A smile spreads across his face. “I know.” Reaching up, Brad yanks down his suspenders and begins unbuttoning his shirt. Within moments, he flings away the flannel to reveal a truly noxious picture of Jed in those damn shorts printed on a T-shirt.
Maris screeches with laughter. Thank God I’ve got her wrapped so tightly in my arms, or I know she’d have landed in the wet earth in her wedding dress.
“Bradley Meyers, you…” Rainey yells where she’s standing with Kara, who’s holding Deana, and Meadow. All of whom are wearing bridesmaids’ dresses in flamingo pink.
“I, what?”
“You’re perfect. Absolutely amazing. Carry on.” Then I hear her musical giggle mix together with our guests that include Kevin, the employees of the Brewhouse, everyone from Razor that Jennings could fly up—including Tatum, Oliver, Reece, and of course Charmaine and Harold. It also includes a few other people including Mrs. Gustofson and the Lis.
“Listen, did you think it was just me?” Brad nods to my side of the wedding party. And that’s when I start to guffaw. The men are all wearing identical T-shirts under their Team USA or Team Canada plaid shirts.
My wife-to-be exclaims, “This is epic.”
Jennings steps forward from his job as best man and smooths a strand of flyaway hair away from Maris’s face before leaning down and brushing a kiss against her cheek. Pulling back, he whispers, “Be happy, finally, little Mari Sunshine.”
Maris’s eyes fill with tears. “I’ve been happy for a long time, Jennings. You know that.”
I entwine her fingers with mine as we face Brad.
But neither of us is prepared for what we’re about to hear.
“I had a speech prepared—it was even Rainey approved. Then Jennings stops by this morning with a letter. He explained Kara’s been guarding this for a long time. She was given specific instructions on when it was to be given to the bride. Nick, if you’ll please take Maris’s hand.”
I face my love, my bride, and twine our fingers.
Brad clears his throat.
“Dear Maris,
I knew I’d never be able to tell you how much I love you today of all days. So, I entrusted this letter to Kara.
There are not enough words to tell you how beautiful you look. The sun is glinting off your hair, making your eyes more impossibly blue than they were when I first fell in love with you so long ago.”
Maris beams up at me. But I’m trying my damned best to stay upright.
Because I didn’t write this letter.
“I know you’re going to be happy because I know you’ve waited for the perfect man.” Brad pauses for a moment to let the audience laugh. Maris’s brow lowers, her head tips to the side. “He’s going to love you and treat you as well as I do, or I swear, I’ll haunt him long after I’m gone. I swear that to you, Little Mari Sunshine.”
Maris gasps, yanking one of her hands from mine to cover her mouth. I slip my arm around her waist to hold her stable. “Did you know?”
“I had no idea. All I knew was I didn’t write this letter.”
Maris leans her body against mine. She takes a few deep breaths to get her bearings before nodding at Brad to continue.
Brad swallows before managing, “I love you, Maris. You’ve been the best gift in my life. It’s been just a few months since we got back from my wedding where you did this honor for me, yet I can’t imagine what it will be like walking…” Brad falters. “Walking you down the aisle. Okay, I take it all back, the dumb schmuck doesn’t deserve you.”
Everyone starts to laugh, including me. I cup her chin and brush her lips with mine. “Very true.”
She just rests her head against my heart as we wait for Brad to finish. He inhales and exhales before he continues,
“I’ll just be the guy…in the wings…who will always love you. Near and far.
I love you, Maris.
Your brother,
Jed.”
If there’s a dry eye from any of our friends, I’d be shocked. Somehow, Jed knew he’d have to be able to conquer his love for his sister on this most important of days.
“Nick, there’s a letter for you as well,” Brad shocks me.
Maris squeezes my hand so hard, I’m terrified she’s going to break it.
Brad rolls his lips together before he slips Maris’s letter to the back of the stack he’s holding. Clearing his throat, he begins.
“Dear Nick,
It’s your wedding day. Wow. I know I’m going to be too happy to speak.
Then again, if you’re marrying anyone other than Maris, I’m obviously not at your wedding. But I wish you happiness anyway. Dude, what the hell’s wrong with you? Turn around, walk out, and get on a damn plane to Juneau. Can I make it more clear than that?
Get your head out of your ass.
Love,
Jed.”
Everyone in the audience is howling including me and Maris. “Who…who was in charge of that one?”
Brad points his thumb at himself. “I’ve had this letter for years, man.”
Jennings is bent over in a squat. Kody is bracing his hand on his shoulder. I squeeze Maris before asking, “Give me a second?”
“Yeah.”
I step forward and haul Jennings to his feet, then wrap him in a hug. Kody comes in from behind. And Brad fits himself to my back. When we’re huddled together, I whisper, “We miss you, you crazy bastard.”
“Every single day, Jed,” Jennings affirms.
“It isn’t the same without you,” Kody concurs.
“It should be you conducting this wedding ceremony,” Brad admits.
“So, do it Jed-style. You know Maris will love it,” I dare him.
Brad’s wicked smile spreads slowly before we all step back.
I take Maris back in my arms. “Do I want to know?” she asks.
I’m about to answer, when Brad proclaims, “It only took these two close to twenty years to realize they met their perfect match. I’m surprised Jed didn’t take one of the many sharp implements available to him to make them listen.”
Maris starts shaking. A quick check and I grin. She’s trying not to burst out laughing.
“So, I’m going to make this as brief as possible. Nick, are you not going to be a dick? Do you promise to love Maris the rest of her life, to be faithful, and to support your beautiful wife in all her endeavors?”
“I do.” My voice rings out across the Smiths’ backyard.
“Maris, do you promise not to throw beer at Nick unless he deserves it? Do you promise to love him despite his faults—which we know are many? To be faithful and to support your husband in all his endeavors?”
Before Maris can answer, I interrupt. “Wait? I’m not beautiful?”
One of the Lis’ daughters yells, “I think so!”
After the laughter dies down, Maris beams up at me. “I do.” Then she stretches up and lays her lips upon mine to seal the vow with a kiss.
Everything about this ceremony is completely insane, and it fits us perfectly. It’s as if her brother is here. “I know you do, Sunshine. I do too. Are you okay?”
“I’m better than okay. Can you believe he managed to—”
“No. I expected us to bring him here—”