I snorted. “You think I don’t realize that?”
“Of course you realize it but you don’t understand it. He actually looks up to you, wishes he could be more like you. You said yourself, your whole lives, your father constantly compared you two and he always came up short. Jason’s just doing what he can to prove to your father, you, and most importantly, himself that he’s just as good as you are.”
“And getting married and having a baby proves that how?”
She angled her head, giving me a leveling look. “Come on. Do you think your parents would’ve thrown this lavish engagement party for him? Even though you didn’t want all of the pomp and circumstance, they still did it. If for no other reason than to show you off. They wouldn’t have done the same for Jason. You and I both know that. And so does he. He probably felt like he had to make a splash or some sort of impact on his own.”
I ran my hand over my chin, thinking about her words. This was yet another reason why I loved this woman. She made me consider things that would’ve never crossed my mind. To me, Jason was just a screw up I’d had to cover for or protect my entire life. But Deborah’s words helped me to put some things into perspective.
“You might have a point.”
“You know I have a point.”
“Great. Point made. But I’m done thinking about my brother for the time being. We have more important things to worry about.”
“Such as?” She smiled, lifting an eyebrow.
“Is that going to be your wedding dress or will we have to buy a different dress for the ceremony?”
Chapter Sixteen
Then
Deborah
“You’re shaking.”
I glanced over and laughed, again, taken aback by the huge dark hair, sunglasses, and sideburns of the Elvis impersonator who was going to be walking me down the aisle.
“I’m sorry,” I stated before covering my mouth the smother the giggles. “I just never thought I’d be getting married like this.”
I saw a dark eyebrow raise over the brim of the sunglasses. “You know it’s not too late to cut and run.”
I shook my head immediately. “No, it’s not that. I love Robert. He’s the man I’m going to spend the rest of my life with. And have children with. It’s just that one minute we were at our engagement party, and the next minute, I’m here. Standing at the edge of the altar, ready to be walked down by an—” I burst out laughing as I stared at the man in the tight, light blue, bell bottom bodysuit. “An Elvis impersonator.”
I glanced at the man, whose real name I didn’t know. He was staring down at me with a small smirk on his face. Somehow, I managed to sober up.
“My daddy liked Elvis,” I blurted out, reliving a memory of him dancing to an Elvis Presley song one night. We didn’t have any type of music player. My father sang the song out loud as he danced. Suddenly, a wave of sadness hit me.
“Your parents aren’t here.”
I looked up, blinking at the man next to me. “They’re gone,” I stated softly.
“I’m sorry to hear that, little lady.” He glanced down the aisle toward the front of the red and white chapel.
I followed his eyes and smiled as I saw Robert emerge from behind the side door and take his position. A bubble of laughter moved up my chest, expressing itself through my lips.
“I knew he wouldn’t wear that powder blue tux.” It’d been offered to him by the chapel, a powder blue and ruffled tux that’d been worn by God only knew how many other men. Instead, he wore the same tux he’d worn to our engagement part, but it looked as if it’d been freshened since we’d departed Williamsport.
I don’t know how he’d done it, but Robert had someone meet us as soon as we’d landed in Vegas, the night before, with a beautiful, shimmering white gown that I was wearing at that moment. I couldn’t have picked out a better wedding dress.
“You sure he’s the one?”
I glanced to my left at Elvis. “Never been more sure about anything in my entire life.”
He nodded. “That’s what I love to hear. Let’s get you hitched, beautiful.”
I wrapped my left arm around the bulky arm he held out to me, and a second later music began playing. Holding up the bouquet of fake flowers I’d been given at the registry desk of the chapel, I proceeded to fall in line with Elvis and the music as we made our way down the aisle.
