Page 94 of Steady Stroke
Two bridesmaids, an adorable ring bearer, and a blond girl too old to really be the flower girl followed. The music stopped. Everyone began to stand as the familiar strains of the “Bridal Chorus” filtered over the church’s sound system. Lincoln held his breath as he turned his head.
Mercedes was stunning. Blond-haired and blue-eyed like him, she wore a simple white dress with an intricately embroidered fringe, and a short veil. Her smile made his heart pound. He’d never seen his sister so happy. She filled his vision with so much beauty and light that he forgot about the tall, thin man escorting her down the aisle until they’d passed by.
Lincoln tried to ignore the back of the man’s head, but instead found himself studying it, even after the minister went through the motions of asking who gave away the bride, then telling the congregation to sit. He followed the man’s head to the front pew, where it remained visible through the entire ceremony. Lots of gray mixed in with the brown. Still cut short. He willed the man to turn around, but knew he wouldn’t.
The entire time, he clung to Emmett’s hand, his rock in this entire stormy mess of emotions battering him. Anger, resentment, joy, curiosity, shame, love. He wasn’t entirely sure what he felt for whom, only that his sister was radiant, and his boyfriend was by his side.
He wiped away a few tears when they were pronounced husband and wife, and he even had a brief flash to a future in which he and Emmett were blessed as husband and husband. He didn’t realize how much he wanted that kind of future until it appeared in front of him. A loving spouse, a house, a dog, maybe even some kids if that’s what Emmett wanted.
For so much of his life, all he saw was music. He lived for performing, for making each song the very best it could be. He didn’t know when the notes had changed, or when he’d begun playing an entirely new song. All he knew for sure was that this song included Emmett, and he never wanted it to end.
He stood on wobbly legs as the bride and groom walked down the aisle together, both of them grinning to beat the devil. His heart was so full he couldn’t concentrate on the rest of the bridal party, and he sat back down while others filed out. Emmett stayed by his side.
“I’d ask if you’re okay, but that seems stupid at this point,” he whispered.
“I am, actually.” Lincoln laughed. “Do you want to get married?”
Emmett’s eyes went wide. “Like, right now?”
He laughed again, because Emmett was too damned adorable. “Not right now, no. But is that something you want one day? To get married and have a family? You told me once it was expected of you, but not if it was your dream for the future.”
“Oh, okay.” Emmett relaxed a bit. “Yes, one day I think so. With the right husband.”
“I never used to but something about seeing Mercy up there, saying the words, becoming part of a union, made me want it.” He kissed Emmett’s nose. “With the right husband.”
Emmett blushed and ducked his head.
The church was mostly empty by then, so they headed for the car. The reception was in the ballroom of a hotel a few miles away. Likely the same hotel housing the out-of-town guests. Emmett found it with no trouble.
Getting out of the car was even harder this time. At the church, no one was really expected to interact. They were there for a show. The reception was all about small talk and mingling.
“You saw her get married,” Emmett said. “You don’t have to go in.”
“Yes, I do. I need to hug her and shake her husband’s hand, at the very least.”
“We can wait in the car until they get here. Who knows how long the pictures will take?”
“No.” Lincoln wasn’t going to hide like a criminal. He had nothing to be ashamed of. “Let’s go inside, babe. I need to show you off.”
They followed signs to the ballroom, which was packed with people. More than had been at the church, which didn’t totally surprise him. A buffet of food was being set up by staff at one end of the room, and at least two dozen round tables were decked out with white tablecloths and centerpieces of red roses. One long table was opposite the food, reserved for the bridal party, with a single-stem rose at each setting. Simple and classy. And he was delighted to see no cards designating where anyone sat.
“Want something to drink?” he asked, nodding at the cash bar.
“I have to drive five hours back to Philadelphia later,” Emmett replied. “Get whatever you want, though.”
Lincoln sprang for an overpriced Jack and Coke, while Emmett got a bottled water. He searched the crowd of faces for someone familiar. A few cousins he hadn’t spoken to in at least a decade. An older man who might be an uncle on his mother’s side. A pregnant girl who vaguely resembled someone Mercedes was friends with in high school. No one he wanted to have a conversation with.
Until a big bear of a man inserted himself in their personal space. “You’ve gotta be Lincoln, Mercy’s brother. You look just like her.”
“I am.” He shook the man’s meaty hand. “Lincoln West. This is my boyfriend, Emmett Westmore.”
“David Milano. Mercy’s husband Terry is my nephew.” David looked between them, his eyes glittering. “West and Westmore. I like it. It’s like you can’t get enough of each other, so you asked for more.”
Emmett laughed. “Oh my. I never picked up on that before. We sound like a spy show.”
“Or a law firm,” Lincoln said. After a few minutes of small talk, he asked, “Are you here with anyone, David?”
“No. Haven’t found anyone else who will put up with me long-term.” He winked but an odd sadness lingered in his eyes.
