Page 24 of Father of the Bride

Sunny’s ears perked up.

“You and your dad seem pretty close.”

“Oh, I’m a daddy’s girl all the way. That man don’t play about me.”

Sunny smiled. He’d been that way about her, once.

“How does he feel about my son? I’m just curious. Davion doesn’t tell me much.”

Brooklyn shrugged. “He loves Davion. I don’t know if you remember, but my dad took us to Aspen.”

“I remember.”

“They hit it off up there. That’s when he asked my dad if he could marry me. They’ve been cool ever since.”

“Okay. Good. Did, um…was anybody else there with you guys?”

“Well, my dad had friends who were there, too. There’s always rogue doctors everywhere he goes. I don’t question it.”

Sunny nodded, her mind wandering to the snowcapped mountains of Aspen, imagining Kez on the slopes. She was certain he was good at it. Kez was always infuriatingly good at everything he did.

“It’s too bad you have a date to the wedding,” Brooklyn said. “There are gonna be a lot of doctors walking around here this weekend.”

Sunny forced out a chuckle as she thought about Luke. “Yes. Too bad.”

Chapter 10

Thesunstretchedoverthe horizon, painting the sky in strokes of gold as the boat rocked gently in the turquoise Atlantic. A cool, salty breeze came off the water, ruffling shirts and carrying the screeches of seagulls overhead.

“So…this is your boat?” Orion asked, his voice breaking the peace.

Mark glanced over his shoulder. “This is, in fact, my baby.”

Orion rubbed his chin and took a step closer to the railing, eyeing the sleek vessel. “Why’s it called Lady LaynaBelle?”

“Boats are always female, and that’s my mama’s nickname,” Drew answered before his father could.

Mark gave a small nod, eyes fixed on the water as he adjusted the drag on his reel. “Which is ironic. She hated this damn boat.”

The Bennett men shared a wistful laugh remembering their Layna Belle. The sound was light. The memories, sweet.

Then Orion laughed, too, a beat too late and too loud, forcing himself into the moment, irritating Mark in the process. He pulled a cigar from the small humidor on the table and held it up. “Is it time to light up?”

Mark gestured to the back of the boat with a clipped nod. “Wind’s better back there.”

Orion moved, clapping a hand on Mark’s shoulder as he passed him. It was too familiar. Too firm.

“I ain’t even mad atcha,” he said. “This is the life, man. I feel like…I don’t know. I work hard. I’m paid. But I ain’t doin’ it like this.”

Mark grabbed a cigar for himself, lighting up, taking a few puffs as he leaned against the side rail. His eyes drifted toward the horizon, but his ears were trained on Orion, who was still talking.

“I mean, we both made out alright. You with your mansion and your boat. Me with my career and my family.”

Mark’s ears perked up.

Orion lit his cigar with great fanfare, taking slow, deliberate puffs like he was trying to prove something.

Mark glanced toward the other side of the boat, where the five boys—grown, but still boys to him—were casting their reels overboard. But Davion was clearly straining to hear the conversation, his face tight, his eyes narrowed.

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