One Penny: A Marked Heart Novel

by M. Sembera

  With everyone in place, Reverend Gary, who also happened to be a Caffrey, started the rehearsal ceremony.

  Just as he was getting to dearly beloved, Auggie looked over at Kieran asking, "Is that a yellow heart?"

  "Yep," Kieran replied before Penny cheered, "Did you check out the smiley face in it?" referring to the fresh tattoo she had giving him at the top of his forearm.

  Shaking his head with a laugh, Auggie said, "I should have known."

  Penny's proud smile at the moment was cut short when Reverend Gary cleared his throat saying, "If you don't mind."

  Ignoring him, Charlotte leaned closer to Kieran to inspect the tattoo before complimenting, "Wow, that looks great Penny."

  Reverend Gary glared at Charlotte's continued interruption as Auggie griped, "You can stop lookin' at her like that."

  "Don't defend me," she snapped before apologizing, "I'm sorry Reverend, please continue."

  Auggie growled under his breath before a scowl took over his expression. Penny drew in a deep breath thinking 'This can't be good'.

  The 'I do's' consisted of a 'Yea' from Auggie and a 'Whatever' from Charlotte. When that was over Charlotte and Auggie turned to head back down the aisle. Penny noticed him reach to take her hand and watched her refuse it with a loud huff before taking off without him.

  Blowing out an exasperated breath over her almost sister in law and brother, Penny headed towards the couple.

  Seeing the discontent on their faces, she decided to intervene.

  "So is everyone as excited as I am for tomorrow?" she cheered.

  They both stared at her with unpleasant expressions.

  "There is going to be a wedding tomorrow, right?"

  Charlotte gave the bottom of her shirt a little tug before saying, "Well I don't know. Augustus could get mad at me and tell me not to show up," before walking off.

  "Damn it Charlotte," he griped, taking off after her.

  With a heavy sigh, Penny shook her head at them.

  ~

  It was a little after one in the morning before Seth was able to work up the nerve to have a conversation with the brother Braden advised he should talk to. After driving by Auggie's house and seeing the driveway empty, he tried the next logical place he thought he would find him.

  When Seth walked into The Dog House, he saw Auggie sitting at a table in the corner with a bottle of whiskey and a glass in front of him.

  "Bar's closed," he informed without looking up from his glass.

  Taking a few controlled breaths, Seth walked towards him.

  "I want to be with Penny," he forced out feeling anxious.

  Lifting his glass, Auggie replied, "Good for you," before taking a sip.

  Unsure of himself, he asked, "What do I do?"

  Setting his glass down, Auggie answered, "Prove it."

  Confused, Seth questioned, "How do I do that?"

  "Be a man," Auggie griped before getting up from his chair and glaring at him.

  This was one of the last things Seth ever wanted to do but if he needed to earn Auggie's respect to get Penny back then that's what he was going to do.

  Rolling up his sleeves, Seth tried to prepare himself for the beating he was sure to get.

  With a deep controlled inhale, he said, "I'm ready."

  Auggie scowled before shaking his head at him.

  "Boy sit your ass down, I'm not fixin' to fight you," he fussed as he made his way behind the bar.

  Relieved beyond any measure, Seth quickly took a seat at the table.

  Still shaking his head, as he made his way back to the table, Auggie set a glass in front of Seth, and poured him a drink.

  Sitting back down in his chair, Auggie filled his own glass before saying, "Let's hear it."

  A million things raced through Seth's mind, but all he could say was, "She's the one."

  Nodding, Auggie sipped his whiskey before offering, "Shouldn't you be tellin' her that?"

  "She won't listen."

  Auggie nodded again before covering his mouth with his hand and running it down the front of his bread sharing, "We're an interesting bunch ya know. Braden's always got his head up his ass, Ailin's had his up Sophia's since he was a teenager and me, I'm just a plain ol' ass in general."

  Seth continued to listen as Auggie seemed to talk more to himself than to him.

  "Even Will, God rest him, had his moments... Then there's Penny. How the hell she ended up in our bunch, I'll never know."

