Alistair turns and extends his hand toward Vanessa. She dutifully approaches, her heels click-clicking against the hardwood floors. “We were going to wait but since you’re my brother, I suppose we can make the exception.”
The two of them smile at each other and it churns my stomach. Vanessa places her hand on Alistair’s arm and the sun catches something on her finger.Fuck no.
“I’ve asked Vanessa to marry me and she’s agreed,” Alistair announces. My parents, who clearly already knew this information, clap politely and extend their congratulations.
But all I can see is the ring on her finger. “That’s Nan’s ring,” I say, my voice wooden. “Why’s she wearing Nan’s ring?”
Even when we were engaged, I didn’t ask my parents for my grandmother’s ring. That was probably a sign that things weren’t going to work out between us. But I had planned on asking my father for it this weekend because Milly deserves the honor of wearing it.
And now Alistair’s gone and given it to Vanessa.
There’s an uncomfortable silence in the air and all eyes are on me.
“Benjamin, don’t you have anything else tosayto your brother?” My mother’s admonishing voice cuts through the tension like a knife.
“No, I don’t,” I spit out before storming out of the dining room.
Milly
Well, this is awkward.
Ben’s parents, brother and his fiancé are all staring at me after he stormed out of the room.Thanks for throwing me to the wolves Ben.
“I should go after him,” I say through a tense smile.
“He’s probably in the garden,” Alistair tells me.
“Of course,” I reply. “If you’ll excuse me.”
My feet couldn’t possibly move any faster as I leave and head toward the front door. I have absolutely no idea where I’m going, only a general idea. A sigh of relief escapes my lips when I find the garden entrance.
“Ben!” I shout the moment I step inside. From the dining room, I know the walled garden is an elaborate labyrinth of hedges and shrubbery. It would be so easy to get lost if you don’t know your way, which I clearly don’t.
“Ben!” I shout again before heading down a path on the right side of the garden.
My head swivels as I search for Ben. Several times my feet slip on the gravel but I’m able to catch myself before I fall.
“I swear to God, Ben, if I fall and ruin these pants, I’m going to murder you,” I growl out loud.
And then it happens. My heel gets caught on something and I go down.Hard.
“Son of a bitch!” I cry out. My heel is caught in a root and my foot is twisted. And holy balls does it hurt. “BEN! Where the fuck are you?”
As if to make matters worse, I look up at the house. Everyone is standing in front of the windows overlooking the garden, watching this horrific shit show. Hot tears spring from my eyes and begin streaming down my cheeks. This isn’t how today was supposed to go.
The sound of gravel crunching underfoot is music to my ears. Ben is finally here to save the day!
Except, it’s not Ben. It’s some old man in dirty clothes. “Are you alright, miss?”
I pound my fist into the gravel out of frustration. “I tripped,” I pout. “And I think my ankle is sprained.”
And my pants are ruined, I mentally add. The knees are stained with dirt which I doubt will come out.
“Oh dear,” the old man frets. “Well, there’s a bench just over there. Let me help you up and we’ll hobble on over to it.”
“I’ve got her George.” Ben’s voice is warm, and I sag with relief even though I want to snapIt’s about fucking time.
Ben’s familiar hands slide under my arms and gently, he lifts me until I’m balancing on just one foot. Then he bends and lifts me into his arms and carries me the short distance to the bench. His hold on me is firm as we sit down and he reaches up to brush away my tears with the pad of his thumb.
