Everyone except for me as I was twisting my head to catch a glimpse of Hudson, who was wearing a white shirt and tuxedo jacket and looked extremely handsome but to my surprise another man was walking Ellen down the aisle.
The bride was absolutely radiant beaming and looked at everyone, from side to side, as she walked down her towards her waiting groom and the man was smiling happily and looking at her dotingly as if he had the right to be there, in a way I supposed had full right. I knew exactly who he was. It was none other than Hudson's father, Leo Ford, the man who had given her life. He was her father in name. But who had never been there for her every single day?
I looked around desperately for Hudson. Where was he? As I couldn't see him anywhere.
It wasn't Leo Ford's right to give away Ellen ! I was outraged. How can he be so selfish, coming out of nowhere.
But the most important thing was, there was Hudson?
I should have been watching the service but I barely noticed that Leo had handed Ellen off to Gary and had gone to stand by his ex-wife. I was looking all around trying to find Hudson.
And finally I spotted him standing beside his family very quietly. He looked perfectly composed but I knew how to hurt he was. He had every right to walk his sister down the aisle but Bernard Ford snatched it away from him.
The wedding was very short and sweet. But I barely noticed it. My mind was consumed with concerns for Hudson.
The whole family looked very normal at their youngest daughter's wedding and her mother was crying and smiling at the same time and it looked very funny.
Hudson's father was smiling beside her but no one was bothered about Hudson.
My heartfelt a knot and I barely waited until the ceremony was over and slipped away to go towards him. but when I looked around he was not there. Ellen, Gary and his parents were the first ones' to go and congratulate the bride and the bridegroom. And I noticed there was a long queue to congratulate the newlyweds.
Then as I turned around I met Hudson's assistant and he pointed out his fingers towards him. And I observed that he was at the far-end corner of the room.
He was talking to the guests, his hands tucked into the pockets of his black trousers. His head was bent attentively.
He didn't look shattered but I couldn't help cutting through the crowds of people to get to him.
I walked near him and grabbed his hand and smiled at him. He just smiled faintly and I felt sad for him. But he reached out a hand and drew me to him, looping an arm over my shoulders.
"This is Callie Clarke ." He told the couple and looking at me, he introduced them. "My friend Mike and his wife, Joan."
I just smiled at them and it was very awkward. By that time everyone knew that I couldn't speak but none of them tried to sympathize with me. So, I felt better.
Then he went around and introduced me to more people. He never once mentioned his father. I knew him well enough to know that he would not make a fuss about what had happened earlier, but I was expecting him to confide in me.
But when w were alone Hudson grabbed me in his arms and stole a kiss and while we were on to it someone came and coughed very loudly and we abruptly move away from each other but Hudson still held my hand.
As I looked up I could see Hudson's aunt smiling at me pleasantly and I was really embarrassed, as she had caught us kissing and his uncle chuckled.
"Hudson, won't you introduce your girlfriend to us?" She said softly and I blushed, as this was the first time anyone had referred to me, as his girlfriend.
Hudson grinned and said. "Aunt Steff this is Callie Clarke, my long-lost love and your would-be niece-in-law."
"Hello, Callie. It's nice to meet you after many years. I remember meeting you often When you were a toddler. You were so precious little thing. And you have the same eyes as your mother." Steffanie said lovingly and came and hugged her.
I was taken aback as it was the first time I was meeting someone, who knew my parents.
I smiled at her and took out the pad and pen that I had kept in Hudson's pocket and wrote.
"Its really nice to meet you, as it's very rare that I meet someone who knew my parents. I am sorry I can't speak so I won't be able to voice out, so you will have to bear with me."
"Oh ! It's okay Callie, I knew you had the problem since you were born, so I understand. You don't have to feel awkward about it. And your parents were the best people I knew." Steffanie said softly with a lot of emotions in her voice.
Hudson's uncle who was standing beside me was staring at me very intensely and I felt very uncomfortable.
Then he smiled broadly and spoke. "Callie, you don't have to be afraid of us and Steff is right your eyes are just like your mother, pure and innocent and I am happy that you and Hudson found each other. So, Hudson tell me? How come Callie is your long-lost love, as far as I know she just returned to Seattle, right?"
