Chapter Twenty-Four
With Heavenly on his arm and Beck at his side, Seth entered the hotel’s sophisticated ballroom, smile firmly in place.
Hudson followed, gaze swiveling as he took in the floral centerpieces and linen-draped tables under warm amber lights.
The low hum of music and conversation already filled the room, and along the back wall sat an elegant tiered cake topped with delicate sugar flowers and swirled icing.
Guests grabbed drinks from the bar, seemingly all smiles as the small band set up behind a glossy wooden dance floor.
“This is beautiful,” Heavenly murmured.
Seth nodded. “If there’s one thing my mom is good at, it’s throwing a party.”
“She looks really happy,” Beck commented.
“She is.” Despite everything else going on in Seth’s life, that fact gave him solace.
Unfortunately, in less than forty-eight hours, he was going to ruin that.
But tonight was all hers.
As they circulated around the room, they exchanged pleasantries with Grace’s church friends and neighbors, who congratulated him and Heavenly on their engagement and remarked about his handsome son.
Hudson all but blushed at the attention.
Heavenly smiled graciously, handling it all with her signature warmth.
Beck stayed quietly supportive at Seth’s side.
Across the room, he spotted an old friend standing near the bar, nursing a whiskey and chatting with one of Carl’s crew.
With a grin, he tugged his crew in the man’s direction. “Come on. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
When they reached the corner, the man looked up and broke into a wide grin. “Seth!”
“Hey, Gene.” Seth extended his hand.
Instead of accepting, the man pulled him in for a strong hug, clapping him on the back. “Good to see you, kid. You clean up nice.”
“So do you. Damn, man. It’s been a while. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” Gene assured. “Your mom is one in a million. I’ve done my best to watch over her through the years, like your dad would have wanted me to. I’m really happy she found love again.”
“Me, too.” Seth turned. “This is Gene Hammond, my dad’s best friend and former partner on the force. He’s been there for the Coopers through thick and thin for twenty years.”
The man had even saved Seth’s life when he was sixteen and hell-bent on ending it all by slamming his car into a concrete barrier at a hundred miles an hour. But Seth kept that to himself.
“And this,” he went on, “is my fiancée, Heavenly.”
Gene’s eyes lit up as he smiled and gently took her hand. “I’m glad to finally meet you. Seth, you’re a lucky man.”
“Thank you,” she said warmly. “It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“All good, I hope.” Gene winked before eyeing Hudson up and down with a wide grin. “And this must be your son, Seth. If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was looking at you at sixteen. There’s no denying who your father is.”
Hudson laughed. “I get that a lot.”
“And this is my good friend, Dr. Beckman.”
Gene shook Beck’s hand, his grip firm. “Doctor, huh? Good man to have around.”
“I try.”
“You doing okay out in LA?” Gene asked Seth with the familiar assessing-cop expression he always wore.
“Great,” Seth replied. “PI work is keeping me super busy.”
“Good to hear.” Gene nodded. “No plans to move back, I take it? It would make your mom happy but…”
“I know.” Seth shook his head. “But no.”
Seth considered asking him about the corruption at the precinct. But his mom’s wedding wasn’t the time or the place for that, and he’d sworn he was done digging into the past.
Gene’s expression softened. He reached out and squeezed Seth’s shoulder. “Your old man would be proud of you, kid. You know that, right?”
Seth swallowed hard. “Thanks, Gene.”
They exchanged a few more pleasantries before Gene excused himself to grab another drink. Seth watched him go, feeling the familiar ache of his father’s absence settle deep in his chest.
“I’ve smiled so much, I think my face is going to fall off. Can I grab a soda?” Hudson asked, eyeing the bar.
“Sure.” Seth ruffled his hair. “Go enjoy yourself.”
Moments later, the band struck up a flourish, and the room quieted as the emcee’s voice boomed over the speakers. “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mr. and Mrs. Carl Mahoney!”
The double doors opened, and Carl swept Mom in on his arm. The crowd erupted in applause and cheers. Happiness and love buzzed through the room as her new husband guided her to the middle of the room, his hand firmly clasped in hers.
Seth clapped along with everyone else, watching his mother bask in the moment. After sixteen years alone, she deserved every second of this.
“I’m going to run to the ladies’ room,” Heavenly whispered near Seth’s ear. “Be right back.”
Seth nodded, brushing a quick kiss against her cheek.
As she slipped away, he turned to Beck. “While she’s gone, I’m going to grab the twins—before they get too shit-faced to have a coherent conversation.”
Beck’s brow lifted slightly, then he nodded. “Your son has glued himself to their side. Want me to keep him occupied?”
