shouldn’t.

  Most of the time he was fine; he just liked to tinker on old tractors and cars. It made him happy, and Sam didn’t see the harm—except when he was climbing onto tractors with his brittle bones acting like he was still a spry thirty-year-old.

  Sam would usually wind up sticking around to hang out with the old man. Over the years he’d learned a lot from Harold from how to do an oil change to how to change a carburetor. He also taught him life lessons including how to treat a girl right and how to recover from a hangover.

  “Son,” Harold said, resting a hand on his shoulder and giving it a squeeze. The old man still had a strong grip. “When my granddaughter was born, I held her in my arms, and I wanted the world for her. I also knew that nobody would ever be good enough for her.”

  “I knew she was his favorite,” Cooper said.

  “Shush, boy,” Harold said before continuing. “And nobody was ever good enough for my Hadley and you knew that. She’d bring guys home and you’d always find something wrong them and of course you were always right. None of them could hold a candle to her. Yet over the years, I watched as you took care of our girl so many times and watched as she took care of you. So it turns out I was wrong. There was somebody that was good enough for her. Sam, I’ve looked at you as a grandson from that first day I met you, and it is an honor to officially welcome you to our family.”