Page 25 of Father of the Bride

“…So I figure, we just took different paths in life, know what I mean? Finance is cool, but this medical shit…well, I just wish I knew back then.”

Against his better judgment, Mark checked back into the conversation. “Knew what?”

Orion shrugged, taking another puff. “How much money is in this shit, man.”

Mark nodded slowly. “Don’t sweat that. I’m sure you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.”

Orion’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.

Silence turned to stillness between them. It suited Mark just fine; Orion’s voice was like nails on a chalkboard to him.

“Sometimes, you do get a do-over,” Orion mumbled. He glanced at his sons, locking eyes with Davion before the boy averted his gaze.

“I’m trying to get one with my family. Just between us, Doc.”

Mark wasn’t surprised. It explained the vibe he was getting the night before watching the two exes.

“And what does that look like?” he asked, trying his hardest to sound like that was a nonchalant, just-making-conversation kind of question rather than what it actually was—due diligence.

“Shit…my family back together,” Orion said. “Divorce is fucking hard, Doc.”

“I get it,” Mark said.

Orion put a hand up. “My bad. I wasn’t trying to be offensive.”

“About?”

“Whining about being divorced, when…you know.” Orion searched for a sign that Mark understood. “You actuallylostyour wife. Which I have the utmost sympathy for, by the way.”

Mark shrugged. “I wasn’t offended at all.” He waited a few beats, then said, “What does that look like to you? Putting your family back together.”

A few more puffs, then a quiet answer.

“My wife coming back to me. My son coming back to me.”

Mark didn’t react to it, as much as he wanted to. “Does she seem…receptive?”

“I mean…it’s hard to tell sometimes. You know how women are.”

From the other side of the boat, Davion huffed out a breath that sounded like disapproval.

“Wish me luck, Doc.”

Mark chuckled, exhaling a plume of sweet smoke. He would never in a million life times wish this motherfucker luck with the woman he loved. Every time he opened his mouth, Mark felt something primal and territorial rise in his chest. The fact that this loud, careless, swaggering man had once had her was all he could stand.

“I’m sure if it’s meant to be, it will be,” Mark said as he walked away, feeling satisfied with his fishing expedition.

The other side of the boat was much more boisterous. The boys had caught a couple big ones and were celebrating with beers. Mark gave them a nod, then took his seat next to his future son-in-law.

“Alright, Dav,” he said low, so only he could hear. “What’s the deal, man?”

Davion blinked, pulled back into the present and out of his stormy thoughts. “What do you mean?”

“You been mopin’ around here like it’s the end of the world,” Mark said, blowing his smoke in the opposite direction. “You’re marrying my daughter in a few days, so you can understand my concern about that.”

Davion heaved a heavy sigh, eyes flicking toward his father, who had commandeered Vince with an animated story that used far too many hand gestures. “It’s just…family stuff.”

“Everything good?”

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