“Please. Jack and Connor are not the role models he needs.” Seth sighed.
“No shit.” Beck moved smoothly toward Hudson, who hovered near the twins at the bar, and steered him toward the cake table with some comment about checking out the dessert options.
Seth shot him a grateful look before trekking toward Jack and Connor. Both were swigging beers and scanning the room, no doubt looking for any eligible ladies under forty.
“Having fun?” Seth asked, brow raised.
“The free beer is helping mask the scent of Icy Hot and Depends. What’s not to love?” Jack quipped with a sardonic smirk.
Seth glanced across the room to where Cat stood near her brother Blake, laughing at something he’d said. She looked happy, relaxed. “Thanks for not eye-fucking Cat today. I know she’s one of the few girls here who might interest you.”
“You mean one of the few females here who isn’t old enough to be our mom,” Jack drawled.
“So you’re proud of our restraint?” Connor asked.
“No. I’m expressing my shock that miracles actually exist.” Seth snorted.
“We’re just in a giving mood. You’re welcome.” Jack grinned.
Connor chuckled and downed another swallow of his beer.
“Aren’t you adorable?” Seth stepped closer. This was his moment. Now or never. He lowered his voice. “Look, I’m giving you a heads-up. On Monday, I’m sitting Mom down and telling her the truth. I’m telling her that Heavenly, Beck, and I are getting married.”
Both twins stilled, their expressions shifting from amused to alert.
Jack recovered first, his smirk returning. “Wow. You’re really doing it? That’s brave. Stupid, but brave.”
That’s likely how the twins saw it…and they might be right.
“Yeah. But necessary.”
“If you say so…” Connor didn’t look convinced.
“Don’t worry,” Jack said, his tone dripping with mock sympathy. “You’ll always be our brother, even after Mom disowns you. We’ll come visit you in LA.”
Seth shot him a reproving glare, but Jack had inadvertently voiced his true fear, that after he confessed, his mom would never speak to him again.
On the other hand, he couldn’t build his future on half-truths and lies.
“Shut the fuck up,” he muttered.
Connor shifted, his tone turning serious. “You sure about this?”
“Yeah. And just so we’re clear—this is not a green light for you two to jump on some girl right under Mom’s nose. Got it? This is me saying that if you’re ever serious about sharing a wife someday, I’m paving the way. You’re welcome.”
Jack raised his beer in a mock toast. “Our hero. Probably not going to happen, but…”
“We appreciate the sentiment,” Connor finished.
Seth studied them for a long moment. “You can’t randomly fuck your way through life, boys.”
“Says you.” Jack’s smirk softened slightly. “Good luck, bro. Seriously.”
“You’re gonna need it,” Connor added, his tone more sympathetic than mocking.
Seth knew they understood precisely what was at stake, even if they weren’t taking the situation seriously.
“Thanks,” Seth said quietly.
“We’ll be rooting for you—from a safe distance of course.” Jack winked.
Seth shook his head, biting back a grin despite the weight pressing on his chest. “Asshole.”
“Always,” Jack said cheerfully.
Blowing out a breath, Seth made his way back to Beck and Heavenly, who stood near the dance floor. As he approached, Heavenly caught his eye, her expression silently questioning.
“How’d it go?” Beck asked quietly.
Seth rolled his eyes. “About as expected. Jack’s still a smart-ass who doesn’t appreciate the fact that I’m taking a risk that will help them when they finally grow the fuck up. But they’re in my corner—as long as it’s from a safe distance.”
Beck snorted. “Sounds about right. Hopefully they’ll lie low for a while.”
Seth lifted his glass in a mock toast. “We can only hope.”
“You pulling Matt aside next?” Heavenly asked.
“Yeah. Before dinner.” Seth glanced across the room to where Matt stood with Danny, Maggie, and little Anna.
Beck nodded. “You got this. We’ll hold down the fort.”
Seth took a breath, steeling himself, then caught Matt’s eye across the room and tilted his head toward the terrace. Matt’s brow furrowed slightly, but he nodded and excused himself.
Seth’s throat tightened. Out of all his brothers, he was closest to Matt. They’d been through hell together after their father died—Seth stepping up to help raise the younger boys, Matt right there beside him, shouldering the weight.
Together, they stepped outside, into the cool evening air. The terrace overlooked a small courtyard, decorated with strings of white lights that cast a soft glow. Through the windows behind them, Seth could see the reception in full swing—guests mingling, laughter rising and falling.
Matt leaned over the railing, elbows braced on the ornate metal. “What’s up?”