When they were picking the place for their honeymoon, Sam said to Wyatt, "I've never been anywhere. Let's go somewhere where you've never been either." They settled on Catalina Island, where Wyatt planned to rent a speedboat and take Sam snorkeling.
As they were all getting ready to leave and saying their goodbyes, Wyatt's aunt stared into Sam's face searchingly like she was still trying to make up her mind about him.
"She is a hard nut to crack," Grandma hissed.
But Wyatt's aunt smiled suddenly and said to Sam, "You are something."
As she left to say goodbye to some of the friends she made in Peach Tree, Wyatt laughed. "Did you hear that? She said you're something. In our family that's a glowing compliment. That's my aunt's version of gushing."
"OK," Sam said though he didn't seem sure that he had won her over.
That's when Grandma stepped in, and she left no doubt how much she adored Sam. She cupped his face and said, "You sweet angel, you have yourself the best time and just let this man love you to death."
"Grandma, keep it clean," Rico warned her under his breath. "I don't want to have to cover the kids' ears."
The kids were out of earshot just then though.
"You have a go then. I want to say a thing or two to Wyatt," she said.
"About loving Sam to death, done and done," Wyatt said with a grin.
Grumbling, Rico turned away from those two and grabbed Sam by the shoulders. On thinking about it, he could only come up with one thing to say. "That thing Grandma told you, do that."
Sam laughed and hugged him. "I'll try he said." Then he whispered in Rico's ear. "I'm glad I got to see you in love."
"Hey!" Rico said like he objected to the accusation, but then he hugged Sam tighter. "I'm glad I met you and got to see you happy. Now go and have a wild honeymoon."
That's when the kids joined them, and Rico gave his grandmother a warning look.
"Is it over?" Sammy asked looking up at all of them sadly. "Is the wedding over?"
"Not at all. It's just beginning," Wyatt told her and kissed Sam to show her.
That made her smile, and she turned up her face so they could all see the happy gleam in her eyes. "Getting married is nice," she said while Mitch eyed Rico strangely.
Wondering what was on his mind, Rico peered at him questioningly, but he was unreadable as always.
"This is the first wedding Sammy has ever been to," was all Mitch said, and Sammy nodded to confirm it.
"I can marry you, Sammy," Riley volunteered, popping up in front of her eagerly.
"No, thank you. I'm busy," she said shaking her head and making her curls bounce.
Rico cracked up while Mitch looked at Sammy approvingly.
"For your first marriage proposal, that wasn't bad, Ry," Wyatt told him.
"Sammy likes me," Riley said confidently. "When I ate all the frosting from my cake and didn't have any, she gave me some of hers. She said, 'Not again, Ry.' Then she let me borrow some of the frosting from her cake."
"If that isn't proof," Wyatt said and kissed Riley's face.
"I think that boy is the most confident person I ever met," Mitch said in awe of him.
"Chip off the old uncle," Rico said.
From behind them, Wyatt's aunt spoke up. "You got him pegged. Wyatt was an unholy terror, afraid of nothing and no one." It was clear how proud she was of Wyatt, but a little sad too, probably thinking of his brother. They hugged and then it was time for them to go.
Everyone waved for a long time as their car drove away. Rico wrapped his arms around Mitch and gazed after them. As he enjoyed the sweet sadness of the moment, he tried not to think about what he wanted, what he longed for with all his heart.
