Epilogue
“Okay. Quiet down everybody.” Sean waited while his family settled into their seats. “That was Riley on the phone. They’ve just landed at BWI, so if we’ve timed it right, she and Aaron should be here right about the time the wedding DVD ends. Then we can do this wedding reception thing in style.”
A loud cheer accompanied his announcement. Aaron and Riley stayed in Vegas only a week after their initial elopement, and Sean still marveled that somehow that had been enough time for his sisters and sisters-in-law to throw together an impromptu reception. They’d closed the pub and restaurant for the day, decorated the place with white bells, balloons and lots of flowers, rearranged the chairs so they were organized in rows in front of the big-screen TV in the corner. Sean grinned. The flat screen generally broadcast sporting events. This was the first time it had ever been used to show a wedding.
When Sean told Riley what they were organizing, she’d overnighted the wedding DVD and asked him to show it to everyone just prior to the reception. She insisted it would make up for the fact she’d gotten married without the family being present.
He pushed play and then opened the letter Riley had attached. “Riley sent a letter with the video,” he explained. “She figures you’ll have a lot of questions while you watch. The answers are all in here.” He picked up the karaoke microphone and added in a deep, sportscaster-like voice. “I’m Sean Collins, your wedding announcer.”
They all laughed. Sean looked around the room, pleased to see that everyone had arrived for the party. He loved the times when the whole family got together. Pop was front and center and beaming from ear to ear. As was becoming a family tradition, there was an empty seat with a white rose on it to mark their mother Sunday’s spot.
Keira, Will and their daughter Caitlyn were sitting in the front row with Pop. Keira had just found out last week the baby she was carrying was a boy. Teagan and Sky had flown in from LA late last night and were sharing the second row with Tris and Lane, who were each holding one of their twin sons on their laps. Lily, Justin and Killian were in the third row with Ewan and Natalie, while Chad, Sean’s best friend, was sitting next to Sean’s girlfriend Lauren in the back row. Both of them were grinning at him and giving him the thumbs-up.
“Who are all those people?” Keira asked as the wedding procession started. “Is that Jo and Trev?”
Sean picked up Riley’s letter. “Here. Let me read what she wrote. She says this is her second wedding to Aaron. She wanted us to see the DVD of the ceremony she actually remembers.”
Pop crossed himself and muttered, “Lord preserve me,” as the rest of the family laughed.
“That sounds like our Riley,” Tris shouted.
Sean continued reading. “Apparently this was a triple wedding, and just before Aaron and Riley renewed their vows they stood up for Trev and Jo, who renewed theirs also.”
“Is that Wayne Newton?” Pop asked excitedly. “She got Wayne Newton to attend her wedding?”
Sean shook her head. “No, Riley knew you’d think that, Pop, so she’s written here in all caps THAT’S NOT WAYNE. It’s a taxi driver by the name of Johnny Sparks. The third wedding was this Johnny guy marrying some stripper named Bella.”
Sean turned and looked at the video. He’d watched it last night so he’d be able to explain who was who to the rest of them. He pointed to the screen. “The blonde woman is the stripper.”
“Well, does the taxi driver at least sing?” Pop asked. “I wouldn’t mind hearing Danke Schoen .”
“Nope. Riley says he’s tone deaf.”
Teagan and Sky burst into laughter at that announcement. “I’ll sing Danke Schoen for you later, Pat,” Sky promised.
“Who’s the woman with the purple hair?” Killian asked.
Sean grinned widely. “That’s our new kitchen assistant and part-time waitress, Bubbles, the ex-hooker.”
Pop leaned closer, trying to get a better look at the woman Riley had talked him into letting work at the restaurant until she got her feet under her. “She looks nice enough. Don’t know what the deal is with all that hair.”
“Oh Pop,” Keira said with a giggle. “I still can’t believe you agreed to let her work here.”
Pop shrugged. “I dare any of you to say no to Riley once she’s made her mind up about something. Besides, she needed to pick her own assistant. God willing she won’t fly off the handle and fire her. Ewan’s been pulling his hair out trying to find someone to work with her in that kitchen.”
“Here, here,” Ewan chimed in.
“You know your sister. That girl talked my ear off for nearly half an hour on the phone the other night. In the end, it was just easier to agree.”
Riley walked down the aisle in blue jeans and a white T-shirt that said Viva Las Vegas , fitting considering they’d gone back to the Elvis Chapel to renew their vows. Aaron was dressed in jeans as well, but his T-shirt said What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas . The irony of that wasn’t lost on Sean as he read Riley’s extremely detailed letter regarding their adventures in the neon city.
Bubbles stood beside Riley as maid of honor and Trev was Aaron’s best man. Ewan chuckled when he saw that. “Bet Aaron was thrilled to have Trevor Blankenship as his best man.”
Tris grinned. “Guess Trev was a better choice than that Wayne Newton character. Why’s Trev so red?”
Sean consulted the letter. “The mob left him in the desert to die without sunscreen.”
“Well, that sucks,” Tris joked.
Justin leaned forward, squinting at the TV. “Does Aaron have a black eye?”
Sean nodded, loving his role as announcer. He’d always admired his sister’s skill for storytelling and it was fun to assume that role in her absence. He had the entire family eating out of his hand, anxious for all the gory details. “Yep, that’s a black eye the groom is sporting. He had a run-in with the back of Jo’s head during a food fight at the all-you-can-eat.”
Natalie looked at Ewan. “You know, I’ve been to Vegas at least a dozen times and never had any of that shit happen to me.”
Ewan shrugged and grinned. “Just another day in my sister’s life.”
Aaron and Riley said their vows. From the corner of his eye, Sean saw Pop try to discreetly wipe away a tear. When Aaron kissed the bride, Elvis, the minister, started crooning Teddy Bear and everyone in the bar applauded. Even with the unusual cast of characters, Sean couldn’t help thinking that his sister’s wedding had been perfect.
“Is it safe to come in?” Riley asked from the doorway.
Pop led the parade of hugs as the family congratulated Aaron and Riley and they, in turn, introduced Bubbles. The evening passed quickly as they ate and drank and danced until the wee hours of morning. Sky sang a montage of Wayne Newton songs in honor of the newlyweds and Riley kept everyone entertained with stories of her Vegas adventure. Trevor and Johanna showed up shortly after they cut the cake and joined the dancing.
The highlight of the party was when Sean carried out the groom’s cake Riley had specifically told him to order. Everyone laughed at the cake, which was shaped like two enormous boobs. They all cheered when Aaron bent down to suck the cherry nipple off the top of one.
As the evening began to wear down, Sean sat with his back against the bar, watching as the couples slow-danced. His best friend Chad sat down next to him on one of the barstools. “Another awesome Collins event. Hard to believe the wild-child sister is married.”
Sean nodded. “I know. But I have to admit, Aaron is the perfect husband for her.”
“He must love the hell out of her to sign on for a lifetime of Riley’s quirkiness.”
He laughed. “They’re gonna be great together,” he said as he watched Aaron holding Riley close on the dance floor. It was clear they only had eyes for each other and Sean wasn’t sure he’d ever seen his sister look happier.
“You know, this may go down in history as Riley’s greatest Saturday Night Special ever.