"About what?"
"My vows."
"Easton."
"Yeah."
"You wrote them three weeks ago. You've read them to me four times."
"I know."
"They're good."
"I know."
"What is it?"
"I don't know if I can get it out without losing it."
She was quiet for a beat. Then she turned her face against my shoulder and let her breath out. "Then lose it. I'll be right there."
I kissed the top of her head.
I didn't sleep after.
The morning came in cool, with the air still holding the river and the sun working at it from the east. By eight, the chairs were in the grass. By nine, the crew had the arch up at the rose end of the aisle, two posts and a crossbar Mendoza had built in the shop over the winter, with climbing roses Audrey had cut from Mrs. Halloran's back fence twined through the lattice. By ten, the band was set up on the back porch. By eleven, the caterer was in the kitchen, the bartender was at the side gate, and Duke was in the spare bedroom, swearing at his own tie.
I went in there at eleven-fifteen.
He was at the dresser mirror with the tie undone around his neck.
"Rhodes."
"Ford."
"You can't tie a tie."
"I can tie a tie. This tie is the wrong tie."
"That's the tie Audrey picked."
"I'm aware."
I came over and took the two ends. He let me. I did the four-in-hand because that was the one I'd learned at fifteen for my other grandmother's funeral and done on Sunday morningssince. I tightened it at the throat. I straightened it under his collar.
He looked at himself in the mirror.
"Are you good?"
"Yeah."
"Are you sure?"
"Ford."
"Yeah."
"Don't."
