Chapter 22
CROW
“You know, we had a big party years ago where all of the family was together, and I surprised your Papa Smokey with a wedding,” Gamma said as she brushed her hands over the shoulders of my shirt.
“I’ve seen pictures of that night.”
“I think I fell in love with him the first time we met,” Gamma admitted. She smiled before she said, “Well, maybe not all the way. He had to work for it a little because I had convinced myself that I wasn’t interested in having a man in my life.”
“Darcy did that, but for a different reason. She said she wasn’t going to date for a year, and I was trying like hell to get her to change her mind when she finally did.”
“You’re persistent just like my Smokey.” Gamma reached up and cupped my cheek as tears filled her eyes. “It might have taken your Papa some time to win my heart, but I fell in love with you the first time we met.”
“I don’t remember a life without you in it.”
“I’m excited to have Rev stay over tonight. Once the smaller kids start to get tired, we’ll carry them over to our house and put them to bed.”
“I’m sure this will be the first of many times she camps out at your place. I can’t imagine how many times we slept over.”
“Not enough,” Gamma said as she put her arms around me for a hug. “You were a wild little boy but you’ve grown up into a wonderful man, Crow.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“We’re all so proud of the man you’ve become, and I know you’ll make Darcy very happy.”
“She makes me happy too.”
“She does put a twinkle in your eye. And now that you’re married you can give us more little babies to fall in love with.”
“We’ve already discussed it so you don’t have to slip anything into the water,” I teased.
“I’m not sure how that rumor started, but I’d never do such a thing.”
My mom was laughing as she walked up, having overheard Gamma’s declaration. “Yes you would and we all know it.”
“All of my boys are so irresistible that I didn’t have to do anything and you girls still didn’t have a chance,” Gamma teased.
“Are you ready?” Mom asked.
I smiled as I said, “I’m more than ready.”
“I know you are, sweetheart, but I was talking to Gamma. Darcy lost her mom when she was young, so we’re going to check on her in her stead.”
“That’s sweet,” I said before I gave Mom a kiss on the cheek. “I’m lucky to have you, and I know Darcy will feel the same way when she gets to know you better.”
“Absolutely not!” Mom teased. “I’m a scary mother-in-law, don’t you know? I learned it from your Gamma.”
“She’s right. I’m terrifying!”
“I’m sure either of you could be in some instances, so I’ve tried to stay on your good side. That’s why I’ve been such a perfect angel all of my life.”
“What kind of son did I raise that could lie to our faces like that?” Mom asked.
Gamma hooked her arm in Mom’s and said, “The best kind!”
Once Mom and Gamma left, I looked toward the house and saw Gigi waiting for them at the back door.
When she waved at me, I waved back and then looked around the yard at the friends and family who were mingling while they waited for the ceremony to start.
Get-togethers at my parents’ house were a huge part of my childhood, and memories of all the parties where I’d run wild with all the other kids ran through my mind as I looked around.
“Wanna sneak some of the beers out of the cooler and go drink them behind the garage?” Phoenix asked as he walked up and stood beside me.
“Do you remember the time we took that quart of moonshine?” Hawk asked as he and Brighten walked up.
“Barely.”
“I feel sick just thinking about it,” Brighten admitted with a grimace. She tiptoed up and gave Hawk a kiss on the cheek before she said, “I’m going to go change and check on Darcy. You guys be good and don’t get dirty before the ceremony starts.”
“Shouldn’t you be telling the boys that?” I asked.
“As if there’s a chance that either of them will listen to me,” Brighten scoffed as she walked away. She turned to face us as she walked backwards and said, “I can’t wait to see your face when you see Darcy walking toward you, Crow. You’re gonna love what she has planned.”
“She wouldn’t let me see the dress,” I complained.
“Because she didn’t want to ruin the surprise. I’ll give you a hint though - she’s about to prove that she gets us in a very big way.”
“How?”
Brighten laughed as she turned around and skipped toward the house. “You’ll see!”
“One of you guys sneak in there and figure out what she’s got planned,” I ordered my brothers.
“You’re kidding, right?,” Hawk asked incredulously.
“Do I look dumb?” Phoenix asked. When Hawk and I nodded, he rolled his eyes and said, “Well, now I’m really not gonna do it.”