Although Hudson was reluctant he said. "Callie and I studied in the same university. But After we graduated, we lost track of each other but again fate brought us back together."
"Wow, sounds like an interesting love story, I would love to hear about it in detail," Jackson said.
Just then Ellen called me repeatedly and I turned and gestured to her that I was coming.
And Steffanie took my hand and whispered. " Do come and meet us when you are free Callie. I will be happy if you come to visit us."
"Yes, Callie, you should come and visit us." Jackson said with authority and I just smiled at them and nodded my head, before heading towards Ellen.
As I walked towards Ellen, I pulled Hudson along with me and he followed me.
Ellen was very beaming with happiness as she grabbed my hand and pulled me and Hudson for a family pic.
"Now, we can have a family pic together." She grinned and made us stand in between the others and I was touched.
My heart was filled with many emotions and I couldn't explain.
After the photographic session, Hudson whispered in my ears. "I am hungry can we grab something to eat?"
I nodded my head even I was feeling very hungry.
We got something to eat. And as we ate many of his relatives tried to talk to him but he was standing like an ice-man and was perfectly polite and completely composed.
But I caught a sense of detachment in his voice, as he interacted with them.
And I noticed that Hudson was very carefully keeping a couple of hundred people in between himself and his father at all times.
Not that it was difficult. Leo was a very charming and friendly man. He was as handsome as his son with a more outspoken attitude. In situations like this Hudson on the other hand chose to keep quiet. Wherever Leo went, people were smiling and laughing at him, shaking his hands and hugging him.
And Leo was making sure to give them all his attention. He had already charmed the groom's parents and now they were smiling at him as if nothing had happened. And Let out a deep sigh because the only thing Ellen had wanted was for her father to be present at her wedding and his blessings was all she ever wanted.
I found it very interesting, though, that even as he conversed with all of them, his gaze kept shifting towards Hudson. At first I thought I had imagined but I saw Leo moving his gaze towards Hudson quite frequently. As he chatted with people around and tried to get closer to his son.
Hudson never even bothered about looking his way and kept a possessive hand on my arm and was focused on the conversation of the person he was talking to.
Once, Leo caught me staring at him and he smiled at me. I didn't smile back but did write a sentence on my pad and showed it to Hudson.
"I think your dad wants to talk to you."
But Hudson merely put the pad back in his pocket and pulled me towards the dance floor to dance.
It was a slow dance, one that allowed me to loop my arms around his neck and hold him close. We moved together and danced with the rhythm.
I closed my eyes and rested my head on his shoulders breathing in the scent of him. I felt the touch of his lips to my hair and felt his arms tighten around me. And I savored it.
"May I have the next dance with your girlfriend son?"
My head jerked up as Hudson's arm went still around me and we both looked at Leo, who had tapped his son's shoulders with a smile on his face.
Hudson seemed to turn into stone. He certainly stopped breathing.
Everything had been picture-perfect so far. And I hoped nothing would ruin Ellen's wedding as the two men were glaring at each other.
I unclasped my fingers and stroked the back of his neck. He didn't speak, he didn't even move.
It was awkward and I smiled at his father not knowing what to do.
"Hi, young lady, would you care to dance with this old man?" he smiled and asked genuinely.
I shook my head refusing him but DJ quickly, changed the number and Leo held out his hand to me. " Just this one." He said and pulled me to the dance floor .
I saw Hudson did not move but I could see that his fingers had curled into a fist.
I moved with Leo helplessly as people were watching and did not want to create any more scenes.
Hudson POV
Hudson could see his father smiling and talking to Callie. He was trying to charm her like everyone else. He recognized all his moves, the flattering intent expression.
He could see Callie's back and couldn't see her reaction. But he knew Leo Ford really well and knew that his father never failed to please a woman with his charming skills.
He had not expected that his father would cut in on them. He knew he should have seen it coming when Leo had tried to catch his attention as if they had something to say to each other.
He had ignored it because he had nothing to say to his father. And even if Leo had something to say to him, he was not at all interested.
Now he had Callie all to him and his heart was going crazy as his father twirled Callie around in his arms and spun her around.
He turned around and walked away as he needed some air.