Cord

I try not to laugh as Declan Brady marches around nervously, checking his watch every few seconds as the time ticks by. The church is crammed full of people, and it’s promising to be a doozy of a day.

Now after Jack left me and I was devastated in a bad way, I thought for sure I’d screwed everything up beyond repair. When Declan showed up and beat my ass, I didn’t so much as flinch because I knew I deserved it.

I fucked up, letting my anger and the booze run my head and the result was me almost sleeping with another woman and ruining what I should have been fighting for, not running from.

Declan, after he gave me a black eye for hurting his baby, very neatly told me how things were going to go. The man is a manipulative bastard, but if this works, then I hope to one day learn from him.

“Stop pacing.”

“Can’t. You never know what that girl will do, boy. A word of advice from a man who’s been witnessing those girls make a mockery of life for years. Don’t ever think you know what a Brady woman will do.”

I nod, conceding his point because for all I know Jack could be halfway to India at this time, thumbing her nose at me and my commitment. I’d just go and drag her back of course, now that my head is screwed on straight, but I’m hoping to be standing at the altar and watching her walk my way instead.

Cuts down on time and I’ll actually get my honeymoon.

The sound of voices makes me turn, and I ignore the din of the guests as I look down towards the door to see Kim in her shocking pink taffeta dress, her green heels making me blink rapidly.

Declan grins when she gives him a thumbs up, and I breathe easier when he hotfoots it to the front of the church and kisses his wife.

Rue Brady hustles down to the front pew and throws me a wink and a smile, and then I look up when the guests gasp and almost swallow my tongue when I see her.

That’s my girl.

 

*****

 

Jack

Pit sweat will not look good on white silk, I tell myself over and over again as I tremble and take daddy’s hand, looking up to see Cord by the altar, his face expressionless.

I’m set to come out of my skin as daddy nods to the organist, and I almost do turn and bolt when daddy starts walking, near dragging me because my feet don’t want to work.

Dee told me I could still run not two seconds ago, but I vetoed that when mama threatened to de-hair me if I so much as twitched. So here I am, walking down the aisle and I am scared. But more than that, I feel right as I take deep breaths and keep my eyes on him, trying to show him all the love I feel in that one look.

We get to the altar faster than humanly possible, possibly because daddy hitched me to his side and practically ran me there, and then I’m taking Cord’s hand and he’s smiling, making my heart flutter.

“Dearly beloved…”

I don’t hear a word and by the time it comes to saying I do Kim has to slap me upside the head to snap me out of my love bubble. I say the words, swallowing when the preacher turns to Cord and repeats the question.

It’s crunch time now. I’ve been here before, said my words and had my groom confess his love for another woman instead of saying I do. I should be terrified and yet I am smiling, at ease, filled with love and trust as I look back at Cord.

“I do,” he booms, making the guests chuckle and Kim yell a ‘thank fuck’ that has preacher Ashton frowning.

I kiss him still floating on air and feel that last little bit of my fear melt away.

“Took you long enough to get here,” he murmurs against my lips.

“I ran here,” I argue, giggling when he grabs my ass and hoists me up, ignoring the gasps and wolf whistles that echo around us.

“I’d have chased you anyway.”

Now that I can believe, I think, looking down at him while he grins, his grey-blue eyes sparkling.

“I love you, Cord Nixon. Thanks for being a liar, a cheat, and a stubborn fool for me,” I whisper, kissing him sweetly in thanks.

“Anytime and forever, baby. Now let’s go drink and dance. I think Ky’s finally gotten up the balls to do something about Dee. Wanna help me and your daddy set them up?”

“Can I be in charge?”

“You’ll have to talk to your daddy about that. I think you got your sneaky controlling ways from him,” he laughs.

“Count me in Mr. Nixon.”

“Always, Mrs. Nixon. Now come on, I think this oughta be fun.”

I giggle, taking his hand and know that it will be. Fun. Love. Sneaky.

All the things that I’ve always wanted.

And I have that with Cord.