The Laws of Attraction (Love is a Destination Book 2) Page 14

  “You told me you loved me,” he said after several minutes of comfortable silence.

  “I did,” she admitted.

  “And you haven’t changed your mind?” He brought her hand to his chest, holding it there.

  “No way. I said it because I meant it.” She glanced up at him. “Why are you smiling?”

  He didn’t know where to begin. More than anything, he felt incredible joy. “You, my Blue Bird, make me incredibly happy.”

  “You make me happy too,” Birdy said, leaning into him.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Today’s the day,” Birdy said to Katie when she arrived at her room. Georgie came in behind her holding the dresses. Birdy had spent the morning getting Katie’s wedding gown as well as all of the bridesmaid’s dresses steamed. Then she’d gone over last-minute details with the wedding coordinator. There hadn’t been a moment to even talk to Ares. She’d barely had time to breathe.

  “Hey, Mer.” The producer sat on the couch, talking quietly to someone on her phone.

  She gave Birdy a little wave.

  Meredith was probably feeling tons of pressure to get everything just right. Katie and Max had agreed to have their wedding filmed so it could be aired as part of Birdy Knows Best and Meredith had brought in reinforcements to the tune of three other cameramen plus Josh.

  It was three o’clock and the wedding would take place at six for a sunset wedding. Four makeup chairs had been set up at one end of Katie’s room and Thea, Marcy, Katie, and her mom were having their hair and makeup done. The room was a whirlwind of activity.

  Katie squealed when she saw Birdy, running over and hugging her.

  “Settle down,” Katie’s mom said, laughing.

  “I can’t.” Katie ran back over to the chair.

  “I’ll be with you in a few minutes,” the woman doing Marcy’s makeup said.

  “Alrighty.” Birdy went over to Thea. “Hey, glad you could make it.”

  “Me too. I almost didn’t. The plane was delayed due to a malfunction.”

  “Scary. I’m so glad you made it safe and sound.” Birdy thought about her number one rule and shuddered. She would never jump out of a working plane, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to jump out of a malfunctioning plane, either.

  “Me too,” Thea said, giving her a funny look.

  “What? Do I have something on my face?” She wiped under her eyes.

  “No, you look amazing.” Thea pulled Birdy’s hand away from her face. “But I need to tell you something. It’s important. My mom said I shouldn’t, but it doesn’t feel right that you don’t know.”

  “Tell me what?” Panic raced along Birdy’s spine.

  “Hey, Thea, can you come try on your dress?” Georgie asked. “I want to make sure we got all the wrinkles out and that it fits properly.”

  “I’m finished with your makeup. Go ahead,” the woman doing Thea’s makeup said.

  Thea gave Birdy’s hand a squeeze. “I’ll tell you later.” Thea followed Georgie over to the bedroom.

  “Have a seat, I’ll get started on your makeup, Miss Bird.”

  “Thanks.” Birdy sat but couldn’t stop fidgeting. She kept thinking about what Thea needed to tell her.

  Unfortunately, they didn’t get another chance to talk. Right after makeup was hair. Then the photographer showed up to take pictures. Followed by more pictures outside.

  They had a small break to eat grapes, cheese, and crackers and then it was time for pictures with the men and before Birdy knew it, it was time for the wedding to begin. She lightly hugged Katie, who looked divine in a white, cap sleeve V-neck lace wedding gown with a tulle skirt. It was simple, elegant and perfect for a beach wedding. Birdy’s dress was an asymmetrical tulle dress in light green that went to her ankles. Marcy and Thea’s dresses were the same length and color, but Marcy had a sweetheart neckline and Thea’s had spaghetti straps.

  The wedding ceremony was happening on a cliff overlooking Wailea Beach. Wooden chairs had been set up on either side of the rectangular wooden arch and covered in long linen panels and flowers. Lining the walkway were hundreds of peony petals. Behind the arch the ocean went on forever. It twinkled in the low sunlight, lending the whole setting a heavenly glow.

  Classical music played from a small quartet off to the right. The guests, which consisted of no more than twenty people, had been seated. The priest stood directly in the center of the arch. To the right of him was Max, looking handsome in his tan suit, white shirt, and light-yellow tie.

