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  Christian clenched his fists to his side. He’d turned her away, why did it hurt so bad to think about her?

  With two beers and a glass of champagne already floating in his system, Chris sat down for dinner next to his sister. Thank God for bread, because once they passed around another flute of champagne he was expected to stand up and give a nice speech. Worse, he was expected to do it again tomorrow night—a different speech.

  Clara patted his arm. “You’re up.”

  Chris’s mouth went dry and he licked his lips as he stood. He was supposed to be prepared, but he wasn’t. Couldn’t Warner, his professional performing brother-in-law, give the speech?

  He cleared his throat. “Ed and Darcy. Well, we made it to this day. I don’t know about you, but it seems as though you’ve been planning it forever.” Everyone laughed and he loosened the tie his sister had tightened again. “I love you both and I’m so glad you found each other.” He cleared his throat again. “Darcy, you are a wonderful addition to our family. And I don’t just mean our little family. I mean all of the Keller/Benson family.” He watched her dab a tear from her eye. “Ed, you’re a pain in the ass.” Again, everyone laughed. “But I can’t think of a stronger man I’d like to follow though in this life.” He held his glass high. “The best to you both—forever.”

  Everyone applauded and sipped their drink. Chris noticed his hand shook and he downed the golden liquid just to numb himself.

  It was then he was reprieved from being the center of attention when his cousin Tyler walked through the door.

  The gasps and sobs continued as Regan flew from her seat and toward her son who, almost two years earlier had abandoned the family, to find himself, after learning that Darcy was the sister he’d never known about.

  Christian sat back down in his chair and let the room swarm around Tyler. He was much more comfortable with that. He’d take his moment with him. He understood feeling lost. But Chris had to admit, he was glad to see him again.

  Tyler joined them for dinner in the private dining room and Christian was able to relax into his chair and no one seemed to notice him.

  After dessert, he took his glass of water out onto the veranda and watched the people who gathered under the atrium.

  “You look far away, cuz.” Tyler slapped a hand on Chris’s shoulder and left it there.

  “It’s nice to see you.”

  Tyler rested his arms on the railing and looked down at the people below as Chris was doing. “I’m not quite ready to come back.”

  “Everyone misses you.”

  “I’m dying not being around everyone.” He turned and leaned against the railing looking into the room where their family celebrated. “I’ve really tried to think about what my mom was going through when Darcy was born. For Darcy’s sake, she did the right thing by giving her up for adoption.”

  “So what’s holding you back from forgiving her completely and coming home?”

  Tyler shrugged. “She kept it from us and that hurts. I get it, God, I get it. But…”

  “I know.” Chris turned and leaned against the railing next to his cousin. “If you do decide to come back I have a lot of space in my house. You’re welcome to stay.”

  Tyler chuckled. “So you and Tori?”

  “Old news.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. She was something really special.”

  Didn’t he know it? He thought about the hotel they stood in, and the memory of their first date played in his head. They’d gone to his Aunt Simone’s fundraiser and his best friend had set him up with his sister-in-law. It hadn’t taken long for him to fall in love with Tori. Making it even funnier was the thought that he’d met Darcy that night too.

  Chris sipped his water. “I can’t be a father to her niece and nephew. I’m still trying to wrap my head around what has happened in my life in the past few years.”

  “It can only get better, right?”

  He hoped so.

  Tyler moved from the railing. “Well, even if things don’t work out in the forever department, maybe you can still be friends.”

  “That’s what I’m hoping for.”

  “And who knows, maybe I’ll take you up on that extra space.”

  Tyler gave him a nod and went back into the room with their family.

  Chris let out a steady breath. He’d already decided that friendship was possible. Yeah, he’d start with that.

  ~*~

  Victoria looked in the mirror and turned her head from side to side. She hadn’t realized how much she’d let herself go over the past year, until she’d been spoiled with a facial and an eyebrow wax. Even nearly a week later, she still looked refreshed. She studied her manicure. She’d managed to keep it intact too.

  Sonia looked at the dress that hung in the doorway to the bathroom. “I can’t believe they bought you a dress for the wedding.”

  “Look at the price tag. That would have set me back a month.”

  “It wasn’t about the price, Tori.”

  “I shouldn’t even be going to this wedding. This is all crazy.” She pulled her hair into a tail on the top of her head and wrapped a band around it. “I don’t belong with them anymore.”

  Sonia shook her head. “It would kill you not to go. Besides, I expect to see a picture of Christian in a tux.”

  The image was seared in her mind of what he looked like in—and out of—a tux.

  Sonia leaned against the doorjamb. “So you’re taking Scott?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Couldn’t you find someone safer?”

  Victoria laughed and turned to her friend. “Safer? Why do I want safe? I want sturdy and reliable. I want employed and well balanced. I want a father figure for the kids. Safe? I’m trying to move on. This is just a few hours away from the reality that the best man isn’t mine anymore. So I think Scott is as safe as it gets.”

  Sonia held up her hands as if to surrender. “Got it. I’d better head home and take my monkeys before they get your two more riled up.”