  "There's no one else in the world like her," Seth agreed, seemingly reminding Auggie that he wasn't just thinking aloud.

  With a serious expression, Auggie advised, "Prove it to her then."

  Finally starting to understand what Auggie meant, by telling him to be a man, he asked, "Any ideas?"

  "Are you coming to the wedding?"

  "It's invitation only."

  "Then I'd say it's about time you had a talk with your parents. Don't ya think."

  Seth lifted his glass, drinking his whiskey down before nodding.

  Auggie refilled both their glasses as he imparted, "There may not be a boyfriend graveyard, but just so ya know, if you hurt my sister I will stomp you ass into the ground." Seth nodded, knowing he would before Auggie lifted his glass and tipped it in Seth's direction, assuring, "Aside from that, you have my blessing."

  Tipping his own glass toward Auggie, Seth knew what he needed to do.

  Thirty One

  Three showers, six hours, one forty-five minute nap and what felt like teetering on the overdose line with his intake of aspirin, Seth was finally starting to feel like he hadn't woken up that morning on a bar room floor. Which, he in fact did. He was still slightly queasy but that was normal since he was about to knock on his parents front door.

  The door opened revealing a hard expression from his father, glaring at him as though he were a stranger.

  "May I come in?"

  Without any real sign of emotion, Leonard asked, "Were you invited?"

  "No sir."

  There was no response from his father.

  The back of Seth's neck and shoulder's tensed as he stated, "I would like to have a conversation with you."

  "Are you unable to make a phone call?"

  Taking a step back, he explained, "I apologize."

  Leonard stared at him, narrowing his eyes at first then relaxed his expression slightly.

  "What exactly makes you think you are welcome here?"

  It was possible that Seth's determination gave him the strength to say, "Nothing."

  Instantly agreeing, Leonard stated, "That is correct. You have never lived up to the expectations of this family."

  Seth drew in a long controlled breath before nodding.

  "I apologize for not being the son you wanted. For constantly disappointing you, that was never my intention. I am also sorry for bringing Penny with me to the hospital benefit. That was a mistake and has forced me to take a long hard look at myself as a man."

  With a suspicious expression, his father replied, "Continue."

  "I made a decision concerning my future last night that I honestly wish I had made sooner."

  "Are you seeking my approval?" Leonard questioned in a condescending tone.

  "No sir," Seth stated before assuring, "I am striving to be the man I should have been all along."

  "Exactly how do you expect anyone to believe that after the embarrassment you have caused this family?"

  For the first time in his life, Seth stood up tall in front of his father.

  "I don't. That's why I intend to prove it."

  ~

  Certainly not expecting the workout she was getting, in heels, Penny walked back to Charlotte's tent.

  The wedding was taking place outdoors on her Uncle Brennen's property. She originally thought it was an awesome idea to have an Auggie tent behind the altar and a Charlotte one on the opposite end of the aisle. Now it seemed like a giant pain. Not to mention that the couple to be was driving her crazy. First, Auggie sent h
er a text asking her to come to his tent but not tell Charlotte. Then once she got there, Braden had not shown up. When he finally did arrive, he refused to go inside. He just said 'Nah, I'm good' and stood off to the side, even though Auggie wanted him in there with him.

  Now, she was headed back to crazy tent number two, where just seconds before Auggie called her to his tent, Charlotte had decided that the bobby pin that fell out of her hair meant Auggie was going to change his mind and bail on her at the last minute. And that was directly after a twenty minute rant insisting that weddings were invented by the devil.

  It had already been a long day and it was only two o'clock. Regardless, knowing how happy everyone would be the minute the ceremony started was enough to keep a smile on her face and give her a cheery disposition. Even if every other minute it seemed like the whole thing was going to fall apart.

  As soon as she stepped into Charlotte's tent Silvia rushed up to her.

  "Is Braden here?"

  Charlotte raised her eyebrows, also waiting for Penny's answer, like it was a make or break question for the day.

  "Yes, he is. I just talked to him."

  As Silvia squealed with delight, Charlotte sighed with relief.

  Then with a panicked expression, Charlotte asked, "He's wearing a tux right."

