Page 114 of Night Watch
The trio headed for the door, Erik holding firmly to Kennedy’s hand. He leaned close. “I hope you like weddings. I, for one, don’t believe in long engagements.”
28
The wedding was simple yet elegant, and Kennedy felt perfectly dressed. She’d had to be alone for some time while Erik performed his groomsman duties, but that was okay with her. She hid out in the kindergarten classroom until she heard the wedding march and knew that Peggy would be inside. Kennedy didn’t want Peggy to see her and change her focus.
Once Toni was at the altar, Kennedy slipped into the back of the church and sat on the groom’s side in a pew with big white bows and delicate white flowers decorating the end. She immediately connected gazes with Erik, and the smile he fired her way sent her heart fluttering.
Peggy must have noticed, as she turned and scanned the church, but thankfully missed seeing Kennedy.
Clay took Toni’s hands, and she beamed at her husband-to-be. She had large icy blue eyes that were warm with love. Her ebony hair was swept up in a simple knot with pearl pins holding it in place. Her dress was an unassuming white A-line dress with lace shoulders and a banding of matching lace around her waist. Although floor-length, it had a very short train. Very much like the dress Kennedy might choose.
As beautiful as Toni was, it was the five Byrd brothers in their crisp white shirts and black tuxes who stole the show. Or maybe just the blond one on the end. They were lined up by age—minus Clay, of course—and their corresponding spouses and girlfriends stood in the same order on the bride’s side along, with Sierra, whom Erik had walked down the aisle.
The couple exchanged vows and rings, and Kennedy thought about the ring in Erik’s pocket and smiled at him. He returned that same combination of dazzling and secret burning inside smile, and she couldn’t look away. Not even when Toni and Clay walked down the aisle arm-in-arm, a healthy dose of joy in their expressions.
As they passed, Kennedy made a mental note to later ask Toni where she got her dress.
Kennedy shook her head. Listen to her. She’d gone from potentially not seeing Erik again to engaged to him in a matter of days. She’d called Finley before the ceremony. Her sister was over the moon happy for Kennedy and happy that she was marrying a man who would never leave his family and Portland, so Kennedy was here to stay as well.
The bridal party made their way down the aisle, couple after couple. As Erik passed by, he gripped her hand for the briefest of moments. His parents followed, and Peggy’s mouth dropped open when she saw Kennedy. She stopped to squeeze Kennedy’s shoulder.
She mouthed, “We’ll talk later.”
Kennedy knew what was coming, but she didn’t care if Peggy tried to matchmake. The match was already made. Though Kennedy had to play along because, if Peggy knew she and Erik had gotten engaged, so would everyone else.
The three children Peggy and Russ were fostering followed behind.
Kennedy waited for her turn to exit and found Erik waiting for her. He grabbed her hand. “I have to go with the wedding party to the reception hall, but I asked Reed to give you a lift.”
“Okay.” She worked hard to hide her disappointment.
“I thought you’d never get out here.” Erik drew her close. “We’ll be next if I have anything to say about it.”
He kissed her cheek and raced out the door to jog across the lot before she could respond.
She felt her skin where he’d touched her and couldn’t help but smile like crazy. She hadn’t been this happy in a long time. Maybe not since she’d split up with Erik. If only her mom and dad could see this day. See that she had been able to reconcile with him and get married. If only they’d be there to hold their grandchildren.
A dark-haired man with facial hair and onyx-colored eyes approached. He wore a black suit with a white shirt, and he carried Asher on his shoulder. Her heart melted over the sweetness the pair made. What was it about a strapping guy like Reed tenderly holding a baby that got to her? Such a juxtaposition, she supposed.
“You look exactly like Erik described you.” He introduced himself. “I hear you and Asher have already met.”
She nodded. “It’s nice of you to give me a ride. I’m kind of a last minute addition.”
“One that has my wife smiling non-stop. She won’t admit it, but Erik has a special place in her heart. She loves all her brothers, but she said there’s something special about him being the baby. And, of course, the only one who looks like her.”
“I think the feeling goes both ways.”
Asher started to fuss, and Reed jiggled him. “What say we take off so Little Man can fall asleep in his car seat.”
They stepped into the beautiful August sunshine with a soft breeze helping to cool the temperatures in the eighties. Reed clicked open an SUV with a remote and settled Asher in his seat.
She went around and climbed in, and by the time she did, he had the vehicle running and the air blowing, though it was hot. He got them on the road, and Asher’s head tipped in sleep.
“Is parenthood everything you thought it would be?” she asked.
“No!” He shot her an embarrassed look. “Sorry, that was a little over the top. They tell you how much it’s going to change your life. How everything becomes about this little person, but you still aren’t prepared. And I’ve got it easy. I’m not responsible for all the feedings like Sierra is.”
“I can only imagine.”
