30. Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Jamie

It's about thirty minutes before the wedding and Sean is starting to panic. It's so out of character for him that I want to laugh and tell him to chill out, but I don't.

I look over at Liam who is sitting down watching his brother with a smirk on his face.

"What if she doesn't show up?" Sean runs a hand through his hair as he paces back and forth.

"That's not going to happen, brother," Liam answers from the chair he's sitting in and watching his brother with a glint of humor in his eyes. "Jessica adores you. "

"Penny did it!" Sean rubs his hand up and down his face. "She left Andrew standing at the altar."

"Thank goodness," Liam whispers. I turn to glare at him while trying not to laugh.

"Sean." I throw my arm around his shoulders and walk him to a chair and force him to sit. "Jessica is not Penny. And you are not Andrew."

He takes a deep breath and then slowly blows it out.

"I talked to Evie a little while ago."

"You did?" I did not, but if I don't do something to calm him down I'm afraid he might have a full blown panic attack.

"I did. And she said they are just waiting for the car to come pick them up." I hear Liam chuckle next to me and I press my lips together to keep the grin that's trying to break free.

"Well that's good news." A look of relief crosses Sean's face and I see the panic being replaced with a sense of calm in real time.

I pat him on the back and turn to look over at Liam pointedly. He shrugs at me with a grin so big that I swear his face might split.

This version of Liam is my favorite, but I wish he could be more serious when his brother is having a breakdown.

The wedding prelude music starts to play as people begin to arrive and head to grab a seat.

"Well, that's a good sign." Sean stands up and straightens his jacket. He shines me a smile so bright that I have to shake myself. That man's mood can change at the drop of a hat, leaving you with whiplash. "Let's head upstairs," he says.

Liam chuckles behind me, puts his hand on my shoulder and whispers as he walks past me. "He's so funny when he's nervous."

I stare at both of their backs with my mouth agape. I then shake my head, chuckle at them and follow.

When we get to the waiting area, Pastor Jake stops us.

"I know we practiced this already at the rehearsal, but some grooms get a bit nervous on the day of the wedding so I'm gonna review." We all look at Sean. He raises his hands and lifts his eyebrows, a look of pure innocence on his face. Liam and I laugh heartily.

"You're gonna wait here until you hear a pause. That pause will happen right before the wedding march you and Jessica chose starts playing. At that point you'll want to walk over to me and wait for your bride."

He smiles at all of us and looks pointedly at Sean. Sean smiles back and nods.

"Good." Pastor Jake turns and walks over to continue greeting the guests as they take their seats.

I watch Sean wipe his hands on his pants and straighten his jacket again. I turn my face to hide the smirk that I can't keep from my lips.

I hear a murmur of conversation and I look down to see the doors to the vestibule closing. My mom is standing at the back of the church waiting for me to come and escort her to her seat.

"Looks like they're here." I grab and shake Sean's shoulder as I head down to my mom. I nod my head and smile at the familiar people in the crowd as I close the distance between me and her.

"Jamie." She smiles at me and slips her hand through my extended arm. "How handsome you look."

"Hi, Mom." I bend and kiss her on the cheek as I place my hand over hers. We start to walk at a slower pace to her seat up front. "You look beautiful. Is everyone ready?"

"Yes. Jess looks stunning." She squeezes my arm and I notice her eyes are glassy. "And I'm pretty sure your father will be sobbing the entire time he's walking her down the aisle."

"I'm sure he's not going to be the only one," I tease and I feel her squeeze my arm.

We walk the remainder of the distance in silence as both of us smile and nod at all the familiar faces in the pew. I see Sean's bingo crew waving at and giving us thumbs up.

We both chuckle. My mom whispers. "Is that Ava Norris and her new husband?"

"Where?" I ask, looking around.

"She's wearing an apple red gown in the pew about five feet ahead." I roll my eyes at her and laugh.

"Apple red?" I mock her. She knows I have no idea what color that is except red. "I don't see her, but probably. She is the reason Sean and Jessica are together after all."

"Very true." My mom kisses me on the cheek as she lets go of my arm and takes her seat. I smile at her one last time and then head back over to my spot next to Sean.

The music stops and the back doors open, just as the pianist begins to play Pachelbel's Canon.

Sean takes a big breath and turns toward the church vestibule.

