After locking Oyster up in the barn, I go back to sit with Pops in the main house while we wait for the nurse. She gets there an hour later, so I finally get to go join the groomsmen and Sam at Holden’s place.
Everyone is in high spirits, even though there’s a noticeable heaviness around us. I wish things were different for my sister and my best friend. I wish their wedding day didn’t have to feel like this. Maybe it’s mostly my perception after caring for Pops all this time and seeing the deterioration firsthand.
Sam seems happy. He’s smiling more than I’ve ever seen while Holden gives him marriage advice.
“I’m sure you know this, but the husband is supposed tomake breakfast on the weekends while she sleeps in. And she’s always right. And when she’s in the wrong, she’s never going to apologize.”
“This sounds very specific to?—”
Holden shoots me a glare, and I wisely shut up. Although I’m itching to get into a physical altercation; it might help me with the frustration that’s been lingering underneath my skin for the last week.
With the short planning time, the wedding is simple. Pops was able to walk Dolly down the aisle without a hitch. I timed his whiskey intake so that right when the ceremony started, he would be feeling good and ready for a nap about an hour later. It feels twisted, but at this point, I’m just trying to keep him happy and somewhat numb to the disease spreading inside his body.
The nurse knows he’s still drinking heavily. She argued with me about it at first, until I explained to her that he’s already a dying man and letting him have his whiskey and coffee isn’t going to make that happen any slower. I might have had to turn up the charm with her today when she saw how much I poured into his cup. I wanted Dolly’s wedding to go as smoothly as possible, and it is—so far.
Something gets in my eye when Sam says, “I do,” and I see the smile on my baby sister’s face.
“Who has the rings?” the preacher says.
I step up, grabbing Sam’s shoulder. He turns around, taking the rings from me and whispering, “Thanks, brother.”
He pulls me into a one-armed hug. Emotion whirls inside me as I pull him closer and hug him tighter. Sam and I have been through hell together. We’ve gotten into some fucked-up situations, and I know more about him than anyone. He’s been my brother for as long as I can remember, so making it legal just feels right.
I sniffle when we finally pull back and he turns back to Dolly. The rest of the ceremony is a blur. I try not to look at Dallas, who’s stunning in a pale yellow silk dress.
Once it’s over, I help Pops find his seat. His nurse sits beside him and tries to coax him into eating the brisket and beans a local barbecue restaurant catered.
I grab my own plate and pile it high with the delicious-flavored beef, beans, potato salad, and coleslaw before taking my seat at the table, where the rest of the wedding party is.
Cash claps me on the shoulder. “You ready to give that speech?”
I shrug. My mood has been off. I wish I could get it together for Dolly and Sam, but truthfully, I’m struggling to be in the moment. I can’t stop thinking about Pops.
“Hey, you gotta snap out of it, man. It sucks for all of us, but this day is for Sam and Dolly. What do you need?” He grips my shoulder, his dark brows pinched in concern.
I stare at the rim of my glass before finally meeting his gaze. “I need to go back in time and force him to stop drinking so he doesn’t have to die a week after his only daughter’s wedding.”
Unwelcome tears prick the corner of my eyes, and it makes me angry.
Cash’s face softens. “We all wish that. But we were kids back then. We didn’t know he’d never stop. Holden was trying to hold us all together, and he was still a teenager. You were nine years old, Duke.”
I slowly nod, the pain in my chest refusing to budge.
“Come on. Let’s go chug a beer.” He stands up, tapping Holden and Sam on the shoulder.
They look up from the conversation they were having with Rosie and Dolly.
“I’ll bring them right back, ladies,” Cash says.
We all walk out of the ceremony area, which is just a bunch of tables and chairs with lights strung up in the trees in the backyard. When we make it to the other side of the house, I see a shadow walking toward us. I tense up for a second before I realize who it is.
“You made it,” Sam says, pulling Sterling into a hug.
“Not quite. Missed the best part,” Sterling says.
“You’re here; that’s what matters.” Cash hugs him next.
I hold up the bottle of Four Roses I grabbed from the bar table when we passed by. “We’re doing celebratory shots. You coming?”
