The Beard (Haylee Thorne)

by Haylee Thorne

  A tear rolls down his cheek.

  “I know. Thank you.”

  When we pull into the driveway, the wedding preparations seem to be in full swing. We step out of the car, and Gigi comes running out of the house and throws her arms around me.

  “Oh, Ashton,” she sobs. “I’ve been so worried.”

  “I’m sorry, Gigi. I really am,” I tell her contritely.

  She hugs me a little tighter before she releases me.

  “Let me look at you.”

  She wrinkles her nose. “What’s with the beard?”

  Brock chuckles behind me. I ignore him.

  “Gigi, Brock and I need to speak to you and Pops. It’s urgent.”

  She frowns.

  “That sounds serious.”

  “It’s nothing bad, I promise.” I say, trying to reassure her.

  “Let’s get inside then,” she says.

  We follow her into Pop’s study, where he is nose deep in his crossword.

  “Take a break, dear. The boys need to talk to us.”

  Pops looks up from his puzzle, and although I can tell that he’d rather not, he knows better than to get on Gigi’s bad side.

  “Will the den be okay?” she asks, looking at both of us.

  I turn to look at Brock, who is acting like he’s too busy to answer while he fidgets with his fingers.

  “Sure,” I say.

  We all sit down in the den and play the staring game for a minute.

  “So, is anyone going to say something?” Gigi prompts.

  My eyes dart over to Brock. The color has drained from his face, and sweat seems to be pouring from him. Our eyes lock, and I gently nod at him.

  “We do have a wedding to get ready for. Would you like to wait until after that to talk? Maybe it’ll give you time to get your heads together.” Gigi offers.

  “No!” I bark, maybe a little too harshly.

  It certainly earns me a stern once-over from Gigi.

  “I can’t marry Mackenzie,” Brock says.

  “Don’t be ridiculous. Why not?”

  “Well, partly because he’s in love with her,” he says as he nods his head toward me. “And she is in love with him.”

  Gigi’s eyes widen.

  “But mostly because I am not in love with her, which is probably because I am gay.”

  Gigi’s eyes dart to Pops and then land on mine before she turns to Brock.

  “I’m sorry, Gigi. I didn’t want to lie to you, but I couldn’t risk losing the only parents I have ever known.”

  “Couldn’t risk—” Gigi manages to croak before she starts to sob uncontrollably.

  Brock has a panicked look on his face.

  “How could you, Brock?” Gigi says through her sobs.

  My head snaps over to Gigi.

  “How could you think that we would love you any less?”

  Tears start to run, and Brock loses it and sobs with Gigi in his arms.

  “You stupid, stupid boy,” she mutters over and over.

  Pops clears his throat.

  “Brock, don’t you know that we have lost autonomy over our feelings toward you the moment that you and your brother were born? Since the very first time we laid eyes on you, loving you has been absolute and infinite. The fact that your grandmother and I love you boys, unconditionally and no matter what, is as certain as death and taxes. We just want you boys to be happy.”

  Now even I start to tear up.

  She releases her hold on him and proceeds to turn to me.

  “And you,” she says as she points an accusing finger at me. “How do you manage to fall in love with your brother’s fiancée?”

  She gasps.

  “Oh! The wedding! Does Mackenzie know about this?” she demands.

  “Whoa, Gigi. Breathe. One thing at a time please,” I say with a chuckle.

  We fill her in on almost everything that has been happening and how royally I messed up.

  “Oh, dear lord,” she mutters as she slaps her hand against her forehead. “And here I thought we raised two intelligent boys,” she says to Pops.

  “I love her, Gigi, and I need your help to convince her to give me another chance.”

  “And you are okay with that?” she asks Brock.

  “I am,” he says with a smile. “More than okay, actually. I love them both, and they deserve to be happy.”

  Gigi beams.

  “What can I do?”

