by Marie Force
“Glad it’s not just me.” Owen drew in a deep breath and gazed down at her gorgeous face. She looked up at him expectantly, waiting to hear what he had to say. He’d thought long and hard about this because he wanted to say it just right. “From the first day I met you, you’ve been my Princess, so beautiful and regal to look at, with a heart of pure gold under that elegant exterior. In the year we’ve spent together, I’ve known more happiness, contentment and peace than I experienced in my entire life before you. I thought I was happy until I found you and discovered I was merely existing. You taught me how to live, Princess, and that I get to live with you and love you every day for the rest of my life is the greatest gift I’ve ever been given. There’s nowhere else in this world I’d rather be than right here with you. I vow to love, honor and protect you and Holden and the babies we’ll have together for the rest of my life.”
Holden let out a happy little squeal that made his parents laugh even as they both dealt with a flood of tears.
“Laura?” Frank said.
“I’m supposed to follow that?” She exhaled a deep breath as she looked up at Owen. “Like you, I was merely existing until I met you and found my home, my life’s work and the love of my life all in one magical place. The year we’ve spent together has been the best of my life, too, despite the challenges we were forced to confront from the outset. You didn’t care that I was expecting my ex-husband’s baby. You didn’t care that I was sick as a dog every day for the first six months we were together. You picked me up off the floor every morning and gave me absolutely no choice but to fall in love with you. And then you decided to stay with us, rather than go upon your merry way, living your life as the footloose and fancy-free troubadour you’d always been. You chose us, and you changed your entire life for me. For that I shall always be profoundly grateful, because, you see… I had no idea how I was going to live without you when you left. Now I don’t have to. Now I get to spend every day with you for the rest of our lives, and there is truly and honestly nothing I want more than that. I vow to love, honor and protect you for as long as I live.”
With his free hand, Frank mopped up tears. “I’d say you two got your revenge,” he said to laughter from the equally tearful gathering. “Evan? Rings?”
“Oh crap,” Evan said, sending a gasp through the group. Then he smiled widely. “Psych.” He dropped the rings into Frank’s outstretched hand and then took a turn with Holden.
“Not funny,” Frank said to his nephew.
“Yes, it was,” Evan replied with a cheeky grin.
Owen laughed at the exchange. He expected nothing less from his best friend than a joke in the midst of his wedding ceremony. Owen took Laura’s ring from Frank and slid the simple platinum band she’d requested onto her finger. “With this ring, I marry you, Laura McCarthy.”
She followed suit, sliding the same simple platinum band onto his finger. “With this ring, I marry you, Owen Lawry.”
“By the power vested in me by the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, I’m honored to pronounce you husband and wife. Owen, you may kiss my daughter, but keep it clean.”
“Don’t you dare,” Laura said as she leaped into his arms and kissed him passionately right in front of her father, their families and friends.
What else could Owen do but kiss her back?
“That was not clean,” Frank muttered when they finally broke apart, breathless and laughing from the sheer joy of the moment.
“It is one of the greatest honors of my life,” Frank said, “to introduce for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Owen Lawry.”
Their friends and family broke into a rousing round of applause as Owen took Holden from Evan and reached for Laura’s hand to walk toward the steps where they would greet their guests as they went up for the reception at the hotel.
One by one, their friends expressed their congratulations before heading up the stairs: David and Daisy, Jenny, Alex and Paul, Victoria and Shannon, Jared and Lizzie, Tiffany and Blaine, Luke and Sydney, Big Mac and Linda, Mac, Grant, Laura’s Uncle Kevin and his sons, Riley and Finn, who looked a lot like Mac and Adam with their dark hair and mischievous blue eyes.
Owen had met them for the first time the night before, and though they were both still in their twenties, they fit right in with their older cousins and their group of friends. He’d heard Riley asking Janey if she still had a dog named after him, and Janey retorting that the dog had come with the name. To which Riley had barked in response. Finn planned to stick around for the rest of the summer to help Shane with the affordable-housing project he was trying to finish before the cold weather set in.
