Chapter 31
“Ican’t believe we’re doing this,” Chloe said to Nikki as they stood together in an upstairs bedroom at the McCarthys’ home.
Nikki had helped her change into the sexy white dress Chloe had bought months ago with her wedding in mind.
They’d wrangled her purple-highlighted hair into a glamorous updo that Chloe orchestrated with help from Nik, who would be her maid of honor.
“It’s very romantic.”
“Finn is afraid I’ll back out if he doesn’t make it official soon.”
“Would you?” Nikki asked, shocked.
“Part of me still thinks it’s wrong to saddle him with my problems.”
“You’re not saddling him with anything. He loves you with all his heart. You’d ruin him if you ever left him.”
“I know,” Chloe said with a sigh, “and I love him with all of mine. Still… It’s a lot to ask of anyone.”
“Hey, Nicholas,” Finn said from the doorway. “Can you give me a minute with my bride?”
“Of course. I’ll see you downstairs.”
“We’ll be right there,” Finn said, his gaze fixed on Chloe. “You look stunning, as always.”
“Thank you, so do you.”
He’d changed into a suit coat, dress shirt and the one pair of khaki pants he owned. She teased him about being a grown man with one pair of dress-up pants. “How many do I need?” he always asked in response to her ribbing.
“I couldn’t help overhearing you and Nikki.”
“I’m sorry. You weren’t meant to hear that.”
“It wasn’t anything I don’t already know, but it still breaks my heart to hear that you think I’d be better off without you, when you should know better by now.”
“I do know better, but—”
“No buts, Chlo. You’re everything I want and need. Will it always be easy? Hell no. Will there be hard times? I’m sure of it, but everyone has hard times. I’d rather go through the hard times with you than anyone else. You want to know why?” he asked, running a fingertip over her cheek.
“Why?”
“Because you’re the only woman who’s ever made me want forever with her.
You’re the only one I’ll ever truly love.
You’re the only one I want to wake up to every day and go to sleep with every night.
You’re the only one I want to hold and kiss and make sweet love with.
You’re the only one for me, Chloe. Do I wish you didn’t have to deal with so much pain and uncertainty?
You bet I do, but I’m right here for all of it.
The good, the bad, the painful. I’m here for it.
I take you to be my wife because you’re the only one I can picture spending the rest of my life with.
Will you take me to be your husband?” He wiped away her tears with the gentle stroke of his thumb.
“Yes, Finn, I’ll take you to be my husband.”
His smile was a thing of absolute beauty.
She’d asked his dad to walk her downstairs. “Send Kev up.”
Finn leaned in to kiss her. “See you down there.”
“I’ll be there.” It had been, she realized now, inevitable from the start that they would take this next step together.
He’d never wavered in his devotion to her or his willingness to roll with the uncertainties that came with rheumatoid arthritis.
He’d shown her what true love was every day they’d been together, and even after she’d offered him multiple opportunities to choose an easier life for himself, he still chose her.
Kevin McCarthy appeared in the doorway, flashing the same irresistible grin both his sons had inherited from him. “You’re a knockout.”
“Aw, thanks.”
“May I come in?”
“Please do. Thanks for the use of your arm.”
“My arm is your arm.”
“Before we go down there,” Chloe said, battling an overload of emotion, “I just want to say thank you.”
“For what, honey?”
“For your unconditional acceptance of me and my situation, and… for giving me the family I’ve always dreamed of but never had until I had you and your amazing sons and Nikki and Chelsea and Summer.”
“We love you,” Kevin said with poignant simplicity that touched her deeply. “And we love you with Finn, who’s shown me sides of himself I never knew were there until he met you. He was always a good man. You’ve made him a great man.”
“No, Kevin, you and your brothers made him a great man.”
“Let’s call it a draw.” He kissed her cheek. “Welcome to the McCarthy family, Chloe. We’re so, so happy to have you.”
When he offered her his arm, she hooked her hand through the crook of his elbow.
“And thank you for the honor of escorting you.”
Chloe looked up at the man who’d been like a father to her since she started seeing his son. “There was no one else I would’ve asked.”
With Riley by his side, Finn waited with tremendous anticipation for his bride to appear.
The family that had given him so much was gathered around them, his cousin Janey on FaceTime.
He’d decided to tell his mother after the fact, as she’d be annoyed to not be there—and rightfully so—but Finn hadn’t wanted to wait another minute to make things official with Chloe.
