Chapter 23 #2
“Oh, God. His grandfather died, and he felt obligated to keep the company in the family.” Her heart ached when she realized the enormous responsibility he’d inherited at the tender age of eighteen.
“It was never his dream, Janey. He’s had a very satisfying life doing something he truly enjoys, but it wasn’t his first love.”
“I’ve known him all my life, and yet there’s so much about him I don’t know.”
“He loves you more than anything. You have to know that by now. Is there any chance at all that you might love him, too? Even a little?”
Janey blinked back more tears, bit her lip and nodded. “I love him so much.”
“But are you in love with him?”
“Yes,” she whispered, wiping her face. Any final doubts had disappeared the second he walked out her door earlier. “Very much so.”
“It’s not fair for you to make these decisions on his behalf. He’s had his choices taken away before. It’s really the worst thing you could do to him.”
Moaning, she said, “I thought I was doing the right thing for him!”
“What would you say to letting your buttinsky big brother fix this fine mess for you?”
She leaned her head on his shoulder. “I’d say please, by all means, do what you do best and butt in.”
Mac laughed and kissed the top of her head. “Don’t worry, brat. It’ll all be fine. I’ll make sure of it.”
Mac’s wedding day dawned clear and sunny.
He took a cup of coffee to the deck to look out over the yard and the tent that had been erected the day before.
It didn’t pay to gamble with New England weather, and Mac was taking no chances that this day would be anything less than perfect.
He’d certainly waited long enough to find Maddie.
In just a few hours, she’d finally be his wife.
And with her came a son who Mac couldn’t have loved any more if he’d been his biological child.
Maddie and Thomas had spent the night at Janey’s, and Mac couldn’t wait to see them later.
He’d grown used to his mornings with Thomas and had missed waking up to baby chatter.
Mac had arranged for a horse-drawn carriage to pick them up for the wedding.
He looked forward to hearing about Thomas’s reaction to that.
A hand landed on Mac’s shoulder, and he turned to find Joe holding a mug.
“Hey, did you sleep okay?” Mac asked.
“Like a dead man. The boys are still out cold.” Joe referred to Mac’s brothers.
Mac studied his good friend and saw none of the agitation and despair that had marked his features earlier in the week, before Mac had cued him into Janey’s news. Today he saw nothing but serenity and determination on Joe’s face.
“Ready for all this?” Joe asked, gesturing to the tent and the arrangement of chairs to the right of the tent where the exchange of vows would take place at two o’clock.
“Absolutely. How about you?”
“Operation Janey is ready to roll.”
Mac smiled. “You’ve thrown her all off kilter with four days of total silence, you know.”
“That’s the very least of what she deserves after what she’s put me through—for years. Yeah, a few days of suffering is just what she needed.”
“You two are well matched,” Mac said, laughing. “Very well matched indeed.”
“You really think so?” Joe asked, showing a hint of vulnerability that tugged at Mac’s heart. Hell, everything tugged at his heart these days.
“You know I do.” Mac took a long swig of coffee. “So what’s the plan?”
“You’ll just have to wait and see,” Joe said with a smug grin.
“Come on! You can tell me. I won’t say anything.”
“Nope.”
“Oh, this is going to be good,” Mac said, chuckling.
“You bet it is.”
Janey had no doubt that she was far more nervous than the bride.
While Maddie had been calm and cool all day, Janey felt like she was coming out of her own skin while she waited to see Joe.
She knew for a fact that Mac had told him her news days ago, and yet she hadn’t heard a word from Joe since then.
If he was trying to punish her, he was doing a damned good job of it.
Night after night she had lain awake wondering where he was, what he was thinking, why he didn’t call, why he didn’t come over, why he didn’t do something. The tension had turned her into a basket case as she tried her best to provide steady support to the bride.
The guys had cleared out of Mac and Maddie’s house hours ago so the women could finish getting ready, but now Janey heard their voices out on the lawn.
She glanced out the window, and her breath caught at the sight of Mac and Joe standing together in black tuxedos.
Mac held Thomas, who wore a tiny tux for the occasion.
Her other brothers, dressed in dark suits, talked and laughed and joked with them.
What a handsome bunch of guys, Janey thought with a smile.
She checked her watch. Ten minutes to show time. Gathering the skirt of her periwinkle gown, she rushed upstairs and knocked on the bedroom door.
“Come in,” Maddie called. She had requested a half an hour alone to finish getting ready.
Janey opened the door and stopped short. “Wow.” The dress was simple, elegant and utterly perfect. “Seriously. Wow.”
Maddie released a nervous laugh. “Really?”
“Mac won’t be able to remember his own name when he sees you.”
Maddie flashed a saucy smile. “That was kind of the goal.” She reached for Janey’s hand. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m a mess.” She rested her free hand over her churning belly. “I have no idea if Joe will even speak to me.”
“Of course he will.”
“I wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t.” Janey shook off that unpleasant thought. “Anyway, it’s not about me today. This is your day. My dad should be here any minute to give away the bride. Are you ready?”
“I’m so ready.” Maddie’s caramel-colored eyes glowed. “I’ve never been happier in my life. I kept waiting for something to happen to mess it up. . .”
“I told you nothing would happen.” Janey hugged her. “Don’t start or we’ll both be bawling like babies.”
“Only happy tears today.” Maddie extended her hand. “Deal?”
Janey shook on it, hoping she could hold up her end of the bargain.