Chapter 1 Arro #2
I sat on one arm of the U-shaped top table.
To Robyn’s right was Mac; Thane sat on Lachlan’s left.
Regan sat next to Thane, followed by Eilidh, Lewis, and me on the adjoining arm of the table.
We’d deliberately put the kids between me, Regan, and Thane because we were three of the four adults they went to most for everything, and weddings could be overwhelming.
We wanted them to feel safe and happy after all that had happened to them.
Beside Mac was his ex, Robyn’s mum, Stacey.
When she smiled, she was attractive, but unfortunately, she’d spent most of the day wearing a scowl.
On the opposite arm of the table next to Stacey was Robyn’s stepfather and Regan’s father, Seth Penhaligon.
I liked Seth. He was friendly, down-to-earth, and laid-back.
Robyn had gone through the painful dilemma of deciding which father would walk her down the aisle. After a long conversation with Seth, he told her to ask Mac. She told me Seth said that if she wanted Mac to be her dad for the rest of her life, then she had to treat him like it.
I thought that said a lot about the man Seth Penhaligon was. After all, he’d raised Robyn for most of her life. Unfortunately, since their arrival in Scotland, Stacey couldn’t have made it any clearer that it pissed her off Seth wasn’t walking Robyn down the aisle.
Everyone, including her husband, had ignored her huffy behavior.
Next to Seth sat Eredine, and next to Eredine was Jaz, and at the round table closest to us, Brodan, Arran, Jaz’s husband Autry, and their two daughters, Asia and Jada.
I spent most of the dinner either helping Regan with the kids or turning in my seat to laugh at some joke Brodan threw my way. Not once did I look at Mac.
The volume decreased on the sound system, followed by the tinkle of silverware against glass.
My heart leapt as Mac slowly stood to engage the guests.
His gaze flickered to me before he looked down at Robyn.
She stared up at him with unmasked adoration, and despite everything, despite how much he’d hurt me, happiness leaked through my bitterness.
His whole adult life, he’d yearned for that look on her face.
And part of me hated I was happy for him.
I could hear Regan hushing Eilidh’s chatter, but I found I couldn’t look away from Mac.
He held a mic. “For those of you who don’t know, I’m Robyn’s father, Mac.”
A surprised murmur surged through the guests, and Mac huffed with amusement. “I take it some of you didn’t know.”
Everyone laughed, and I had to remind myself to force a smile.
“Aye, it comes as a surprise to people.” He looked down at Robyn, who grinned knowingly. “I think if Robyn hears one more person react with ‘Oh, you can’t be old enough to have a daughter this age,’ she might put a hit out on me so she doesn’t have to deal with it anymore.”
The guests laughed again while Robyn smirked. “It’s not flattering.” I heard her say as Lachlan wrapped an arm around her shoulders to pull her against him. Grinning, he murmured something in her ear that made her laugh before he pressed a kiss to her temple.
There was that pang, that ache in my chest again.
“I was very young when Robyn was born.” Mac’s tone was sober now as he looked down at her. “Too young. Just a child myself. And I made more mistakes than I can bear to think of.”
“Dad,” she mouthed, before reaching out to squeeze his arm.
Mac gave her a small smile. “But in my absence, Robyn’s mother, Stacey”—he placed a hand on her shoulder, and she looked startled; he then gestured to Seth—“and her stepfather, Seth, raised an extraordinary woman who is a testament to their love and care.”
Mac’s words brought tears to Stacey’s eyes, and I watched her visibly soften, while Seth nodded in gratitude.
Trust Mac. Always fair. Always kind.
Well … perhaps not always.
He looked back at Robyn, his voice gruff with emotion.
“You are extraordinary, Robyn. And I say that not as a biased father. It’s the truth.
You are exceptional in so many ways, inspiring, courageous, kind, loyal, honorable.
All the things I ever hoped to be, I now see in you.
And that’s the greatest gift any parent could ask for.
For their child to become so much more than them, to be better. ”
Robyn’s mouth trembled, and I could see her squeezing Lachlan’s hand.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Regan wipe at tears.
Mine burned in my throat; I refused to let them fall.
“It’s my right as your father to believe no one is worthy of you,” Mac continued, “but if it had to be anyone, I’m glad it’s Lachlan.” His attention moved to my brother. “You have been the truest friend of my life, and I trust you with the person I love most in this world.”
Lachlan and Mac held each other’s gazes, something silent passing between them. Their emotion was palpable, and I struggled to hold back those damn tears.
Mac reached for his champagne flute. His eyes suddenly flickered to me and then back to Robyn and my brother. “If all of us could find a love as strong as yours, the world would be a better place. To Robyn and Lachlan!”
“To Robyn and Lachlan!” The entire wedding party raised their glasses.
I looked to the guests as many dabbed napkins to their eyes at Mac’s emotion-filled speech. He had that way about him. Made you love him. Drew you in.
My bitterness rose and I tried to shake it off, but as I turned back to my table, my eyes locked with Mac’s. He flinched at whatever he saw on my face, and I looked away, only to meet Regan’s gaze.
Hers narrowed as she glanced between me and Mac.
Shit.
