Heartwood (18 page)

Pulling out my phone I snapped a few quick pictures. “Mason, these will look great on your Facebook page!”

Flipping me the bird, Mason quit struggling and let Jay finish.

“The things I do for my sister,” he grumbled. He turned to Jay. “This is payback for that night I chased y’all with a baseball bat, isn’t it?”

Jay laughed and puffed a large amount of concealer powder onto Mason’s head.

“That’s right. It’s karma Mr. Clean. Deal with it.”

Total, I spent the better part of two hours suffering under the photographer’s thumb before I was released to regroup before the ceremony. Graham had a cold beer waiting for me when I got back to the room. Mac and Mason were only a few minutes behind me, having had to stay behind for the Hildebrandt family photos.

“You should wear make up more often Mason. It makes you look fabulous.” Mac cracked. Mason grunted and half-heartedly shoved Mac.

“This from the guy that rides a motorcycle without sunscreen. You look like a saddlebag with eyes.” He replied.

Graham clinked two beers together and the boys immediately turned their attention to quenching their thirst.

We sat in silence on the wrap around porch that overlooked the parking lot and watched the guests rolling in. As the crowd grew, so did my level of anxiety. Mac nudged me and gestured to the parking lot.

“You thinking of making a break for it? Because I think Short Shit could catch you, even in that dress.” I smiled and shook my head. Mason and Graham looked at each other and something unspoken seemed to pass between them.

“You’ll do fine Joe.” Mason said in a light, teasing voice. “Just remember that all you’re doing is promising to be faithful to one woman and take care of her for the rest of her life.” He caught Mac’s eye and nodded toward the stairs. Mac rose and the two of them headed down toward where the wedding party was gathering.

Graham picked up their discarded bottles and dropped them in the trash. “You were going to do that anyway, son. Now you’re just making it official.”

I dropped my bottle in the trash before turning toward the stairs.

“Well, I suppose we should get down there. It looks like things are about to start.” It felt like iron butterflies were banging around inside my stomach. Graham came up next to me and put his hand on my shoulder. Looking over at him, I felt like he could see right through my calm facade.

“That is one heck of a girl you have there, Joe. The two of you are a wonderful couple. The only thing left for you to do is let everyone here know just how special you think she is. There’s nothing simpler.”

I nodded, reflecting on the sentiment as we walked down the stairs.

Nothing simpler, but nothing harder.

It was the moment in a man’s life when he was the most vulnerable. I had done it once before and it ended in disaster. But thinking about it now, I realized yet again how foolish I had been in my youth. What I had with Molly was beyond any fanciful love I had experienced before. No one in the world was more worthy than my girl.

Taking a deep breath I walked over to join the rest of the wedding party by the reception hall. Dan, who was Molly’s Man of Honor, leaned casually against the glass and wood building. Mac and Mason stood with Tamryn and Stacy. Both of the bridesmaid were fussing over my nieces’ flower girl baskets and by the expression on her face I thought Jamie was going to throw down with her mother. Molly’s youngest nephew was a ring bearer, and he looked like he was about to chuck the pillow into the nearest garbage can. Tressa and Jaimie smoothed their yellow flared skirts, and I heard Jaimie ask Tamryn why she couldn’t wear cowboy boots like the bridesmaids. As I approached, they all looked over at me and smiled in unison.

“It’s time, Joe.” Graham tapped me on the shoulder. With a final glance at my wedding party, I headed down to the rustic wooden archway overlooking the stream.

Reverend Rita gave me an encouraging smile as Graham and I joined her at the end of the stone pathway. The congregation faced us, sitting in white wooden chairs that had been placed in a split horseshoe formation. My eyes swept the crowd, and I saw Dr. Greene smiling at me a few rows back. I nodded at him, feeling oddly touched that he’d chosen to come.

My eyes shifted to the row directly in front of me. Tamryn’s husband, Robbie sat holding Eva. He was on my side in the front row with my parents. Robbie pointed to me and whispered in Eva’s ear. She was smiling at me and I waved. I glanced to my right and saw Granny Hildebrandt holding Logan. I noticed that, true to form, Logan had a fist full of Granny’s hair.

The guitarist and violinist started to play, and I felt my heart rate accelerate. Two by two the wedding party joined me down in front, until Dan took the walk alone, smiling like The Cheshire Cat. I saw a few eyebrows raise amongst my side of the aisle, but it just made me smirk. When all but one was present, the music changed to the wedding march and Molly appeared at the head of the aisle. Her mother escorted her down the aisle, taking her absent father’s place. Molly smiled softly at me, and I’ve never seen a more breathtaking sight in my life.

As Betty handed me her daughter’s arm, she gave me a look of such utter happiness...it was almost too much. Molly caught my eye and from that moment the rest of the ceremony passed in a blur. All that mattered was that she was finally mine and I was finally hers.

When we picked The Salt Lick for our wedding, it wasn’t just because Pecan Grove was beautiful. It was also because they catered the reception. There is no greater feast than one of unlimited barbeque ribs and brisket. Molly and I ventured up to cut the cake, so that the crowd could start the buffet line. Lisa was snapping pictures of the cakes, and rolled her eyes when I stepped into her shot. I gave her a wide berth, covering the crotch of my trousers just to be safe. I doubted she was angry enough to visit her well known wrath on me in front of a room full of people. And I didn’t see any scissors.

