He felt a muscle jump in his jaw. “When did this happen?”
“Yesterday afternoon. He sent her a big bouquet of flowers.” She folded her hands on the tabletop. “They’re lovely, actually. They’re in my room.”
Pierce sat there, seething.
Tess sighed again. “She called me when they arrived and asked what she should do. I took them back to my room and told her not to mention it until after the wedding. Guess the card fell out.”
“Oops.” It came out as a snarl.
“Stop it,” Tess said firmly. “We decided it was best not to tell you so you wouldn’t get upset. You’re only proving us right. Look at you.”
“I think I have a right to be upset.”
“Really? Why?”
Pierce practically gritted his teeth. “Are you fucking kidding me? My parents are awful people; that’s why I don’t want them at my wedding. And they keep popping up their ugly heads anyway. They want to ruin the day.”
Tess leaned in close and looked her younger brother right in the eye. “The only one who could ruin this wedding is you. If you let them get in your head and upset you. And hey . . . look what’s happening.”
Pierce scowled.
“Charles has done a damn good job of keeping Dad away from you, from the wedding, from Abby, all of it. Believe me, he’s been a gatekeeper all these months.”
“I know,” Pierce admitted in a low voice.
“Dane and I have pitched in too,” Tess continued. “Both with him and with Mom. All three of us called her separately yesterday and lit into her, by the way.”
Pierce let out a heavy sigh. “I appreciate that.”
“They’re not going to be at the wedding. Which is what you wanted.” Tess reached for his hands and gripped them. “We love you. We’ve got your back. Mom and Dad . . . they never did right by you. No one can undo a miserable childhood. The damage was done. I’ve tried to compensate for that your whole life and these past few years, your big brothers finally caught up and have done the same. We didn’t have it nearly as bad as you did, and yes, we’ll always feel residual guilt about that, even though all of us know it wasn’t any of our faults.” Tess stared hard. “I know you know all this.”
Pierce nodded, but his eyes flashed and his jaw still held tight. “I do know. And what you especially have always done for me, and now them too . . . it means more to me than I can ever express. Honestly.”
“I know that.”
“But . . . this isn’t about you guys. Abby’s going to be my wife. She hid this from me . . . dammit, she can’t hide things from me.”
“This isn’t some big lie,” Tess said. “It was a little white lie, for a short time. She didn’t want you upset before the wedding. That’s all. She was going to tell you after. C’mon, Soccer Boy. Take some deep breaths. I thought you were past the days of letting your temper get the best of you.”
Pierce sat with that, working to take it down from a boil to a simmer.
“Pierce. Sweetheart . . .” Tess’s voice was quiet and gentle as she gazed at him, still holding his hands. “You haven’t been insecure like this in a long time. Talk to me. Maybe I can help.”
He blinked. “Is that what this is?”
“I think so. I think you’re scared.”
“I want to marry her more than anything. I’m not scared of marriage to her.”
“I know. But once you get married . . . there’s a lot more to lose. And you’re scared to lose her. And the reminders of Mom and Dad, so close to the wedding . . .” Tess grimaced sadly. “They trigger you. Push your buttons. Remind you of how lost and scared you felt when you were young, and how bad their marriage was, and of everything you fear most. Triggers are wreaking havoc on you.”
Pierce went very still. His heartbeat seemed to slow in his chest. “Jesus, that went deep.”
“I know you very well. I understand you better than just about anyone.” Tess gave his hands a squeeze. “Psychological triggers are a powerful thing. You just . . . you have to fight them, remind yourself things are different now. That you’re a grown man, with a good life you’ve worked hard to build for yourself. And an amazing, wonderful woman is about to become your wife, and she understands you too. She loves you as much as you love her. That’s why things are going to work out. And because you can’t remind yourself of that at this moment, I’m here to remind you. I’ve got you.”
His mouth went dry and a lump rose in his throat.
“Our parents really suck. That’s the sad truth. But they can only get to you if you let them,” Tess asserted gently. “Don’t let them.”
