Brothers in Blue A Bryson Family Christmas - Jeanne St. James Page 0,67
his eternal love and devotion to him.
Then he did the same.
Teddy was now officially a Bryson.
Someone needed to pinch him to make sure it wasn’t only a dream, but a dream come true.
Chapter Twelve
Matt & Carly
Carly sat on a folding chair near the small makeshift dance floor situated on the ground level of the barn, giving a hungry Levi a bottle. It had been hard work to transform the old barn into a wedding reception winter wonderland. But they had miraculously pulled it off.
The interior was actually breathtaking.
Because the barn wasn’t heated, they had rented some portable heaters and placed them around the big, open space. Like out where the ceremony had been held, white lights were strung everywhere, giving the rustic barn a romantic glow. Boughs of evergreens and winterberries decorated the walls. A small lit Christmas tree, full of handmade ornaments made by the kids, sat in one corner, with wedding presents tucked underneath it.
Christmas music played softly from unseen speakers.
Poinsettias had been placed along the center of the long rustic table on a Christmas-themed table runner. They alternated with deep red pillar candles encircled by sprigs of winterberries, emitting a delicate cranberry aroma. The table was wide enough so Teddy and Adam could sit next to each other at the head of the table, while the rest of the family sat down the length.
Another table stretched along one wall, where the caterers were currently setting up a buffet. A two-tiered wedding cake, with two groomsmen standing on the very top, sat on a single table safely out of the way of both dogs and children. One of the figures on the cake topper wore a police uniform, the other a teal tux and pink cummerbund with a leg kicked up behind him as they kissed.
Carly had it specially made and shipped. She’d worried it wouldn’t make it in time, but like everything else today, its arrival went off without a snag.
Levi’s first Christmas was a happy, but emotional day, for everyone involved. And it wasn’t even half over yet. They still had dinner and dancing, along with games with the kids later, as well as picking at leftovers.
By the time they were done, everyone would be exhausted, have stuffed bellies, and be ready to climb into bed and sleep until New Year’s.
As she glanced around the barn, she marveled at how far this family had come in the past few years. She might have been the last wife to join the family, but she helped deliver the first Bryson grandchild. And then all the children after that.
Even her own son.
She glanced down at Levi’s chubby cheeks as he suckled the bottle, his eyes barely open. He would fall asleep soon with a full belly while everyone else got to fill their own.
She hardly had time to eat this morning, so she was starving, and the food that the caterers were putting out smelled and looked delicious. The table was full of Teddy and Adam’s favorites.
For such a cozy and private wedding, Adam had spared no expense. How he pulled it off so Teddy—who liked to be in everyone’s business—didn’t find out, was another miracle.
A miracle just like her son.
Levi’s eyelids were now shut and even though his little Cupid’s bow shaped lips were still moving, he was finished. She put the bottle down and before she could burp Levi, Matt was there, carefully taking him from her arms and putting the baby against the towel on his shoulder he’d pulled from the diaper bag.
“I got it. We’re about to eat.”
Her stomach growled in response.
He grinned at the sound and walked away with their son, patting him gently on the back, moving away from the noisy table where everyone was taking their seats.
Unlike most receptions, seats weren’t assigned except for where Teddy and Adam sat. Her father-in-law pulled out the chair at the other end of the table for her, so she would have space on the floor to her right to keep Levi close in his car seat.
“Why are we all sitting down when we’ll just have to get back up to grab grub?” Marc asked, taking the end seat across from Carly so that he and Leah had their young boys, Austin and Jax, between them.
“Because we’re going to make a toast before everyone starts stuffing their traps.” Ron took the seat to Teddy’s right and Randall took the seat to Adam’s left, with Cathy and Mary Ann sitting next to their husbands. Almost like the