The Wedding Party

Part 26: A Distraction

Helena leaned against the bar, her fingers tracing the condensation on the glass of ice water before her. Braeden sidled up next to her, his warm brown eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Need a refill?" he asked, nodding towards her nearly empty glass.

"Maybe later," she replied, enjoying the tingling sensation that fluttered in her chest at his proximity. "I'm taking it easy tonight."

"Good idea," he agreed with a grin. "You never know what kind of trouble we might find ourselves in."

"Speaking of trouble," Killian chimed in from across the room, regaling the other groomsmen with tales of the stripper he had hired for the bachelor party. The men erupted into laughter as he demonstrated some of her more risqué moves, much to Preston's embarrassment.

"Sounds like a hell of a party," Helena remarked dryly, rolling her eyes.

"Hey, I've got an idea," Braeden suggested, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Why don't you join me on my delivery route? It'll be a nice break from all this wedding chaos."

Helena hesitated for a moment, weighing the options in her mind. Then, with a decisive nod, she agreed. "Sure, why not? It'll be fun to get out and see the town."

-----

Meanwhile, Kyan sat down at a corner table with Marina and Darrell, his brow furrowed with concern. "I really appreciate you both meeting with me," he began, his voice laced with desperation. "I hate to ask, but I need a loan for my microbrewery. Things have been tight lately, and—"

"Say no more," Marina interrupted with a reassuring smile. "We're here to help, Kyan. Right, Darrell?"

"Of course, though you will have to pay back the loan with interest." Darrell agreed, though his expression remained guarded. He shifted in his seat, glancing around the room as if searching for a way to escape.

-----

As Jairo entered the room, he spotted Olive near the window and approached her with a beautifully wrapped box. "I have something for you," he said, his eyes shining with excitement.

"What is it?" Olive asked, her curiosity piqued as she began to unwrap the gift. When she lifted the lid, she found their mother's delicate porcelain tea set nestled within. Tears sprang to her eyes as she traced her fingers over the intricate patterns. "This is beautiful, Jairo. Thank you."

"Anything for my sister," Jairo smiled warmly, embracing her.

Amelia watched the tender moment from across the room, clutching the stolen Tower card tightly in her hand. As she fidgeted nervously, a cup from the tea set suddenly shattered on the floor. Startled, everyone turned to look at Amelia, who stared wide-eyed at the broken porcelain.

"I didn't do it!" she protested, her voice shaking. "It just...broke!"

"Let's not worry about that now," Jairo said, trying to diffuse the tension. "Accidents happen."

-----

The Bachelor party found itself out on the water, Preston reeled in a large catfish, hooting triumphantly. Killian, never one to pass up an opportunity for theatrics, pretended to be pulled underwater by an unseen force, causing the other groomsmen to burst into laughter.

-----

"Having fun?" Helena teased Braeden as they drove through the picturesque countryside, the sun casting golden rays across the landscape.

"Always," he replied, flashing her a charming smile. His phone rang, and he answered, his expression shifting to one of concern. "Hey, what's up? Your truck broke down?"

Helena's interest was piqued, and she leaned in closer, trying to catch snippets of the conversation.

"Sure, I can help you out," Braeden agreed, hanging up the phone. He glanced over at Helena, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "That was a friend of mine. Her truck broke down, and she needs help. Do you mind if we swing by?"

"Of course not," Helena said, brushing off any potential awkwardness. "Maybe I can be of some assistance."

As they set off towards their unexpected detour, Helena couldn't shake the feeling that for the first time in a long she felt at home.