“I usually don’t,” Pierce finally said. “Not anymore. I’ve been good. But I guess . . . what you’re saying has merit.” His stomach churned as he thought about it. “I just want this to be perfect for her. I don’t want them tainting it in any way . . .” His throat thickened as he got out the rest. “. . . and make her regret marrying me. Choosing me.”
“Never happen. Can I remind you of something?” Tess asked, rubbing his hands. “The very first night you introduced her to the family, at that disastrous wedding party Dad threw for Dane and Julia. Dad attacked you viciously in front of everyone, and he attacked her too. What did she do?”
“Gave it right back to him,” Pierce said quietly. “Stood up for me. And for herself.”
“That’s right. That’s no shrinking violet you’ve got there. Dad can be intimidating as hell. She told him off her first night out.” Tess smiled. “She’s got guts, she’s really smart and insightful, and she has a big, warm heart.”
He nodded. “She’s the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. Other than you, of course.”
Tess grinned before continuing. “That night, she made it clear she had your back. But you were so thrown by it all, you tried to push her away. Even got her to break up with you.” Tess squeezed his hands as he winced, remembering. “You almost did irreversible damage. You had to really work for it, beg her to come back. And she did. Because she knew, deep down, why you’d done it in the first place. She knew you that well, even then. She chose you too. Right?”
Again Pierce nodded, releasing a shaky breath.
“She knows you, she understands you, she chooses you, and she loves you. Not she loves you anyway, Pierce. She just loves you. Do you get the distinction?”
He nodded yet again and said, “I’m the luckiest bastard on earth that she does.”
“She’s pretty lucky too. You’re a great guy.” Tess’s voice dropped to a fervent whisper as she asked, “When are you truly, truly going to believe that? I know Mom left you and Dad abused you. But you are worthy of love and worthy of Abby and worthy of the good life you have now and will continue to have. Believe that.”
It was like she’d gut-punched him. Jesus, if she was wrong, it wouldn’t have hurt. Her astute words wouldn’t have stolen his breath or made tears sting his eyes.
“Oh, honey.” Tess rubbed his hands, gripped them harder. “The triggers did this to you. Fight. You’re a fighter. So understand what’s getting to you and work on overcoming them. But don’t be upset with Abby over this little thing.”
“That’s what Dad wanted,” he said, realizing it as he said it out loud. “For me, and her, to be upset on our wedding day, even if only for a few minutes.”
“Right,” Tess said on a sigh. “Look, she didn’t lie to you. She’s not always hiding things from you. She hid this one little thing because she was protecting you. Because she loves you so much. Like you would do for her if the situation was reversed.”
Unable to speak, he nodded again. His throat had thickened and he swallowed hard. His jaw clenched.
Tess rose and pulled him to his feet. When he stood, she moved close and hugged him tight. He hugged her back, sighed, and rested his head on hers.
“You’re getting married tonight,” Tess said in his ear. “This should be the best day of your life. Don’t let Dad or Mom or anyone take that away from you.”
“
You’re right,” he said, squeezing her back. “Absolutely right.”
“Well, I’m the smartest of the four of us,” she reminded him cheekily.
“God, that’s so true.” He smacked a kiss on her curly hair and pulled back to look at her. “Thank you. So much.”
She reached up to hold his face in her hands and said, “I will always be here for you. You have Abby now, but that will never change. I’ve always got your back.”
“For which I will be forever grateful.”
Tess rubbed his scruffy jaw. “You’re going to shave before the wedding, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Okay, good.”
He grinned but said quietly, “I didn’t know I was doing that. The things you said.” He huffed out a sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. “Jesus Christ, Tess.”
“Lifelong, ingrained habits are very, very hard to break,” she said. “A few steps forward, a few steps back. No damage done. Cut yourself some slack.”
He nodded. “I’m a work in progress, I guess.”
“We all are, Pierce. We all are. We stop growing and learning, we’re dead in the water.” She moved to sit down. “Now, let’s get you fed before we get you married.”
As Pierce sat, Dane and Julia approached the table. “Sorry we’re late,” Dane said as they all kissed one another’s cheeks in greeting. “Did we miss anything?”
“Nah,” Pierce said and reached for his water glass. “It’s going to be a great day.”
