Page 44 of Brother to Brother

“Justwow, Mel… there are no words,” Rush said. I blushed faintly and the professional photographer Ashton hired started clicking away as I came down the stairs. Everyone took position. Ashton with Rush, followed by Hayden and Nox and finally me, with Dray.

All of the men wore black slacks and black button down shirts with their cuts over them, which I was fine with, I mean, I really expected nothing less. I swallowed hard, my pulse racing as we lined up at the back door, the music from the live string quartet striking up and playing the traditional wedding march.

Oh my god, I am really doing this!Was my last thought before Dray took the final step and I was out on the back porch, then stepping off into the unknown which was an aisle made of the greenest grass, strewn with the whitest rose petals I’d ever seen.

“Look up, Babe,” Dray whispered, reminding me, and I did, my breath very nearly catching in my throat at the sight of Archer waiting patiently at the white archway trellis dripping with purple wisteria. His golden green eyes seemed that much more rich and vibrant without the three or four day’s growth he usually sported. The black of his shirt making the color pop all the way down to me. I felt wooden, and drawn as if by strings as I automatically put one foot in front of the other.

Noah looked so handsome in his little black shirt and pants set, and didn’t fuss at all. He was held aloft by Trigger in the front row on what was traditionally the bride’s side of things.

“Mamma!” he cried and reached for me, and I very nearly went to him, but Trigger gently put his arms down and Noah just stared.

All too soon, I was handing my bouquet to Ashton and Dray was putting my hands into Archer’s. They were so clean, I noted. He’d managed to scrub away every last trace of engine grease and grime, though the warm callouses remained. I swallowed hard and met his eyes just as Dragon began to speak.

“We’re gathered here today to join Melody Ann Beswick, and Charles Michael ‘Archer’ Turner together forever…”

I stared at Archer, and realized that it was today, the day we were gettingmarried,standingat the altarthat was the first time I had ever heard his name, hisrealname. The name I would be taking and would be known as the rest of my life.Turner.It wasn’t bad as far as names went and I tried it on for Noah as well,Noah Jeramiah Turner.I liked it, so at leastthatwas something.

“I do,” I murmured, still almost completely on autopilot. I took the ring offered to me by Nox and with shaking fingers, slid it onto Archer’s ring finger. I knew they were a gift from Dani, that she’d made them, because she’d told me the day before and had shown Archer’s to me. She wouldn’t show me mine, though, preferring that it be a surprise.

“I do,” Archer said levelly and with no trace of regret. He slipped first a delicate wedding band in white gold, crusted with diamonds onto my finger and followed it with one of the most beautiful engagement rings I’d ever seen. It was white gold too, with diamonds on the band to either side leading up to the three larger stones. The center round stone was a deep purple and the two smaller stones to either side, also round, were purple but also green and blue, with hints of other colors, a veritable aurora borealis of colors that had me choking up and my eyes watering. It was beautiful.

“You may now kiss your beautiful bride!” Dragon declared and I closed my eyes, tipping my face up. Archer’s lips landed gently on my cheek, the barest of touches to a course of “Aww’s” and a smattering of applause.

I opened my eyes and let my husband take me back down the aisle and off to the side where the Judge waited with the marriage license. The photographer snapped photos while I signed my life away and took more photos of Archer, Noah, and I together. All of us managing to smile for the camera, my son seemingly happy as a clam for his mother and new father.

Before I knew it, I was in the back of a limousine and staring across at Archer, alone for the moment as it whisked us to the clubhouse for the reception.

“You didn’t kiss me,” I murmured and Archer frowned.

“When I kiss you, that’s for me and no one else. I like to keep my private business private. You and me, we ain’t a spectacle for the world, no matter what the occasion.”

“Will you at least dance with me?” I asked.

“Depends,” he said and I felt my heart sink, “Will it make you happy?”

I blinked, I hadn’t quite expectedthat, but I answered him honestly, “It’s our wedding, having my first dance with my husband? Yes, it would make me happy,” I murmured. Archer nodded.

“Then I’ll dance with you.”

“Thank you,” I murmured.

“Sure thing.”

We finished the ride to the club in silence and the limo pulled around to the back to let us out by the white tent erected in the grass. The expanse under the tent was huge. I had wondered why the limo had taken so long to leave the bed and breakfast, and now I knew why. It’d given everyone time to get here and get settled for mine and Archer’s big entrance.

The limo driver opened the door and Dragon called out, “Ladies and Gentlemen, Brothers of The Sacred Hearts, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Archer Turner!”

Archer got out of the limo first and held out a hand to me, I took it, and stepped out into the sunshine to applause, whistles, and cheering, and felt myself blush. Archer took us to the bride and groom’s table, set apart from the rest of the seats, on the edge of the dance floor. There was another table beside ours with these beautiful round hydrangea balls, that weren’t hydrangeas at all, but rather our wedding cupcakes.

I smiled broadly at them and found Mandy’s fiery red locks among the crowd, inclining my head in her direction in thanks. She waved at me and my smile grew bigger, all the while the clatter and clack of the professional photographer’s camera shutter provided the soundtrack to what was supposed to be and had been achieved as my special day.

I took my seat, and Archer took his and I was surprised he kept his fingers wrapped around mine. I looked at him and he looked at me, his intense gaze searching my face. I mouthed ‘thank you’ at him and he inclined his head gently.

We were overwhelmed by guests coming and offering congratulations and to drop off their wedding gifts to us. Most of them small tokens and set aside on another table off to the side and behind Archer. Some were handed over with winks and a ‘take it on your honeymoon’ which made me blush, and really wonder what they contained.

Dani came up and I came around the table to hug her tightly, “Thank you so much, they’rebeautiful,” I murmured.

“The center stone is Noah’s birthstone,” she said, “and these,” she said indicating the two smaller, aurora rounds to either side, “are alexandrite, which is Archer’s birthstone.” I blinked and looked at her and hugged her tightly again.

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