Riley and Finn hugged Laura and shook hands with Owen. “Thank you for taking her off our hands,” Finn said.
Laura slugged him.
“Ow,” Finn said, rubbing his arm dramatically. “That’s not very bridal of you.”
“She fights dirty,” Owen said to high fives from his wife’s younger cousins.
“I like him,” Riley said.
“Normally, I do, too,” Laura replied.
“We’ve got them fighting, bro,” Riley said to Finn. “Our work here is finished.”
Pleased with themselves, the brothers went up the stairs.
“They’re too funny,” Owen said to Laura’s Uncle Kevin, who rolled his eyes.
“Positively hilarious.” Ten years younger than Big Mac, Kevin had light brown hair and the McCarthy blue eyes. Like his older brothers, though, Kevin was funny and dedicated to his family. Owen had liked him instantly. “I can’t take them anywhere. What’d they say this time?”
“Something about Owen taking me off your hands,” Laura said.
“We are thankful for that,” Kevin said gravely.
“Apple, meet Tree,” Laura said, tipping her cheek to receive her uncle’s kiss.
“Congrats, hon. So happy for you.”
“Thanks, Kev. I’m thrilled you guys could be here. Where’s Aunt Deb? Did she make it over this morning?”
Kevin’s smile dimmed as he shook his head. “She couldn’t come after all.”
“Oh. Is everything okay?”
“That, my dear, is a story for another day. This is a happy day, and I’m so glad to be here with you and the rest of the family. It’s been far too long.”
“Yes,” Laura agreed. “It has.”
After Kevin had walked up the stairs, Laura said, “That doesn’t sound good.”
“No, it doesn’t, but try not to worry about it today. Today’s our day.”
She leaned into his one-armed embrace. “Other than the day Holden was born, best day of my life.”
“Mine, too, Princess.” He kissed her forehead and then her lips. “Mine, too.”
Kevin McCarthy trudged up the stairs, his heart heavy after his niece asked about his wife. He couldn’t exactly tell her—on her wedding day—that Deb had left him for a younger guy. Yeah, he was that cliché. He couldn’t tell Laura that her Aunt Deb wanted more than what she had with him, that she felt her life was passing her by and leaving her behind.
He’d begged her not to go, to consider counseling, to fight for their twenty-seven-year marriage. But his pleas had fallen on deaf ears, and now he was left to explain to his family why his wife had chosen to sit out their niece’s wedding.
At the top of the stairs, he noticed his brother Mac waving him over to the bar, where he sat on a stool next to their oldest brother, Frank. He might’ve been able to dodge Laura’s questions, but his brothers wouldn’t be satisfied with evasions. Even knowing that, Kevin walked over to them, thrilled to see them, as always.
“Congratulations, Dad,” Kevin said as he shook Frank’s hand. “I think our girl got it right this time.”
“I know she did. He’s the best.”
“I can see that,” Kevin said. “Nice job on the ceremony, too.”
“Best part of the job, especially when you get to marry your own kid.”
“I bet.”
“I have
something I need to tell you, Kev,” Mac said as he handed a bottle of beer to Kevin.
“That sounds sort of ominous.”
“Actually, I’m choosing to look at it as good news. It seems I have another daughter.”
“What?” Kevin’s gaze shifted from Mac to Frank, who nodded.
Mac proceeded to tell him about Mallory and her mother, Diana, and how he’d found out about Mallory’s existence.
“Oh my God,” Kevin said. “How incredibly shocking. How are you feeling about it?”
“Don’t shrink me, Kev,” Mac said with a wink and a smile. His older brothers hated when he acted like a psychiatrist around them. Little did they know he could use a shrink of his own at the moment.
“I didn’t mean to.”
“I’m joking,” Mac said. “It was shocking, at first, but I’m settling into the idea of another daughter.”