  “Well to start, I need Mom’s ring…”

  I can’t believe I am getting married today. It’s weird; in my head, I know that this isn’t real and that we are just playing pretend. And really, as far as marriages of convenience go, I could have done a lot worse. Brock and I genuinely care for each other, and I feel that is more than some people have. Still, the commitment we are making is real, and I am nervous. Last night we had a bachelorette party, and while we had a lot of fun (I am not sure why, but somehow I woke up covered in glitter), we might have gone a little overboard. Honestly, I am feeling a little rough this morning because we did entirely too many shots last night. If it wasn’t for Mikaela’s very generous wedding gift—a makeup artist and hair stylist—I would probably look like the hot mess I feel like. We are in a beautiful white stretch limo, en route to Pops and Gigi’s estate in the Hamptons. Gigi has taken over the wedding preparations, and with me being so busy at the restaurant, I am nothing but grateful. Plus, this wedding is more for her, so I let her have free reign. The only thing I requested is that Amber be my maid of honor and Mikaela my bridesmaid. Besides that, all I’m doing is showing up. We are dangerously close to running late, especially considering all of us need showers and hair and makeup.

  “Here,” Amber says as she hands me a glass of champagne. “This might make you feel better.”

  “I don’t think my belly agrees with you,” I groan.

  Amber laughs heartily as she pours a glass for Mikaela and then one for herself.

  “Raise your glasses,” she announces. “To your last few hours as a single lady. Cheers!”

  I groan once more when the glasses make contact and the sound travels through my spine. Since I don’t want to invite bad luck by not taking a drink at a toast, I dutifully take a sip.

  Mikaela hands me a bottled water and a couple of Advil, which I eagerly and gratefully accept.

  “How many people are coming to this thing?” Amber muses.

  I chuckle.

  “You know what? To be honest, I have no idea. I didn’t make the guest list. I just told Gigi who to invite.”

  “Must be nice. Fancy wedding, none of the stress,” Amber says with a smirk.

  And none of the actual marriage stuff either, I think to myself.

  “You like tired, M. Why don’t you take a little nap?”

  That sounds like a really good idea, and I tell her so. She smiles at me sweetly and balls her jacket up to MacGyver me a pillow.

  “Your Highness,” she says as she pretends to curtsy.

  I think that I chuckle, but I’m not sure because I am pretty much out as soon as my head hits my royal pillow.

  I’m gently shaken awake as we are pulling into the drive.

  “We are here, doll,” Mikaela says softly.

  My eyes flutter open, and for a moment I am disoriented. I lift myself into an upright position. When I look out the window, there are people everywhere, running around and doing last minute prep for my impending nuptials. I am still trying to gather my wits when the door swings open. The entire small space is flooded with a whole lot of sunlight and loud excitement, that had been mercifully kept out by the tinted windows and closed door. Gigi is beaming as she looks upon the half-corpses that make up my bridal party.

  “Good afternoon, ladies,” she says, smiling brightly. “Beautiful day for a wedding, is it not?”

  Amber is the first to scoot herself out of the car. Mikaela follows, and I am the last to exit the vehicle.

  “Come, come,” Gigi calls over her shoulder. “We have so much t
o do and so little time to do it”

  The three of us exchange some looks and chuckle. Another new fact I realized about Gigi is that she’s is a speed walker; I am almost running just to keep up with her. She leads us to the pool house, which has been completely setup for dressing needs. The hairdresser and makeup artist are already waiting on us. I am ushered into the shower and instructed to go first. I’m not complaining. I feel like last night’s alcohol is seeping from my pores, and I am dying for a good shower. When the piping hot water cascades over my back, I finally relax. Just like any other time when I’m alone lately, my mind drifts to Ashton. My chest aches as the last words he said to me replay in my mind. Ashton Walker has broken my heart, and I am mad as hell that I let him, especially after I promised myself I wasn’t going to allow myself to fall for anyone after what Chris did. I take a little longer than usual, needing this time to myself. When I step into the dressing area, I almost wished I stayed in a little longer. People are happily chatting away, and even though it’s supposed to be a happy day, I am not in the chattiest of moods. The other girls shower a lot faster, and by the time my hair has finished drying, the both of them are already showered. Since I am having my hair done, Mikaela gets first dibs on the makeup guru, not that she needs it. If possible, she looks even more stunning than before. Shay, the girl doing my hair, has finished putting the rollers in my hair, so I move on to makeup while Amber jumps into Shay’s chair. Mik is changing into her bridesmaid gown, giving the two of us a moment.

