Chapter 35

Chapter Thirty-Five

Noah

I found it funny that, not for the first time, I was standing in the Hamilton mausoleum watching Ella while she spoke to her brother's grave.

If I were a superstitious man, I wouldn't want to see her before the wedding, but my life experiences had taught me that God was in charge and I didn't need superstition. There was such happiness in my soul right now, both because she was going to marry me and because I'd heard what she'd said to her brother. Everything was working out.

God really did have perfect timing.

I retreated toward the church just in time to watch Damon pull up with his sidekicks, Jason and Trent.

"Uncle Noah!" Trent called out as he rushed toward me.

I would've told him to quit running so he wouldn't hurt his arm, but I didn't want to jinx it. Funny—I'd just told myself I didn't believe in superstition.

Jason also ran toward me, and I scooped them both up in my arms and squeezed them in a big hug.

When I put them down, Damon was there, laughing and slapping me on the shoulder. "Are you ready for this?"

I pulled back. "Born ready."

Then I watched as my other brothers and Kayla got out of our parents' large passenger van. All of them were dressed to the nines and looked amazing. One by one, they greeted me and gave me words of encouragement.

Kayla was last. She looked me up and down and then fixed my tie. "You're not going to run out on us, are you?"

I pulled her into a hug. "Even though you're not my cancer kid sister, you are my kid sister and I love you."

She rolled her eyes and laughed. "Way to piss me off and make me love you all at the same time."

I winked.

My parents each gave me a hug in turn.

"I guess you never thought your heart attack would bring all this about, old man," I teased.

My dad pumped his eyebrows. "Or maybe I knew all along."

I laughed uneasily. Whenever my dad spoke like that, it made me wonder if he knew more than he was letting on.

"He didn't," my mom said with a laugh. "He's just teasing you."

I took my mom's hand and gently squeezed it. "I love you. Thank you for being my lifeline all these years."

She leaned in and kissed my cheek, being careful not to get lipstick all over me. "I knew you'd come back." She winked. "And I do mean that."