CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

NOAH

Amber may have been in a weakened state, and I may have taken advantage.

We could have gotten married quickly in New York, but not as quickly as Vegas. More hoops to jump through, and I didn’t need that.

Things go smoothly in Las Vegas, and the ceremony is nice. Very professional, which is something I didn’t expect. Can’t believe everything you hear.

Twenty-five minutes after saying I do, we’re back on the plane. None of us are gamblers, so there was no sense in staying. Besides, I want to get home and share the news with my parents. They’re going to be happy.

Buck Johnson calls forty minutes out from New York. “You sitting down?”

I don’t care when people say that to me. It’s too foreboding. “Oh, Christ. What is it?”

“Good news.”

“Really?” I look at my brothers, then Amber. “Tell me.”

“Like it never happened.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s deleted everything or had somebody else do it. Doesn’t matter either way. It’s gone.”

I hold the mouthpiece of the phone against my shoulder. Say to my brothers, “Check Farrah’s social media.” I bring the phone back to my mouth. “How’d you do it so quickly?”

“Buck Johnson Esquire, that’s how. I tell people who’s calling, and they tremble. Feed ‘em that shit that if they want to mess with the bull, they’re gonna get the horn, and by God, I got the biggest fuckin’ horns in the pen. You get what I’m saying to ya, Noah?”

I chuckle because of the twang he’s using and because what he’s telling me isn’t too far from the truth. “I get what you’re saying, Buck.”

“Good.”

Blake taps my leg and shows me his phone. “Nothing.”

Rob concurs, “All gone.”

“Thanks a lot, Buck,” I say. “Make sure you send a bill.”

“Already in the mail.”

“I’ll talk to you.”

“Yeah. Later.”

I hang up. “That Buck is something, isn’t he?”

“Good at what he does,” Blake says.

“Nobody better,” Rob agrees.

“So,” Amber says. “Everything’s good.”

“Taken care of.”

She looks at me funny.

“You know what I mean. We’re not the Corleones.”

“Just kidding.”

“Good.”

Amber leans back in her seat. I take her hand and kiss it. Hold it until we land.

* * *

Our first stop is my parents.

I call them when we land and tell them I’m coming over. “Have a big surprise.”

Mom squeaks, “Oh, what is it?”

“You’ll find out.”

“Tell––”

I hang up. The suspense will kill her.

* * *

Mom and Dad are standing out front when we arrive. Mom’s arms are crossed in front of her chest, and she’s tapping a foot. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have hung up. But she’ll get over it; in about three more minutes.

My brothers bail out when the car stops.

“You ready?” I ask Amber.

“Yes.”

She shimmies out of the back seat and waits. I follow and clasp her hand. My brothers are standing next to my parents, and Mom is no longer scowling. She steps toward us, arms wide. “Amber, dear, how are you?”

“Fine, Mrs. Dalton.”

They embrace, and by the time they separate, Dad’s beside me. “You made your mother angry.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“Back together?”

“Married.”

Dad stumbles backward. Squeezes his eyes shut, then opens them. “You hear that, dear?”

“What?”

“Tell her.”

“We got married.”

“What? No.”

Mom grabs Amber’s hand and examines her ring finger. “What is this?” She’s studying a simple gold band. No big audacious diamonds. “Surely, you could have done better?”

“I think it’s perfect,” Amber comments.

“It’ll be fine, Mom,” I say.

Mom takes a deep breath like she does when she’s about to scold one of her sons. Blake tugs her sleeve and whispers something. By the way she lights up, he must have told her about the rings from Henry Winston. I’m a hero all of a sudden.

“Let’s go in the house,” Dad says. “Pop a bottle of champaign. Celebrate.”

“Yes.” Mom takes Amber’s arm.

“We’re not drinking,” I add.

“Of course, you are. It’s a celebration.”

“Amber’s pregnant, Dad.”

“Oh, my God!” Mom steadies herself before she caterwauls.

Dad hurries to comfort her.

“We’re going to be grandparents,” Mom wails. “Grandparents!”

“I know.” Dad smooths her hair.

Mom quits crying and holds her arm out for Amber to come.

She does, and Dad gives me a sign to do the same. I join in for a hug.

“Boys,” Dad says.

Which is a rallying cry for my brothers to converge. The embrace lasts two to three minutes before it finally breaks up.

“Wish Sarah were here,” Mom says.

“I know,” Dad says. “But we can call her when we get inside.”

Mom starts crying again. I haven’t seen her cry more than once in my entire life before today.

“What is it?” Dad asks her.

“They eloped. We weren’t there.”

It’s an emotional ride, seeing one’s mother cry. Especially when it’s from regret. I might be able to fix that.

“We can renew our vows, Mom. Amber and I have already talked about it.” We mentioned it more in passing than anything, but she doesn’t need to know.

“You can, can’t you?” Mom wipes her tears. “Let’s go in the house and start planning.” She takes Amber’s hand and walks. “This is so exciting.”

While Mom is ahead of us, Dad briefly explains that he got a phone call from Farrah’s father, and he couldn’t be more appalled. He was completely in the dark until Buck Johnson Esquire contacted him.

“Good choice using Buck, by the way.” He grins at me. “Anyhoo.” That’s a word I’ve never heard Dad use, but then again, he’s never been in this uncomfortable a position before. “If you don’t mind, we’ve forgiven them. The wives are too close. She’s your mom’s best friend. I just can’t…” His head shakes almost uncontrollably. “I love your mother too much.”

“That’s alright, Dad. Everything worked out.”

“It did, didn’t it?” He slaps my back. “I’m thrilled for you, son.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

We walk into the house. Mom and Amber are at the dining room table planning out a wedding. “This’ll be huge,” Mom chants. “I can’t wait.”

“I can’t either.”