“How are the kids taking it?” Kevin asked.
“Pretty well, all things considered. They know me well enough to understand that I’m not going to let her walk away and pretend like I don’t know she exists. That’s just not who I am.”
“No, it isn’t. Good for you. It’s the right thing to do.”
“I’m glad you agree.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting my new niece.”
“She’ll be back in the next few weeks for a weekend. Maybe you can join us.”
“I was actually planning to stick around for a while. I’m taking a little time off from work.”
“Is everything okay, Kev?” Frank asked.
“It could be better.”
“Are you going to tell us where Deb is?” Mac asked.
“I don’t know where Deb is. She’s left me for a younger guy, of all things.”
“She left you,” Mac said. “When did this happen?”
“Couple of weeks ago.”
“And you’re just telling us this now?” Frank asked.
“It’s not something I really want to talk about, so I’m sorry I didn’t call you to tell you my wife left me.”
“I didn’t mean it that way,” Frank said, “and you know it. We’d want to be there for you, the way you’re always there for us.”
“I know,” Kevin said with a sigh. He felt bad for snapping at Frank, because he knew his brothers would be concerned. “I’m all right. At least I will be. Eventually. If I’m being entirely truthful, this has been coming for a while now. I’ve known she was unhappy. I just didn’t expect her to actually leave.”
“I’m really sorry, Kev,” Mac said. “How are the boys taking it?”
“We haven’t told them yet. They think she’s sick and sitting this one out.”
“You have to tell them before they hear it from someone else,” Frank said.
“I know. I will. Soon.” The thought of telling his sons their mother had left him for another man made Kevin feel physically ill.
A gorgeous dark-haired woman approached them, and Frank’s face lit up with a huge smile as he held out a hand to her.
“Lovely ceremony, Your Honor,” she said with a warm smile for Frank.
Kevin watched in stunned amazement as Frank put his arm around the woman and she rested her arm on his shoulder. In all the years since Joann died, he’d never seen Frank with another woman.
“Thank you. Betsy, this is my baby brother, Kevin. Kevin, Betsy Jacobson.”
“Nice to meet you,” Kevin said, raising a brow in his brother’s direction. “Speaking of holding out…”
Frank laughed and looked up at Betsy with affection. “It’s a fairly recent development.”
“Not so recent,” Mac said with a teasing grin for the happy couple. “It’s been going on for a while now.”
Kevin experienced a pang of envy for the happiness his older brother had found after decades on his own. “You’ve got one of the good ones, Betsy.”
“I know.”
“Kevin just told us he’s going to be sticking around for a while,” Frank told Betsy.
“That’s great,” she said. “I look forward to getting to know you better.”
“Me, too.” Kevin looked forward to that and anything else that kept him away from the nightmare unfolding at home.
Chapter 30
After everyone had eaten the Caribbean-themed dinner that Stephanie’s chef had prepared, Evan moved to the corner of the deck that had been set aside for him, his sound engineer, Josh, and two other musicians Evan had recruited to provide the music for the night’s festivities. He plugged his prized Gibson Les Paul electric guitar into the small amplifier he’d brought from the studio. Behind him, the sun dipped toward the horizon in a blaze of orange and red and gold that would end in a spectacular sunset.
When he was ready, he stepped up to the microphone. “Yo, yo, yo, listen up to the best man.” The spirited group fell silent and gave him their attention. “I go way back with these two. Laura, you and Shane were way more than cousins to us. You were our summer siblings when we were all little kids, and we loved spending that time with you. Owen has been my best friend since high school when we bonded over our love of music. The nights we get to play together are always my favorite. So it was a great honor when my best friend asked me to be his best man when he married my cousin. I’ve known you a long time, O, and I’ve never seen you happier than you’ve been since you and Laura got together. The two of you are great on your own, but you’re spectacular together. I love you both, and I wish you all the best life has to offer. To Owen and Laura!”