  Giving her an encouraging smile, Penny replied, "Yes he is. He looks nice too. All four of them do."

  Charlotte looked up, barely moving her lips but it was enough for Penny to notice she was counting backwards in her head.

  "It's going to be okay," Penny assured before Lola ran into the tent.

  "Mom can't find it!" she blurted, sending Charlotte into another pre-wedding 'moment'.

  As her chest started to heave, Charlotte tugged at the waist of her dress right below the peacock blue sash.

  "That's it. It's not happening. I'm not getting married today."

  Rolling her eyes and shaking her head, Penny asked, "What's wrong now?"

  "I can't find my garter."

  In all the craziness of the day Penny had forgotten her special wedding gift to Charlotte.

  "Relax," she said with a smile.

  Narrowing her eyes at Penny, Charlotte stated, "I am relaxed. I have come to terms with this."

  Laughing, Penny replied, "Okay Miss Relaxed. Would you like to open a present?"

  Standing still, Charlotte actually looked a little lost as she nodded.

  Skipping over to her purse in the corner of the tent, Penny pulled out a square gift box. Smiling at it, she made her way back to Charlotte and handed it over.

  After making quick work of the bow, Charlotte opened the box, looked inside and said, "It's perfect."

  They both grew teary-eyed over the peacock feather garter that lay inside the box.

  As Charlotte hugged her, Penny shared, "Wedding or not you're my sister. Please be my brother's wife today."

  Charlotte held onto her tighter.

  Penny was about to cry but they were going to be happy tears.

  "Y'all are hugging without me?" Liv's voice rang through the tent.

  Penny and Charlotte let go of each other as they turned toward her voice.

  Both drew out a, "Da-amn," when they looked at her.

  Making a clicking sound with her mouth as she winked and nodded at them, Liv was wearing a purple strapless satin dress that flawlessly hugged every curve and fell just above her knees. Her long black hair was pulled to one side and large soft curls fell over her left shoulder.

  "Has Kieran seen you yet?" Charlotte questioned.

  "Nah, he left the house before I got ready this morning."

  The fact that Liv had been a tight pants and tank tops kind of girl since Penny had met her compelled her to ask, "Do you feel as gorgeous as you look?"

  "Ha!" Liv blurted before sharing, "Yea, but I miss my socks."

  Glancing down at the shiny black stilettos on Liv's feet, Penny assured, "Gah, you look incredible."

  Liv flashed a genuine smile before saying, "We have a problem."

  Penny's shoulders slouched as she thought, 'What now'.

  Liv wore an apologetic expression as she took a step closer to her.

  "For one, Lurker showed up with his parents."

  Squeezing her eyes closed for a moment as Charlotte placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, Penny shook off the sudden surge of sadness, asking, "And two?"

  "Your mom pretty much told his mom off."

  "What?" Penny blurted, hearing Charlotte starting to laugh.

  "It was kinda awesome actually. Sarah was all, 'Who the hell do you think you are', then his mom called her low class and Sarah said 'My daughter is perfect and too good for you people', but then..."

  Hesitantly, Penny asked, "But then what?"

  "His mom said, 'Working in a tattoo parlor, I think not'."

  Before Penny could process what Liv had just shared, a familiar, "Penny Rosin Caffrey!" radiated through the tent.

  Penny froze seeing the angry expression her mom's face.

  Marching straight up to her, Sarah appeared furious.

  "I cannot believe you!" she fussed before looking back at Liv, blaming, "This is your doing." Before Penny could open her mouth, Sarah turned back to her, assuring, "You are quitting that job and you are moving back home."

  Frustrated by the fact that it seemed like everyone was doing their best to make what was supposed to be such a happy day miserable for her, Penny had had enough.

  "Mom!"

  Sarah jumped a little at her outburst before snapping, "Don't you raise your voice to me."

  Taking a deep breath, Penny informed, "I know you're disappointed in me. You can be mad all you want, but save it for tomorrow because your son is fixing to get married," before motioning to Charlotte saying, "See, here is his beautiful bride."

