Lunch with my sister had been quick and interesting. I'd finally asked her about her dinner with Spencer. All she'd admitted to was that at the end of the evening, he'd asked if she could put the check on her expense account. That he'd forgotten his card. It had struck her as odd, boorish. Nothing more.

Then she's asked all about the procedure, and whether or not we knew yet if we were pregnant. We'd told her it was still too soon and filled her in on all the details. It felt great to have someone we could share it all with. She'd smiled and nodded supportively. All through lunch I'd felt her eyes, moving back and forth between Libby and me…

"Saul, as always… a pleasure," I shook the old man's hand and left the shop. He could fit a tux in a matter of minutes and the family had used him for decades. "Congratulations to you, Mister Mason," he'd called out after me as the little bell on the door chimed. "And all the best to your bride…"

My bride, I thought as I climbed into the leather seat. I liked the way it sounded… even if it did have a shelf life. I smiled as the engine started, and I headed to the office for the afternoon.

The wedding was only four days away. And we were meeting up at Mom and Dad's place tonight to tie up the loose ends. I was grateful they'd been able to pull it all together so quickly. And while it was too formal to suit my idea of the perfect wedding, it would be traditional enough to please my family and their social circle. The whole thing after all, was about satisfying convention.

I spent the rest of the day returning calls and emails. Everything Spencer had provided me about the merger looked good, even though some of our stockholders had still needed my reassurance. I gave it, trusting Spence to come through like he always had. The final papers were set to be signed on Friday, before the wedding. While I didn't like pushing it to the edge, I knew Spence took his work very seriously. He'd eaten, breathed and slept this deal from the start. It couldn't be in better hands.

Typically, I'd have been handling virtually everything on my own. But what with the complicated divorce settlement and the surrogacy plan… Now there was a wedding and a honeymoon to look forward to… Well, I'd been distracted from business. And once the baby came, I'd be spending even less time at Mason. I threw a few files in a drawer and logged off the computer. It was time, after all those years of endless days and sleepless night, giving everything I had to the company. I was more than ready to take a step back. Hell, more than that. It was finally time for me, my dreams, a family of my own.

Almost everyone was gone for the day, but as I passed Spencer's office, his light was still on, the door cracked open. I stuck my head in.

"No, I don't think so," he was on the phone, his chair turned toward the window. "I got the last five thousand today… Right baby… see you at eight-thirty."

"Sorry, Spence, didn't mean to interrupt," I said, knocking unnecessarily on the doorframe. "I'm just heading out." He turned, startled and slipped his phone into his jacket pocket. "Have you got dinner plans as well?"

"Oh, right. Sure." He looked embarrassed. "Just someone I met… we're having drinks later." He didn't meet my eyes, his hands busy shuffling papers. "Casual, you know."

"Right. Well… I'll be in on Friday, seven-thirty sharp. The Big Day." He looked up. "I appreciate everything you've done, Spence. Thank you."

He blinked for a moment. "Jack?"

"What…?"

"I…

Nothing. You're welcome, boss. Have a good night."

Although dinner had been in the formal dining room, the food had been Mom's family-style specialty. Southern fried chicken, bacony green beans, and the lightest biscuits ever eaten by mankind.

"Butter?" Mom asked, turning to Libby with the dish. "She prefers honey," I answered without thinking, surprising myself that I'd remembered… I passed her the little pot and Libby smiled, nodding in pleasure as she took it. "Since she was little."

One hour turned into two, as we sat replete around the table. Mom and Libby had explored their mutual interest in gardening. She and Ben discovered a shared passion for Italian art. Blake and Janet had asked Libby gentle questions about her past, which she'd answered briefly and honestly. I'd seen the exchanged looks and the approval in their eyes. I wasn't the only one who found her utterly charming…

After dinner, we took our cobbler into the family room where the fireplace was glowing dimly. I handed Libby into a loveseat and sat down, putting my arm around her. I'd been cautious about touching her since our night together. But it was fucking heaven to have a good excuse for touching her now…

"So, that's it," India said around a mouthful of peaches and cream. "Reverend Harper says the whole ceremony lasts about twenty minutes and bingo, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Mason."

I turned to Ben, who had finished his second helping, and discreetly handed him the tiny silver box I'd picked up at the jeweler's on the way over. "You've got this?" I asked softly. "With my life," he answered back. We exchanged a look between us, and he nodded slowly. Even though he was the youngest, we'd always had a special bond. It was why I'd asked him to stand up for me.

Dad emptied his bowl and put it on the coffee table. "I want you to know, son, how proud you've made your mother and me," he said, smoothing his dignified grey whiskers. "And how pleased we are to welcome you into our family, Libby." He reached out and patted her hand affectionately. "Now, we know that the two of you didn't want us fussing over the details, but…"

"Now, Dad…," I began.

"No, I want you to listen for once, Jackson," he went on. "We know you don't have parents of your own, Libby. And Vivian and I just want you to know that we'd be proud to have you call us Mom and Dad, if you would be comfortable doing so." He leaned forward a little more and I could see moisture starting to pool in the corners of his eyes. Libby sat, still and quiet, her hand in his and he went on.

"I know too, that's it's not right for a bride to walk down the aisle alone on her wedding day. And if you'll allow me, it would be my honor to stand in your father's place and escort you on my arm. After all, you're the woman who's made my son happier than he's ever been."