Magnus sat down on the bed. “For giving me my grandson back.” His voice got rough as he whispered, “For letting me know Jenna…”
I remained quiet as Magnus tried to collect himself and didn’t interrupt him or press him in any way. We hadn’t ever talked much about his daughter and I could see that the pain of his loss stilltormented him, despite how well he appeared to hide it around all of us.
“For letting me know Jenna wasn’t coming home.” Magnus paused and took a few deep breaths before he lifted his eyes to look at me. “You and Tate didn’t have to welcome me into your family the way you did.”
“Magnus,” I began, but he held his hand up.
“I couldn’t have asked for better parents for Matty. I know…I know I’m not that much older than you, but…” His voice dropped off again and he shook his head. “I know Tate’s mom is walking him down the aisle. I’d…I’d be really honored if I could join you when you’re walking down it.”
Emotion clogged my throat and I couldn’t speak so I was helpless to say anything and my silence clearly made Magnus uncomfortable.
“Not as your father or anything,” he quickly clarified and he dropped his eyes again. “I mean-”
“Magnus” I cut in as I stood up. “I would love it,” I whispered as tears stung my eyes. “Call yourself whatever you want…father, brother, friend,” I began before I too was forced to pause to gather myself. “Just take that walk with me, okay?”
Magnus smiled and nodded. He stood and hugged me hard. No words were necessary as he stepped back and patted me on the arm. “You ready for this?” he asked, his voice lighter than it had been.
“I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life,” I responded and it was true. In that moment all I really wanted to do was hunt down Tate and drag him in front of the minister so I could bind him to me forever, ceremony and guests be damned.
Luckily, I didn’t have to curb the impulse for too long because there was a knock at the door a moment later and then Mav was sticking his head into the room and saying, “It’s time.”
I didn’t actually seeany of the faces of the men and womenseated in the nearly dozens and dozens of elegant guest chairs that had been set up in the sun room. All I saw were the hundreds and hundreds of sparkling lights dancing above our heads as Magnus and I entered and waited for Seth and Ronan to get to the arch where the minister was waiting. Seth and Ronan held hands all the way down the aisle and I saw them kiss softly before splitting up to each go to one side of the arch which was sitting on a small, raised platform. Darkness was just starting to fall outside, casting a hauntingly beautiful shade of gray-blue over the water and mountains that were serving as the backdrop. The room was quiet except for the sound of Tristan playing Pachelbel’sCanon, the wedding music Tate and I had chosen for our walk down the aisle. Ronan and Seth had had the piano moved from where it normally sat in the living room to the sun room especially for the occasion.
I hadn’t yet seen Tate, but I knew he’d enter as soon as I reached the minister. I dropped down to give Matty a quick hug. “You okay, buddy?” I asked.
Matty nodded and patted his jacket pocket. “I’ve got them, Papa,” he whispered. We’d learned our lesson at Ronan and Seth’s wedding that putting the rings in Matty’s pants pocket hadn’t been the best idea.
“Okay, go do your thing. We’ll be right behind you, okay?”
Matty nodded and then he was giving Magnus a hug. “Love you, Pop-pop.”
“Love you too,” Magnus whispered. “Go get ‘em,” he said with a wink.
Matty began his walk down the aisle and Magnus and I waited several beats before we followed. But after just a few steps, there was a loud crash from somewhere inside of the house and we heard someone shouting. Everyone froze for a moment and then I heard what sounded like metal hitting the floor. The music stopped as a few more clangs followed and then a flash of white followed by a blur of yellow ran past me and Magnus. I realized Storm had somehow managed to get loose from wherever Ronan had stashed her and was chasing Tink. Several guests tried to grab Storm as sheflew past them, but she easily dodged them and headed right for Matty after Tink disappeared under a row of chairs. In her excitement, the puppy ran into Matty, knocking him to the ground.
“Matty,” I called and started moving forward, but I’d only gotten a few steps when I saw Dante, who’d been sitting in a nearby guest chair, step into the aisle.
He grabbed the overly excited Storm and held her as he scooped Matty up and put him onto his feet. My son appeared unhurt, but I saw him patting his pocket and then his face fell as he began frantically looking around. It took me a moment to realize one or both rings had fallen out of his pocket.
I was about to go to him when I saw Dante gently take hold of Matty’s arm and say something to him. I felt Magnus stiffen next to me. I grabbed him before he could stride forward and I didn’t miss the fact that his hard eyes were on Dante as the young man spoke to Matty. All the other guests had quieted as the man and boy spoke and then Dante was pointing to the ground near one of the chairs. Matty quickly snatched up the ring and put it back in his pocket.
I couldn’t hear what Dante was saying to him, but whatever it was, it had Matty smiling wide and then he patted Storm’s head before he gave Dante a hug. Dante pointed to Seth and Ronan who’d each started back down the aisle before stopping when they’d seen Dante helping Matty. Matty continued walking as Tristan started playing again and I saw Dante lift the fifty pound plus puppy in his arms and carry her off to the side of the room where he set her down and held on to her. I glanced at Magnus so we could continue our walk side by side and saw that his eyes were still on Dante.
And Dante’s were on his.
And for the first time since I’d known the young man, he actually looked embarrassed. It wasn’t until he dropped his eyes that Magnus seemed to remember where we were and we continued making our way down the aisle. Once we reached the end, Magnus shook my hand and pulled me into an embrace. “Congratulations, Hawke,” was all he said.
I nodded and stepped forward to where Ronan was standing, but I dropped down in front of Matty and said, “Are you okay, buddy?”
Matty nodded. “I’ve still got them, Papa,” he said as he patted his pocket.
I laughed and kissed his cheek. I stood and locked eyes with Ronan briefly before I took my place by the minister. I sucked in a breath as I turned to watch for Tate. When I finally laid eyes on him, I had to lock my knees at the sight of him.
To say he looked gorgeous in his tux wasn’t enough. But it wasn’t even the way the fine material molded to his perfect body that had me struggling to draw in air. It was the light shining from his eyes that had my heart doing cartwheels. Pure joy radiated from him as he entered the room, his mother at his side and clinging to his arm. His eyes immediately sought out mine and I was sure I was going to pass out from the lack of oxygen. I actually swayed so badly that the minister said, “You okay, son?”
I was fucking perfect. I managed to filter myself as I said, “I’m good,” but I didn’t take my eyes off Tate as I spoke.
On the one hand, it seemed like it took forever for Tate to reach me, but on the other, I could have stood there all day just drinking in the sight of him. When he reached the platform, he gave his mom a kiss and wiped at her face, presumably to dash away the stray tear that had slid down her cheek. She said something to him and he nodded before releasing her so she could join her husband and daughters in the front row. When Tate turned back to me, I ignored protocol and stepped forward to take his hand. As soon as he had stepped up the two stairs and was level with me, I brushed my mouth over his.