  Sarah made an aggravated sound at Penny before focusing on Charlotte and complimenting, "You do look beautiful."

  With a soft smile, Charlotte replied, "Thank you Mrs. Caffrey."

  After returning her smile, Sarah pursed her lips at Penny, "I never said I was disappointed in you." Then leaving the tent, she glanced back, saying, "You look nice too, Liv."

  Liv appeared stunned as she blurted, "What the hell? Did she just give me a compliment?"

  Penny was pretty shocked as well at the way her mom backed down.

  As Penny, Charlotte and Liv looked at each other in surreal amazement, Amila stepped in notifying, "Alright girls, it's time."

  After another hug that was shared with Liv this time, Penny followed Amila and Liv out of Charlotte's tent just as Emerson walked in.

  Outside the front of Charlotte's tent, everyone was getting situated in the right order, until Kieran caught a glimpse of Liv. Instead of stopping at Penny's side, he followed his wife. She watched Liv stop and turn, smiling brightly at him as she smoothed his tied down. They were too far away for her to hear what they were saying to each other. That was probably for the best judging by the expression on Kieran's face when he saw Liv was enough to let her know the heels and dress had done their job. Smiling to herself, although she didn't want to think about their sex life, she was happy for them.

  Waiting for Kieran to make his way back, Penny felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning back, she immediately scowled at the expression on Braden's face.

  "Why is she dressed like that?" he griped in a hushed tone.

  "Stop it," Penny scolded in a low voice.

  "That's not her."

  "Her husband seems to like it," she gritted out trying to keep her voice down.

  Stepping closer to Penny, Braden quietly bit out, "She's gotta change who she is for him to want her?"

  Braden was a dumbass for sure, but nothing that went on was lost on him.

  Pointing her finger at him, she warned, "Don't. That is between them. So just stop it, right now," in an angry whisper.

  Shaking his head with an infuriated expression, Braden stepped back next to Silvia.

  Once Kieran was bac
k at her side, the music started to play, and Lola headed down the aisle with her basket of tiny white feathers that she sprinkled on her way down. Penny hooked her arm around Kieran's when it was their turn and smiled at Auggie the entire way to the altar. Purposely keeping her eyes fixed on the Caffrey side of the guests, she didn't want to see Seth and get upset. Braden still looked mad while Silvia appeared to be in heaven as she clung to him on their way down. Taking a deep breath, she smiled at Ailin and Jenna making their way towards her, it was almost time.

  Just as the wedding march started, Penny noticed Kieran take a step back. Ailin seemed to be keeping his distance also as Auggie and Braden stepped closer to each other. 'Oh my dear lord' was the only thing that ran through Penny's mind as she watched Braden give Auggie a little shove. Auggie shoved him back, slightly harder and before she knew it, they were rolling down the aisle.

  Immediately looking at Reverend Gary, he appeared too mortified to be of any help. Penny looked to Kieran next, who seemed to think it was amusing, and Ailin gave her a 'Yea right' expression when she raised her eyebrows at him, suggesting he intervene. Searching for assistance through the sea of her family that sat there doing nothing, her mom was shaking her head with the same exasperated expression as she did when they were growing up. Ren had her hand over her mouth and Jackson had both his hands over his face. Not only that, those who weren't laughing appeared to be placing bets.

  Deciding to take matters into her own hands, Penny started snapping her fingers and clapping her hand at them hoping to remind them where they were. It was no use. Braden was on his back and Auggie was basically sitting on him, holding Braden's wrists to the ground. They continued to struggle with each other until the music stopped and they looked up causing Penny to do the same.

  With Emerson at her side, Charlotte looked down at them. Penny couldn't hear her words but saw her mouth move as Auggie instantly let go of Braden and stood up with the biggest smile she had ever seen on her brother's face. Charlotte curled the corner of her mouth into a smile as she watched Auggie reach down and help Braden to his feet. Back in their positions, they straightened their ties and dusted themselves off. If it weren't for the fact that Emerson kept clearing his throat to keep from laughing as he gave Charlotte away, it was like nothing ever happened.