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“Ready?” Dan’s thick fingers fumbled with the tie at Sawyer’s throat. The knot he executed kinked to the side like an arthritic joint, and Dan dropped his hands to his sides with a grunt of frustration and glowered at the offending garment.
“Yes,” Sawyer croaked. “I’m ready.” His gaze darted from his father’s face to Sam’s and then wandered out the French doors framing the garden beyond. He stood, staring without another word.
When neither Sawyer nor Dan made any move to correct the tie, Sam stepped forward and nudged his father out of the way. Fingers accustomed to the delicate tasks of his profession made quick work of the knot. Sam sighed in relief when the silk lay straight and flat. Stepping back, Sam patted down the lapels of the navy-blue suit stretching across his brother’s broad chest. He sensed Sawyer’s gaze shift to his face but didn’t meet his eyes. A sudden wave of pride threatened to close his throat.
The men stood in silence, breathing air thick with unvoiced thoughts and stifled emotions. With a bang, the door opened, and Cliff and Noah Stevenson rushed through, yanking the other three men from their wandering thoughts.
“Shit, Sawyer.” Noah tripped to a stop at the sight of his cousin, causing his mountain of a father to barrel into him from behind. “You look so good that I think I might cry.” He blinked his blue eyes a couple of times for effect.
A grin inched over Sawyer’s face, and he shrugged, destroying the placement of his tie. Sam curled his toes inside his shoes and stifled a growl.
Cliff shared none of his brother Dan’s qualms about expressing emotions and stared at his nephew with bright, wet eyes. “You got it right this time, my boy.” He clasped Sawyer’s shoulder and yanked him into a hug, mussing the suit jacket. “I knew it from the first time we met her. Even said to Noah that Sawyer met his match this time.”
“Thanks, Uncle Cliff. I’m the luckiest guy ever.” Sawyer’s smile grew impossibly wide. “I’m glad you could make it.” He pumped his uncle’s hand up and down before reaching out to hug Noah.
“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” With a sniff, Cliff produced a tissue from his suit jacket sleeve and used it to mop his eyes. Dan crossed his arms over his chest and scowled at his brother.
Through the patio doors, strains of music quivered and took flight in the morning air, signaling it was time for the proceedings to start. Sawyer’s complexion blanched at the sound. He turned and sought Sam’s gaze, and Sam met it with an encouraging smile. “Come on, little brother, the rest of your life is waiting.”
Sawyer squeezed his eyes closed, nodding. His throat strained at the top button of his stiff white shirt. When Sawyer held a hand out to him, Sam accepted it, allowing his brother to pull him into a hug. Releasing Sam, Sawyer extended a hand to his father. With a grunt, Dan grabbed his son in a rough embrace. When they separated, Sam fixed Sawyer’s clothing once more and gave him a gentle shove toward the door.
Cliff and Dan slipped out to find their seats, leaving Noah, Sam, and Sawyer to step through the French doors into the sunshine together.
***
Alice had outdone herself, transforming the Stevensons’ backyard into a wedding wonderland. Glass canning jars full of wildflowers lined the path to the handmade wooden arch at the end. Sawyer had meticulously carved the blue-veined wood into graceful flowers intertwined with Celtic knots. A nod to Carmen’s Irish heritage and her wedding gift from Sawyer. Sam’s gaze dashed over it, too nervous to appreciate his brother’s beautiful handiwork at the moment. At last, his gaze came to rest on who he sought. Charlotte.
She flashed him a smile, her dark eyes shining. The late morning sun danced on her caramel skin and toyed with the dark curls gathered at her nape. Sam’s heart clawed at his throat as he made his way to her side. He bent and brushed a kiss against her cheek. “You look beautiful, Chuck.”
“Thank you. You clean up pretty damn well yourself, Stevenson.”
At most weddings, the best man and maid of honour walked down the aisle as a pair. But, in a transparent move, Carmen placed Sam and Charlotte together and Noah and her older sister Marcy together instead. When Sam confronted her about the lineup, Carmen claimed she wanted to nurture the spark she sensed between his cousin and her sister. Sam knew his soon-to-be sister-in-law had killed two birds with one stone. If the woman didn’t make it as a teacher, she could consider matchmaking as a career path.
Charlotte hugged Sam’s arm against her body, hauling him back to the present. Together, they started down the walkway toward Sawyer and the pastor. When they moved to their appointed spots, the pastor raised a palm. All the chatter ceased, and the gathered families rose to their feet as one.
The music melted into a languid instrumental version of “The Time of My Life.” At Sam’s side, Sawyer made a gruff sound in his throat and rubbed the back of his hand across his mouth. Silence, punctuated by soft sighs and gasps, settled over the crowd as Carmen and her father appeared from around the side of the house.
Charlotte and Marcy sniffled across from Sam and Noah, accomplishing the feminine miracle of keeping their eye makeup intact despite their wet eyes. Sawyer lost his struggle for composure. Tears crested his eyes, and the force of his grin at the sight of Carmen pushed them to freedom.
Accustomed to distancing himself, Sam found he was not immune to the emotions swirling around the gathering like a cloud. The image of Carmen, her waist-length auburn hair loose and crowned in flowers, blurred in front of him. She wore a simple lace gown. It hugged her curves and complemented her height as it flowed around her. She put Sam in mind of the Fae queens of Tolkien as she floated down the aisle.
They paused at the arch, and her father passed Carmen’s hand to Sawyer, joy shining in his life-worn eyes. The two men embraced, then the bride and groom merged into a private bubble of happiness.