As the guests guzzled champagne and toasted the happy couple, Evan played the opening chords of the song Owen had chosen for their first dance. “Laura left one big decision up to her groom, and that was choosing a song for them to dance to tonight. Are you two ready?”
“Here we come!” Laura looked giddy as she led her new husband to the space they’d left for dancing.
“Owen chose ‘All I Want Is You’ by U2 for their first dance.” Evan played the chords and put everything he had into the emotion-driven song to give Owen and Laura an unforgettable moment. But the whole time, he had his eyes on Grace, hoping she knew he was singing for her, too.
“Perfect choice,” Laura said with a happy sigh as she danced with her new husband.
“It says everything I wanted you to know today.”
She looked up at him, loving him more than she ever had.
“What?” he asked, tuned in to her as always.
“Just thinking about how much I love you.”
“I love you that much and more.”
“I love you more.”
He laughed and kissed her, which had their guests laughing and clapping as they clinked silverware against the crystal, looking for more kisses.
“How long do we have to stay?” he asked.
“It’s our party. We can’t just leave.”
“Yes, we can.”
“No, we can’t.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“I’m the husband. What I say goes.”
“And I’m the wife. If you want to get lucky later, watch your mouth, mister.”
“I love when you chastise me.” As he spoke, he pulled her in closer to him. “It makes me hot.”
“Not now, dear. People are looking.”
“Are we really married?”
“We really are.”
“I want out of here. Soon.”
“Another hour. Maybe two.”
“I’m holding you to that, Mrs. Lawry.”
The party was beginning to wind down when Charlie put his arms around Sarah from behind and nuzzled her neck. “Can we go?”
“I can’t leave,” she said as she shivered from the brush of his whiskers against her skin. “What’ll my kids say?”
“They’ll say, ‘Look at our awesome mom going off to spend time with the guy who loves her. How lucky is she?’”
Sarah laughed at his shamelessness.
“I can’t stop thinking about holding you and k
issing you and touching you. I want you so badly, I’m on fire for you.”
Sarah trembled from the rush of desire that accompanied his gruffly spoken words. They’d come very close to making love the other night, but she’d held back at the last minute, a decision she regretted almost as soon as she made it. All she’d thought about since then was when they might get another chance.
“Come home with me, Sarah. Please come home with me.”
She took a quick look around the deck. Owen and Laura had walked down to the water to take some photos in the sunset. Holden was with Frank and Betsy. Katie, Julia and Cindy were talking to Riley, Finn and Shane. Jeff and Josh were sitting at a table with their grandparents, and her son John had called to speak to his brother earlier. He’d been heartbroken to miss the wedding and promised to come to the island for a visit soon.
Everyone she loved, present and accounted for. And the man she loved standing behind her, asking her to run away with him.
Sarah covered the hand he’d placed on her stomach and squeezed. “Let’s go.” She stopped only to ask Daisy to make her excuses.
Almost as if he was afraid she might change her mind, Charlie took her hand and led her through the kitchen to the parking lot in back where he’d left his truck. They drove to his house in silence, but the awareness of what they were about to do beat through her like an electric current.
Silently, he reached for her hand and linked their fingers. “I love you, Sarah.”
He didn’t say much, but what he said was always worth hearing. Now was no different. He’d said exactly what she needed to hear.
“I love you, too. I love how patient you’ve been with me, how sweet and how tender. Before you even knew why I needed it, you knew what I needed.”
“You’ve done the same for me, you know. You make me feel hopeful again.”
“That’s a lovely thing to say.”
They arrived at his house, and he released her hand after kissing the back of it. “Wait for me to come around.”
Sarah watched him go around the front of the truck. He looked so handsome in the navy polo shirt and khaki pants he’d worn to the wedding. The door opened, and Charlie leaned across her to release the seat belt. He held out his hands to her and helped her out of the truck.