Tented Speeches
Kara looked across the large tent. She scanned it for the twentieth time and still she couldn’t pick out her father. It should have been fairly simple but it was proving difficult. She couldn’t stand it any longer and stood, about to walk to the seating chart and find the exact location.
James caught her hand as she stood from the head table. “Where are you going?”
“Well, I need to go to the bathroom and I wanted to see where my dad’s sitting.”
“Be quick. I think we’re starting dinner soon.” He let her wrist go.
She nodded and she headed over across the tent, smiling at whoever smiled at her but for the most part she moved between people with more stares than hellos. She got to the seating chart with a fluster of emotions she managed to push past and searched for his name.
David Heart.
Then she spotted it. He’d be sitting with Millie and Garrett, along with Sophie and Robbie. The thought of them all together, asking her father questions about her childhood made her blood boil.
“Congratulations, Kara.”
Kara spun right around into Sophie and her heart thumped from her own jumpiness. “Uh, thanks.”
The girl was well dressed in a navy, slinky dress and high heels, even more model-looking than she was on a normal day.
“The wedding dress is quite complimentary to your pregnancy.”
Kara winced. “Thank you.”
Sophie nodded, glancing around the tent and decor. “Millie and Becky sure put in a lot of effort. I hope James is thanking them in his speech?”
Kara hadn’t seen his speech, if he even had one that was. “I assume so…”
Sophie nodded. “This wedding must be a lot more than you ever imagined you’d have, hm?”
Kara shifted in the heels. “Yeah, it’s really pretty.”
She stepped into her with a smile. “And my brother. Well done.”
Kara tried to catch on to what she meant. “What?”
Sophie looked her up and down. “Look around you. All these people are here because James is our family’s heir and to top it off, he’s on England’s Elite football team, all under the age of twenty-five. You just won the jackpot of men to marry. Have a nice night, I hope you fully enjoy it.” Her new sister-in-law slinked away, leaving her with her cramping sides and an uncomfortable belly ache.
“Kara.” James came up beside her, his arm wrapping her waist.
She saw a few people staring at her and swung toward him to avoid eye contact.
He caught her and smiled down at her like no else ever did. “Dinner.”
“Oh, yeah, I never went to the bathroom. I got caught up.”
“I’ll escort you…” He offered her his arm and she took it, attempting to push past Sophie and her comments moments before.
He stopped beside the back doors of Blackwell and she paused to look up at him.
“Are you waiting for me?”
He nodded but she didn’t let him go right away. However, when he kissed her, the assurance was enough and she broke from him, walking inside and finding the washroom to the left. She could hear his faint conversation as others launched at the chance to speak with him. Her heart pounded as she washed her hands, thinking of how naturally popular he was and how right Sophie had been. She didn’t belong, no matter how hard she tried.
She put a hand on her pregnant stomach. A baby that wasn’t even his but they all thought it was, at least right now. He’d done an excellent job so far of convincing everyone into it but one day, the truth would come out. She just wasn’t sure the backlash it would cause and she didn’t want to think about it further.
She walked out of the door in a rush and came face to face with his chest.
“Oh.”
“I came to check on you.” He took her cheek and kissed her lips, pushing her back to the dark corner.
“I’m fine.”
“Mm.” His tongue slipped against hers and she entertained him with a few moans.
She smiled between their touching lips. “Now, I know what you came to check on.”
He kissed her through their laughs.
“Jimmy!” Andrew came staggering around the corner.
Kara broke from him, but James was slower to look to his drunk cousin.
“Oh, good, you have your pants on this time.” Andrew laughed at his bad joke, his eyes falling on Kara and they narrowed just enough that she felt it. “Mum wants you two.”
James sighed and headed for the door, Kara’s hand in his and he kept her close. As they got back to the table, Millie bombarded them with the schedule. Dinner, speeches, a dance, cake, more dancing, the end of the night d’oeuvres schedule—constant entertainment she didn’t feel she’d keep up to at all.
She sat in a huff, feeling like her high of being married to him had been stolen away.
Andrew’s voice came over the speakers as he stepped up beside the head table. “We’re going to start dinner so if everyone can take a seat they’ll be around to gather your orders.”
James smiled at him as his cousin finished what he was saying. “Wow, Drew, that was amazing. Remind me to give you a tip.”
Andrew rolled his eyes. “I told Becky I didn’t want to do this.”
“Congratulations, Kara, it’s good to see you again.” A well-dressed man in front of her interrupted the conversation.
Her heart sped as she looked up to him, recognising the voice but not his clean-shaven face.
She met the eyes of her father faster than she’d wanted. Half of her wanted to punch him, the other half wanted to curl up and die.