The three tiered cake Molly had picked looked perfect in the rustic setting. She had ordered cupcakes as well for those who didn’t like lemon cake. They were plain yellow cake, but the frosting looked like the blue bonnets that were in the mason jars at every table. Molly’s sunflowers and bluebonnets bouquets looked suspiciously like the flowers Francis had given her the night we first hooked up. Like every other selection for the party, they were simple but perfect for us. It’s a wonder that I noticed any details at all, since the sight of her by candlelight made it hard to focus on anything else. She pointed to the other end of the table. When I caught sight of my groom’s cake, I chuckled.

“Do you like it?” Molly asked, her eyes hopeful.

The chocolate cake looked like a saw table with a wood grain design and tools scattered over it. I put my arm around her and whispered in her ear.

“It’s perfect, just like you, Mrs. Jensen.” She kissed me tenderly, and I felt my smile evaporate in a moment of doubt. We’d never talked about the name change, and Molly had a tendency to fly in the face of convention. “You
are
going to take my name, right?”

She looked up at me with her sparkling blue eyes. There wasn’t a hint of irony on her face “I want all of us to have the same last name.”

We made our way through the maze of tables, stopping to meet Dr. Greene’s wife.

“Thanks for coming, Doc.” I murmured, as Molly and his wife chatted about how pretty the venue was and how much she enjoyed the ceremony.

“I wouldn’t have missed it,” he replied. He looked like he had a lot more to add, but he didn’t.

Molly tugged me toward my parents’ table where my father was engaged in some lively banter with Francis’s date, the lovely Beverly Campbell. We spent a few minutes holding the twins until they were snatched back by Jaimie and Tressa, who seemed to think caring for the babies was part of their flower girl duties.

On our way back to the head table, we greeted a few guests who hadn’t made it to the ceremony. Some friends of Molly’s had flown in from Seattle, and I was sure Molly would break her no-cry policy when she saw them. She proved me wrong once more, and proudly introduced me to the newcomers. They were a friendly bunch of misfits, and I finally broke away to carry our plates to the table as she pulled the group over to my parents’ table once more to show off the twins.

Once she finally joined me at the head table, the server brought us more drinks and for a blessed few moments we all focused on our food.

“I bet you five bucks you can’t eat all that without getting any on your gown.” I said, chewing the juicy brisket with admiration.

She leaned in close so only I could hear her. “Make it five orgasms and you have yourself a deal.”

I shrugged. “It’s a win/win.”

She proceeded to prove she could keep her gown spot free, and I smiled, knowing I’d enjoy paying up on our tropical honeymoon. Molly had great fun feeding me burnt ends and I ate enough ribs to construct a small barrier at the edge of the table with the bones I’d picked clean.

Once all the guests had a chance to get through the buffet and everyone was well into their meal, Graham rose, gently tapping his glass with his fork. As the crowd settled down, he turned and beamed down at Molly and me.

“There is something to be said for the mettle of a man or woman that knows adversity. In life, all too often we are handed burdens that are almost too heavy to carry. Today, we gather to celebrate the union of two very special people. Both have shown great character in the face of hardship. Their deep and abiding love stands as a shining beacon to us all. They are living proof that we must always strive to a better day. It’s with the greatest pleasure that I ask you to raise your glasses to our honored hosts. To the bride and groom!”

The room erupted with cheers and Molly took my hand as the clinking of glasses sounded all around. Molly leaned in and gave me a kiss and cheers rang out all around. Standing, I enfolded Graham in a fierce hug.

“Thank you, sir.” I mumbled, my throat feeling thick and painful.

Graham patted me on the back. “You are more than welcome, son. Congratulations.”

Graham turned to hand Dan the mic. Not to be outdone, Dan smiled happily out at the crowd.

“Have you ever seen a more beautiful couple?”

There was a considerable round of applause and Molly and I exchanged an embarrassed glance.

“I’m honored to introduce myself as Molly’s Dirty Old Maid of Dishonor. I’m Dan...and I’ve known Molly for several years but it seems like decades. We met in her early days in the restaurant business. I was the wine expert at a trendy restaurant and the owner told me I needed to meet the new head chef to go over her menu. When the bartender pointed her out, I was surprised. She was way too young to be the head chef.”

I turned to see Molly’s reaction, and she looked a little apprehensive about what was coming next.

“When I first heard her say ‘y’all’ I was like ‘yay! A Southern Belle! It was like finding a kindred spirit in the dreary land of constant rain. We instantly bonded over what it was like to be strangers in a strange land.”

Molly squeezed my hand, but I was focused on listening to Dan recount part of Molly’s life I hadn’t been around for. It was bittersweet; I was glad to hear the details, but part of me mourned the missed time with her. I watched Dan take a drink from his wine glass. His smile faulted for a moment, and he pressed on.

“The first time I saw her, I couldn’t believe that this pretty little thing could wield a knife like she did. She was barking orders, bossing around men three times her size. And I’m here to tell you, they snapped to as if she were a drill sergeant. Molly’s all the evidence you need that you should never judge a book by its cover. I’d never have guessed she had such talent...or such a foul mouth.”

Mason nearly fell out of his chair. Molly covered her face as the rest of the room chuckled.

Dan paused, and I saw his expression shift again. His eyes shone, and I wondered where he was about to go with this train of thought.

“I watched this remarkable girl triumph professionally and suffer unfairly privately. I saw her tested, disrespected, and yet continuously shine. I’ve always admired her courage. Through all of her loses and trials, Molly always remained generous, and certainly more dignified than I would have been.”