  “Are you okay, M?”

  “Peachy.”

  “Nervous?”

  “Not really,” I lie.

  She laughs.

  “Always so stubborn,” she says with an adoring smile on her face. “Are you sure you want to go through with this? I mean, say the word, and we will leg it out of here.”

  My turn to chuckle.

  “You don’t even like to walk anywhere, remember?”

  “Honey, for you, I’d walk to the ends of the earth. You’re my sister from another mister. I’d even leg it for you,” she says with an added wink.

  “I love you, girl. Thanks for being here with me.”

  “Have you ever known me to say no to an open bar and free food?” she deadpans.

  She knows exactly what to say to get me out of this funk I’ve been in, and I’m grateful. Amber is done with her hair and heads to get dressed, and Mik sits down to get her hair done. We chat about this and that, and I thank her again for her generous gift. After a while, Nia, the girl who is doing our makeup, tells me I’m ready and turns me around so I’m facing the mirror. The girl is a genius with a makeup brush. My face looks flawless, and I don’t even recognize myself.

  “It’s time,” Amber announces as she walks back in the room. “Let’s get you into that dress.”

  I nod.

  The dress is hanging behind a partition at the other end of the room, so I move behind it and disrobe. It takes both Amber and Mikaela to get me into the dress without getting any makeup or anything on it. Amber has just finished buttoning the last button, and I am about to step out when a voice calls out.

  “Stop, don’t come out.”

  I freeze in place.

  “Why?

  “It is bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.”

  My heart jumps into my throat.

  “That only applies to the groom.”

  “I know.”

  I swallow hard.

  “What are you doing here, Ashton?”

  “Well, you recognize my voice. That’s something,” he says in what I think is an attempt to be funny.

  “Can I help you with something?”

  “Yes, I am hoping that you can.”

  “It’s not really a good time to come and ask for favors, Ashton. I’m not sure if you noticed, but I am running late for my wedding.”

  “I just need a moment of your time. And Amber’s, too. Amber, can you step out from behind the divider?”

  She raises a brow at me in question. I nod, and she nods back. She steps out and walks toward Ashton. They whisper for a moment. I try to hear what they are saying but without success. There is some rustling and then a giggle.

  “What is going on?” I ask, irritated.

  “Hold, please,” Amber says.

  Did she just tell me to hold?

  “Okay, come on out,” she says.

  I step out from behind the partition and gasp. The room is filled with red roses, sunflowers, and orange tulips. There are candles scattered everywhere, and next to a giddy Amber sits Ashton, who’s blindfolded and on one knee.

  “I had to be blindfolded because like I said, it is bad luck to see the bride in her dress before the wedding. And damn it, we have had enough bad luck at it is,” he says with a crooked smile. “But I don’t need sight to see your beauty, Mac. I can feel it. Your heart is the most beautiful thing I have ever encountered, and I am so sorry that I hurt it. I know what you did for Brock. He told me what he asked of you, and I know it wasn’t just the restaurant for you. I am sorry for even thinking that you had any malicious intentions at all. I was hurt, and I wasn’t thinking straight. I have no right to ask you this, so I am here, on my knees and begging you to please choose me. I’m not sure how I’m going to survive if you don’t. You are the very first and the very last thought in my mind and about eighty-five percent in between. I walked around this week, thinking I had lost you for good. Mac, it wasn’t pretty, and I can’t go through that again. If you say yes to me, I promise I will spend the rest of my life making up for hurting you.”