“You’re not nervous at all,” Hawk pointed out as he studied my face.
“I’ve got nothing to be nervous about. I knew she was it for me the second I saw her, even though she doesn’t even remember that night.”
“Don’t be sad, man. You’re not a very memorable guy and that’s okay,” Phoenix insisted. “I’m not sure how you conned her into marrying you, but I have to say that you’re a lucky man, Crow.”
“I know I am.”
“I’m glad you’re happy,” Hawk said with an odd smile. “You put your own life on hold for too long, little brother. It’s about time you started to really live it.”
“Other than keeping you home, I wouldn’t change any of it even if I could.”
◆◆◆
DARCY
“When do we get our money?” Koda asked before he tugged at his collar.
Griffin did the same thing and then frowned before he said, “We should have asked for more.”
“Too late! We shook on the deal,” I reminded them.
“And a Forrester never goes back on his word,” Koda said proudly.
“Why does your dress look like that?” Griffin asked.
“Griffin Kestrel Forrester!” Summer said loudly from the hallway.
“You look like a beautiful princess,” Griffin rushed to say. When Summer walked into the room he asked, “Was that better?”
“Watch this,” Koda announced as he stepped in front of me and extended his hand. When I put mine out he leaned forward and kissed my knuckles before he said, “You’re beauty is only rivaled by the stars in the sky, but even they can’t compete with the light you bring into our lives.”
“That was beautiful, Koda. Thank you!” I looked up at Summer and Martha in shock before I asked, “Where did that come from?”
Koda dropped my hand and sighed before he explained, “Jovi watches that stupid channel with all the love stories on it.”
“What channel?” Summer asked.
“What kind of movies are you watching?” Shannon asked at the same time.
“I had to sit in timeout yesterday while she was watching one of them. There was this guy who owned a pumpkin farm and this girl who moved to town and opened a bookstore. She spilled her hot chocolate on him and they fell in love, but her old boyfriend came to town and tried to steal her away. She finally told him to piss off and started kissing the pumpkin man again. It was so gross.”
At the same time, Summer, Shannon, and I said, “The Hallmark Channel!”
“He just described every movie on their fall lineup, but add some Christmas lights and an ice rink and you’ll have described all of the ones they show in December,” Shannon said with a shudder. “I’d much rather watch the cooking channel.”
“Our television seems to be stuck on the channel where they talk about engines and restoring cars. At this point I could rebuild an engine with my eyes closed, and I know more about paint colors than Sherwin Williams,” Summer complained.
“Can we go watch tv in your room?” Griffin asked.
“Don’t take off your clothes or rumple, tear, stain . . .” Summer sighed before she said, “Sit on the bed, and just be still, okay?”
“We’re children,” Griffin reminded her. He narrowed his eyes before he asked me, “Have you been practicing, Darcy?”
I pasted a fierce look on my face and growled, “Be good or I’ll lock you in your room for a week!”
“Great job!” Griffin praised. As they walked out together Griffin told Koda, “She’s a work in progress, but I think we’re getting somewhere.”
Summer didn’t have to say anything. Her face announced her shock to the world, so I explained, “A person’s character becomes more well-rounded when they go through adversity as children. He’s asked me to embrace the wicked stepmother role.”
“Of course he has,” Summer muttered. She looked crestfallen when she asked Shannon and Martha, “Do you think I’ll get at least one normal grandchild?”
“I never did,” Shannon replied with a shrug.
“That is normal,” Martha argued. When Summer shook her head, Martha admitted, “I haven’t seen one yet.”
Shannon patted Summer’s shoulder before she said, “Maybe someday, sweetie.”
“You look stunning, Darcy,” Summer said as she lifted a stray curl and swept it over my shoulder. “Crow’s not going to know what hit him.”
“You don’t think it’s a little over the top?”
“Refer back to the conversation where we said that none of the children in this family are normal,” Shannon ordered. “We don’t know where the top is, exactly, so there’s really no way to get over it.”
Martha chuckled. “Well said.”
“I know you have your sisters and Steph here, but we thought you might need a little mothering on your big day,” Summer explained. “Mom and Martha started a tradition when I married Bird, and we’d like to continue it with you.”
