Chapter 2
Jamie
I greet the teammates invited to the event before heading to the altar to say hello to the man who will tie the knot today and his groomsmen.
Wearing my best jerk smile, I walk up to them. It’s probably not ideal today, but I love messing with the O’Connors — and since they get so worked up, I’m not about to miss the chance.
“Hello, O’Connors! Are you already freaking out?”
“Just what we needed!” Nick says, immediately growing nervous.
“What is it? Is it the tension before the big event?”
“Things were good until you showed up,” Nick retorts.
“What does this have to do with me?”
“Please don’t make it worse,” Ryan comments.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing. It’s just that…”
“That someone is losing it?”
“Is that appropriate, Jamie?” Ryan admonishes me.
I shrug innocently.
“I didn’t force him to marry. If he can’t do it…”
“Why? What makes you think I can’t do it?”
“Enough,” Nick says, grabbing me by the arm. “Let’s go for a walk, just the two of us,” he threatens, glaring at me.
I laugh, pleased with myself and my doing.
We head for the outdoor buffet set up for the occasion, each of us taking two glasses of a very colourful drink with hardly any alcohol in it.
“You having fun, yeah?”
“What can I say? It’s too easy to take the piss out of you.”
Nick shakes his head and drains his glass.
“You nervous too?” I ask.
“Me? Why should I?”
“Is the rope getting tighter around your neck?”
“Fuck you.”
“Well, I thought you’d be the first after that big public proposal. What are you waiting for?”
Nick and Casey got engaged a few months ago.
“I didn’t think there was such a rush, and I didn’t think anyone would beat me to it.”
“Taken away from you, huh?”
“You can see that my brother couldn’t bear the idea that, for once, I was the favourite son.”
“After all, what does it change? Eventually, it’ll be your turn. Or are you afraid she might reconsider in the meantime?”
“A piece of paper doesn’t change how I feel about her, or how she feels about me.”
“True.”
“And we’re in no hurry. It will happen soon. As soon as my family has recovered from this euphoria.”
I put down my glass. “I’m going to do my duty.”
“It’s about time.”
“Unless she had second thoughts and climbed out of the window.”
“Don’t joke about that, Jamie. My family couldn’t handle another runaway bride.”
Despite the delicate situation, I smile. An O’Connor being left at the altar isn’t new.
We head back to the groom, who is so pale that I think he is about to collapse on the grass.
“Be nice,” Nick says between his teeth before joining Ian and Ryan.
“How is it going?” he asks his brother.
“We’re almost half an hour late.”
“Well, that’s normal, isn’t it? Brides are always late,” Nick comments.
“Not quite all…” Ryan mutters, taking an elbow from Nick.
“What did I say?” he complains.
“Don’t be a dick,” Nick retorts.
Having confirmed that the three brothers are in their public-display-of-affection phase, I leave them and head to the main hotel building, where the ceremony is taking place. In the lobby, I find Mr and Mrs O’Connor.
“You look beautiful today,” I tell Karen, hugging her. I take her hand and bring it to my lips, bowing slightly. “Always gorgeous.”
“Oh, Jamie, you’re still being as cheeky as ever.”
I laugh and shake James’s hand.
“How are you doing?”
“We’re nervous,” Karen tells me, nodding towards her husband.
James is not doing very well. Between his advancing illness and his knee injury, he’s probably not in the best shape.
An event like this is likely to confuse him and make him nervous, which is why they chose a discreet location, hoping to keep the ceremony private and avoid the press.
I did what I could to help, too; I didn’t want the day to turn into a race for the first photo of the bride and groom, or anyone to feel uncomfortable during such an intimate and important moment.
Everything has to be perfect.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered. I’ve thought of everything, and I’m going to make sure that no one gets away this time.”
“Oh my God,” Karen says, bringing her hand to her chest.
“Everything will be fine,” I assure her.
