Page 84 of Sins and Secrets

“Why?”

His eyes get wide, but he pinches his lips. He shrugs. “No reason.”

Before I can ask him any follow-up questions, a woman in a light pink suit comes in. She has a tablet, an earpiece, and was at the dress rehearsal last night. So, unless she’s a relative, it’s a safe bet she’s the wedding planner.

“Show time, gentleman.”

The altar is decorated with Christmas trees and various white and blue flowers. My artistic heart is pleased by the color combination and the use of textures in the arrangements. My mother’s husband’s billion-year-old mother approaches and offers her elbow. I’ve met this woman a couple times in my life, but she’s got dementia and I don’t expect her to remember me.

“Are you one of Carol’s sons?”

“Yes.” We walk together, I hold her gently but firmly, providing support.

“Are you the one who they’re all in a tizzy about, costing them money?”

Yep, dementia. “I’m pretty sure they forgot I’m even at this wedding.”

“They forgot about me, too.” She laughs in a whispery way. “My nurses had to call to get the car. Ungrateful little bastards.”

I love this old woman and I will protect her with my whole being.

We walk to the second row on the bride’s side and I help her into the pew. “You’re a nice boy.” She pats my arm and a slow grandmotherly smile appears.

I’m about to walk back to see who else needs to be ushered in, but Kyle’s brother walks my mom down the aisle. Yep, that tracks, she’d rather have a stranger usher her than her own son.

This doesn’t go unnoticed by my new favorite geriatric. “Gold digging, bitch,” she mutters under her breath.

Yep, I love this woman.

There’s a few seats still open in the front row. Some familiar faces from summer parties from years ago fill the next three rows. I noticed a woman in a light green dress a little too low cut for the occasion. Her hair is long and has big curls at the end. I don’t recognize her, but she’s taking up prime real estate. My brother is nowhere to be found. Good. One less thing Waverly, Angie, and I have to put up with.

The music starts and I head to my spot, third in line behind Kyle and his dead-to-me brother. There’s movement along the side of the pew, far from the center aisle. Damn, he’s here. Adam seems worse than usual with dark circles under his eyes and blotchy skin. Shit, I hope he didn’t say anything to Waverly on the way in.

He takes a seat next to the unknown woman in green. She gives him a half smile and shifts uncomfortably, whispering in his ear. My brother pats her thigh. A little too friendly. Then he leaves his hand there. Again, she shifts her weight and whispers to him. Adam removes his hand from her leg but throws it around her shoulder, pulling her into his body.

Holy fuck, he brought a date.

Behind me, Darren mutters under his breath, “What a piece of shit.” Even Kyle’s dead-to-me brother grumbles something I can hear.

Kyle forms a fist and growls, “I knew he was going to ruin our wedding.”

Without even realizing I’m doing it, I take one step forward.

Darren grabs my arm. “Not now.”

Angie’s college roommate is already halfway down the aisle. She smiles for the camera, but as her gaze drifts toward us, her brows furrow. As she walks to the altar, she turns to view the crowd and her eyes get wide for a second as she takes her spot on the altar.

Kyle’s sister is next. She’s smiling and giving tiny waves to the people on her side of the church. Again, at the halfway point, she realizes something is wrong.

The woman my fuckwad brother is molesting keeps squirming, but he has a death grip on her. Making little circles with his thumb on her shoulder, he plasters a fucking shit-eating grin on his face.

At this point, my mother looks over at him from several seats away. Her jaw drops, but the botox won’t let her show any other emotion. She leans over and hisses, “What are you doing?”

His voice echoes through the church. “We broke up. She rejected my proposal. I’m not doing anything wrong by having a date.”

By this time, Kyle’s sister makes her way to the altar, glances at the movement, and whispers, “Oh my God.”

My heart sinks as Waverly starts her turn. She has the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. She waves to Kyle who, from this angle, looks like he’s going to puke. My mother hisses at my brother who is making no sign he plans on moving.

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