Capturing Hearts - Faleena Hopkins Page 0,12
kept growing, but there’s always a nearby cousin you forget about. And the people who showed up to support Le Barré’s reopening have become regular fixtures there and we’ve gotten to know quite a few of them. Some of those include people from Mark’s old job. Also some of the staff from Knockout.
And of course there’s Barb. She’s sitting with a young stud, her hand on his thigh. I give her a wink of being impressed. She smirks my way as he leans to whisper something in her ear. Something that makes her giggle, which is a sight to see.
My mom is in the front row, beaming at me, next to her boyfriend. It’s still a shock to see someone beside her who isn’t Dad, but I’m getting used to it. She told me she felt him here in the church, watching over us, last night during the rehearsal. I hope she’s right, but I don’t really go for that sort of thing. If there is a life after this one, I hope he’s moved on to a happier place where he won’t miss us as much as I miss him.
Manny is in the pew ahead of her and he’s got his new girlfriend, Mercedes, on his arm. This is the first time he’s brought her out to meet everyone and she looks like she can’t be older than twenty. She’s tucked into him and he’s got his arm around her like he just won the Lottery and she was the prize.
The organ starts. Mark nudges me. My spine straightens. I’m ready to lock this down. They don’t teach us men, when we’re boys, to look forward to marriage. We’re taught we shouldn’t want it, to run as fast as we can. But marrying Annie is the thing I’ve most looked forward to ever since we kicked Tommy’s ass. She’s added something to my life that I didn’t know I lacked. She’s on my team, and at the same time, wants my help. She lets me know I’m needed. Frankly, she makes me feel like I’m a king, and what man doesn’t want that for the rest of his life?
Taryn comes down the aisle first, wearing a long, silk, black gown from the same era as our tuxes. Both she and Laura have their hair up and I watch Laura walking up behind her, looking great in that dress. I glance over to Dan and see him stunned by her appearance. She winks at him as she passes. He turns, glued to her as she walks by.
The pipe organ changes to Here Comes The Bride, the vibrating notes filling the room. Everyone stands. Taryn and Laura take their places across from us.
Annie appears, her hand resting on her father’s arm. My heart leaps into my throat at her beauty, the small flowers framing her face like a crown. Her eyelashes flutter and she looks at me, biting her bottom lip in a sweet smile. I walk down the steps to meet her, and see for the first time her mother behind her, fidgeting over the train of her gown. “Mom!” she whispers.
Mrs. O’Brien rises and rushes up to stand in front of Laura and Taryn.
Mr. O’Brien takes Annie’s hand from his arm and hands it to me. “You take care of my little girl.”
“I will, sir.” I bow to him and look at her. The room disappears as I stare at the mother of my child, my beautiful bride, the one I almost let slip away. Somewhere in the back of my mind I know I’m supposed to lead her up the stairs now, but I can’t think of anything but kissing her, so I pull her to me and give her a long, slow, kiss. The room goes into uproarious applause with some crying out in laughter, “Hey! NOT YET!!” and others, “BRAVO!! BRAVO!!”
Annie’s laughing against my lips and I take her hand and turn, walking up the steps to face the priest. He’s looking at us like he hasn’t seen that before. “Well, now! Let’s begin!”
Chapter Fourteen
Annie
Please, if I’m dreaming, don’t wake me. If you do, I’ll seriously kick your a**. (I had to curb the language out of respect to the location I’m standing in. But I have a feeling God thinks my sense of humor, and swearwords, are funny. (S)He did invent them, and me, after all.)
As we go through all the nuances and speeches of the ceremony, Brendan and I clasp each other’s hands, casting