  “It’s time,” the wedding organizer said to Birdy.

  She nodded, taking her place.

  Ares appeared next to her. “Hi, Blue Bird,” he said, giving her his arm.

  The organizer handed her a bouquet. “Hey, Muscles,” Birdy teased Ares, catching her breath at the sight of him. His suit and tie were the same as Max’s.

  “All rise,” someone said.

  The guests stood.

  “Go,” the organizer said.

  Birdy and Ares walked together down the aisle. She couldn’t help but imagine if she and Ares might do that someday. And with that thought came an image of children. She’d never thought about having children until that moment. But with Ares, she wanted three or four. No doubt, Ares would be an amazing dad.

  When they reached the arch they separated, Birdy going to the left and Ares to the right, standing next to Max.

  The rest of the party took their turns. Finally, it was Katie’s turn. Instead of a veil, she wore a crown of flowers. Birdy thought she looked like an angel. Once she and her dad reached the priest, they stopped.

  “Who gives this woman in marriage?” the priest asked.

  “Her mother and I do,” Katie’s dad said, his voice shaky with emotion.

  Katie handed Birdy her flowers.

  “You got this,” she whispered to Katie.

  Her best friend already had tears in her eyes.

  Birdy glanced over at Ares who was looking at her. At the sight of him in the line looking so handsome, her whole body tingled with delight. Birdy couldn’t believe it, but she’d found the man of her dreams.

  Before she knew what had happened, Katie and Max had said their vows and were kissing. Birdy snapped out of it, and hugged Katie. “I’m so happy for you, Kiki.”

  “Me too. After my failed first engagement, I wondered if this day would ever come. But things do happen in the Lord’s time. And is His way. He knew what would bring me the most joy.”

  “True,” Birdy said, dabbing her eyes.

  “Remember that in your own life, okay?” Katie kissed Birdy’s cheek.

  “I will.”

  ***

  The reception was held in the grand ballroom at the Four Seasons. Filled with ambient light and decorated with thousands of flowers, the room felt like an enchanted paradise. As they walked in, the DJ announced each of the wedding party followed by the bride and groom. Everyone clapped as Max and Katie entered. They looked picture perfect and happier than any two people Birdy had ever seen.

  “Let’s give it up for Mr. and Mrs. Legend as they get the party started with the first dance.”

  Grinning, Max led Katie out into the center of the room. The song started and took Katie into his arms and led her around the dance floor. Birdy couldn’t help but get teary-eyed as she watched them together.

  “It was such a beautiful wedding, wasn’t it?” Thea asked.

  “Definitely,” Birdy said, glancing quickly at Ares, who winked. Then she remembered that she and Thea were supposed to talk. “What did you want to tell me?”

  “Oh,” Thea glanced around Birdy and then at Ares. “I thought maybe Ares had already told you.” She shrugged. “I guess not.” She cleared her throat. “Jane is your mom too.”

  “Wait, what?” It was as though Thea had dropped a bomb on Birdy. And it seemed so out of nowhere. “No, she isn’t. If that were true, I would know.”

  Thea shook her head. “Sorry, Bird. Your dad didn’t want you to know.�
� Thea glanced down at her hands nervously. “I probably shouldn’t have mentioned it here.” Thea looked uncomfortable. “I really thought Ares would’ve told you.” She crossed and uncrossed her arms nervously. “Mom didn’t take the deal with your dad. Apparently, he’s furious. But Ares worked his magic and she’s going to try to keep Pammy Feet, at least for now.

  Birdy was still in shock. “That can’t be true,” she said, still unable to wrap her mind around it. Ares knew, but had kept it from her? It didn’t seem possible. Unless he really was just like her father, only better able to cover it up. “No,” she said, glancing at Ares.

  “I promise you, Bird. Jane Whitaker is your mom too,” Thea said plainly. “Toby, you, and me, we’re family. Half-siblings.”

  She shook her head, unable to believe it. Birdy had never even heard of Jane Whitaker before this week. “Why would you say that?”