“Thank you, Jamie,” Mr O’Connor says. “For everything you did.”
“Don’t even mention it; it’s my job.”
After hugging Karen, I head for the lifts.
I call one and wait for it to arrive. When the doors open, I slip inside.
Before the doors can close again, however, a hand blocks them, forcing them to slide open again.
Someone steps in, straightening his tie.
When he looks up at me, I realise we’re going to the same place.
“Room 304, third floor?” I ask.
“Of course,” he replies, turning his back to me.
I press the button, and we go up in complete silence. The doors open, and he glances back at me. “After you,” he says, gesturing with his arm.
“Such a gentleman,” I say, smiling.
I go outside first, and we head for room 304. When we reach the door, he knocks, and we wait, facing each other, for someone to open it. He smiles at me, then stretches his hands towards my throat.
“What the hell…”
“Relax, Captain.”
His soothing voice instantly calms me. I'm aware of his hands near my throat, the warmth of his exhale against my skin. His fingers make the lightest contact with my collar as he straightens the knot, and I go completely still — lungs frozen, eyes fixed — terrified he'll see right through me.
He slides his hands away and looks me in the eye. “There, now you’re perfect.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. You have an important role; you have to be impeccable.”
Before I can tell him I would still be impeccable naked, the door opens.
“Oh, there you are!” Casey says. “We’ve been waiting for you. Come on in.”
“I wouldn’t want to be in the way,” the Doctor says.
Casey grabs his arm and pulls him inside. “Enough fuss; we need you.”
“For what?” I ask, closing the door and stepping into the room. Then my sister, Riley, turns to me, and I almost fall to my knees in tears.
“Jesus, Riley,” I say, bringing a hand to my mouth. “You’re… you’re…” My voice cracks.
“You are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen,” the Doctor says, helping me out, understanding exactly how I feel.
My sister is getting married today. My strong, beautiful sister. She’s marrying Ian O’Connor, one of my best friends and teammates.
She’s my family. She’s everything I have.
It all happened very suddenly. After the baby was born, Ian couldn’t wait any longer; he wanted to give her a family. I think he wanted that for himself, too. They were two lost souls who found each other, and my niece — who, by the way, shares my name — completed their family of three.
Now my sister finally has a chance at a real future after a life of fear, suffering, and loss. She’s going to get everything she deserves, and if that idiot O’Connor doesn’t make her happy, I’ll kill him with my bare hands.
“You look great,” Riley says, stroking my face.
“As always,” I reply, trying to play it down because the emotion is so overwhelming that I have to let it out somehow. Otherwise, it will crush me.
“We’re a bit late,” she says, biting her lip.
“The wait will be worth it,” the Doctor says, smiling at her.
He always seems to have the right words.
“Oh, you’re so right,” Chris interjects.
“I hope O’Connor realises how lucky he is,” the Doctor says again.
“I hope so,” Riley replies excitedly.
“I assure you he knows,” I comment.
“Thank you, Jamie.”
I shrug as the Doctor’s eyes settle on me, making me uncomfortable.
“All right, let’s not waste any more time. I’m here for little Jamie,” he says.
“What?” I ask, looking at him.
Chris hands my niece over to the Doctor. “He offered to look after Jamie during the ceremony.”
“And you trust the first person who comes along like that?” I ask my sister instinctively.
“The Doctor is family,” Riley says.
I shake my head, puffing out my cheeks, as he takes my niece with him. He lifts her and gently settles her head on his shoulder. He looks at her and smiles, and an enormous weight crushes my chest.
“Martin?” Riley calls him by name. No one ever does; to us, he’s just the Doctor. But I like the way it sounds on my sister’s lips. “Can you tell Ian that I’m on my way and that I’m looking forward to spending my whole life with him?”
Her words are like a splinter, scratching deeper and deeper, leaving an indelible, painful mark inside me. It feels as if they could tear my chest open and prove to the world that there is still something left inside.