He was much more kept looking than at Josh’s funeral with short cut hair. Composed too, and he wore an expensive suit and tie to complete his fresh look. It didn’t soften the blow that he was there though.
Sitting still, she said absolutely nothing because she had nothing to say.
“Thank you,” James cut in, standing to shake his hand. They exchanged some brief words, but Kara couldn’t focus enough to make them out, all she felt was her mind numbing the longer he was present.
“Thank you for inviting me.”
“Sure, of course.” James put a hand on her shoulder and she jolted out of her catatonic state. Her ears pricked, feeling like a loud speaker had just blown up in her head, and it seemed the baby wasn’t a fan of her adrenaline spike either.
“Hopefully we can get a chance to speak later, Kara?”
No fucking way. Kara snorted but James interjected.
“She’ll be here. Enjoy dinner.”
“Thank you.” David nodded and walked away from them.
“Right, well that was thoroughly awkward. Wasn’t it?” James sat down as she tried not to tear up. His hand found hers under the table and she dug her fingers between the spaces of his long fingers. She loved how reassuring his grip was, especially when he’d squeeze her hand just a tiny bit.
Her cheek slipped to his shoulder and she shut her eyes with ease. Breathing in his deep scent she often missed from their pillows when he was away at games. Two weeks with him would be heaven, two weeks in Paris with him was going to be life altering.
That thought alone made her feel better and she smiled to herself.
“Menus.”
Kara’s eyes opened as the piece of card was placed in front of her and she let out a groan. “We have to choose?”
James was already looking it over. “Would you like me to decide on something for you?”
Her eyes went to him but he hadn’t looked at her. The way he subtly offered her a choice of his control as of late made her heart beat just a little bit faster.
Her eyes went back to the menu and she got overwhelmed by the fancy descriptions. “Yeah—yes, please.”
He nodded as he still read over the menu and she busied herself by drinking her water and not having much of a care in the world suddenly.
Becky knocked shoulders with her. “How do you like the tent?”
Kara smiled. “It’s so pretty.”
“Yeah?” Becky smiled. “I’m so glad!”
Dinner came fast, James chose her a chicken dish and the entire meal looked mouth-watering when it arrived. Millie had obviously employed the fastest and most efficient caterers around which consequently meant expensive she was sure.
When it rolled around for speeches, Garrett’s speech came first, eloquently but precise and to the point. Perhaps a bit too well done and she watched James get antsy as his uncle finished.
“So, I believe that leaves the groom.” Garrett turned toward James, microphone in hand.
Kara looked to her husband, still looking a bit bothered but was trying to get it together. He plays professional soccer and he’s afraid to make a damn speech?
He looked to her and she brushed his shoulder, running her hands along the smooth fabric.
“Love you, Mr. Dray.”
He kissed her cheek, and perhaps it was the vouch of confidence he needed. She was glad it had gotten him up out of his chair at the very least.
It would have been awkward having the groom back out of his speech.
James stood, doing up his jacket and walking around the table while Kara stared at the lines of his tux as it tailored down his back. She wondered how she’d gotten to marry a man that looked that yummy. Garrett passed him the microphone.
He reached into that same jacket and pulled out a piece of crumpled paper, unfolding it in the process.
Kara looked up to him; watching him was torturously amazing. This is sort of cute. It was the most nervous she’d seen him. Suffering right now like I do on a normal basis.
He lifted the microphone and let out another breath.
She watched him as he licked his lips, realizing he wasn’t just a bit nervous, or anxious—he even had a shake.
He cleared his throat. “Right, well, thank you all for coming. I hope you enjoy your evening.”
Kara smiled. Good boy.
He looked at her and back to the audience. “I’ll start this whole thing and say thank you to my family who helped put this day together. Kara and I both appreciate everything you’ve done, obviously it’s smashing and I know it’s our day but it just wouldn’t be as brilliant without you…”
He continued. “So my Aunt Millie and Uncle Garrett, thank you. Becky of course, you’ve done well. This is all very beautiful and… I guess you could say, sparkly. Lots of flowers and glowing lights. It’s all very… enthralling.” A soft murmur of laughs broke out at his very descriptive nonsense of the decor.
Becky giggled. “Oh, I’m so glad you like it, James.”
James smiled. “Yes, like I said, enthralling.”
He turned to Andrew behind him. “Well, I can’t really thank you, Drew. I mean I really thought about it but after what you put me through last night… I’m not thanking you for a bloody thing. Let’s be honest though, you didn’t do much but be Becky’s bitch this whole time anyway.”
Andrew laughed with everyone and pointed at him. “You git!”
James smiled at him. “Yeah, you know it’s true.” He waited a moment for the laughing to stop.