“Please don’t make me cry,” I whispered as I bit my lip and tried to hold back my tears.
“No crying!” Martha ordered as she pulled a slip of plastic covered paper out of her pocket and passed it to me.
She explained what the movie ticket inside meant to her and smiled when I slipped it into my bra.
She winked at me before she said, “That’s your something old, but I’ll need that back before Crow carries you off tonight. ”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“This is the pin I loaned Summer on her wedding day. It covers your something borrowed and something blue,” Shannon explained as she put her hand out and showed me a hair pin with a small blue bird on the end.
Since I had my hair gathered on the top of my head in a cluster of curls, she stuck it in with the other pins and smiled before she leaned in to kiss my cheek.
“We’re so happy that you’re joining our family, Darcy. ”
“Thank you.”
“I have your something new,” Summer announced as she reached for my hand. She slipped a solitaire diamond on it as she explained, “Crow thought it was badass that you proposed to him, but he wanted to make sure that you got an engagement ring, too, so he asked me to help him shop for this.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Not nearly as beautiful as you, sweetie,” Summer said before she gave me a quick hug, careful not to mess up my hair or makeup.
“I’ve never seen him as happy as he is when you’re by his side, and that makes my mom heart happy.
Griffin and Rev might make you crazy, but you’ll make their life even better just by being in it. ”
There was no stopping my tears now, and I tried to blink them away to salvage my makeup as Martha handed me a tissue from the box on the dresser.
“We’re going to go downstairs and wait now, but we wanted you to know that even though you don’t have your mom with you anymore, you’ve got three here now that love you and are happy to step into her role when you need us,” Martha said before she cupped my cheek and stared deeply into my eyes. “Welcome to the family, Darcy.”
“That sounded very mafia-ish,” Summer muttered.
Shannon sputtered out a laugh and asked, “I can’t imagine why.”
“Did you make her cry?” Brighten asked from the doorway. She rushed across the room and asked, “Those are good tears right? You’re not thinking of running, are you?”
“No. I would never.”
“Thank God!” Brighten said before she hugged me. She smiled at Summer and said, “I can’t lose her, ladies. Since she came along I haven’t felt quite as outnumbered, and it’s been wonderful!”
“We should go downstairs,” Shannon said as she walked toward the door. “Just a few more minutes.”
“I’m so excited,” I admitted as the women left the room.
“I just checked on your sisters and they’re ready to roll. They saw that the ladies were in here talking to you and didn’t want to interrupt, so they went downstairs to wait. What do you need?”
“Marcus.”
“He’s waiting downstairs too. I sent the boys down to sit with him and he promised he’d keep them clothed and . . . well, that’s a lot to expect so I didn’t ask for anything else.”
“I’m ready!”
“You look stunning, Darcy. I just talked to Crow and he’s not nervous at all. It doesn’t seem like you are either.”
“I’m not. I have never been more sure of anything in my life.”
“Then let’s do this!”
Marcus stood up from the couch as I walked down the stairs with Brighten, and he met us at the bottom of the stairs. Brighten walked toward the kitchen where my sisters were standing, and I smiled when Rev squealed as she picked her up on her way.
“You look stunning, Darcy.”
“Thank you for walking me down the aisle, Marcus.”
“Sweetheart, I love the fact that you even considered me for such an honor.”
“Since we met you, you’ve shown me and my sisters more affection and caring than my father ever did, so it was only natural that I’d think of you.”
“In a perfect world it would be your father giving you away, but I’ve spoken to him numerous times in the last few months and I completely understand why you didn’t even bother to ask.”
I laughed before I admitted, “Although it might be funny to see him here surrounded by all these people.”
“Collette wouldn’t live for ten minutes with this crowd,” Clancy announced as she walked toward us. She frowned before she said, “Maybe we should have invited them after all.”
“Not a chance. I have a strict no assholes policy at all of my weddings and I’m not going to change that for anyone.”
“All of them?”
“This is the only one I ever plan on having, so the policy stands.”
“Someday when I get married will you walk me down the aisle?” Tansy asked.
“Me too,” Clancy chimed in.
“It would be my honor.”