This morning I received a cryptic message from Eddie asking me to be at the church for a dress rehearsal with strict instructions to wear the dress that arrived for me. I don’t want to do it but he is my brother and if he has made his peace with Claire then I have to accept his choice.
I text him letting him know of my arrival when I am standing outside of the church. Minutes later my brother comes through the front doors of the church, closing them quickly behind him.
“You look beautiful, sis.”
“Thanks, but shouldn’t you be in there?”
“We need to talk.” His face matches his serious tone.
“Sure, what’s going on, Eddie?” I take his hands in mine.
“Promise me you’ll hear me out before you freak out on me?”
I narrow my eyes on him. “What’s going on?”
“I brought you here under a lie.”
“What do you mean?”
“Listen and let me do the talking alright?”
I nod even though I am dying to demand answers.
“I’m not the one who is getting married today.”
I start to speak but he gives me a stern look. It’s a look our father used to give us and my heart stutters in my chest. I miss our folks so much.
“Darin told me about Claire. I’m sorry I never listened to you. She’s a nasty bitch. She’ll never be mean to you again. She is out of our lives for good. Anyway, I already paid for a wedding. I thought mayb
e if you’re up to it…you’d like to make things official and make Darin my brother.”
“Um…What!?” I shriek in his face, dropping his hands. “Does Darin know about this?” I laugh. I mean, this shit is comical. Does he really think he can just push Darin and me together like this?
“He’s waiting inside for you, Faye. He loves you. He has for a long time, and I couldn’t think of two better people to get married. You and him deserve a happy ending.”
“You’re serious?”
He nods.
“Eddie.” I struggle to breath as I grasp at the pearls around my neck. They belonged to my mother.
“You don’t have to. No one is forcing you.”
“I can’t…married. Eddie, have you lost your mind?”
He shrugs. “When you really love someone, who needs to be practical. I wasted so much time trying to fit into Claire’s world. It never really hit me. I shouldn’t have had to change. She should have loved me for who I was not who she wanted me to be. You have that with Darin. I’m just saying…this is my gift to the two of you. If you really love each other nothing should hold you back. Life’s too short.”
“I…” I struggle to find words. “He really wants to marry me?”
“Yes, is that so hard to imagine?” His green eyes matching my own stare at me, willing me to say yes.
“I have to think about this. I can’t marry him today.” I shake my head.
“Okay, Faye. If you need time take it. I’ll go let Darin down easy.”
His words hit me. Pushing all the doubt aside, I think about Darin. His smile. How much he loves his dog. The way it felt when he kissed me. He made my toes curl. No man has ever affected me like he does.
When I think about my life…where I have been…where I am going…I know one thing for sure—there is one man other than my brother who I picture always being in my life and he’s Darin.