  Thea grabbed her hand. “Your dad and my mom were together. When my mom found out she was pregnant, she was broke and alone. No other family she could rely on. Jonathon agreed to take responsibility for you as long as our mom gave up her parental rights. In exchange, your dad payed off her debts and left her a good sum of money.”

  “Ouch,” Birdy said. It was bad enough that the woman she thought was her mom barely tolerated her. “I don’t believe you,” Birdy whispered, her whole body shaking.

  “I’m not surprised. I wouldn’t believe me either. But when I told my mom I was going to see you, she begged me to give this to you.” Thea took out a faded picture of a woman holding a baby in her arms. The woman looked just like Birdy did now.

  “May I?” Birdy took the photo. Then flipped it over. On the back were her birthdate, her name, and what looked like a recently added phone number.

  As a teen, Birdy had always asked Ariana, the woman she believed to be her mother, why she’d named her Pamela. Her mom had responded with things like, “I felt like it”, or, “It’s none of your business.”

  “Why did Jane name me Pamela?”

  “It was her mother’s name,” Thea said. “She died when Mom was a teenager.”

  “So she and her mom got along.” Tears filled Birdy’s eyes. “But Jane didn’t want me?”

  “Oh, she wanted you. But since she had no money, she thought you would be better off with Jonathan and Ariana. By the time she realized her mistake, it was too late.” Thea took Birdy’s other hand. “Mom used to tell Toby and me stories about the daughter she couldn’t see. She would never tell us your name, but Toby and I knew you existed.”

  “When did you find out who I was? My name I mean,” Birdy said. She still wasn’t convinced, but she couldn’t stop staring at the photo of the woman and the baby.

  “Right before we came to Maui, Mom told us. That’s why Toby was so upset. He thought you already knew.”

  “This is the first I’m hearing about any of it.” Birdy sat back in her chair. Waves of shock rolled over her. All at once, she’d received answers to questions she didn’t even know she should have.

  “That’s why my mom named the company Pammy Feet. In honor of you,” Thea said.

  Katie and Max’s dance ended and they headed over to the table. “Can I keep this picture?” Birdy asked.

  “It’s yours. Mom wanted you to have it.”

  “Thank you.” She tucked the photo into her clutch. Josh had been kneeling behind her and Thea, listening to the whole conversation. Meredith would be pleased. She would say, “That’s drama at its finest.”

  Birdy took a deep breath. She needed to put on a smile and make sure Katie had no clue anything was wrong. When her friend walked by, Birdy smiled big.

  That had been the wrong move.

  “What is the matter with you?” Katie asked.

  “Nothing. I’ve just been talking to Thea,” she said.

  “It seemed pretty serious.”

  “It’s nothing that can’t wait until after your honeymoon.” There was no way she was going to spring this on Katie now and ruin her whole wedding.

  Katie raised her eyebrows. “You sure?”

  “I am.”

  Her best friend looked like she wanted to say more, but at that moment Ares stood and held up a microphone. Katie rushed to her seat. “I feel so honored Max asked me to be his best man. Max and Katie are an exceptional couple. There aren’t many people in the world who love the way these two love each other. I can only hope I have such a beautiful relationship one day.” He paused. “There’s a Hawaiian proverb that goes something like this: “Aloha Aku No, Aloha Mai No.” What that means is: I give my love to you, you give your love to me. Katie and Max are an example of honesty, trust, and unfailing love. I hope they’ll continue to give their love to each other and do so until forever.”

  When he sat down, everyone cheered. Birdy clapped, but her broken heart wouldn’t allow her to do more. She wanted to talk to Ares and give him a piece of her mind.

  ***

  After dinner, Birdy helped Katie change. Before she and Max left, Katie threw her bouquet. And Birdy caught it. For a split-second, happiness filled her insides and she searched for Ares. He beamed. But then she remembered what he’d done and she looked away. Only to see her best friend eying her.

  “I don’t know what’s happened between you and Ares,” Katie said. “But don’t let him slip away. He’s one of the good guys.” Katie kissed Birdy on the cheek and then climbed into their wedding limo.

