Not so today.
“Taylor and Curt have prepared their own vows today,” Reverend Shawn announced to the crowded church. Although they’d only invited family and close friends, there wasn't an empty pew in the 18th-century church.
Although no one else knew it, his wedding vows were not the only ones he’d prepared for this afternoon. In hindsight, he should’ve given the reverend a heads-up on his plan for today. But it was a little too late now. “Reverend Shawn, before Taylor and I exchange vows, there is something else I need to do.”
The reverend’s lips parted, and he glanced at Taylor before meeting his eyes again. “Certainly, this day is all about the two of you.”
You’re mostly correct. Walking past Taylor, Curt took Reese’s hand and led her back to where he’d been standing. Then he dropped to one knee, so he was at her eye level and pulled the gold heart pendant necklace from his pocket.
“Reese Walker, soon-to-be Reese Sherbrooke, you and your aunt Taylor captured my heart a long time ago. No matter what, I promise to love you, take care of you, and be the best father I can possibly be.” He barely managed to fasten the necklace around her neck before she threw her arms around him.
“I love you too.” As quickly as she hugged him, Reese let go and moved back into her spot between Lillian and Leah.
Tears glistened in Taylor’s eyes when he rejoined her. “I love you.” Although they’d yet to exchange vows, she kissed him.
Curt watched Taylor, Reese, and several other wedding guests perform the Old Town Road dance. It wasn’t a song he would’ve added to the reception playlist, but both Reese and Taylor liked it. And as long as he didn’t have to dance to it, he didn’t care if the DJ played it.
“After that vow you made to Reese in the church, you’re probably Mom’s favorite child,” Brett said.
With Taylor dancing, he’d joined his brother and a few of his guests whose companions were on the dance floor.
“Never mind being Aunt Judith’s favorite child. He earned brownie points with every one of our female relatives this afternoon. I swear, when he dropped to one knee in front of Reese, every woman in the church was on the verge of tears,” Jake said as he reached for his wineglass. “I t
hink even my dad was.”
Curt would accept that his aunts and maybe his female cousins had teared up a little, but not Uncle Warren.
“Sara did cry. Then again, it doesn’t take much these days. Were Callie and Charlie overly emotional when they were pregnant?” Christopher asked his brothers-in-law, Jake and Dylan.
Jake shook his head. “Charlie had terrible morning sickness, but I don’t remember her being emotional.”
“Callie just had strange food cravings,” Dylan answered.
“Lucky you.” Christopher clasped his hands together on the table. “Just so I know if I should bring tissues or not, do you have any emotional surprises planned for your wedding, Brett?”
“I didn’t, but now I might need to come up with something so that I can be Mom’s favorite son again.”
Leah slapped their brother on the arm. “Leave him alone. It is his wedding day.” Putting her arm around his shoulders, she kissed his cheek. “What you did was perfect. And you made Reese’s day. It was all she could talk about in the limo on the way here.”
“Hey, we’re only giving you a hard time because we can,” Jake commented, looking serious for the first time since Curt joined the group. “Not that it matters. We all adore Reese and thought what you did for her was great.”
Before they’d left the church, his brother had pulled him aside and said more or less the same thing. Jake’s statement and the nods of agreement it received now didn’t surprise him either.
Yep, Jake was right. Still, the way everyone from his mom and dad to his cousins had welcomed her into the family meant a lot to him.
Out on the dance floor, the current song ended. Rather than return to him, Taylor and his cousin Juliette walked off toward where Aaron, who’d proposed to his cousin the weekend they used Curt’s house in Newport, Mom, Aunt Marilyn, and Priscilla were sitting. Reese didn’t come looking for him either. Instead, she took James, Dylan’s son, by the hand and moved back onto the dance floor. Although the youngest generation of Sherbrookes and Belmonts hadn’t attended the previous three weddings this year, all of them were there today, even Courtney’s son, who had been born in mid-October.
“She’s great with children,” Leah commented. “You and Taylor have a fantastic future babysitter right there.”
He’d thought the same thing on numerous occasions. “Speaking of needing a babysitter, did Alec’s date leave?” It took him a moment to locate his younger cousin sitting with their grandmother, Uncle Warren, and Uncle Mark, his cousin’s father.
“I saw them having a disagreement in the lobby when I went to the ladies’ room,” Leah explained, accepting the glass Gavin handed her when he returned from dancing with his daughter, Erin.
“I must admit I feel a little bad for him. He’s the only one of us left for Tasha to go after now.” Jake’s smile conveyed the opposite of sympathy.
The daughter of Richard Marshall, a close friend of his father and uncles, Tasha had gotten it in her head years ago that she wanted to marry into the Sherbrooke family. She didn’t seem to care which of the males got her there. Tasha had started by going after Jake. Once he’d been off the market, she’d worked her way down the line. Since they’d limited their guest list to only family members, Curt hadn’t invited her or her parents to the wedding. His brother wouldn’t be as lucky. Not only did Brett work with Richard now that he was a senator in Washington, but Richard and his wife were close friends of their parents. Whenever events such as weddings or holiday parties took place, the two families included each other.
“Maybe we should hire Alec a bodyguard from Elite Force for Brett’s wedding,” Curt suggested.