He would invite his mother to join them for the reception they’d hold next summer.
As wonderful as things had been with Chloe from the start, he’d begun to feel her pulling away since it became clear that her new medicine hadn’t been the miracle they’d prayed it would be.
The worse her condition became, the more she worried about the effect on him.
He hoped that after today, she might never again be worried about something she couldn’t change.
Her illness was part of who she was, and he loved everything about her, even her swollen knuckles.
She would tell him he was nuts to think that way, but it was the truth.
Did he wish with every fiber of his being that she could be spared the terrible pain?
God yes, but if she had to live with that, at least he could be there to make everything else as easy for her as possible.
She feared that they wouldn’t be able to have children.
He’d rather live without kids than live without her.
It was really that simple.
Finn glanced at Riley, who grinned at him.
“You ready for this?” Riley asked.
“Hell yes.” He’d been born for this moment and this woman. He had no doubt of that.
When his father and Chloe appeared on the stairs, he saw only her smile. Her happiness and comfort were his only concerns, and from today on, they would be husband and wife, together forever, come what may. He was there for it all, as long as he got to spend his life with her.
Kevin delivered Chloe to him, kissing her cheek and then his as he joined their hands. “Love you both with all my heart,” Kevin said with tears in his eyes.
“Love you, too, Dad.”
“Thank you, Kevin.”
“My pleasure, sweetheart.” He stepped back to stand with Chelsea, who had Summer in her arms. Kevin put his arm around his wife and wiped away tears.
“Hi there,” Finn said to Chloe. “You’re gorgeous.”
“So are you.”
“I got nothing on you, babe.”
“Are we ready to get married?” Frank asked.
“Let’s do it,” Finn said.
Chloe handed the small bouquet she’d put together earlier to Nikki.
Finn gently took hold of her hands, always careful not to cause her any more pain than she already had to deal with.
“Dearly beloved family and friends, we’re gathered here today to celebrate the love of Finn McCarthy and Chloe Dennis, who are ready to pledge their lives and their love to each other. They’ve chosen to recite their own vows, so I’ll turn it over to my nephew. Finn?”
“Sweet, sweet Chloe… The first time I ever saw you, I was dazzled. So dazzled that I managed to smack heads with you within a few minutes of meeting you.” As they both smiled at the memory, Finn said, “The haircut you gave me that day was the most erotically charged thirty minutes of my life up to that point. You’ve topped that many times over since then. ”
“Finn! Stop.”
He laughed at the blush that turned her face bright red.
“I’m just saying. You’re a smoking-hot woman, and I’ve been in your thrall since the second we met.
And then I got to know you. I got to know your heart and your soul, and I was even more dazzled by what’s on the inside.
Your courage and resilience inspire me every day as you deal with challenges the rest of us can only imagine.
I’m so, so happy that you’re going to be my wife, that we have forever to spend together, that I get to wake up to your gorgeous face every day for the rest of my life.
I, Finn McCarthy, take you, Chloe Dennis, to be my wife, to have and to hold, to love and honor every day of my life. ”
Finn wiped away Chloe’s tears with the stroke of his thumb.
“I’ll never forget you or your man bun or the first time you came into the shop and literally took my breath away—and nearly knocked me out.”
Finn laughed. Would they ever forget that day? Nope. Not ever. He leaned in to kiss the spot on her forehead where they’d connected when they bent to pick something up from the floor at the same time. They’d connected in every possible way that day.
“Since then, you’ve shown me time and time again that I can count on you in the best and worst of times. You’ve never wavered in your devotion to me, even when I tried to talk you out of loving me.”
“Can’t be done.”
“I’ve come to realize I’m stuck with you, and I’m a very lucky girl to be loved by you.
I also want to thank you for giving me the family I’ve yearned for—Kevin, Chelsea, Summer, Riley, Nikki, Evelyn…
All of you are so dear to me, as is the entire extended McCarthy family.
You have no idea what you’ve done for me with your unconditional love and acceptance.
I, Chloe Dennis, take you, Finn McCarthy, to be my husband, to have and to hold, to love and honor every day of my life. ”
“Finn and Chloe,” Frank said, “you have stated your intentions before your family and friends. You have decided to forgo the exchange of rings, so it is now my pleasure to declare you husband and wife and to wish you a long and happy life together. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr. and Mrs. Finn and Chloe McCarthy. Finn, you may kiss your bride.”
Finn cradled her face in his hands and gazed at her for a breathless moment before he touched his lips to hers. “My wife,” he whispered.
