39. Tom
THIRTY-NINE
Tom
“ T om Bennet!” Zoe’s cousin Caden calls out, strolling through up the aisle with a beautiful blonde on his arm. “I remember you from the football games when you played against our school.”
“If it weren’t for high school football, most of the Cockers wouldn’t know my name before today.”
He laughs, “I can believe that! I’m Samantha and Lexi’s brother. I’m sure you know them, since they were Zoe’s roommates for forever.”
“Of course.” I shake his hand, “Good to meet you. Feel like we have met before?”
“This is my wife, Elizabeth.” He waits while we shake hands, then, “You and I broke up a fight after the game once. That’s why.”
My memory lights up. “That’s right! Those wasted guys with the Ford truck.”
“Yeah, you jumped in there without hesitation.”
“If memory serves, you followed me right in,” I grin.
“I love breaking up fights almost as much I like getting in them.” He winks at his wife, “Before I became a very serious surgeon, that is.”
Amused sarcasm colors her, “You? Serious? When?”
“I am very serious.”
“Rarely.”
“Bullshit.”
Countless Cockers shout, “Language!” and since I know the lore, I crack up, wishing Zoe was here to hear that.
Caden grins, nods a hello to his grandparents, and looks at me again. “When I got the invitation, I gotta admit, I was really happy for Zoe. She’s an angel of a girl. With you, I knew she was in good hands. Excuse us. Have to say hi to my Grandma and Grandpa. Babe?”
Elizabeth takes his offered hand while telling me, “Congratulations, Tom. Zoe really is a gift. She’s so kind.”
They were the last to arrive, and pretty much everyone has said the same thing about Zoe to me. Makes me wonder what people say about me when I’m not around. Something to think about.
Caleb Astor III strolls up, a smile on his face. “About to take my seat but I had to ask, you ready for this?”
I smirk, “Born for this. You ready to marry my sister next year?”
“Always wanted a brother,” he grins, and we give each other a manly hug, complete with back-slapping. As he walks away, Caleb says over his shoulder, “The man with the big ideas! I should hire you for my company!”
“I’m happy where I am, thanks.”
“Elena and I might join you on that honeymoon!”
“You guys can go to Bali on your own another time, Caleb.”
He chuckles and takes his chair, an aisle seat beside Ethan Cocker, his wife Charlie, and their kids, Kaya and Michael — all of whom I just met today. Most of the Cockers are here, and most are new to me. Everyone’s been really gracious, and I feel honored we’re having the wedding here, at the patriarch and matriarch’s home.
Their backyard is large enough to easily host our guests that are seventy-five in number, give or take a few. Because we’re doing buffet-styled dining we didn’t need an exact number, and it allowed new people to be added when questions like “Can I bring my husband’s Mom?” came up, and also didn’t bring us trouble when some had to bow out last minute due to the flu or other emergencies you can never predict.
Gabriel, Zoe’s rockstar cousin, captures my attention as he walks to whisper something to his band. They stop playing and lose the rock tempo. He locks eyes with me on the way to his seat beside Paige, his wife, and their daughters, Shannon and Lucy. I nod, understanding that it’s time, and my back straightens more in anticipation. I glance back to the minister from Zoe’s church and she smiles at me. “Ready, Tom?”
“Never been more ready,” I grin, turning around to face the crowd as everyone turns in their chairs away from me, gazes traveling to the back door. There are windows to the kitchen but curtains were pulled across them so I couldn’t see the bride until the very last moment.
First to appear and walk out onto the porch are my sister and Zoe’s eldest brother. Just as Nicholas and Elena hit the three steps to walk down and join us on the lawn, Wyatt and Lexi appear. Then Sam and Nate. The bridesmaid gowns match purple flowers that line the aisle’s path.
As Maid of Honor and Best Man appear, the crowd applauds Jeremy and Meagan Cocker, and when they reach the lawn, the band shifts to, “Here Comes The Bride.” Jeremy releases Meagan’s hand and turns back. He strolls up the steps, disappears inside, and reappears with Zoe on his arm. Everyone stands, and this time the applause in roaritous. She takes my breath away.
I hear Amelia shout, “You are a goddess!”
Lexi whispers to her sister on my right, “She’s never looked more beautiful.”
Meagan hurries up the aisle, “I need to watch them!” and takes her place beside the bridesmaids. “Look at my girl all grown up.”
Jeremy and Zoe approach amid cheers and awe-filled whispers, and through her veil, my bride-to-be gazes at me like no one else is watching.
Loud enough to include everyone, the minister says, “Who gives this woman away today?”
Jeremy Cocker proudly announces, “Her father does.”
I smirk, “And my Best Man.”
He grins, squeezes Zoe’s hand and presents her to me, “Be good to her or I’ll be your Worst Man,” making the crowd laugh.
His brother Jake, who I’ve learned is his best friend outside of Meagan, shouts from the second row, “I’ll help you teach him a lesson, Jeremy!”
I grin, “Sorry, guys, you’ll never get a chance to.” I take Zoe’s hands as she comes to stand in front of me. “The only lessons I’ll learn will be from my wife.”
Zoe lifts her own veil, touches my face with love, and kisses me.
And the Cocker Family goes wild.