“I love you so much, Summer.So much.You’re my whole world.”
I grab the back of his head with my hands and pull him into me.He spins me around in the living room and I lean back in his arms, my hair flying.And then we both start screaming with delight.
The front door opens without warning.
Declan drops me to the floor and throws my shirt over my naked top half.I shove my arms in the sleeves and pull it over my head, then jump to a stand.We both stare at the entryway in stunned silence as Special K walks in.
“Bad time?”he asks.
We both break out into guffaws.
He purses his lips, uncomfortable with our slap-happy laughter.
“I’m pregnant!”I blurt out.
“Summer’s pregnant!”Declan screams.“We’re going to have a baby!”
Special K nods.“Congrats.You guys got any sliced turkey over here?”
EPILOGUE
Declan
“Has the officiant arrived?”I ask my brothers.We’re huddled in our father’s bedroom, waiting for the ceremony to begin.
“Officiant?”Special K asks.“Shouldn’t you be saying that with an English accent?”
Cal slaps Special K on the back of his head.“If Declan wants to speak in Klingon on his big day, then that’s what he’ll do.”
“It’s not actually my big day,” I correct him.“I experienced my big day in Vegas when I was blackout drunk.”
“As one does,” Cal says, plopping down on the bed.
“Would everyone calm down?”Dad demands.“I’m the one who should be nervous.I’m in charge of the ribs and burgers.”
This is a wedding designed exactly to Summer’s specifications.It’s only family and ranch hands.No dresses or fancy clothes, and the food is strictly barbecue, just like any Sunday afternoon on Yosemite Ranch.
Dad’s wearing one of his aprons.This one says, “Natural Born Griller.”
“You’ll be fine, Dad,” Finn says.“Take a deep breath.How many pounds of ribs do we have on hand?”
“One hundred twenty-five.You can’t have too many ribs.”
Silently, I’m relieved to hear it, since our officiant has a large security team, and I’ve been warned that they can eat.“The wisdom of this man,” I joke, and my father slaps me upside the back of my head.
“There’s a lot of head-slapping going on today,” Evander says, adjusting his vest.He’s the only person dressed up, because he’s always the only person dressed up.Dad smacks him on the head, too.Evander fixes his hair.
“This is my favorite wedding so far,” Special K says.“I get to wear my work boots, and there’s no music.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” I tell him.“I’d hate for you to be disappointed.”
“Ugh,” he moans.
“Hey, you’re next,” Finn tells him.“You’ll find a girl who wants a big wedding, and you’ll have to wear a tux with tails.”
He shakes his head.“First off, I’m not a pussy, so no tux.Second off, no wedding.And third off, I like my girls like I like my burgers… hot, juicy, fast, and several at a time.”
“That’s more than I’ve heard you say in two years,” Cal says.
