Chapter 42

 

The reception was being held at his grandmother's, and that's where they were all heading. Sam and Wyatt tried to have it at the Stone Creek Inn, but their events hall was booked for some kind of business convention. Grandma was thrilled about that. She wanted to treat Sam and Wyatt and show them how much she adored them.

She spared no expense to have the reception catered and have her back yard decorated with ribbons and topiary and so many white flowers. Her gazebo was the centerpiece of the décor, and a huge hit with Sammy and Gloria. As soon as they laid eyes on it, they screamed with delight and ran to take over the place like it was their own princess castle.

When the wedding party arrived from the ceremony, the party at Grandmother's was already going. All the people who weren't allowed in the orchard had gathered there. Tables with white tablecloths and elaborate flower arrangements were set up all over the lawn. Drinks were flowing and caterers were ready to serve up food and even more drinks.

 

"She went all out," Mitch said with a smile.

"She really did. Look at this place. You would think they were having the wedding here," Rico said looking all around as people greeted each other and waited for Sam and Wyatt to make their big entrance.

When they did, Sam's jaw dropped. "It's beautiful," he said when he and Wyatt came down the garden path. Whatever Wyatt said was drowned out by clapping and cheering from all the people who were seeing the married couple for the first time.

Armed with baskets filled with flower petals, the kids ambushed the happy couple and showered them with white petals. Sam and Wyatt were caught in a blizzard until Wyatt started to chase the kids, and they all started running and screaming.

"Act like a serious, married person," Rico told him.

As champagne was brought around for the newlyweds, they drank a toast to each other. They did it with their arms entwined, and they looked so perfect together. Wyatt looked ecstatic while Sam was more serenely blissful, no trace of the panic attack from before.

Everyone else clapped and joined in the toast. That's when Rico got to give his heartfelt, best man speech, and he made Sam blush like every best man should. But soon he was upstaged by Wyatt's best men, DJ and Riley.

They stood together and Riley fearlessly called out, "Hi. I'm Riley." He waved all around.

DJ introduced himself more shyly, and when he started speaking, he could hardly be heard. He was so nervous, but he pushed on bravely. "Me and Ry are Uncle Wyatt's best men together, and we love him and Sam, and we want them to be happy."

Riley added his own contribution to the speech. "Everybody's gonna be happy!"

The two boys were then showered with kisses by Sam and Wyatt. Both of the newlyweds looked ready to cry all over again, but they held it together so they could have their first dance.

As others started to join in, Rico hardly dared to look at Mitch. Wondering if he would ask him to dance in front of all these people, Rico felt hopeful but got ready to hide his disappointment if he had to.

Then Mitch lightly cupped his elbow sending shivers all through him. In a deep, confident voice he asked Rico, "Would you like to dance?"

"Yes, very much," Rico told him with happy relief.

"Be warned, I'm terrible," Mitch said as they went out to join the other couples.

Rico didn't mind. As they faced each other, he told Mitch, "Step on my feet all you want. I'll forgive you."

Taking his hand, Mitch stepped close to him and his arm encircled Rico's waist. How could Rico find any fault in him? For the first time he was dancing with Mitch, and he didn't care if he was good at it or not, or if the music was corny. All he cared about were those arms around him, those incredible blue eyes looking into his.

 

With the back yard decorated to the nines and everyone dressed for the event, the reception seemed fancy at first glance, but it wasn't very formal. The atmosphere was laid back with guests doing as they liked—sipping champagne, sitting down to eat, dancing or lounging on the veranda in their summer dresses and summer suits. Rico would swear that everyone was drunk, but they were just happy and relaxed.

Sam and Wyatt couldn't be pried away from each other, dancing and looking so in love.

Later in the afternoon their dancing got lazy and close just leaning against each other and barely swaying.

To take a break from dancing, Rico and Mitch strolled around just enjoying each other's company.

"You were good with Sam today," Mitch praised him.

Rico didn't think he deserved any credit though. "Me? I didn't do anything except let him lean on me. A tree could have done what I was doing."

"You were great," Mitch insisted. "Whenever someone needs you, you deliver."

"OK. Fine. If you're dead set on saying nice things about me, I won't stop you."

The two of them joined Wyatt and his friends, and Rico wondered who had managed to pry him away from Sam. "Someone stole your husband already?" Rico asked Wyatt.

"I was outnumbered," Wyatt said and pointed out Sam dancing with Gloria and Sammy. Then all the kids started dancing around him.

"Isn't he the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?" Wyatt said while gazing at Sam in the midst of all those kids. "You know I'm torn between wanting everyone to look at him to see how beautiful he is, and wanting to blindfold everyone so no one can look at him but me."

