Page 14 of Capturing Hearts

Chapter Eleven

Brendan

Four Months Later. St. Dominic’s Church

“I’ve never done this before, but it can’t be too hard,” Mark mumbles, fastening on my boutonniere. “It’s crooked. Hang on.” He messes with it some more and steps back. “Looking good, B-man. Lookin’ good! I almost swore, but it feels like you can’t in this place.”

I laugh and turn to face the mirror, the sunlight bright thanks to the skylight. My tux is cut in the style of the 1920’s, with tails and a white bow tie. It looks like I’ve stepped off the set of Downton Abbey. I turn my chin to the left and right, checking if my bow tie is straight and centered, fiddling with it until I’m satisfied.

“Nicole looks happy,” I say to Mark. “You guys are doing well. Thank you for coming back for the wedding, buddy.”

Mark smiles, standing beside me and fixing a closed white rose to his lapel. “Yeah, when I mentioned we were next she nearly fainted,” he laughs. “But I’ll get her.”

“I’m pretty sure you’ve already got her,” I smirk.

Nicole and Mark have been staying with us for their visit, in his old room, which we’ve kept as a guest room. We’re not going to be living in the penthouse much longer though. Annie and I don’t want the baby’s room upstairs. It’d be too far away from us to monitor. I’m the one who brought it up after I had a nightmare that I couldn’t get to the little one in time. God, that was the worst dream I’ve ever had. I think the shooting and Tommy’s betrayal have left residual effects.

“How’s it comin’ along there?” I call over to Bobby, who’s struggling with his pants.

“I think I’ve been hitting the beer too hard. These fit last month.”

Mark and I chuckle. But then he looks at me, and his eyes go a little dark. “It’s still weird about Tommy. He could have been here.”

Bobby mutters, “I can’t believe all the stuff that’s coming out about his family.”

Mark’s lips tighten and he shakes his head slightly. “It’s unreal. Really hard to get your head around, you know?”

I nod and step away from the mirror to check my phone for the time. “Yeah. Crazy stuff.”

“You think you know someone,” Bobby adds, jumping in place until he succeeds in zipping his slacks. “I got it!”

“Well done,” I smile, wanting to move away from the subject. “Alright, let’s not talk about him anymore. He’s done enough damage. It’ll be weird testifying against him, but truth? I hope he rots in there, and I will do what I have to, to make sure that happens.”

Mark nods, his face serious. “Yeah, I told Nicole the dates. I’ll be there with you, no matter how fucking strange it’s going to be. You guys going to move before that or can I stay with you?”

“We’ll still be there. We’ll have the baby in our room for the first year. Give us some time to find the right place and not rush things. I want to ease into this whole parenthood thing.” A smile sneaks up and Mark smirks to see it.

He walks to a bottle of champagne and pours three glasses. “Here’s to a miracle I never thought I’d see. B-man married with a baby on the way!!” He hands me a glass, and Bobby walks over to take his, too. We hold them up.

In a booming voice, Bobby says, “To miracles!”

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