  His hand slides into his pocket, and he pulls out a little red velvet box. I gasp once more as he opens it.

  “I know it isn’t quite as big as the one Brock slid on your finger, and I don’t have a restaurant to offer you, but this one was my mom’s. It means a lot to me, and I want you to have it as a symbol of my undying dedication to you and our future family. Because that is what I’m offering you, Mac. I am not offering you two years and a restaurant. I am offering you forever.”

  My heartbeat is out of control and my eyes move over to Amber, whose makeup is being ruined by the tears streaming down her face. We silently converse from across the room.

  “Listen, don’t decide right now. I know you might need a moment. When it’s time to come out, I want you to wear the ring of the brother you choose. That way, you don’t even have to say the words. Brock and I will both be standing at the end of that aisle.”

  I nod, forgetting for a second that he can’t see me.

  Amber helps him rise to his feet, and I slip back behind the partition.

  “Hey, Mac?”

  “Yes?”

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  I wait breathlessly until I hear the door fall closed behind him. As soon as I hear the click, Amber shrieks.

  “Oh my God! What are you going to do?”

  I bite my lip.

  “I’m not sure,” I say with pain in my voice. “I know what I want, but it conflicts with what I should do.”

  I step into the yard and walk toward my dad, who is standing at the end of the aisle waiting. I haven’t even seen him today since we have been so busy getting ready. Hopefully we will have plenty of time to catch up after the wedding.

  “You look beautiful, baby girl.”

  I beam at him.

  “Thank you, Daddy.”

  He kisses my cheek before lowering my veil, which hides my face but allows me to peek around without getting caught.

  I look around the garden and see that Gigi has done a phenomenal job. It is beautiful and like a fairy tale out here. I think there are close to fifty people present right now, all standing in front of their seats on either side of the aisle. I’m on a white silk pathway that has been sprinkled with red rose petals, and I walk down the aisle toward the Walker brothers. I love them both but in different ways, that’s for sure. I care deeply about both, but in the end, I need to choose what is right for me. I take small, deliberate steps f
orward. It seems symbolic. I smile because the anxiousness edged on both of their features doesn’t even mar their beautiful faces. The both of them are zoning in on my left hand, which is covered by my right one. Sorry boys, you’ll just have to wait and see, I think to myself. A small smirk tugs at my lips, and the butterflies in my belly are rambunctious. The funny thing is, the second I made my decision, the nervousness and stress melted away like snow in the sun. I guess there is peace in knowing you made the right choice in your heart. I reach the front and am standing in front of Ashton and Brock. I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and drop my right hand, exposing the engagement ring on my left finger. I feel the veil being lifted, and my eyes flutter open. He smiles at me, and I return the smile as my decision is solidified. There is no doubt in my mind I have made the right choice. I just hate that I had to hurt his brother in the process. That was never my intention. I glance over at him, and he just nods and gives me a small, encouraging smile, telling me without words that he accepts my decision.

  “Please be seated,” the minister says.

  “We are gathered here today to celebrate young love and to be witnesses and supporters of the commitment they share with one another. The bride and groom wanted me to thank you all for being here and to recognize how important each of you are to their relationship. They would also like to recognize all those that couldn’t make it here today as they are certainly missed but not forgotten on this day of celebration.”

  The minister now turns his attention to me.

  “Who gives Mackenzie away in marriage to this man?”

  “Her mother and I do,” my father says, a little choked up.

  He kisses my temple and places my hand in my groom’s hand before taking his seat in the front.

  “Marriage gives permanence and structure to a couple’s love. It’s a way to tell one another that no matter how much you snore or how much you spend in the shopping mall, we’re still in this together. Marriage is telling the person you love that you’re not going anywhere, and that is a powerful commitment for two people to make to one another.”

  He squeezes my hand, and I squeeze back.

  “The road that has brought these two here today hasn’t been easy. It’s filled with challenges they weren’t necessarily prepared for, but together they’ve strengthened their love.”