I nod, never having heard this from Reuben. His brothers are in the living room, joking around, laughing, passing around a bottle of whiskey per the family tradition. But Reuben and I have stepped aside and I can tell he's trying to give me some brotherly advice, which, to be honest, I appreciate more than he could know.
I don't have any brothers. I don't have any family here. The fact he gets that makes me grateful that he'll be my brother-in-law.
"Anyways," he says, "I fell hard for Lou the day we met, just like you fell for Lemon. Everyone thought we were crazy because we were so young. I mean, we were only 18. They thought it was probably reckless what we were doing. But now that she's gone," he says, running a hand over his beard, "I'm happier than ever that we took that leap of faith when we did, because I cherish the memories we have, you know? You never know how long you have on this earth. So when you have the chance to lean into love, I figure, hell, you got to go in, all in. Which is what you’re doing now, with Lem."
I squeeze his shoulder. "I appreciate that, Reuben. You lost Lou Anna, what? Three years ago?"
He nods, "About four now. Crazy right? Time passes quickly. It flies by and being a single dad to Plum has only made time fly faster."
"You okay being on your own?" I ask him, not knowing how to phrase, do you want to get married again, without coming off as insensitive.
He gives me a crooked grin. "Yeah. I'm not opposed to falling in love. I just haven't met the right girl. The right woman who could be a mom to Plum."
I smile. "She'd have to be pretty special."
He nods. "Hell yeah. Plum’s my whole world."
"Maybe you'll find her this summer," I say.
Reuben chuckles, "I won't hold my breath. A woman that could make me risk the good thing I've got going with my little girl would have to come out of nowhere."
"I came out of nowhere for Lemon, and hell, she came out of nowhere for me."
"Fair enough," Reuben says, "Then you never know. Maybe this summer, love will find me too. But in the meantime," he says, his eyes on me, "you've got to go say I do. I think everybody's waiting on you."
Just then, Red comes into my house through the back door. "You boys about ready to get the show on the road?"
Lemon’s brothers stand, smooth the fronts of their pants. Red shakes his head at them. "Hope you haven't been drinking too much, boys; this is your sister’s big day."
"Nah, we've been doing good, Dad. I promise," Bartlett says.
Mac laughs. "Lemon would wring our necks if we weren't walking the straight and narrow for her wedding day."
"Well, you better come out here now because the Rowdy boys, they're ready to throw down, so we better get the business out of the way so the party can begin," Red tells his sons.
I chuckle, having only met the Rowdy cousins a few times: Cash, on that first day I met Lemon's brothers. The rest of the Rowdy crew are all different levels of rambunctious. And if I feel overwhelmed with the fact I have five new brothers-in-law, it hasn’t even sunk in that the Rowdy family is now my family by marriage.
"Thanks, Red, for everything you have done for me and Lemon, to make today special." Red gives me a hug. "Son," he says, "I'm happy as hell to have you in the family. Now you better treat my girl right. I need her in my business."
"I don't think she's going anywhere, sir."
"You got to stop calling me sir. You hear?" Red says with a grin. "Now, you ready for this?"
We walk out on the back porch. On the lawn next door is a beautiful archway for us to say our vows under, flowers everywhere. White chairs are lined up in rows. Lemon's entire family is here: grandma, grandpa, aunts and uncles, cousins, brothers, sister, sisters-in-law, everyone. Half of Home, really.
I take my place next to the pastor. "Thank you again for being here, especially on a holiday."
"My whole family's here," Pastor Andy says. "Wouldn't miss the Rough family 4th of July party. It's a tradition."
I grin, realizing how lucky I am to be marrying a Rough. This family, it plays for keeps, and Lemon, she's my forever.
When she walks down the aisle, I catch my breath. Maybe that's corny to say, but I do. She is a vision in white, flowers in her hair, a smile on her face that is wide and her eyes bright blue. I shake my head in awe, thankful and grateful and wondering how the fuck I got so lucky.
The ceremony happens quickly. I say what I'm supposed to, but really I'm just aching to kiss my bride. When Pastor Andy tells me it's time, I lift her chin with the hook of my finger and I draw Lemon's lips to mine. I kiss her softly. Then more deeply as the whole damn family begins to hoot and holler just like Lemon warned they would. The Rowdy boys, probably the loudest of all.