  Sonia turned and headed down the hallway to collect her kids from the family room. Victoria followed, yawning as she stepped over toys which had been scattered through the house.

  Sonia’s kids gathered their things and they headed toward the door.

  “Listen—if you need me you call me. You don’t owe Scott anything and you certainly don’t owe Chris anything either. You’re going to be there for Darcy and Ed. But if you or the kids need an escape you call me.”

  “I will.”

  “I mean it.”

  Victoria smiled. “I promise."

  Sonia kissed Victoria on the cheek and headed out to the minivan in the driveway.

  Victoria closed the door and rested her back against it. She looked at her home, now a mess with toys and mismatched clothing items. It would all keep until after the wedding. They were all going to need their beauty rest for tomorrow—and their strength.

  Chapter Five

  The hallway of the church was full of men and each of them were pacing in different directions. Ed, the one who should be pacing, stood in the center of the room like an anxious child waiting for a candy store to open.

  Carlos, their father, had just helped his parents into the church. Darcy’s father wrung his hands together until Clara poked her head out of the room down the hall and signaled for him. Regan, Simone, and Arianna walked out of the room with wide grins on their faces. They each grabbed their husbands and found their seats.

  Spencer and Tyler continued to seat late guests and then took their places by the door.

  Madeline was the last to leave the room and she was already wiping tears from her eyes. “Give me just one more moment, okay?” she said patting Ed’s cheek and hurrying to the restroom.

  Ed turned to Clara’s husband Warner. “You know you should have to deal with her when she’s like this. You took the chicken way out of it by eloping.”

  “You’re right. But we did end up with a few silent dinners because of it.”r />
  Ed grinned and turned to Chris, who continued to pace. “You look more nervous than I do.”

  “You look nervous.”

  “I do not.”

  “Okay, you’re right. Why aren’t you nervous?”

  Ed pushed back his shoulders. “I love her. I love her like I can’t imagine ever loving anyone else in my whole life.”

  Chris swallowed hard. “I’m really happy for you.”

  Just then, their mother walked out of the restroom. “This is as good as it’s going to get.”

  “Mom, I think you look wonderful.”

  The minster appeared from the chapel. “We are ready.”

  The men followed him down the aisle and Ed escorted his mother to her seat. He kissed her on the cheek and then did the same to his father before joining Chris and Warner.

  Warner’s guitar waited on a stand beside him. When he was given the signal by his wife, he picked up the guitar and began to play.

  Chris watched the door at the back of the church, careful not to look around. He wasn’t ready to meet the eyes of anyone—specifically Tori’s date.

  The guests turned in their seats and that was when Chris saw the flower girl and the ring bearer walk down the aisle with Avery’s gentle instructions being whispered to them.

  Christian leaned toward Ed. “When did Ali and Sam become part of your wedding?” he asked quietly through gritted teeth.

  “Last night,” Ed whispered. “Darcy wanted it.”

  Chris fisted his hands to his side and finally looked around at the guests.

  Seated on the bride’s side of the church was Tori. She was only three rows away from him, but he hadn’t seen her when he walked in.

  Seeing her there, turned around, taking pictures of her niece and nephew, he felt like bursting into a fit of tears himself. They were beautiful and she was obviously so proud of them.

  He appreciated her for a moment as she was turned from him. The beautiful dress the women had bought her exposed her sculpted shoulders and her long, soft neck. Small pearls dangled from her ears—pearls he’d given her.

  Blonde curls cascaded over her shoulders and he thought of the many times he’d brushed those strands away so he could kiss every inch of her delicate skin.

  His memories were quickly shattered when the man seated next to her grasped her hand in his and she turned to smile at him, still beaming as if those kids were theirs.

  The realization of the moment hurt. Perhaps that’s what was going on. This man had been the man to step in and take on that heavy burden with her.

  As Ali and Sam made it to the front of the sanctuary and Tori turned, his eyes locked with hers. A million painful emotions bounced between them as they kept each other’s gaze.

  Would she ever know how sorry he was?

  At that moment he certainly knew how sorry he was—and it was selfish.

  As the guests stood when Darcy and her father entered the sanctuary, Christian’s eyes were diverted from Tori. Not by the amazing vision in white walking toward his brother who was grinning like a fool, but because the man with Tori had stood and wrapped his arm protectively around her waist.

  There were a million videos that had gone viral on the internet where the best man had fallen over—Chris wondered how many of them started with a guilt ridden man wishing away all the hurtful words he’d said to a woman.

  As Darcy passed by Tori’s pew, Christian was sure to turn away and look toward his brother.

  Ed’s eyes were wide and the smile on his mouth had actually grown wider.

  Christian looked at Darcy. She was absolutely breath taking. He swallowed hard. Not once had he considered that he might cry at this wedding. He wasn’t supposed to be sentimental about it. He’d cried when his parents remarried, but that made sense.

  Quickly he batted away the first tear as the minister asked who gave the bride to the groom. When her father answered, he lifted Darcy’s veil and kissed her on the cheek before shaking Ed’s hand.

  And with that, the ceremony began and soon his brother was married.

