Page 10 of Forever Flustered

“Yup – and I fly out tomorrow at nine in the morning,” Elijah volunteered knowingly. Thumper had found out from Loki what flight number Bode was going to be on – and had scheduled Elijah’s return flight in the very next seat beside his brother.

Bode started, surprised. “Are you stalking me?”

“Are you stalking me?” Elijah shot back, smirking.

“My turn! My turn!” Austin crowed in delight, making the two brothers look at each other and chuckle awkwardly in a sort of makeshift truce. Elijah dove into the role of ‘uncle’ without hesitation, taking the child from Bode and smiling as he tickled the boy on the stomach.

“Go marry your girl,” Elijah began. “We’ll be waiting in the front row for you two. Today is your day, and tomorrow will be soon enough for us to hash through the past or what our futures look like… brother.”

They exchanged a look. Bode held out a hand to him, offering to shake his hand as if to seal this fragile bond they were building, but it felt wrong – like something buddies would do. We’re brothers, and it was time we started acting like it, he thought humbly.

Elijah looked at Bode’s hand, then met his eyes, and stepped forward for a long-overdue hug. He felt Bode stiffen and tense, knowing it was because for so many, many years that ‘touch’ equaled ‘pain’ – but this was almost a bittersweet sort of ache that felt so good, so right.

“You do not get to make me bawl like a woman on my wedding day,” Bode whispered in a hushed voice, making him chuckle knowingly. He was precariously close to tears himself.

“That’s my new sister-in-law’s job, right?”

“Heck yeah, it is,” Bode rasped emotionally, clearing his throat and stepping back. Elijah felt a lump in his own throat, staring at his brother and recognizing how special this moment was between them. He was so grateful that Reaper and Thumper had reached out to him – and would never regret taking his chance… only to hear Bode speak once again.

“Now, sit down and let me show you how this is done – because now that you’re here in Yonder, you’ve been exposed to whatever’s happening here, Eli. Your ‘clock’ is now ticking, so watch and learn, brother… watch and learn.”

What the…?

Elijah’s lips parted in shock. What did Bode mean? What ‘clock’? Watch and learn… how to get married?

As if his brother could read his mind, Bode turned back to him again and patted his cheek in almost a condescending manner as his soon-to-be wife watched in the distance, smiling. Bode moved to the woman’s side and looked back over his shoulder to Elijah once more.

“It’s not so bad if you give it a shot,” Bode taunted knowingly and then turned to smile at his bride. “Let’s do this, Chicken.”

Chicken?

Did his brother just call his bride a ‘chicken’?

Austin chose that moment to holler ‘Cock-A-Doodle-Doo’ for everyone’s enjoyment as Paradox proceeded to speak over the couple. Elijah sat there, holding a two- or three-year-old squirming kid in his lap who kept making crowing sounds like it was nothing – and could feel everyone staring at him. He was completely unsure how to behave at this moment, and focused on the nuptials before him… basking in the fact that he was here at all. He was getting to see any other emotion on his brother’s face but rage, bitterness, or hatred - and witnessing their moment.

If this were my last day on Earth, it would be a good one… he thought, swallowing that lump in his throat once more as Bode promised to love, honor, and cherish Flora. He could hear the commitment, the emotion in his brother’s voice – all for a woman whose whole expression shone like the sun as she basked openly in his brother’s obvious love for her.

That’s how a couple should be, Elijah thought painfully, sniffing back tears and struggling to keep his composure. Mom and Dad don’t know what they could have been a part of – and it’s a shame that they’ll never understand what a real family is supposed to be like.

A second thought struck Elijah in that moment – as painful and ragged as if someone had speared him straight through the heart. That’s a true miracle… and I’m never going to be that lucky.

CHAPTER 4

MAUREEN

Staring at the beautiful man who’d called himself an angel, Maureen couldn’t help but be moved as she watched his profile during the ceremony. Yeah, she was supposed to be focusing on the bride and groom, but there was something about that man that drew her attention. Her eyes kept wandering toward him. He was trying to be cool and aloof, hanging onto a child in his lap who kept talking and touching everything, but then his throat would work, his Adam's apple bobbing beneath the collar of his uniform, giving away the fact that he was swallowing.

He’s trying not to cry… she marveled silently, remembering the cool, disconnected expression on his face when she’d spoken to him. That’s so beautiful to see someone moved like this – and it’s a guy. The last few guys she’d gone on a date with had tried so hard to be tough, to act macho, and that was fine, but sometimes it was nice to know there was more to a person. She wanted to get to know the being deep down inside – not be embarrassed by the show some guy was putting on to impress his date. That ‘show’ never worked and was more embarrassing than impressive…

“I love this,” Harley whispered, leaning toward her and handing her a tissue. “I love weddings so much, and they always make me emotional…”

“Thanks,” she replied distractedly, accepting the tissue as she continued watching him intensely.

“That’s Sidewinder’s brother,” Harley volunteered, whispering to her once more. “This is a reunion of sorts, and well…” her voice faded as Maureen watched the man’s stoic façade break as the groom kissed his bride enthusiastically before everyone.

A cheer rose from the crowd. Everyone cheered but him. The ‘archangel’ smiled tearfully; his lips trembled visibly, right before he wiped his eyes, and visibly pulling himself back together again. He’s hiding his emotions… but why? she thought silently.

Lots of people cry at weddings.