Pippa winked at me. “I’m not supposed to have favorites, but that is my favorite. So, when’s the next Connor wedding? Is it going to be yours or Will’s?”
I laughed. “We haven’t yet set a date. But hey, I’m sure that as soon as we do, Will and Paige will finally set their own too.”
“Anyone up for making bets?” Val asked, rubbing her palms together in excitement.
We all followed Lori’s instructions as we took our seats. I was sitting between Val and Reid. I behaved, only shedding a few small tears... right until the vows.
Reid squeezed my hand, wiping at the corner of my eyes. Oh, damn.
“Don’t hold it in, sweet girl,” he murmured.
“It’s just that... weddings are a bit overwhelming. My parents would have loved this. I feel closer to them on wedding days, as if they’re here, watching over us.”
“I know.”
Oh, God. That was why he’d proposed today. I wanted to kiss him right here, right now, but it wouldn’t do. I’d volunteered to hold Carla, who was sleeping peacefully on my right shoulder. Reid glanced at Carla, then at me. There was that look again. It promised we’d start working on having our own nugget very, very soon.
I managed to compose myself by the time the ceremony was over, and it was time for group pictures—now I was smiling from ear to ear. Yup, weddings were emotional roller coasters.
“Oh, girl, how are you going to make it through your own wedding?” Val asked.
“With your help, of course. What’s family for if not to save me from myself?”
We took turns congratulating Jace and Brooke, who were both grinning.
“Congratulations to you too,” Jace said.
“Oh, we don’t want to steal your thunder,” I said quickly, even though I was dying to show off my ring and share every single detail of the proposal. I’d barely kept quiet during the makeup session. But that was a story better left for a Friday dinner. Today, we were celebrating Jace and Brooke. I hugged them both tight but couldn’t monopolize them any longer because there was a long line of guests behind us.
Everything was a whirlwind of activity right until we were officially invited inside the restaurant.
“Oooh, speeches are my favorite part,” I informed Reid when Landon stood up, holding a glass of champagne. Jace had chosen Will as his best man, but he’d asked Landon to be the first to make a speech.
“I just want to say a few words,” he began. “I’ve waited a long time for this day, to see my baby brother in love. Brooke, Jace, I am certain you will have a happy marriage. Embrace all the changes coming your way, enjoy every day next to each other. I think I speak for Val too when I say it’s been a joy to watch everyone in this family find their way in life and their better halves. I think Mom and Dad would be proud of all of us. I’m sure they’re watching us now, smiling, happy that we’re all here.”
And there I went again with the misty eyes. Reid laced his hand with mine between the chairs, squeezing it lightly. I loved him so much. He didn’t let go until all the speeches were over. After Jace and Brooke delighted us with an intricate choreography I wouldn’t have expected my brother to learn, everyone wanted to dance.
I was the first to stand from our table. Reid sighed, making me laugh.
“We’re dancing, Mr. Broody. I’m not taking no for an answer.”
Chuckling, he rose too. The entire family headed to the dance floor. The little ones, Carla and Evelyn, were in their dad’s arms. And I had to say, the girls had moves. Oh, we’d teach the new Connor generation all our tricks. Meddling? Check. Doing whatever it took to keep the family close? Double check. Loving without holding anything back? Hell, yes. We had plenty of wisdom to share when it came to love, loyalty, and life in general.
We danced and laughed the entire night, celebrating the only way we Connors knew how to do things: wholeheartedly.
***