to go because I was on a strict budget and it wasn't cheap.
My mouth watered and I sat up taller in my chair. J.J. chuckled next to me.
I didn't even want to think about what it had cost to have them cater our reception, but gratitude filled me. I looked over to my mother, who was helping with the unpacking, and then Colette, who was talking to a young woman with vibrant purple hair and several tattoos on her forearms and hands.
"Who's your mom talking to?" I asked J.J.
"I think that's the woman who baked our wedding cake."
"Wedding cake? I thought we didn't have time to get a cake made?" I asked.
He didn't have time to answer because Cam arrived with the pan of water just as I started to cry. She knelt at my feet and shot J.J. a stern look. "Not even married an hour and you're already making her cry!"
At the sound of Cam's voice, my brothers' heads swiveled toward us as one, even though they weren't standing together.
Oh, no. I had to say something, fast, but I was still trying to stop crying enough to catch my breath. I sniffed hard and coughed, which brought Cam's eyes back to me.
"It wasn't J.J. I just didn't expect all of this," I said. "I'm surprised, that's all. Good surprised," I explained, looking up at my brothers as they halted behind Cam and glared down at J.J.
They looked at me and I tried to stare them down, but it was hard with tears still running down my cheeks and a runny nose.
J.J.'s arm squeezed my shoulder lightly and I realized that I was leaning into him. "Let me go get you some tissues," he said.
"There's a box in my office. Go ahead and bring the whole thing out here. I'm pretty sure Mom is seconds away from bursting into tears as well, so we'll need it," she said as she unbuckled my sandal and slid my foot into the cool water.
"We'll help," D.J. said, turning to follow J.J.
Huh, D.J. and J.J., that was kinda funny.
Now, I was giggling and crying at the same time.
"Oh, God, please tell me my brother didn't manage to drive you around the bend before you've even cut your wedding cake," Cam grumbled as she unbuckled my other shoe.
"No, but my brothers might bend him into a pretzel if you don't go save him."
She shook her head. "Nope. He's a big boy, he can handle his own problems."
"Cam, please."
She looked up at me then sighed. "You really do like his goofy ass, don't you?"
I nodded. "Plus, I think our baby would like his or her father to have both his arms so he can cuddle them."
Her expression softened. "Damn, you're not going to let me be mad at him anymore, are you?"
I shook my head. "What good will that do? What happened, happened. It's time to accept it, move on, and make the best of it."
She sighed again. "Stop being so reasonable. You're pregnant and three years younger than me, you're supposed to be a hormonal mess and not wise."
"Um, I'm sitting here crying and laughing at the same time, it's probably safe to say that I'm definitely a hormonal mess."
"But you're still more reasonable than me," she countered, getting to her feet. "But, you're right. I like my brother's arms exactly where they are."
I watched as she walked toward the hallway and disappeared in the direction of the office. Unfortunately, she returned in thirty seconds with a box of tissues and no J.J.
"Well, wherever they are, it's not my office."
"Shoot," I said. "Grab me a towel, I'll put my shoes on and go find them."
"No, you will not," Colette said, coming over to me. She shot a look at my mom, who seemed to have mind reading capabilities when it came to my new mother-in-law because she looked around, saw my brothers were missing, and nodded once. Then, she marched toward the kitchen and likely continued out to the alley behind the shop.
If I found out my brothers were taking turns punching my new husband, I wasn't going to go for my usual form of revenge. I was going to find my niece and nephews, tell them every bad thing my brothers had done as kids, and encourage them to do the same.
I breathed a silent sigh of relief when my mother reappeared with J.J. in tow and he appeared none the worse for wear.
"See? He's fine. Now, what do you want on your