As they circulated around the room, they exchanged pleasantries with Grace’s church friends and neighbors, who congratulated him and Heavenly on their engagement and remarked about his handsome son. Hudson all but blushed at the attention. Heavenly smiled graciously, handling it all with her signature warmth. Beck stayed quietly supportive at Seth’s side.
Across the room, he spotted an old friend standing near the bar, nursing a whiskey and chatting with one of Carl’s crew.
With a grin, he tugged his crew in the man’s direction. “Come on. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
When they reached the corner, the man looked up and broke into a wide grin. “Seth!”
“Hey, Gene.” Seth extended his hand.
Instead of accepting, the man pulled him in for a strong hug, clapping him on the back. “Good to see you, kid. You clean up nice.”
“So do you. Damn, man. It’s been a while. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” Gene assured. “Your mom is one in a million. I’ve done my best to watch over her through the years, like your dad would have wanted me to. I’m really happy she found love again.”
“Me, too.” Seth turned. “This is Gene Hammond, my dad’s best friend and former partner on the force. He’s been there for the Coopers through thick and thin for twenty years.”
The man had even saved Seth’s life when he was sixteen and hell-bent on ending it all by slamming his car into a concrete barrier at a hundred miles an hour. But Seth kept that to himself.
“And this,” he went on, “is my fiancée, Heavenly.”
Gene’s eyes lit up as he smiled and gently took her hand. “I’m glad to finally meet you. Seth, you’re a lucky man.”
“Thank you,” she said warmly. “It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“All good, I hope.” Gene winked before eyeing Hudson up and down with a wide grin. “And this must be your son, Seth. If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was looking at you at sixteen. There’s no denying who your father is.”
Hudson laughed. “I get that a lot.”
“And this is my good friend, Dr. Beckman.”
Gene shook Beck’s hand, his grip firm. “Doctor, huh? Good man to have around.”
“I try.”
“You doing okay out in LA?” Gene asked Seth with the familiar assessing-cop expression he always wore.
“Great,” Seth replied. “PI work is keeping me super busy.”
“Good to hear.” Gene nodded. “No plans to move back, I take it? It would make your mom happy but…”
“I know.” Seth shook his head. “But no.”
Seth considered asking him about the corruption at the precinct. But his mom’s wedding wasn’t the time or the place for that, and he’d sworn he was done digging into the past.
Gene’s expression softened. He reached out and squeezed Seth’s shoulder. “Your old man would be proud of you, kid. You know that, right?”
Seth swallowed hard. “Thanks, Gene.”
They exchanged a few more pleasantries before Gene excused himself to grab another drink. Seth watched him go, feeling the familiar ache of his father’s absence settle deep in his chest.
“I’ve smiled so much, I think my face is going to fall off. Can I grab a soda?” Hudson asked, eyeing the bar.
“Sure.” Seth ruffled his hair. “Go enjoy yourself.”
Moments later, the band struck up a flourish, and the room quieted as the emcee’s voice boomed over the speakers. “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mr. and Mrs. Carl Mahoney!”
The double doors opened, and Carl swept Mom in on his arm. The crowd erupted in applause and cheers. Happiness and love buzzed through the room as her new husband guided her to the middle of the room, his hand firmly clasped in hers.