  “Thanks Kiki. I’ll do my best.” Inside, her heart raced against her chest like a herd of wild horses. She hoped he would have a good explanation. She hoped they could work things out and was still thinking about it as she went back inside the ballroom.

  Ares stuck out his hand, asking her to dance. She took it, and followed him onto the dance floor.

  “You’re upset about something.” He said it matter-of-factly, like he’d just mentioned the weather.

  She stiffened. “I am.”

  “Tell me what it is, so I can fix it,” he said, his eyes twinkling with love and light.

  She almost decided to forget about it. He must’ve had a good reason for not telling her. “I heard some interesting news from Thea tonight.”

  “I’m listening,” Ares said.

  “She told me that her mom is my mom. That Pammy Feet was named after me and that you knew the truth but chose not to tell me.” As she spoke, devastated tears fell onto her cheeks. She’d tried to keep calm, but it hadn’t worked.

  Ares blew out a drawn breath. “I’m so sorry, Bird. I wanted to tell you as soon as I hung up with your father. But Jonathon ordered me not to say anything, and because of attorney-client privilege, I had to keep my mouth shut. I’m relieved you know. And I’ve already put some changes in motion, but—”

  Birdy shook her head, barely able to hear him through the buzzing in her ears as an entire lifetime of hurt and neglect and rejection came boiling to the surface. “But your loyalty will always be to him and not me,” she said, cutting him off mid-sentence. Once again, she realized that the only person she would ever be able to trust was Katie. Definitely not her dad, or her—Ariana. Not Ares. Not anyone. “That’s how it will always be, isn’t it? No matter what I do, I’ll never be someone’s first choice.” She stopped, looking into his hurting eyes, knowing hers looked the same.

  “That’s not true, Bird. You’re my only choice.” He took her hand, but she yanked it away.

  “You let me believe you weren’t a shark, but the truth is you’re one of the deadliest. You lulled me into believing you were this great, amazing guy, but that was a lie. You’re just like him.” Birdy yanked the chain he’d given her from her neck and let it fall to the floor between them.

  Ares flinched like she’d slapped him. “Not true, Bird. And if you’ll let me explain—”

  Birdy backed away. Anger, fear, and devastation erupted within. She needed to leave before she caused a scene. “I think you’ve said enough. Goodbye, Mr. Devereux.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Eight D
ays Later

  Birdy checked her phone. She was only fifteen minutes late for her appointment to meet Katie for lunch. Today was her best friend’s first day back after her honeymoon. Birdy had missed her terribly and she couldn’t wait to see Katie and hear details about married life.

  She sighed as she glanced out the window. The tall buildings still left her feeling claustrophobic after the week she had spent in Maui. The whole trip had been magical up until the last night.

  Meredith sat next to her, wiggling nervously like a little school girl.

  “Calm down, Mer. If I see Ares…” She let the sentence die in her throat. What would she do? She knew she’d been a fool at the reception. She’d been angry and surprised and upset and she’d taken all of those emotions out of him. But he hadn’t done anything wrong. She’d wanted to call him and apologize since the moment she realized her mistake, but couldn’t face the idea that he might reject her for real. And so, she’d waited until Katie returned. She knew she’d need her friend’s support if Ares refused to ever see her again.

  “You’re all worked up for nothing,” Birdy finished, crossing her arms, trying to hold in her emotions. She really wanted to see him again and she hoped he was there.

  “We’ll see,” Meredith responded.

  “Did you do something?” She remembered how Meredith had set her and Ares up on the bike ride. It’d been a fun excursion and the time they spent together pushed Birdy’s feelings for Ares over the edge.

  “No, I haven’t done anything. I’m innocent,” she said coyly.

  Birdy glared. “You are most definitely not innocent and now I’m worried.” She couldn’t imagine what Meredith could do.

  Ares had texted and called her several times the first couple of days after she left Maui, but she’d been too hurt and angry to read them. By the time she finally did, his messages and texts had stopped, and a part of her had shriveled up and died.

  “What’s on your mind?” Meredith asked, indicating she should talk into the camera.

  Birdy smirked. “I’m looking forward to seeing Katie and asking her how she’s doing.” She stuck out her tongue and turned her attention back out the window.