“My husband.”
“Best day of my life.”
“Mine, too.”
Jack sat between Ashleigh’s and Addie’s car seats in the back of Blaine’s SUV.
“Why are you frowning?” Ashleigh asked him.
“I’m not frowning. That’s my face.”
“No, it isn’t.”
“Yes, it is.”
“No.”
“Yes.” He made a face at her that made the little girl laugh.
“Your face is going to freeze like that, and then you’ll be sorry.”
Jack wouldn’t have thought himself capable of laughing until Ashleigh showed him otherwise.
Then Addie joined in the laughter, and Jack couldn’t deny that he felt lighter than he had in hours. He hated to say that Blaine might’ve been right but being with Tiffany and the girls had gotten his mind off his own troubles.
He’d planned to get out of the vehicle at the McCarthys’ house and bug out to walk home until Ashleigh slipped her hand in his and made it impossible for him to escape without it getting messy.
Reluctantly, he walked into the house with Blaine and his family, intending to stay for a few minutes before making his excuses.
“What’d we miss?” Blaine asked Mac.
“Finn and Chloe got hitched.”
“Oh wow. That’s awesome.”
Jack hovered by the door, so Blaine gave him a not-so-subtle push forward. “Get a drink.”
“I don’t want one.”
“Honestly, Blaine,” Tiffany said. “If he wants to go home, take him home.”
“Not yet,” Blaine said.
“Do you want me to give you a ride home, Jack?” Tiffany asked.
“I can walk.”
“That’s not safe with the roads covered in sand and other debris,” she said.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Hang for a bit before you go,” Blaine said. “You can’t help but have a good time in this crowd.”
“I tried to tell you that I’m not in the mood for a good time tonight.”
“And I tried to tell you that you shouldn’t be alone.”
Jack looked to Tiffany for help even as Ashleigh still held his hand.
“Blaine, you’re being overbearing. Jack is a grown man and doesn’t need you telling him what to do. It’s the chief-of-police thing,” Tiffany said to Jack. “It makes him think he’s the boss of everyone.”
Again, Jack laughed when he hadn’t thought it would be possible.
Blaine scowled at his wife. “That is not true. I don’t want my friend to be alone when he’s obviously upset.”
“Which is very nice of you,” Jack said, “but I’m okay.”
He no sooner spoke the words than Piper appeared in the kitchen, seeming stricken to see him there. Her gaze collided with his, full of hurt.
Damn it.
“Piper.”
She turned away from him.
“I’ll be right back.” He released Ashleigh’s hand and chased after Piper. “Wait. Please. Let me explain.”
“No need to explain anything.” In the kitchen, Piper poured herself a glass of iced tea from a pitcher and started to walk away. “You owe me nothing.”
“Yes, I do. I owe you an explanation.”
“Not here.”
“Where, then?”
She shrugged. “I’m with my friends.”
He watched her walk away and sit with a group of people in the living room. “Shit.”
“What’s wrong now?” Blaine asked.
“I told her I couldn’t hang out tonight, and then I showed up here. So thanks for that.”
“Sorry.”
“Eh, it’s fine. I’m going to leave, though.” Before Blaine could protest, Jack added, “I appreciate you looking out for me. I really do. Thank you for being a friend.”
“Sure. If you need anything…”
“I know where you are.”
“Always.”
“Thanks, Blaine.” Jack hugged Tiffany, kissed Ashleigh’s forehead and gave Addie an affectionate squeeze. “Thanks for having me.”
“Any time,” Tiffany said. “Are you sure we can’t drive you home?”
“I’m all good. I promise.”
“Be safe.”
“I will.”
Jack went out into the cool, damp air and took a deep breath.
As he walked, he dictated a text to Piper into his phone.
I’m so sorry about tonight. Today was Ruby’s birthday, and I forgot about it until I got some texts in her family’s group chat.
It threw me for a loop, to say the least. How could I forget her birthday?
How? My issues tonight have nothing at all to do with you.
I thought about our night together all day and was looking forward to tonight.
I’m sorry. I’m leaving now, but I’ll make it up to you.
He sent the text before he could rethink every word and hoped he’d done the right thing by telling her he was melting down over his late wife the day after he slept with her for the first time.
For some women, that would be an immediate deal breaker.
He had no idea how it would be received with Piper, but he couldn’t help how he felt.
He’d shared the truth with her.
That was all he could do.