82. CHANCE

“Stupid ties,” I grumble, tugging on the knot at my throat. “I swear, if an attacker gets the upper hand because of this thing, I’m going to go down screaming: ‘I fucking told you so!’”

Tre shakes his head. “Yeah, someone’s going to attack you at a party with your family. And you still can’t figure out why Johnston came to me instead of you? No wonder I went to work for Pearce.”

“Just be thankful I paid you for that time,” I say with a grin. “Traitorous motherfucker…”

“All right, that’s it.”

He puts up his fists and we trade mock body blows like a couple of MMA fighters shadowboxing. I notice that, aside from a little stiffness, my shoulder is back to normal. The rib will take a bit longer to heal, but it’s not slowing me down.

“Hey!” Mrs. C’s warning voice carries from across the yard. “Don’t make me come over there and straighten you two out!”

Agnes Sullivan grins beside her and wags a warning finger of her own.

“What she said!” she calls. “You think you’re too old for an ass-paddling, you got another think coming!”

The two giggle and clink their champagne flutes together.

“Yes’m,” Tre and I drone in unison, scuffing our shoes against the grass like we’ve just been told to stop playing in the dirt.

“So how much did you tell Moms about what happened?” I say in a low voice.

“Just that you and I had an argument, and the rest was classified. She chewed on me pretty good for us scaring her like that, but you know her – she couldn’t carry a grudge in a bucket.”

I grin and clap him on the shoulder. Maybe growing up the way I did wasn’t ideal, but at least I had them and Sara. Now I’ve got the Sullivans, too. And Grace. It took a while, but I finally got the family I always wanted. All I had to do was wait for them to find me.

As if reading my mind, Grace appears at my side and grabs my arm and Tre’s hand.

“Time to get into position,” she says. “The music is about to start.”

“All right,” I sigh as she pulls us along. “Although I still don’t see the point of this.”

“The point is you robbed me of my sister’s wedding,” she says evenly. “And unless you want me to give you the stink-eye for the rest of your life, you’re going to do it again in front of me.”

Tre shrugs. “You’re lucky Moms didn’t whip your ass. Agnes, too.”

I sigh. “All right, but this tie is gone as soon as it’s over.”

“The videographers are going to be filming you two all day,” says Grace. “The tie stays on.”

I’m already starting to understand why some couples elope. This day is about everyone else, not us.

Then Sara walks out of the house onto the back patio, and my brain stops working.

Her auburn hair is up, with two loose curls framing her face. The dress is ivory lace, open at the shoulders and bodice but with long gossamer sleeves that taper at her wrists. A train of tatted lace trails behind her, brilliant against the emerald of the late summer lawn.

Her opal eyes catch mine and she bites her lip. I smile stupidly and wave, like a kid waiting for his prom date, and she giggles.

The string quartet strikes up the opening strains of the wedding march as Kelsey, looking stunning in a plum-colored bridesmaid gown, takes Sara’s arm and leads her through the yard to the pergola where I’m standing with Tre. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Grace, hands clasped in front of her, practically bouncing with glee.

Tre leans in and whispers: “About time, brother.”

“Yeah,” I say. “But better late than never.”

I stare, transfixed, as she lets go of Kelsey and takes her place opposite me on the grass. Sara of the storeroom, the queen of my heart, takes my hand in hers and suddenly I get what this is all about. It’s a celebration of us. Of everything we went through to get to this moment. In spite of everything, we made it. We found our way back to each other and we won.

The pastor Mrs. C invited talks about dearly beloved, and other things I barely hear. All I’m aware of are her eyes and her smile, until it’s time to say the words to each other again. I meant them the first time at the courthouse, but they have a whole new meaning to me now.

And when we finally kiss, it’s like the very first time, all over again.