by Jeff Shelby
“Did you used to do makeup?” I asked.
“Not ‘used to.’” Her eyes sparkled. “I still do. I give makeovers to the residents sometimes. They love it.”
I chuckled. “I’m sure they do.”
She finished Laura’s other eye, then dusted her whole face with powder. An application of lipstick followed by some finishing spray, and Laura was ready.
She spun around so I could see all of her.
“Well. What do you think?”
It was like the last time I saw her in the dress, when she’d tried it on for me just a few days ago, only a thousand times more meaningful.
Because today was the day.
“Do not cry,” she ordered.
“I know, I know,” I said, blinking rapidly. “My makeup will run.”
“And so will mine.” She fluffed the veil draped down her back.
Sunny swooped in and helped. “You look beautiful,” she murmured.
“You really do,” I said. “Like a princess.”
Laura smiled. “You think?”
“I know.”
“I’m going to see if all of the guests have arrived,” Sunny said. “I’ll come and get you in a few minutes.”
Laura nodded and sucked in a deep breath.
“You’re fine,” Sunny told her. “You can do this.” She gave her one more reassuring smile before she left.
“Well, this is it,” I said.
Laura smiled nervously. “Is Dad here yet?”
“Luke texted me a little bit ago and said he’s here.”
She breathed a sigh of relief.
It was just like the Charlie I’d always known. Always running late, cutting everything to the wire.
“Everything will be fine,” I told her, trying to soothe whatever jitters she might be feeling. “I promise.”
“I know.” She inhaled again. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“No, I mean thank you.” She looked at me. “Thank you for everything you’ve done this week. These last few weeks, actually. Offering to host and then helping us find everything we needed. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
I bit down hard on my lip to keep from crying. It was the last thing she needed. “You don’t have to thank me for that. I’m your mom. That’s my job.”
“You are my mom.” She smiled, and her lashes were wet with tears. “And you’re the best one I could ask for,”
“Stop,” I ordered, using the sternest voice I could muster. “You’ll make your mascara run.”
“I don’t care,” she whispered.
She hugged me fiercely. “I love you.”
My own eyes grew wet. “I love you, too, sweetie.”
I pulled back. Her eyes, though wet, were fine. No smears or black lines.
“I’m going to head down,” I said. “You okay?”
She nodded.
I smiled one last time and then headed downstairs.
Charlie had indeed arrived, and was standing in the living room with Gunnar and Declan. I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen him. The irony of this—the only three men I’d been romantically involved with in the last twenty-plus years standing together, chatting amicably—was not lost on me. There was no real rancor between Charlie and myself, but it still felt a bit odd to be in the same room with him.
Declan was the first to look up at me.
His eyes widened, and then Gunnar looked my way and then Charlie.
I smiled at all of them.
Gunnar took a step forward. “You look beautiful.”
“Yes, you do,” Declan echoed.
Even Charlie acknowledged this with a nod. “Rainy. It's nice to see you. And I agree with these gentlemen.”
“Thank you,” I said. “All of you.”
“How is Laura?” Charlie asked.
“She’s fine. Ready.”
Footsteps sounded in the hallway and Connor appeared, looking handsome in a black tux and slate gray bowtie and cummerbund. They all did the manly thing of shaking hands and nodding. I supposed it was no different than women hugging.
“Everyone is here.” Connor tugged on his bowtie and wiped at his brow.
“Great,” I said. “How are you holding up?”
“Me? Oh, I’m fine. Just a little warm is all.” He glanced toward the stairs. “Is Laura ready?”
I nodded.
“And you have the music all squared away?” Gunnar asked.
Connor’s smile was a little less than confident. “I think so. I practiced my one song and I think I’m ready.”
With Jackson’s drum machine missing from Midnight Robot, we’d made some last-minute adjustments to the music for the wedding and ceremony. Luke and Thor had agreed to play an acoustic set. Mabel would sing a song during the ceremony and then one at the reception.
And Connor would play a song on his bongo drums.
“I was hoping I could play more,” he said with a sigh. “But I’m just not ready.”
“You can do a concert for your anniversary,” I suggested. “A concert for one. Your wife.”
He grinned. “That’s a good idea. Way less pressure.” And then he chuckled. “Or maybe not, considering who my audience will be.”
“Good point.”