The first person we see is Penny, wearing an evergreen dress that matches our bow ties ( it's the only reason I know the color). Her strawberry blonde hair is in loose curls flowing down around her face.

Her eyes are locked with Liam's as she walks down the aisle. She beams his way and gives him a wide smile as she's midway down the aisle.

Motion at the door catches my eye and I see Evie. My heart stutters and then jump-starts at the sight of her.

Her light brown hair is styled in a loose bun with curls framing her face. She's wearing the same color dress as Penny, but where Penny's is across one shoulder, Evie's is a halter style.

My gaze finally finds its way to her face and my heart clenches at the way her eyes are shining with love at me. I can't stop how my lips lift as I watch her.

Every nerve ending in my body is firing as she walks past me to her place beside Penny.

She turns and catches my gaze. My heart slams against my chest as I swallow hard.

She winks at me and I'm pretty sure the grin that spreads across my face is going to crack my cheeks.

The bridal chorus begins and the rustle of clothes fills the church as everyone stands up and turns to face the bride.

I hear a gasp from Sean as Jessica takes her first step with my father. As predicted, my dad is crying as he holds my sister's hand, resting in his arm like a precious baby. Jess's smile is radiant as she focuses completely on Sean.

I turn to him and find his focus entirely on his bride.

The love that is evident between them is on full display for the world to see.

My gaze lands on Evie and my chest tightens. A smile lines her lips and her eyes shine with a brightness that takes my breath away. As if aware of my stare, she shifts her gaze to mine. A jolt of electricity rushes through my body at the impact and my stomach flutters.

She smirks and bites her bottom lip. I go to mouth I love you but my father blocks me just as I start. It's also a good reminder that I am at my best friend's and sister's wedding.

"Who presents this woman to be married to this man?" Pastor Jake asks.

"I do." My father picks my sister's hand up and goes to give it to Sean, but before he does I hear him say hoarsely, "Take care of her, son."

"I promise," Sean vows solemnly.

My mom smiles at my dad with glassy eyes and reaches out her hand. He grabs it and then leans in to kiss her on the cheek before sitting down.

"Welcome everyone. Today we gather to celebrate the love of Jessica and Sean on this very special day…" Pastor Jake begins the wedding sermon.

As I witness the bringing together of two very special people to me, I can't help but get caught up in the magic that is a wedding. There is just something very special about two people being willing to share their lives with each other.

Not just the good times, but the hard times and the sad times; making a commitment to be there for that person and promise to do that for all the days of your life.

My eyes are once again drawn to Evie, and I feel a certainty that I haven't felt before.

How did I ever think I could live without her? Why would I ever try to convince myself that I should? For an intelligent man, I can be really stupid.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife." Pastor Jake's words interrupt my musings. "You may now kiss the bride!"

The church erupts in claps and cheers as both Jessica and Sean smile from ear to ear. Sean puts one hand on Jessica's face and the other around her waist as he dips her dramatically.

Jessica's arms are wrapped around Sean's neck. As the kiss goes on, the clapping and cheering gets louder, and people are now hooting and hollering.

"At the rate they're going, we are never going to eat tonight!" Steve says loud enough to be heard over everyone.

The church erupts in laughter and Sean and Jessica finally come up for air. But honestly, it wouldn't be Sean if there wasn't just a touch of drama.

Jessica turns to Evie and grabs her bouquet. She then turns to her husband and beams at him before giving him another kiss. He brings her hand to his mouth and kisses it, never taking his eyes from hers, as they start walking out of the church to the wedding recessional song as everyone continues to clap.

I turn to Evie with my arm outstretched and a smile on my face. I notice that her cheeks are a bit damp.

"That was beautiful," she says as she rests her hand on my forearm.

When I don't start moving right away, she turns to look at me. I lean in and give her a soft kiss that I hope whispers the promises of the future I want for us.

"Okay, love birds," Liam's voice is by our ears. "You'll have plenty of time for that later. Right now we have a reception to get to."

I feel Evie's lips smile against mine and I reluctantly pull away from her. We start moving forward and I feel her squeeze my arm as she leans her body closer to mine.

"I love you." I lean in and whisper in her ear. "So very much."

"I love you, too." She turns bright eyes to me and my heart races.

A smile crosses my face as I realize I am a very lucky man.