“Golf is important Logan. I’ve made many important business deals over a good game of golf,” he’d said. Yeah, whatever.
The fact that I’d rather be out hitting golf balls spoke volumes of the depth of my boredom.
“How long does it take to get ready for a wedding?” I asked.
“Really f**king long,” Colin answered, “Don’t you remember doing this same damn thing at my wedding? Those girls were gone for years getting ready. Damn if I couldn’t tell the difference when she walked down the aisle either.”
I gave him a look, the look I’d been giving him for years that told him he was crossing the line into his douchebag alter-ego. Colin and I had been best friends since college and I’d quickly learned he was cocky, self-assured and outspoken. Sometimes the combination of those got out of hand, and he went from being what women would classify as cute and cocky to instant jackass.
“No, man…I don’t mean it like that. I just meant that she was already gorgeous. She could have spent an entire week getting herself pampered and ready to walk down that aisle, or she could have showed up in a paper sack, and I still would have thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“Damn, Colin. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say something so poetic before in my entire life. Garrett—write this down,” I said, motioning to my soon-to-be brother in law who was also nursing a beer next to us. “Colin just said something heartfelt and touchy-feely. I want evidence.”
Garrett just shook his head and grinned.
“So, ‘Colin the Wise’, what last words of wisdom do you have for me before I take my vows?”
He gave me a doubtful look, “You seriously want me to give you advice…about marriage?”
“Well, it’s not like we have anything else to do,” I said, motioning to the rest of the bar which was completely empty except for the three of us. Make that four. I greeted my future father in law as he strolled in, taking a seat next to his son. He ordered a beer and then turned to our small group.
“Afternoon, gentlemen. What did I miss?” he asked.
“Colin was about to give me marriage advice,” I answered, pointing to Colin who grinned like an ass**le.
“This should be good,” Mr. Finnegan, or Tom as he liked to be called, said. We all chuckled and agreed.
“Hey! For your information, I am a damn good husband. It’s not easy, and it’s not always hearts and flowers, but if you find the right woman, like Ella….it’s worth it. Every damn minute. And if you’re really lucky, she’ll give you the greatest gift imaginable….a mini version of the two of you all mushed together. It’s incredible.”
“You had me,” I said, clutching my chest, “right here….until you starting talking about mush, and then I got lost.”
“Shut up Logan! You asked for wisdom and there it is. Work at it, every day. They may drive you crazy, run you ragged and send your mind spinning, but one look from Ella and I’m a goner. Still. She’s it for me, and I will spend every day of my life reminding her that I’m the same for her.”
“That was actually pretty good Colin. I’m mighty impressed,” Tom said.
“Me, too. Who knew you were such a softy under all that crap,” I joked. I knew he loved his wife. He’d loved her since the moment he saw her enter the crowded bar we’d be hanging out at all those years ago. He’d told me that night she was his future wife. I thought he was just drunk, but damned if he didn’t do it.
“Well, I have a reputation to uphold. Can’t let everyone know what lies beneath all this,” he said, making a grand sweeping gesture over his physique. We all groaned, and I asked if he was finished.
“One more thing. Don’t leave the toilet seat up. They hate that.”
I shook my head and laughed and we all clanked our glasses together in a half-assed toast. I checked my watch and swore time had frozen. Not even an hour had passed.
Longest. Day. Ever.
“How about you, Mr. Finnegan,” Colin said, “Got any advice for my boy Logan?”
He was silent for a moment, staring into the empty beer glass in front of him.
“Never go to bed angry and don’t sweat the small stuff. You never know what tomorrow will bring, and life is too short to worry about things that don’t matter. When I had my stroke, do you think I sat in that hospital bed worrying about whether the house chores would be done or the trash would be taken out? No, I thought about my wife and children and how much I wanted to fight so I could spend another day with them by side. You have a fight ahead of you Logan, don’t waste breath on things that aren’t worthy of it.”
“Thank you,” was all I could manage. I stuck out my hand for a handshake but he instead pulled me into a bear hug. I’d never had a loving father. I didn’t know how to interact with one. Tom, along with Clare and the rest of her family, were showing me what it was like to have a family and a place to call home.
My future was bright and full of infinite possibilities because of her, and if the clock ever decided to move again, she would be my wife in just a few short hours. Nothing could keep me down. Not even cancer.
Chapter Ten
~Clare~
“Breathe, just breathe,” I chanted. My heart was running a marathon in my chest and I was convinced it would soon explode from my ribs roadrunner style, headed straight for the altar to get to Logan first.
Now that I had that picture in my head, it was nearly as romantic as I had originally thought.
“Are you nervous?” Leah asked, standing beside me in her knee-length coral dress that accented her bronze skin and honey blonde hair perfectly.
“No, I’m ready. Like really ready. Why are we still back here?”
She snorted before answering. “Because you still have fifteen minutes before the ceremony is supposed to start. You have to allow the rest of the guests to be seated.”
“What guests?” I asked impatiently. “The only guests that are here are family, and the wedding party. How can they not all be seated by now?” I huffed.
“Alright, Clare-bear, let’s re-do your makeup and primp a little. We need to get your mind off the clock, otherwise you’re going to explode.”
I nodded in agreement. I really was going to explode. Logan was out there in his tan suit, probably standing at the altar with the deep blue ocean serving as a backdrop behind him. He was waiting for me, and I didn’t want to make him wait anymore. I wanted to barrel down that aisle and hear the minister say husband and wife so I could scream to the world that he was all mine.