Kara was impressed, maybe beyond impressed. What started off as shaky and awkward he had somehow captivated the whole room.
He brought the microphone back up. “I think what makes all this even more amazing is how far a lot of people here have traveled. Wales, London, Dorset, Guernsey, of course… America, where Kara’s family is from. I suppose in a way it just surprises me how far people will come for a free bloody meal.” The room laughed.
Kara giggled. “That’s not funny, James!”
He looked down at her and smiled. “They liked it.” He regrouped. “But on a serious note, we are absolutely made up that you could all be here… eating, that is.” He got them again.
Why is he so good at this! Kara took a sip of her ice water and tried to wipe her pride-filled smile.
He took a deep breath and continued once everyone was settled again. “I know if my mum and dad were still with us, they’d be quite happy with my choice in a bride. I mean look at her; long dark hair, green eyes, pretty smile, over all… nice arse.”
“Oh, James!” Kara leaned out and hit him as they enjoyed that dumb joke too.
He leaned over her and kissed her quickly. “I’m just kidding, love.”
“Sure.” Kara rolled her eyes at him.
He cleared his throat and they silenced again. “I think though the thing they’d love about my wife the most would be how caring and selfless she is. Kara is…” He swallowed—getting his gumption back. “In all honesty, she’s the most utterly amazing person I’ve ever met.”
Kara looked up at him and tried to hold back her emotions.
“With all fairness though, the moment I met her I was scared shitless.”
Kara made a face. “What?”
He smiled. “Yes, you told me you were going to kill me if I touched you, so naturally, that went over well…”
Kara laughed and so did everyone else. “That may have happened.”
James nodded. “You see,” He put his free hand in his pocket, maybe out of nerves to help still himself. “She still says that—in fact she said that today to me.”
She made a face. “Well, you deserved that.”
“Yes, well… whether or not I deserved it, you still threatened.” He looked back up to the guests. “But obviously it doesn’t matter, ‘cause she went on and married me. So in hindsight, I really should not have believed her, however, if there’s one thing Kara’s good at, it’s being convincing.”
She smiled softly. Oh yes, I’m very convincing… or am I just good at pouting?
He smiled down at her. “Yes, you are, love.” A soft rhythm of laughter took over but he cut through it.
Kara giggled as he leaned down and took her hand. His deep brown eyes locked on hers and he smiled. “Stand up.”
Her heart began to pound, she knew the rate it was going could not have been good for her but what choice did she have?
He brought her to her feet and spoke once again into the microphone, but this time directly to her. “Truly, Kara, there’s no replacing you. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you, our children, however many more you fancy—I don’t care. I will always love you. Always.”
Kara put her hand to her eyes to wipe away the tears that fell. “Damn you…”
He smirked. “I also want to say thank you for putting up with football—supporting it. Even when it means I’m not home every night with you…”
She nodded, wiping the spilling tears. “Yes.”
He swallowed. “That all aside though, I wouldn’t be half the man I am right now without you, Kara. So really, thank you for doing me the honour of marrying me. Thank you…”
She nodded, completely starting to break down. She choked on her sobs as Andrew coaxed on the loud cheering.
James dropped the microphone to his side and took her chin with his other hand. “I love you…”
She laughed through her tears and he kissed her, biting softly into her mouth till it was heated and amazing. He drew back, a contented smile on his face.
“Well, that only really leaves one more question…”
She watched him as he stepped back and passed Andrew the microphone across the table.
“What’s that?” she asked as music filled the tented area.
He held out his hand. “May I have this dance, Mrs. Dray?”
She bit her bottom lip to hold her dumb smile back. “I dunno.”
He pulled her into him. “Yes or no kind of question, my love.”
She laughed. “Yes.”
He took her hand and led her around to the front of the table where the dance floor was. Then he pulled her into him, holding her close.
Kara was then convinced that it was the best moment in her life. Everything was just about them and that was fine with her.
Well done, James.
He spun her and brought her back into him.
“Charming.” She smiled at him.
“Always, my love.” He brought his hand to her cheek and lifted her mouth to kiss her.
She pressed her nose against his and bit into his bottom lip softly. Butterflies erupted in her stomach. “I liked your speech.”
He smiled, kissing her again. “It was all for you…”
“And to chew out Drew.”
He laughed. “Only a bit for my own amusement.”
Kara tightened her hands on his collar, feeling the clean cut lines of his fresh hair cut where it met his clothing. “You’re so cute.”
“Cute?” He kissed her shoulder, making her nerves pop.
She pulled back from him. “Okay, you’re amazing.”
He pressed his cheek to hers. “I’m glad you think so, because your opinion is the only one that matters.”