He checked the watch strapped to his wrist. “Alright, I’ll get back out there.”
He turned and headed down the hallway, passing Luke as he made his way toward us.
“Where’s Laura?” he asked. “It’s eleven o’clock. Should we start the music?”
“Yes, go ahead,” I told him. “You play the intro music and then when Laura and your dad appear, you can switch the speakers on so it plays the Wedding March.”
“I still think we should just play an acoustic song for that. Something original.”
“You can do that for your wedding,” I said. “But this is Laura’s and we’re doing what she wants.”
Luke made a face. “Fine.”
“Hey.”
He looked at me.
I moved closer to him and lowered my voice. “I’m sorry.”
His brow wrinkled. “For what?”
I swallowed. “For accusing you—”
He waved his hand in the air. “Eh, it’s fine.”
“It is? I accused you of murder.”
“You also accused me of smuggling drugs,” he reminded me.
“Not smuggling—”
“Fine. Drug possession. Whatever.”
My shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry. I’m a horrible mother.”
“No, you’re not.” He grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “You’re the best mom. You just get a little…overzealous.”
“That’s a nice way of putting it.”
He grinned. “Plus, I'll probably make you buy me a super expensive dinner. You know, to make up for thinking I’m a hardened criminal.”
I punched him in the shoulder.
“Alright, I’m gonna get out there and start playing. Who knows? Maybe one of Connor’s fancy DC friends knows someone in the music industry. This right here could be our big break!”
I watched him hurry back outside. Gunnar and Declan soon followed him, and then it was just Charlie and me, waiting for Laura.
“It's been a while,” he said.
We'd had two kids together and, at one time, been in love. It was a strange feeling, standing there with him. I had no animosity toward him whatsoever. In fact, I didn't have any real feelings toward him at all. Our kids were adults. Our lives didn't intersect. I didn't really know him anymore. But I was glad he was there for Laura.
I nodded, finally answering his question. “It has. And I didn't say it a few minutes ago, but it's nice to see you, and you look nice, too.”
He smiled. “Thanks.” He waved a hand in the air. “I hear this has been...quite a week.”
“And then some.”
“But seems like you pulled it off.”
“With a lot of help from friends,” I said
.
“I'm sure Laura's appreciative.”
I had a lot of answers for that, but decided that diplomacy was the best route. “I hope so. We've done the best we could.”
“You go on,” he said. “Get seated. I’ll wait for her.”
I hesitated.
“Go,” he urged. “You've done everything you can. And she’ll be fine.”
“Go,” a voice echoed.
Laura was standing at the top of the stairs, looking absolutely radiant.
I smiled. “You’re good?”
She gave me a thumbs up. “I’m good.”
My heels clicked as I hustled down the hall and out into the backyard.
The scene in front of me was like something out of a fairytale.
Despite Sophia’s penchant for drama and self-absorption, she had really outdone herself with the decorations. Chairs were wrapped in white tulle, and an archway of tulle served as a makeshift altar, with white and blue flowers spilling out of metal milk cans. Fairy lights twinkled in the folds of fabric, and even in the daylight, they added an ethereal, magical element.
I stared at the altar, my smile morphing into a frown.
Something was missing.
And then I gasped.
An officiant.
We didn’t have an officiant.
How in the world were Laura and Connor going to get married if there was no one to perform the ceremony?
I scanned the crowd of people gathered, searching frantically for the one person who I knew could fix this.
I hurried over.
Declan looked up at me in surprise.
I leaned down and whispered in his ear.
A smile spread across his face.
“Can you do it?” I asked. “Will you perform the ceremony?”
“Of course.” He stood up, his smile widening. “Anything for you, Rainy.”
THE END
Thanks for reading TYING THE KNOT! If you enjoyed it, please consider taking a few minutes to review it wherever you purchased it!
And want to make sure you never miss a new release and find out about other book-related news? Sign up for Jeff's newsletter right here.
Table of Contents
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY ONE
TWENTY TWO
TWENTY THREE
TWENTY FOUR
TWENTY FIVE
TWENTY SIX
TWENTY SEVEN
TWENTY EIGHT
TWENTY NINE
THIRTY
THIRTY ONE
THIRTY TWO
THIRTY THREE
THIRTY FOUR
THIRTY FIVE
THIRTY SIX
THIRTY SEVEN
THIRTY EIGHT