"Be cool man," Stan told him and elbowed him.

Rico knew how Wyatt felt because he had the same impulse when it came to Mitch.

"Don't listen to him," Raquel told Wyatt and kissed him on the cheek. "Weddings are not a time for being cool. You be as crazy as you want, honey." She was a little tipsy.

"Thank you," Wyatt told her.

"Isn't she the best," Lara said. Then she nodded toward Noreen. "This one isn't bad either." She then threw her arms around both of them.

The girls went off being all girly together. Well, not Noreen. She scowled while Lara tried to make her jealous by hanging all over Raquel.

"They are so weird," Rico said.

"Right. That's nothing like you hanging all over Sam to try and make me crazy," Wyatt pointed out.

"That's different," Rico claimed while Mitch gave him the side eye.

"Your grandmother is having a good time," Wyatt said and nodded toward her and Judge Ron.

"How many times is Grandma going to dance with Mr. Jasper's little bro?" Rico asked.

"You think something is brewing there?" Wyatt wondered, but Rico only narrowed his eyes in their direction.

 

The sun was halfway to the horizon when Sam and Wyatt started going around to thank everyone for coming to celebrate their wedding. The two of them were going on a mini honeymoon, and the boys were going to stay with Wyatt's aunt.

When they were picking the place for their honeymoon, Sam said to Wyatt, "I've never been anywhere. Let's go somewhere where you've never been either." They settled on Catalina Island, where Wyatt planned to rent a speedboat and take Sam snorkeling.

As they were all getting ready to leave and saying their goodbyes, Wyatt's aunt stared into Sam's face searchingly like she was still trying to make up her mind about him.

"She is a hard nut to crack," Grandma hissed.

But Wyatt's aunt smiled suddenly and said to Sam, "You are something."

As she left to say goodbye to some of the friends she made in Peach Tree, Wyatt laughed. "Did you hear that? She said you're something. In our family that's a glowing compliment. That's my aunt's version of gushing."

"OK," Sam said though he didn't seem sure that he had won her over.

That's when Grandma stepped in, and she left no doubt how much she adored Sam. She cupped his face and said, "You sweet angel, you have yourself the best time and just let this man love you to death."

"Grandma, keep it clean," Rico warned her under his breath. "I don't want to have to cover the kids' ears."

The kids were out of earshot just then though.

"You have a go then. I want to say a thing or two to Wyatt," she said.

"About loving Sam to death, done and done," Wyatt said with a grin.

Grumbling, Rico turned away from those two and grabbed Sam by the shoulders. On thinking about it, he could only come up with one thing to say. "That thing Grandma told you, do that."

Sam laughed and hugged him. "I'll try he said." Then he whispered in Rico's ear. "I'm glad I got to see you in love."

"Hey!" Rico said like he objected to the accusation, but then he hugged Sam tighter. "I'm glad I met you and got to see you happy. Now go and have a wild honeymoon."

That's when the kids joined them, and Rico gave his grandmother a warning look.

"Is it over?" Sammy asked looking up at all of them sadly. "Is the wedding over?"

"Not at all. It's just beginning," Wyatt told her and kissed Sam to show her.

That made her smile, and she turned up her face so they could all see the happy gleam in her eyes. "Getting married is nice," she said while Mitch eyed Rico strangely.

Wondering what was on his mind, Rico peered at him questioningly, but he was unreadable as always.

"This is the first wedding Sammy has ever been to," was all Mitch said, and Sammy nodded to confirm it.

"I can marry you, Sammy," Riley volunteered, popping up in front of her eagerly.

"No, thank you. I'm busy," she said shaking her head and making her curls bounce.

Rico cracked up while Mitch looked at Sammy approvingly.

"For your first marriage proposal, that wasn't bad, Ry," Wyatt told him.

"Sammy likes me," Riley said confidently. "When I ate all the frosting from my cake and didn't have any, she gave me some of hers. She said, 'Not again, Ry.' Then she let me borrow some of the frosting from her cake."

"If that isn't proof," Wyatt said and kissed Riley's face.

"I think that boy is the most confident person I ever met," Mitch said in awe of him.

"Chip off the old uncle," Rico said.

From behind them, Wyatt's aunt spoke up. "You got him pegged. Wyatt was an unholy terror, afraid of nothing and no one." It was clear how proud she was of Wyatt, but a little sad too, probably thinking of his brother. They hugged and then it was time for them to go.

Everyone waved for a long time as their car drove away. Rico wrapped his arms around Mitch and gazed after them. As he enjoyed the sweet sadness of the moment, he tried not to think about what he wanted, what he longed for with all his heart.