Chapter Six
Several months before, it had taken a long discussion and half a bottle of whiskey when Abby told her parents she wouldn’t be getting married in a church. She’d sat them down and, despite their misgivings, got them to understand she wanted to be married out on the beach. Outside, by the ocean, with nothing above her but the sky.
Her dad had growled. Her mom had frowned. But, as always, they’d listened to her and ultimately come around to supporting her unequivocally.
“You better pray it doesn’t rain,” Jesse had said. “Or you’ll wish you did it the traditional way, with a roof over your head. Marrying an untraditional guy, now this . . .” He sighed and shook his head, then wagged a finger at her in mock exasperation. “Whatever you want, that’s how it’ll be.”
Abby had hugged her father tight. “You’re still gonna walk me down the aisle, right?”
His grizzled expression had softened at that. He’d reached up, touched her cheek, and said with pride and deep affection, “You kidding? Been waiting to do that since the day you were born. No one on earth could stop me.”
Now, as Abby stood in the resort, fully dressed and waiting, she placed her hand in the crook of her father’s arm and said, “I’m so glad you’re here with me, Dad.”
He smiled down at her. “Nowhere else I’d be, sweetheart.” He straightened the jacket of his navy suit, then leaned in to kiss her on the forehead. “I can’t get over you. You look like an angel. A princess. All those unearthly beautiful things. Really.”
Jesse McCord didn’t give mushy compliments often. She was moved. “Thank you.” She drew a shaky breath and tried to stay calm over the fluttering of her heart.
“Abby.” Her father spoke quietly. “Listen. I, uh . . . just wanna say, I know you two are going to be good. In your marriage. Pierce is all right. I gave him a hard time at first, sure. He deserved it.”
Abby snorted out a giggle. “You were brutal.”
“I’m a man with two daughters, that’s my God-given right,” he said without apology. “But I’ve gotten to know Pierce pretty well, and you were right. He’s a good man. Got his rough edges, but . . . hell, so do I.” Jesse cleared his throat. “I’d take you out of here right now if I thought you needed me to. You know that, right?”
She blinked at him. “I don’t need you to. I love him, Dad.”
“I know. I said if I thought you needed me to. Just reminding you how I’ll always, always have your back.”
Her throat tightened a bit. “I know that, Dad. Thank you.”
“You’re fine. He loves you. From what I’ve seen, he probably loves you a little more than you love him, and that’s a good thing. He’s good to you, and he’s always gonna be good to you. Besides, I’ll kill him if he’s not. So don’t be nervous. Enjoy everything today.” He patted her hand on his forearm. “I’m right here.”
“Oh, Dad . . .” Tears stung her eyes and she swallowed hard. “Don’t you dare make me cry now.”
“Well, then, don’t cry, that’s all.”
She smiled through the tears. “Yes, sir. I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
Marla, the resort employee who was their wedding coordinator, approached them with an excited smile. “Are you ready? Because we all are if you are.”
Abby sniffed hard and nodded. “I’m ready.”
“Let’s do this, then . . .” Marla reached up for Abby’s veil, lowering the front part over her face. “Want to help her with that, Dad?”
As Marla sprinted off to set things in motion, Jesse fixed the veil, making sure it was correctly in place. He gazed down at his daughter with something like wonder in his eyes. “You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen,” he said. “Well, except for your mother. Sorry, that stands.”
“Thanks, Dad.” She smiled as she gave his arm a squeeze, then reached over with her free hand to pick up her bridal bouquet. The white, yellow, and orange flowers were vibrant. “God. These are so gorgeous, but they’re actually a little heavy!”
Jesse chuckled.
Marla moved to the glass doors and opened them. The wedding party was already out on the lawn, moving toward the beach.
“You got this,” Jesse said, looking out before them.
Abby took a deep breath and looked out too. Excitement and exhilaration soared through her, lifting her heart. “Yes, I do.”
