“That’s going to be… interesting,” Mark said, taking both the glass and the bottle away from Carter. “I think maybe I will renew my contract if this is what I have to look forward to.”
“No!” said Grant as Mark helped him with his jacket. “You have to come work at the company. There’s always new tech to develop.”
“I’ll think about it,” Mark said, straightening Grant’s medals and ribbons.
Mark clasped the Medal of Honor around his neck, and Carter handed him his saber.
“Spit polish, Sergeant!” he said as Jack and Walter came into the room, beaming.
“You look so handsome.”
Jack patted him on the back. “I’d hug you, but I think Mark and Stefan would kill me if I wrinkled your uniform.”
They walked out into the garden. Grant breathed in the scent of fall as he looked around at all their friends and family that had joined together to watch the couple say their vows.
The music started, and Grant escorted Nancy down the aisle. His adoptive parents were not invited to the wedding. He had given the guards strict instructions not to let them in if they did decide to show up.
Gus, ribbons and flowers tied around his neck, was the ring bearer. He held a little pillow in his mouth that had the wedding rings lightly sewn on. Grant had been training him to walk down the path and stop right at his feet. When confronted with all the people, however, the corgi looked as if he was going to forget all his training and start wandering. Grant whistled, and Gus gamely walked down the path, looking from side to side at all the well-dressed wedding guests.
Grant took the rings from the dog when he sat at his feet. When the quartet started playing the processional, Gus jumped up. Kate was about to arrive.
Chapter 67
Kate
The morning of her wedding, Kate was in a tizzy as her hair and makeup were done.
Ginny hovered around her. “It was probably smart not to have so many bridesmaids,” she said. “We could wake up leisurely at eight to start getting ready.” Ginny waved a smoothie in front of her face.
“It’s kale—no dairy. You haven’t eaten anything.”
“I’m too nervous,” Kate said. “I’m second-guessing my dress, and maybe I should have chosen different flowers. Also,” she said, struggling to look out the window without moving her head too much, “maybe we should move the wedding inside.”
“Stop worrying,” Kate’s grandmother said, coming into the room. “You look amazing.”
Ginny helped the hairstylist pin a tiara in Kate’s hair. “You look stunning,” she said, turning Kate’s head this way and that.
“Do I?” Kate asked, studying herself in the mirror. She was wearing a strapless gown with a flowing skirt made out of layers of translucent gauzy lace and a smattering of silk flowers for decoration.
Nancy placed a faux fur cape around her shoulders. “It’s a bit nippy,” she said.
Kate slowly made her way out to the garden, with Ginny picking up her train so it wouldn’t drag on the floor. Kate’s mind was racing as she mentally went through her checklist and tried not to trip on her hem.
All of her worries left her thoughts when she looked down the aisle and saw Grant flanked by his cousins. Gus jumped up, wagging his tail and barking when he saw her, and the crowd laughed.
This is my family,Kate thought as she got teary-eyed. Her grandmother squeezed her hand then walked her down the aisle, since her father was too busy with his new family to bother showing up.
Margaret dabbed her tears when they stopped under the arch of flowers, squeezed Kate’s hand one more time, then took her seat.
Grant leaned down and kissed Kate.
“You’re supposed to wait until I say so,” the officiate said.
The ceremony was short and sweet; it was over before Kate even registered what was happening. Then Grant was kissing her.
“We’re married,” he whispered.
“I know.”
