fists and pulled them to his heart.
“And the other man,” Will said. “The other is her husband over there.”
Louder applause. Erik stood up and planted one on his bride and the applause turned to shouting.
“It’s so nice I have to say it twice. Her husband. And… What, honey?” Jacy was taking Will’s face and turning it firmly to her so she could kiss him.
More laughter as Will hitched Jacy higher on his shoulder. “So the short answer to all those questions about my partnership with Daisy is indeed love. But love is also the longer answer. Because Erik…”
His voice trailed off and the barn grew quiet and still. “Erik’s my best friend,” he said. “We throw those words around casually. Oh, sure, you’re my best friend. But what does it mean? To me, it’s the friend who makes you your best. Who makes the best come out in you. Dais made me the best dancer I could be, Erik made me the best man I could be. See what I did there?”
The laughter was soft. All around the tables people reached for hands, drew children onto laps, and looked smiling at each other. Jacy laid her head on Will’s shoulder.
“When your best friends are in love, it becomes inspiration. And while everyone knows I had a front row seat when Dais and Erik were falling in love, not many people know I took everything I saw and put it into my dancing. Our best performances together were from me being not a partner, but a mirror.” Will looked around, chewing on a bottom lip. “And now you’re all looking at me like I’m nuts. Oh, wait, you’re crying? Francine, you’re crying. That’s good.”
Francine waved her hands, covered her tear-stained face, then lifted it out and blew Will a kiss. Jacy blew one back.
“I’ll wrap this up,” Will said, laughing. “Love can bring out the best and worst in us. We’ve all been a jackass for love. But love makes us do amazing things. And if love drives us away, love is what brings us back. Love makes us pick up the phone. Love makes us listen. Love makes us say I’m sorry. Love makes us forgive. Love makes us better. Love makes us our best. And love makes more love...and…I forgot where I was going with this. Forget it. I’ll be in the corner making love, with a front row seat to Daisy and Erik. Raise your glass. I lost my glass. Waiter?”
A new flute was rushed into his hand. “Raise your glass,” Will said, meeting Erik’s eyes. “And toast to my best friends. To the union of fishes and daisies. To love.”
Glasses in hands rose up, a cloud of twinkling golden balloons. “To love.”
After the reception, they rode from the barn to the carriage house on a tandem bicycle. Daisy skillfully tucked up her dress’s long skirt, revealing white Converse sneakers. A sign lettered JUST (STYLISHLY) MARRIED was tacked to the rear seat. With a ring of the bike’s bell they were off, the guests lining the road on either side, sparklers in hand and singing “Daisy Bell.” The picture the photographer caught would live on top of the upright piano at Barbegazi.
“Hello, wife,” Erik said as they braked to a stop.
“Hello, husband.”
He got off and held the bike still while she dismounted, then leaned it up against the carriage house wall. He pulled her into his arms and they kissed. His hands ran down her back, along the length of smooth satin. Then a little further and they stopped.
“What are you wearing under here?”
“Not a damn thing,” she said, running her finger along his bottom lip.
“Really?”
She tossed her head back a little. “Never wear panties to a party. Have I taught you nothing?”
He looked back at the people lining the road, the last sparklers fizzing out. “Is everyone going home now?”
“Everyone? No,” she said. “Private after-party on the porch. Panties optional.”
He looked back at her, ran his hand along her cheek. “Did I tell you that you look beautiful?”
She blinked at him and her smile turned down a little. “Not in the last five minutes.”
He slid his hand around the back of her neck. “You look beautiful,” he whispered against her mouth. He kissed her. Kissed her again. Slower. Her mouth opened to his. Her hands came up to his face. Happiness pulled his chest apart and started stirring things below the belt.
“Get a room,” someone bellowed from up the road.
“I’d love to,” Erik muttered.
“You will,” she said,