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“You’re literally ten seconds away.”
“Glad you’ve got a timer running.” Lee took Rosalie’s hand and led her into the house without introducing Will. If he only had ten seconds, he better get into the kitchen area of the house as quickly as he could.
“Trav wants us back in the bedroom,” Will said, still hot on his heels.
“All right,” Lee said. “We’ve got time, Will.” He wanted to introduce Rosalie around, and he’d planned for this. Trav had plenty of time before he had to be out in the tent.For crying out loud, he thought.
“He’s bringing her in right now,” Rissa said just beyond the arched entrance to the left side of the house, where the Coopers cooked and ate dinner every night. “Everyone, be nice.”
Lee scoffed as he entered the kitchen, every eye stuck on him and Rosalie. In that moment, he knew what a huge—huge—mistake he’d made in bringing her to this wedding. Attending alone would’ve been better.
He took one look at Cherry—a very unhappy, standing by herself Cherry—and recalled the thought. He did not want to be alone today.
“Everyone,” he said in a clear voice. “This is Rosalie Reynolds. She’s my guest today, so y’all show ‘er that we Coopers know how to behave.”
Mama glowed like a lit jack-o-lantern on a cold October night, and Lee rolled his eyes. He met Mama’s, silently begging her not to do what she did. She took the glow down to a beam, and Rissa stepped forward to welcome Rosalie first.
Lee did exactly as he promised he would—he stayed right by her side as she met everyone. Will’s impatience floated on the air like a stink, and finally Lee couldn’t take it anymore. “Trav,” he said. “You ready?”
“Yep.” His brother grinned at everyone and led the way out of the kitchen. Shayla wasn’t here, and she was the only one they were missing. Even Daddy’s brother had come from Beeville, and Uncle Denny looked about as old as Texas.
Lee placed another kiss on Rosalie’s cheek and said, “I’m gonna leave you with my sisters for ten minutes, okay, baby? Cherry promised me she’d take good care of you.”
“They’re great,” Rosalie whispered before Lee met his daddy at the arch to go with the other boys. He turned back at the sound of Cherry’s voice, and she had stepped right over to Rosalie. She took her over to the couch against the far wall, where Mama had sat.
Lee smiled and ducked out of the kitchen, following his father down the hall to the bedroom he’d had as a kid. Mama and Daddy had cleaned it out years and years ago, and now, Travis was almost dressed in his deep, dark tux. His fingers fiddled with the bowtie around his neck until Will pushed his hands away and did it himself.
“What’s with Will?” Lee asked Daddy, both of then stationed near the door.
“Somethin’ about his beehives getting tipped over,” Daddy said, his voice as equally as low. “I think he’s wishin’ today was his wedding day.”
“Makes two of us,” Lee said before he could censor himself.
Daddy put his hand on Lee’s shoulder and waited. Lee knew this tactic, but he still took an extra moment to look his father in the eye. “Lee, you’re a good man, with a good head on your shoulders and a good heart in your chest. If you want this.” He indicated Travis in front of the full-length mirror across the room, pure joy streaming from him. “You’ll get it.”
“Thanks, Daddy,” Lee murmured. “I know you just met her, but what’s your first impression of Rosalie?”
“I think she suits you, son,” Daddy said just as Will turned toward them.
“What are you two whispering about over there?” he demanded. “Get over here. Trav wants to do a family prayer.”
“The girls aren’t here,” Lee pointed out, and he could’ve withered to dead under Will’s glare. He could’ve—and should’ve—kept his mouth shut. “Sorry.” He reached into his inside jacket pocket and pulled out a jewelry box. “Travis, I brought these for you.”
His youngest brother took the box, his eyes wide. “What are they?”
“Open it.”
He did, and he sucked in his breath. “Lee, these are granddad’s.”
“They’re yours now,” Lee said. “Actually, I thought maybe Will would wear them when he marries Gretchen, and if I ever get married again, I can have them back.” He caught a glimpse of the cufflinks in the box as Travis tilted it for Will to see.
Both of them looked up at him simultaneously, and Lee hated this part of being in his family. Everyone looked at him like he should know more than them, that he should be the one saying all the wise and deep things, that he should have counsel for them.
“Or you can keep them if you want.”
“I’d love to wear them,” Will said softly, all the fight gone from him just like that.
“Of course we’ll pass them around,” Trav said. “Daddy, can you help me?”