I gave her a tight smile and leaned in to ask Lewis if he’d had enough to eat, just as Thane took the mic and stood. The murmur of voices hushed again.
“I’m Thane Adair, one of Lachlan’s brothers, and his best man. And I really wished I didn’t have to follow Mac’s speech,” he grumbled, always self-deprecating.
I laughed along with the guests, relaxing now that Mac’s speech was over.
“Well, what can I say about my big brother?” He clamped a hand on Lachlan’s shoulder as he looked at Robyn. “I guess it’s too late to tell you to run, Robyn. Run, run as fast as you can.”
More chuckles as Lachlan mock glowered at our brother.
“I’m kidding. Lachlan will be a wonderful husband.” Thane nodded. “Now. But it’s a good thing Robyn didn’t come along in his twenties because … well, she would’ve been underage, so …” He threw the guests an exaggerated grimace, and they laughed.
“You really want to go there?” Lachlan asked, pointing at Regan.
Most of the guests couldn’t hear but could guess what he said and laughed louder.
Thane chuckled, raising his hands to nod. “Fair enough.”
It was amazing to hear him joke about their age difference. It wasn’t that long ago when he’d had a big problem with it.
“What I mean to say,” Thane continued, “is that Lachlan was a different man in his twenties. Someone I’m not sure Robyn would’ve found all that tolerable. Though if I remember correctly, she didn’t really find you tolerable for the first few months of your acquaintance.”
The crowd oohed as Robyn nodded, and Lachlan rolled his eyes.
“It raises one’s suspicions,” Thane mused, eyeing Robyn with a smirk before he whispered into the mic, “If you’re here under duress, Robyn, just wink.” Thane gave an exaggerated wink. “We’ll rescue you.”
More laughter as Lachlan somehow concurrently grinned and glared at our brother.
The whole spectacle filled me with joy.
This was the Thane of my childhood. He and Lachlan had always been the serious brothers, but they also had a dry, often mischievous humor. Somewhere along the line, Thane had lost it. Until now. Until Regan.
“No?” Thane asked Robyn again, drawing out the moment.
Robyn laughed, shaking her head.
“Okay.” Thane pretended to be unconvinced and shot the guests a wide-eyed look that made them titter harder.
My brother, the secret comedian. Then he grinned and turned back to the happy couple.
“All joking aside, I couldn’t be happier for you both.
While Mac worried who on earth could ever be worthy of Robyn, I worried that no woman could match my big brother for spirit, for his sense of loyalty, family, and gregarious thirst for life.
And then Robyn Galbraith Penhaligon walked into our lives, and I knew, despite their not so congenial start, that they were each other’s match.
“You have been the best brother anyone could ask for.” Thane gripped Lachlan’s shoulder, and they shared an emotional smile.
“And I am so goddamn delighted you found Robyn …” His grin was wicked now.
“For you and for me, because Robyn brought …” He looked down at Regan.
“Well, Robyn brought bounty into all our lives, and for that, I am eternally grateful.”
Thane seemed to have to force himself to break his stare with Regan, clearing his throat, lifting his champagne. “You’ve faced the worst life can throw at you and come out stronger together, an inspiration to us all, and a lesson in what love should be. To Robyn and Lachlan!”
By the time Lachlan stood to make his speech, I wasn’t sure my heart could take it.
“The actor is going to surprise you all by making this short and sweet,” Lachlan said into the mic. “First, thank you to Mac and Thane for your kind words. Though, brother, we could have done without the insinuation I’m forcing my wife to be here.”
Everyone laughed.
“My wife,” Lachlan murmured, staring down at Robyn adoringly. “Fuck, that feels fantastic to say.”
He received some awws for that.
“First, thank you all for being with us today. It means a great deal.” He gestured with his glass to all the room.
“Second, Robyn and I decided we wanted to speak traditional vows at the ceremony, but on reflection, I have to say just this one thing. I’ve been a blessed man,” Lachlan continued, holding Robyn’s gaze.
“I’ve traveled the world, I’ve experienced extraordinary moments, done things only a small percentage of people ever get to do.
I have good friends, a family I love more than life. ”
My heart squeezed.
“And I’ve known loss. Significant loss. While that might not count as a blessing, it provided the lessons only loss can teach you …
that what matters in life are the people you surround yourself with.
The people you love are what make it all worthwhile.
When you walked into my life, Robyn, you knocked me off my feet.
You are everything. You’re the most courageous person I have ever met, and you astound me every damn day. ”
Tears welled in my eyes as I watched Robyn fight back her own.
“Your magnificence awes me,” Lachlan admitted hoarsely, “and I promise you this, Braveheart—not a day of our lives will pass when I forget it. Know that even during the weeks that are difficult, the days that challenge us, know that I will love you through every minute, every hour until my very last second in this universe.”
My tears flowed freely now.
“To Robyn, my wife. My best friend.” He raised his glass.
“To Robyn!”
When Lachlan took his seat beside her, Robyn kissed him so long and so deep, only the catcalls from the crowd (i.e., Brodan and Arran) broke them apart.
Their happiness washed over me, suffocating any hint of bitterness, and I felt more like myself again.