Chapter Twenty-Two #2
Gabe and Michael took their places up at the front.
Ben swallowed; he needed to get a grip. It seemed that happy or sad, the tears were never far away for him these days.
Right now, he was happy for Gabe, and happy for him and Michael that they got to stand shoulder to shoulder on Gabe’s big day.
Ben had a feeling that Michael and Megan would announce their wedding soon, too.
She hadn’t wanted to get married while she was pregnant, but now baby William was here, and there was nothing like a wedding to make a girl want to get married herself.
He closed his eyes for a moment. Who was he kidding?
There was nothing like a wedding to make a guy want to get married either—at least in his case.
He scanned the crowd while they waited for Renée.
Nate and Lily sat in the row behind them.
From the conversation at dinner the other night, he had a feeling that they would be married soon, too.
Pete and Holly and Smoke and Laura sat with them.
Ben knew that smoke was probably feeling the same way he was.
Smoke had been getting impatient for a while now to name a date.
Behind them sat Kenzie and Chase with April and Eddie.
Looking at them, Ben realized that half the gang was married and the other half was in a hurry to join them.
He smiled; he was including himself in that other half.
Everyone turned to look at the doors when the music started.
Charlotte slid her hand into his as they got to their feet.
Renée looked beautiful. Her dress was simple and understated.
She looked radiant, with her wild red hair framing her face and curling around her shoulders.
Ben nodded to himself. She finally looked like the old Renée—the Renée he’d known as a kid.
She looked confident and relaxed, and most of all she looked as though she had no cares or worries. She was happy and she was free.
Ben was surprised, and at the same time not surprised to see Chance standing by her side.
He had to blink the sting of tears away again.
It seemed fitting—right somehow—that Chance should give her away.
But at the same time, he knew how much Chance must be hurting.
Like Ben and Charlotte, Chance and Chloe were supposed to have been married all those years ago, too.
However, unlike Ben and Charlotte, Chance would never get a second chance. Chloe was gone.
He tried to catch Chance’s eye as they passed on their way down the aisle, but Chance’s gaze was fixed ahead, eyes narrow, lips pressed into a thin line. Ben determined to catch up with him later; this had to be tough for him.
When they reached the front, Gabe shook Chance’s hand and pulled him in for a hug.
Ben’s focus was split between the two men and what they each must be feeling in this moment.
Gabe’s joy, and Chance’s pain. He’d spent too much time where Chance was right now.
It was time for him to experience the joy.
Charlotte rested her head on his shoulder when they sat back down. “The last time we were at a wedding, I wasn’t even sure you’d ever speak to me again.”
Ben nodded and smiled down at her. “Neither was I,” he whispered. “And next time we’re at a wedding we’re going to be the ones standing at the front.”
Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth to reply, but she didn’t get a chance as the pastor began to speak.
Ben wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her to his side as they watched Gabe and Renée take their vows. As he listened to them repeat the traditional vows, Ben knew he wanted to promise Charlie so much more than that. When the time came, he’d write his own.
Everyone was quiet as they listened to Gabe solemnly declare to love and honor Renée.
Everyone except little baby William, who chose that moment to announce his presence—and his displeasure.
The sound of his cries tore through the church, and they tore through Ben’s heart and soul.
Charlotte looked up into his eyes, tears glistening in her own.
Why were they here witnessing their friends live the moments, the life that they should have started living years ago?
When Megan had quieted the baby, and the pastor finally announced that Gabe could kiss his bride, Ben determined that his and Charlotte’s time needed to come soon—as soon as he could make it happen.
~ ~ ~
They stood outside afterward, chatting with the others and waiting to congratulate the bride and groom. Charlotte smiled as she watched Ben chatting with Smoke and Laura. She hoped with all her heart that it wouldn’t be long before it was their turn.
Chance came to stand beside her. “How are you holding up?” she asked him. “That must have been tough for you.”
He nodded. “Yeah, it wasn’t easy. But nothing worth doing ever is.
I’m learning that although it’s easier to hide away and do nothing, it really isn’t better.
It doesn’t stop the pain. Nothing can stop the pain.
But if you step up and face life, do things you know mean something, then you can still have the joy.
It doesn’t take the pain away.” He turned and met her gaze.
“You know as well as I do that nothing will ever take the pain away. But I’m discovering that pain doesn’t have to be all there is in life.
Happiness is out there waiting if we choose to let it in. ”
Charlotte wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight.
“I know exactly what you mean although I don’t think I would ever have been able to put it into words.
Thanks, Chance. I know being able to walk Renée down the aisle today must have brought you some happiness, but I hope someday you’ll be able to find a new happiness of your own. ”
He nodded. “I’ve been telling your man there for months, where there’s life there’s hope. I was telling him to help him hang in there. Now I think I may be starting to believe it myself.”
Ben came back to join them and raised an eyebrow at Chance. “Should I be worried? I finally get her back and now she’s hugging on you.”
Chance laughed. “No, you’ve got no worries here, but if I were you I’d hurry up about making her officially yours.”
The way Ben smiled made her wonder what he was up to. “Oh, I’m working on it.”
She and Chance looked at him, but he just smiled again. “Here they are! Time for us to congratulate the bride and groom,” he said as Gabe and Renée approached.
When they’d finished chatting with the happy couple, Chance tipped his hat at them. “I’ve reached my fill of people time for one day. I’m going up to see my dad.”
“How long are you going to be here?” asked Ben.
Chance shrugged. “I wasn’t planning on staying too much longer. I’ve done everything I came to do.” He raised an eyebrow and gave Ben a smirk. “But I could be persuaded to stay a little longer if there was something important I need to be here for.”
Charlotte looked from Chance to Ben and back again. Did they mean what she thought they did? How could they?
Ben smiled. “I guess I’ll see you around.”
As they watched him walk away, Ben put an arm around her shoulders. “We should make our way over to the Boathouse. I think pretty much everyone is heading over there for the reception.”