* * *
As John Legend’s “Stay with You” started to play over speakers aimed at the beach, the wedding party started their walk. They were brought to the edge of where the great lawn ended at the sand and made their way down the makeshift aisle, a boardwalk that stretched down the beach. Over 120 guests sat in white folding chairs on either side of the aisle, which was lined with white ribbons, glass jars with candles inside, and sunflowers hearty enough to withstand the soft breezes that blew off the ocean.
Pierce walked first, by himself, smiling a deeply contented smile. Striking in his light gray suit, white dress shirt, and gray striped tie, the wind gently ruffled his dark hair as he reached the standing canopy at the end of the aisle, mere feet from the ocean. He shook the hand of the wedding officiant, then turned to face the crowd. He flashed another smile and watched the wedding party come down the aisle.
Troy walked with Fiona, then Charles with Tess, then Dane with Allison. The men were handsome in their slate-gray suits and sky-blue ties, the women lovely in their sky-blue sheath dresses. Then came Dylan; Abby’s nine-year-old nephew half-jogged down the aisle, a wide, excited smile on his adorable face, bringing warm laughs from the guests. Ava looked so pretty, older than her ten years. Her dark hair in a French braid and her slim frame in a dress resembling the bridesmaids’, she was poised as could be as she let white and yellow flower petals flutter from her fingers. Lastly, Carolyn beamed as she proudly made her way down the aisle; the attractive mother of the bride was gorgeous in her sparkly ice-blue gown. Going off script, she went to Pierce and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Touched by the impulsive gesture, he hugged her quickly before she took her seat at the end of the front row.
An anticipatory hush fell over the crowd. John Legend’s heartfelt, romantic song was perfect as it continued playing.
Pierce narrowed his eyes as they locked on his bride. A vision in white floating on the arm of her tall father, Abby’s long, gauzy veil blew back in the breeze as they made their way from the grass to the sand and started down the aisle. As she got closer, and he could see her better, Pierce’s brea
th caught. He knew she’d be a beautiful bride, but seeing her like this . . . she was extraordinary. She literally took his breath away.
His eyes traveled over her. Her silky blond hair, usually so pin straight, had been curled at the ends, now barely touching her bare shoulders. The sides of her hair had been pulled up, tucked somewhere in that veil. Her strapless gown had a curved top and was fitted down to her knee, where it softly flared out into waves of gliding, billowing layers, down over her feet and in the back, forming a train. Sunlight caught in the fabric, making it shimmer and sparkle as she moved. She was luminous. The whole look was elegant, classy, and timeless, with a hint of sexy and a dash of sassy . . . just like Abby herself. Pierce had never seen such perfection in his life and she was walking down the aisle to him. Love overwhelmed him, rushing through his entire body.
He smiled so wide his cheeks started to hurt. She smiled back, meeting his eyes as she got closer . . . and the world fell away. All he saw was her. His woman, this wonderful gift of a woman; his best friend, his lover, his partner, his rock. His heart pounded with the depth of emotion that flowed through him.
When she reached him, he stretched out his hand to her. Her smile widened, and if he wasn’t mistaken, her eyes were glassy. Jesse took her hand from the crook of his elbow and kissed the top of it before placing her hand in Pierce’s. It was the first time Pierce had ever seen her dad too choked up to speak.
“I’ll take good care of her,” Pierce promised in a husky whisper.
Jesse nodded and patted his shoulder. Then he kissed the side of Abby’s head and went to sit with her mother in the front row. Fiona leaned in to take Abby’s bouquet. Finally, Abby turned to Pierce, and they clasped hands, intertwining their fingers as they smiled at each other.
“You’re absolutely stunning,” Pierce whispered. “My God, Abby. Wow.”
Yup, she was tearing up. “Thank you,” she whispered back.
“Let’s do this.” He grinned as he dropped a wink.
She nodded and smiled tremulously. “Yeah, let’s.”
* * *
While the guests enjoyed a lavish cocktail hour on the wide expanse of lawn behind the resort, the wedding party posed for photos on the beach. The sun’s angle had shifted, just starting to deepen the blue of the sky. The ocean was a perfect backdrop as the photographer snapped a million pictures. At the end of the hour, Pierce announced, “I’m starving. And we need drinks. Time to celebrate!”
It Might Be You Page 36