Page 43 of Twisted Fate

“It all went so well,” Violet exclaimed, her eyes full of happiness for her sister.

“I know. It’s so much easier when you don’t care who you’re impressing or not impressing.” Keily replied, and paused to let Rosa take Zoe from her hip as they walked into a restaurant for a private lunch reception. Although, with so few people, it might not really be a reception, Keily took comfort in knowing that these were the people that mattered, the only ones she and Logan wanted with them.

Logan had promised to take her on an adults-only honeymoon, back to their island escape later in the fall so this time with the family meant the world to Keily. The family she’d chosen for herself, not the one she was born with and forced to be around. Although, she refused even that now, she didn’t have to be around people she didn’t want to be near, and that was that.

“I imagine it is.” Violet sighed and leaned over to her sister. “I’m getting married at Christmas.”

“What?” Keily gasped and turned to stare at her sister. “You and the doctor?”

“He asked me just before I left to come here last night.” Violet’s cheeks turned red and she pulled Keily down into the chairs reserved for them. “He doesn’t know it yet, but we’re going to have a family of our own soon.”

“Violet?” Keily gasped again, her eyes filled with joy. “Oh, my goodness! Come here.”

Keily hugged her sister close and brushed at tears that spilled from her eyes. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Not as happy as I am for you, Keily. And I mean that. I’m so happy for you.”

“Thank you, sis.” Keily squeezed a little tighter before she pulled away. “I’m glad you told me.”

“Of course,” Violet replied smartly with a teasing smile. “You’re my big sister, who else would I tell first?”

“I don’t know, but I’m glad it was me.” Keily thought about how they’d lived separate lives, how they’d grown apart for a while, and was glad that they were back in each other’s lives. Her sister was important to her and always would be now.

“Let’s toast the happy couple, shall we?” Wally called out from Logan’s left and stood to address the small crowd at the circular table covered in a white tablecloth. “I just want to say thank you to Logan for placing so much trust in me over the years, and for asking me to be his best man. I have to say, I never expected this, or for him to marry, but he couldn’t have found a better wife than he’s getting with Keily. And Keily, keep up whatever you’re doing. I’ve never seen the man smile so much.”

Logan groused at his best man but laughed. Keily leaned over to kiss away the moment of grumpiness from him, but his smile told her he wasn’t really grumpy anyway. Once they’d eaten, Avery and Violet took the girls up to the suite Logan had rented and got them down for the night. Violet said she might come down later, but Keily had seen the tired tilt to her eyes and had a feeling she was snoring away in her own suite.

Keily had to stop breastfeeding quite early on because she wasn’t making enough milk for all three babies, a product of the hysterectomy, her doctor told her. That and it was hard to keep three babies fed. They were on solid food now and not so dependent on her 24 hours a day. Which meant she could have a drink with her new husband and their friends, and they went down to the bar around 8 that evening. She wore a beach-ready simple black slouchy dress, still her favorite style, and a pair of strappy heels. Logan had on a pair of dark blue jeans with a black t-shirt that showed off just how in shape he was.

She knew exactly how in shape he was and planned to explore that body a little more later that evening. For now, she sipped at a gin and tonic and talked with Rosa.

“I can’t believe they didn’t want to come to the wedding,” Keily said and glared at nothing in particular. “Or that they wanted you to not come.”

“I don’t know, something’s going on there. They were starting to get really controlling and I’m not big on that. It’s a reason I got divorced, you know? I wasn’t about to let people I can’t even marry do that.” Rosa brushed it all off, but Keily knew she’d invested a lot of hopes and emotions into the unconventional relationship. “Maybe it’s for the best. I don’t think it was going to go much further anyway. Neither were ready to admit to their family that we were together, that I wasn’t the best friend that just hung around a lot.”

“I can understand fearing judgment, but maybe it’s best if you walk away. You’re past the caring about judgment phase. If they aren’t, then it won’t work.” Keily answered her friend with a pert nod. “No more fear.”

She held up her glass and Rosa clinked her glass of wine to Keily’s glass. “No more fear. And maybe some of whoever that guy is.”

“Oh, you mean Wally?” Keily giggled and glanced over at her husband and his best man. “He is rather hot.”

“Even if he does have an old-fashioned name.”

“We can’t help what our parents name us.” Keily reminded her snickering friend. “Poor Logan was strapped with Eugene, remember?”

“I can’t believe they did that to him,” Rosa said, and Keily knew she meant more than the name. Logan had given Keily permission to explain a little about his life and the reason his parents weren’t coming to the wedding was at the top of that list.

“I guess we aren’t all meant to be parents. It seems his are getting divorced, at last.” Keily revealed with lifted eyebrows. “He only found that out because his dad needed Logan’s signature to turn over the house. Seems his dad has decided he wants to spend his golden years with his boyfriend.”

“I see,” Rosa said with a few rapid blinks. “That might explain things a little.”

“Yes, it’s hard to love someone when you don’t love yourself.” Keily picked up her glass and had a sip. “I’m going to go snag my husband for a dance, why don’t you ask Wally, and you two join us?”

“I think I will. I’m not scared. Even if he is over six feet tall with the most gorgeous face I’ve ever seen.” Rosa giggled in a rather girlish way and that set Keily off.

The giggles subsided once they joined the men standing at the bar for some reason. “What are you two doing over here on your own?”

“Just a minute of business babe, but it’s done now,” Logan answered his wife and leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Want to dance?”