As I began to head out, I stopped at the door, and a huge bouquet of white daisies was handed to me. I smiled, thinking back to Garrett giving me the first of many bouquets of white daisies. Then, my mind began drifting.
Peggy whispered into my ear, “Stop thinking about him like that. You just let out a moan, you horny bitch.”
I snapped my head over to Peggy and dropped my mouth open. “Oh my! Did I really?” I asked.
She nodded her head and winked at me.
I smiled and started walking. “I blame it all on Garrett Mathews.”
Margie huffed. “Romantic bastard.”
We all looked at each other and laughed.
I nodded my head and whispered, “Romantic doesn’t even begin to describe Garrett.”
“Son, are you okay?” my father asked from the other side of the door.
Yet again, I splashed my face with cold water. “Yes, sir. Just give me a few seconds.”
“Three times. Who throws up three times right before his wedding?” Billy said.
I rolled my eyes and looked into the mirror. “Lord, please…I don’t want to throw up on my beautiful bride.”
“What was that, Garrett? I didn’t hear you,” my father said.
I opened the door and tried to smile. “I was praying that I wouldn’t throw up on Emma.”
Billy was laughing his ass off.
I gave him a good shove and said, “Push off, you ass.”
“Boys, that’s enough. Billy, you’re fixin’ to be a father, so start acting like it,” my father said as he turned and looked at Billy.
I peeked around my father’s back and gave Billy the middle finger. I mouthed, Candy-ass.
His mouth dropped open, and he quickly said, “Dad! He’s giving me the finger.”
Our father walked away and said, “It’s his wedding, son. If he gave you the finger, I’m sure you deserved it. Oh, Garrett, don’t forget about my toast.”
I smiled and felt triumphant…for a whole two seconds.
“Garrett, it’s time,” Pastor Spencer gently said as he placed his hand on my shoulder.
I swallowed hard. “I think I’m going to throw up.”
Billy threw his head back and laughed as he walked into the sanctuary.
Pastor Spencer giggled. “Son, take a deep breath, and let’s make our way.”
As we walked down the aisle at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, I took everything in. I inhaled a deep breath and smelled the flowers as I took in the color of them. Light blue bows were tied on to the end of every pew. It all said Emma. I smiled as I pictured her here last night, putting on the bows and directing exactly where she’d wanted every flower to go. When I glanced up, I saw all the white daisies, and my mind drifted back to that warm day on the quilt under our tree.
I was snapped out of my daydream when Pastor Spencer said, “Garrett, take your spot.”
Billy was standing there, grinning from ear to ear. I couldn’t help but smile back at him. I shook my head as I thought about him becoming a father and making me an uncle. Even though we weren’t blood brothers, he would always be a brother to me. I looked at Raymond standing next to Billy, and when he winked at me, I gave him a nod back. The only person missing was Wayne. He had joined the Marines right after we graduated from college, and Billy had said the only reason he had joined was to get away from Anna and her constant hounding about getting married. Now, Wayne was engaged to a girl from South Carolina, and he’d talked about bringing her home to Texas soon.
The music began playing, and all three of us stood up straight.
Billy hit me on the arm and said, “Look at how cute she is!”