Page 7 of One Wild Wedding Weekend

One of the groomsmen whooped loudly, making everyone laugh.

Now, the hotel caterer took over. “The food is in the adjoining tent,” she said, “Help yourself. There’s plenty. Tabby and John have asked that you sit wherever you like, no place cards.”

Tristan kept an eye on Daley as the group moved en masse to the adjoining tent. The buffet was sumptuous and plentiful. A beef carving station. Shrimp and grits. Garden-fresh vegetables of all kinds. The fancy fruit pyramid was a work of art. Homemade rolls.

And then the desserts. Wow.

Tristan’s stomach growled as he took his place in line. Daley was four people in front of him, flanked by two bridesmaids.

The wedding coordinator had a spouse, as did the minister. Four musicians. Twelve bridesmaids and groomsmen. Tristan and Daley. The parents. The bride and groom. Three grandparents total. And Harold with them. The caterers had set up five tables of eight. That left a handful of empty seats.

As Tristan watched, the group settled in noisy, appreciative groups. Tabby and John ended up with the groomsmen. When Daley put herself firmly amidst a gaggle of bridesmaids, Tristan snagged one of the last empty seats. “Mind if I join you ladies?” he asked.

A tall redhead shot him a teasing smile. “Knock yourself out.”

Daley said nothing, but he saw her face flush.

Not all the women had met each other. That left plenty of room for getting-to-know-you conversation. Two teachers. A cousin. Three college friends.

When the others were occupied, Tristan leaned closer to whisper to Daley, “Is Tabby staying with you tonight?”

She snorted. “Are you kidding? Tabby and John are not ones to follow either superstition or convention. They have their own room. I don’t think they can bear to be apart.”

Tristan frowned, hearing something odd in her voice. “You don’t approve?”

She shrugged. “It’s not up to me.”

The woman on Tristan’s right said something to him, putting an end to the quiet aside with Daley.

The older crew slipped out around eight, as did everyone else not in the immediate wedding party. When it was only Tabby and John and their fourteen best friends and family left, John tapped his glass with a fork. “Settle down you wild people. Tabby and I have gifts.”

Six women received pearl earrings. Six men opened engraved silver pocketknives. Only Daley and Tristan were empty-handed.

John came to Tristan carrying a larger package. “For my big brother,” he said, putting a hand on Tristan’s shoulder. “Not only my best man but the best man I know.”

The words caught Tristan off guard. “Right back atcha,” he said gruffly. When he opened the bag and removed the tissue, Daley peered over his shoulder.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Holy hell, John,” he said. “This is too much.” It was a small bronze sculpture of a horse he had seen in an expensive gallery in Florence, Italy, a year ago when he and John had taken a brother trip. John and Tabby had only been dating a few weeks back then, but he had called his new girlfriend every night.

John grinned. “You’re a hard man to buy for. I thought about Christmas, but by that time, I already knew Tabby was the one, so I saved it for now.”

“I love it. Thank you, John.”

Then it was Daley’s turn. Tabby stood behind her sister and wrapped her arms around Daley’s neck. “You’ve looked out for me my whole life. No one ever had a more wonderful big sister.”

Daley’s bag was much smaller. She pulled out a black box, opened it and smiled. “I love it, Tabby. Thank you so much.”

The gift was a yellow-gold cursive D accented with tiny diamonds that caught the light. Tristan stood as well. “Here, let me,” he said.

Tabby plucked the necklace from the box and handed it to him. “Thank you, Best Man,” she said, giggling. Tristan realized that shy Tabby had loosened up as the evening progressed.

Daley didn’t move a muscle. She sat in silence as Tristan brushed aside her ponytail and fastened the clasp. It wasn’t easy. His fingers were big, and the mechanism was dainty.

It didn’t help that he inhaled Daley’s light perfume with every breath. Already, he regretted his impulsive offer. He had to get a handle on these inconvenient feelings. John would neuter him if he thought Tristan was causing problems with Daley.

After Daley’s gift, the formalities were over.

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