  Christian looked at his sister, who sobbed like a child. A glance at Warner and he literally felt his knees wobble. There was a gaze going between them that said they were happy together and that they loved each other.

  Watching his brother kiss his new bride, Chris felt the pang of regret and jealousy mix in his chest.

  He so badly wanted to turn and look at Tori. He wanted to know if they still had that connection, but he was afraid to. What if he turned and she was looking at that man in the same way his brother and sister looked at their spouses?

  Giving his knees a slight bend he stood there applauding until it was time to give his sister his arm and escort her back down the aisle following their brother.

  Victoria madly dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief hoping that her makeup hadn’t run down her face and that perhaps there was a little of it left.

  Ali and Sam had been so cute walking down the aisle, she’d never had a chance to even try and keep her emotions intact.

  Scott rested his hand atop hers. “Are you going to be okay?”

  “I cry at weddings. It’s my curse.”

  He patted her hand. “It’s perfectly acceptable.”

  The pews were emptying out and Scott took her hand, interlaced their fingers, and they followed the guests out to the front of the church where the bride and groom would greet everyone.

  Ali and Sam broke free of Avery’s hands the moment they saw her. Sam ran to her quickly and she knelt down to scoop him up. “You did a good job.”

  “Rings!” He grinned.

  “That’s right.”

  “Did you see all of my flowers?” Ali stood next to her looking up at her.

  “I did! Did you have fun?”

  Ali nodded enthusiastically.

  Victoria looked up and noticed the reception line was moving along. Suddenly the nerves which had sickened her all morning now threatened to kill her in that line. Avery met guests with Spencer. Tyler seemed to have slipped away and she wondered if she should find him just to give her an excuse to leave the line as well.

  Warner and Clara were the next to greet guests and Clara scooped up Ali and held her on her waist.

  “I think Darcy made the right choice when she decided on a flower girl.”

  “She said I can keep the basket too,” Ali said.

  “She sure did.” Clara set Ali down on the ground. “Thank you for letting them do this on such short notice.”

  “They were thrilled,” she squeaked out as Clara’s husband Warner stepped out of the receiving line, leaving Christian exposed to her.

  He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, but an older woman had him deep in conversation—or was giving him an earful of her conversation.

  “Let me take him,” Scott said reaching for Sam who easily went to him.

  With Ali between them they took a step toward Christian at the same moment Scott slid his arm around her waist.

  Victoria’s breath caught in her lungs. Scott knew nothing of Christian. He was an innocent party to the deceiving reason she’d invited him to the wedding. But she couldn’t have faced the Kellers alone. Christian had kicked her and her newly inherited family to the curb, figuratively of course.

  She’d gone out with Scott a few times over the past month and he was a nice and gentle man. He hadn’t been too forward. Not once had he suggested she let him spend the night or ditch the kids and stay with him. They’d shared a few heated kisses, though they were weak in comparison to even the memory of Christian’s kisses. But Scott was mentally healthy and happy. He loved the kids. There were so many positives. The only negative about him—he wasn’t Christian Keller.

  The woman who had been talking to Christian moved on to embrace Darcy and kiss both of her cheeks and he turned to look at her.

  “Hello, Tori.”

  She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Hello, Chris.”

  “I heard all about thi
s dress. You look lovely.”

  She’d noticed that he’d never even looked at the dress. His eyes were firm on hers.

  “I’m Scott Foster.”

  Scott held his hand out to Christian and she saw Christian’s jaw tighten.

  “Christian Keller, brother of the groom.”

  “Nice to meet you. It was a very nice wedding.”

  “It was perfect wasn’t it?” Darcy offered resting a hand on Christian’s shoulder. “Tori, you look beautiful.”

  She pulled her into an embrace and then pulled back to look at her.

  Victoria felt her cheeks heat. “You were all too kind to buy me the dress.”

  “And thank you for letting me use the kids.” Darcy knelt down among the many layers of her dress to be at Ali’s height. “You were the perfect flower girl.”

  “I can keep the basket right?”

  Darcy smiled. “You can.”

  “Rings!” Sam said loudly still perched on Scott’s hip.

  Darcy stood. “And you did wonderful too.” She lifted on her toes to kiss his cheek before extending her hand toward Scott. “I’m Darcy Keller…Oh, doesn’t that sound cool?”

  Ed wrapped his arm around Darcy’s shoulders. “Most perfect name ever.” He kissed her on the cheek and held his hand out to Scott. “Eduardo Keller.”

  “Scott Foster.”

  Victoria looked to Scott’s side and realized that at some point Christian had slipped away. She pressed her hand to her stomach where she was sure a lead ball had dropped.

  They’d pleasantly made it though the rest of the line and she’d introduced Scott to everyone along the way. It had been perfect Keller charm too—not one of them giving her pity or making Scott feel unwelcomed. In fact, if Chris himself didn’t say anything, Scott might never know what the family meant to her at all.

  They walked to the car and strapped the kids into their seats. When Victoria sat in her seat and latched the seat belt, Scott looked at her.

  “It was a nice wedding,” he said starting the engine.

  She closed her eyes and rested her head against the back of the seat. “It sure was.”