We walked slowly down the row of seats, and I scanned the crowd for my family, smiling at them. I found Becky, and Sean, and Calley, too, and they whistled at us like we had just been announced homecoming king and queen. When I turned back to Reed, I realized he was only looking at me, his eyes never leaving my face. I smiled at him, and he returned it, his gaze never wavering. He walked me up the small steps at the front of the barn and leaned in to kiss me softly before we both stepped to our respective sides, whispering in my ear, “I’ll see you soon.”
The rest of the girls and guys filed in behind us, and both of Rosie’s sons walked her down the aisle, hugging their mother and shaking Buck’s hand before taking their seats at the front.
The wedding was officiated by an old friend of Buck’s, and he told funny stories throughout the ceremony, sometimes embarrassing Buck and leaning in to ask Rosie if she was sure she was making the right move. Everyone would chuckle, and Rosie would always say she was sure. The way she looked at Buck was enviable. It was what I wanted—to know that you had someone. Completely.
When the couple said, “I do,” the barn erupted in cheers, guests tossing white rose pedals at Buck and Rosie as they walked back down the aisle. Reed and I were next, and he just grabbed my hand, leading me through the rain of flowers in a jog, laughing and happy. We were happy. Perhaps our happiest.
The band started playing almost immediately, firing up the crowd and getting people on the dance floor. Sarah of course had danced with every guy available and was working her way through the girls. Reed, though, never left my side. He swung me around the dance floor, surprisingly good at the country two-step, and held me close for the few slow songs the band played.
We all stood back in a circle when Buck and Rosie took the floor for their dance. The band played a cover of Adele’s Make You Feel My Love, and watching Buck whisper in his bride’s ear, kiss her cheek, and hold her adoringly, made my knees weak and put tears in the eyes of a lot of the other women at the party.
Reed just stood behind me throughout the entire thing, his arms locked solidly around my body, and his chin resting on my shoulder, while he leaned down to be at my level. Each time I’d turn to look at him, I’d catch his eyes already on me, and he would take the opportunity to kiss me softly.
It was quickly becoming the most amazing night of my life. After a little while, we all found our way to the tables under the twinkling white lights the girls and I had strung. The effect only added to the stars that shown bright above, the full moon out for display, too. Rosie’s food was devoured, and soon after our plates were cleared, the servers started passing out the champagne. I took my glass and tasted a tiny sip, peeking at Reed and making a funny face.
“Don’t like it?” he scrunched his face, asking me.
“It’s okay. I never really cared for champagne,” I said, taking one more tiny sip and reevaluating my opinion a bit. “Well…actually, this is kinda good.”
He poked my side a little and kissed my neck. “Slow down there. I don’t need you getting all bold and tipsy and taking my dad’s clients to the pool tables down the road and hustling them out of cash.”
I was about to dish it right back to him when we were interrupted with the clanking of glasses and spoons, Buck getting our attention. A few people in the audience groaned, an inside joke about Buck’s long speeches.
“Yeah, yeah. It’s my wedding, and I’ll talk if I want to,” he teased back, belly laughing. When the room finally quieted, Buck took a deep breath and turned to Rosie before looking back out at the guests seated before him. “Thank you all, so much, for coming on out here tonight. I hope you’re having a good time. Chuck? Don? Great music boys!” Buck said, holding his glass up to toast the band.
“Tonight’s a big deal for me. Now, I know what you’re thinking. ‘But Buck, we’ve been to your weddings before’…and yeah, you have. I have a shitload of toasters, so thanks for those,” he laughed, getting even more chuckles from the crowd.
“But tonight’s different. You see, this one?” he said, leaning over to kiss Rosie’s head. “This one’s forever. She’s seen me at my worst. Hell, she’s taped me up and put me back together more times than my own mother. She’s yelled at me for being stupid, forced me to eat right, forgiven me for sneaking gallons of ice cream, and didn’t judge me when I told her I had young girlfriends because I was afraid of dying.”
The crowd was quiet at his words, his face full of love and affection as he turned to Rosie and spoke his words right to her. “Rose, my love. It took me years…way too many, I know…to get my head on straight. But it’s on there now, straight as an arrow. And I am so happy that I get to spend the rest of my years making up for lost time with you. I love you, my heart, and my soul. And thanks for picking me right back.”