Senior nodded in kind, and then leaned back into his corner of the couch. Nothing else to say between then.
Jesse stood as Zach walked out to the bedroom. Jesse immediately noticed that Zach’s tie was a little off center, but before he reached him his father was up and at Zach’s side.
“Your tie.” Senior fixed it with his confident, capable hands, then gave Zach a fatherly pat on the shoulder. Jesse settled back on his heels, suddenly too anxious to sit down again. He let out a slow breath through his nose and then another and another. He knew that later Zach would be honest with him about this moment. He had his own issues with Senior and his own opinions about their father’s choices, but that wasn’t the focus today. Zach’s gaze shot to him and then Sam, his smile brightening.
“I should have gone with the bolo,” Zach joked.
“Trying to jack my style,” Sam said, deadpan from his spot on the arm of the love seat.
“Shouldn’t be anyone’s style,” their cousin Brandon laughed.
Senior let out his own chuckle before he straightened Zach’s lapels. “No, the bolo is style, class, and function all the way. It takes a certain kind of man to pull that off.”
“Like I said, the bolo is all mine,” Sam insisted.
“You look great,” Jesse said.
“Thanks, man,” Zach said, before he crossed the room and clasped palms with Jesse. “You ready?”
“Are you?”
“You know I am,” Zach replied, his eyes shining already. “I get to marry Evie Buchanan.”
Heads turned toward the knock at the door before they could all do the manly posturing of dashing away tears of joy. Cole, one of Zach’s roommates from college, opened the door. Miss Leona stepped into the room, plumes of dove-gray fabric trailing behind her.
“Look at you all. So handsome.”
“Just trying to keep up with you, Miss Leona.”
“Stop sucking up, Christopher.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He laughed.
“Jesse Junior,” his grandmother said. There was still an edge of ice to her tone, but at least she was speaking to him.
“Yes, ma’am?” She beckoned him forward, the bangles on her wrist chiming together, and then nodded toward the door. He followed her out into the hallway, closing the door behind them. She turned back to face him, waiting a beat before she said anything, her stage training at work. Whatever she had to say, she wanted to make sure that he heard her loud and clear.
“You look very sharp.” She adjusted his boutonniere. “And tall.”
“You fed me too well.”
“Not possible. I wanted to give you a chance to apologize.”
“I am very sorry. I was caught off guard and being overprotective when it wasn’t my place. It won’t happen again. I think I managed to apologize to Mr. LeRoux and his daughter.”
“He told me you came by. I accept your apology and I wanted to let you know that Mr. LeRoux and I plan to keep seeing each other. He is a wonderfully kind man and he makes me laugh. I haven’t felt this way about anyone since your grandfather.”
“So it’s serious?”
“It is serious. We were just trying to enjoy ourselves for a while before we got the families involved. I haven’t told your father yet. Or your uncles. We were going to wait until after the wedding.”
“But?”
“But I just want to prepare you. August will be around more, and I need you to—”
“Keep it together. I will. And I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you. Are you ready for your speech?”
