As he takes the place Josh vacated, he lets out a long sigh. “It’s hard to get around some days,” Patrick admits. “Other days, I can’t get around at all, but thankfully, that’s not today.”
I nod, not sure what to say.
“I’m sure you’re wondering why I asked to speak with you.”
“Not really. I figured we would have one of these talks,” I say with a grin.
“Yes, I guess that’s true. Fathers and their daughters. A child is a wonderful gift a man can receive. Of course, when my wife was pregnant with Maren, I wished for a boy. Not sure why, but it was more of what I thought should happen. When we had her, I realized how nothing happens that shouldn’t.” He grins and pats my leg. “She’s the best thing in this world, and knowing that you’ll be here to care for her when I’m gone, well, it’s everything to me.”
Shit. I may have been expecting this conversation, but I wasn’t expecting the emotions that came with it. I clear my throat and look away.
Patrick continues. “I’m dying, and that’s a hard thing—mostly because I see the fear and sadness in the people I love. I hear Linda cry when she thinks I’m asleep, and Maren, well, she’s good at hiding things, but I can see it in her eyes. I don’t think there’s anything that girl wouldn’t do for me.”
He has no freaking idea. “I think you’re right about that.”
“I want to tell you, man-to-man, that I will never be able to express how much this means to me. All of what you’re doing, it’s . . .”
“What?” I ask for clarification.
“The sense of peace it gives me to know that she’ll have you by her side, that you’ll be there to hold her together when she falls apart, is something I can’t explain. I’ve held on for so long out of fear that those I love would need me, but Maren has you now.”
If I hadn’t been going to hell before, I would be now. “Patrick,” I say, hoping the rest of what I want to say will suddenly come to me, but truly, I’m at a loss.
“I’ll be able to rest easy knowing she’s not alone, but I need you to promise me something.”
No, no, no. I am not promising the McVee family anything else. I’m already in enough freaking hot water. I need to find a way back into the big guy’s good graces.
He continues on as though my silence is acceptance. “Promise me that, even when things are hard, you’ll always remember how special she is.”
Okay, that I can do. “I promise.”
“Good. And that you’ll always be there, even when I can’t be.”
I stay silent, feeling like the worst human being ever. Patrick rises, his hand resting on my shoulder as a tear falls down his cheek. “You’re exactly the kind of man I wished she’d find.”
And I’m the worst person who ever lived.
Eleven
MAREN
My entire family has arrived. My aunts, uncles, two cousins, the Parkersons have settled into their rooms, and both groups have gathered down at the lake for an informal meet and greet.
Well, it was supposed to be informal. I’m not sure Stella knows what that word means. There’s a full bar and servers, handing out champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Everyone is smiling, laughing, and getting along wonderfully.
Oliver comes up beside me, his hand settling on the small of my back. “Everyone is having a good time,” he says against my ear.
“I know, make it stop.”
He chuckles. “You want them to hate it?”
I press my hand to his chest, leaning in as though we’re talking about something that has embarrassed me. “No, but this is almost too easy.”
Oliver kisses my forehead. “Relax, let everyone have fun.”
I sigh, smiling up at him. “What about you? Are you having fun?”
“I’m not even sure what’s happening anymore.”
“Same,” I admit. “It’s like our families have been friends for a lifetime, and I was an idiot for spending so much time worrying about them getting along.”
I thought that it would be awkward, but it hasn’t been. Everyone hugged, my aunts gushed over how handsome Oliver was, and my uncles wanted to talk about the land.
Oliver and I fall silent, too lost in watching each other, until there’s a slight tapping on glasses.
We turn to look around, and my eyes land on his brothers, who are all grinning.
“Kiss her, Oliver,” Grayson says first.
Then Josh steps forward, lifting his glass. “To the happy couple.”
Oliver grumbles under his breath, but his smile doesn’t falter. He pulls me to his chest and then kisses me softly.
Josh laughs. “Kiss her like you mean it!”
He mutters again, and this time, I catch something about brothers and death before he plants one on me again. This kiss isn’t soft like the one before. He kisses me hard, and before I know it, I’m kissing him back.
My fingers grip his shirt, holding him tight until the laughter has us breaking apart.
I blink a few times, unsure of what the hell came over me, and Oliver steps back. “Good enough for you, brother?”
Josh grins. “Improvement for sure.” He raises his glass again. “As the best man, I’d like to say a few words.”
“No,” Oliver says quickly.
“It’s tradition,” Josh says smoothly, and his girlfriend, Delia, gives me an apologetic look. “My brother is the best person I know. He’s giving, willing to do anything for a friend in need, and always putting the people he loves first. It’s a gift, really, one that neither I nor my other siblings possess. Oliver truly is the best of us. Maren, it’s been an honor getting to know you, and we welcome you to the family.”
Everyone raises their glass and takes a sip as Josh makes his way over to us.
“I behaved.”
“Kind of,” Oliver says, draining the rest of his glass. “Also, who made you best man?”
“What, you were going to pick Grayson?”
“I was going to pick Stella since she has bigger balls than you. Or maybe Jack since I like him the most right now.”
“Since it’s not real, it doesn’t matter.” Josh shrugs as Delia wraps her arms around his middle.
“I’m so sorry for that. I made him promise to behave, but we all know that’s like trying to control a tornado,” Delia says as she looks up at him. “All things considered, it could’ve been worse.”
“It will be,” Josh promises. “The actual speech will be much more fun.”
She sighs. “This is the first time we’ve let him around adults since Everett was born, he’s a bit rusty.”
“Honestly, I’m not surprised. If someone in my family decides to do a speech, they’ll be doing the same. My aunts and uncles are all smartasses who would thrive on chaos,” I explain.
When I was little, my family was always up to mischief, usually my father was the object of their torment. It didn’t matter that he was the oldest of them, he was the easiest target. Daddy loved his hair and would spend hours making sure it was always in the right place, he agonized over his clothes, and it’s still a constant joke. Vanity will be my father’s ultimate downfall.
“Good, then we’ll find out everything we can about you so we can embarrass you tomorrow at the rehearsal.”
Linda and my father approach, and Oliver takes my hand, squeezing just a little.