Now she was walking to the man she loved. And they were going to have a very happy ever after.
Their family and friends gathered together in a quaint chapel that early January afternoon. Both sides of the aisle were bathed in color from the light that shown through the stained glass windows lining both sides of the sanctuary.
The room was adorned in sheer white fabric, draped from the ceiling and woven down the pillars that lined the sanctuary. The swaths of fabric swept around large porcelain vases containing brilliant yellow and red roses.
Stormy, dressed in her wedding gown, appearing like a queen fit for coronation, stealthily peered through a cracked side door at the sanctuary altar. It was all so dreamlike, all too perfect, and yet it was also all for her. A tan and calloused hand reached for hers.
“It’s time,” Sherman said. “But if you’re having second thoughts, you know I’ll sneak you out of here right now.”
“Oh, Sherman, that’s why I want to marry Cooper. Because I know I don’t have to.” Stormy smiled as she took her place next to Sherman, who looked so suave in his black tuxedo.
Cooper stood silent at the altar. That was all she needed to know.
In unison, a quartet of violinists and cellists placed their bows on their strings to play the first prolonged note of Pachelbel’s Canon. As the tempo of the soothing rhythm picked up, the wedding procession began their stoic march down the aisle.
Sherman escorted Stormy in perfect step to the music, preceded by the groomsmen and bridesmaids. The petal-covered aisle glowed in the afternoon sun still beaming brightly through the windows. Each row of guests turned to admire the bride as she passed by.
As the bridesmaids and groomsmen took their places at the altar, the string quartet ended their piece. Cooper and Stormy exchanged their vows before family and friends. The wedding went without incident, the scene both tender and elegant.
Upon their final I dos and the ceremonial kissing of the bride, the string quartet once again struck their chords to the tune of the wedding march. Those gathered in witness amongst the pews stood and clapped in praise of the union between two souls destined for each other as the happy couple made their way down the aisle, hand in hand—man and wife. Cinderella had found her prince.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
The wedding reception was well underway in one of the downtown Seattle Crown Plaza’s large ballrooms. The hotel staff was busy catering and tending to the needs of the guests as the jubilant wedding party celebrated with laughter and good spirits.
Meanwhile, a whole different sort of excitement was taking place in a neighboring janitor’s closet where Ace had taken his latest prize.
The woman moaned, her legs spread and resting on the shelves holding various cleaning supplies. Ace, almost in boredom, thrust himself to completion inside her. Barely even a hint of sweat showed on him, he’d been so uninvolved with the woman. He gave the unnamed girl one last kiss before pulling out, tossing the condom, and gathering his pants.
Staggering a bit when he stepped from the closet, he stopped to get his bearings. His head was spinning from the amount of alcohol he’d consumed.
Stumbling around the corner from the hallway to the entrance of the adjacent ballroom, Ace entered the party with a crash and a calamity of broken dishes and spilled champagne. The music ground to a halt as the partygoers turned in his direction.
“Ace?” Nick was the first one to recognize the brother he hadn’t spoken to in seven years.
“What are you doing here?” Maverick asked as he came to stand beside Nick.
“I invited him,” Cooper said. “I didn’t think he’d show. I wish he wouldn’t have now,” he added, as the three looked at their brother still sprawled on the floor.
“Hey, the black sheep has returned home for the matrimonial bliss of his eldest brother. I thought that entitled me to some celebrating,” Ace said, not caring if his brothers were looking down on him—literally and figuratively. What was new?
“Maybe you shouldn’t have returned if you still haven’t grown up,” Nick coldly told him.
“Come on, help me up,” Ace said.
With a sigh Nick reached down, and then Ace didn’t look so drunk anymore. He planted a right hook against Nick’s jaw, sending Nick sprawling to the floor, knocked out.
“Ace!” Cooper shouted, outraged by the unwarranted hit.
Stepping forward, Cooper grabbed Ace by the collar of his shirt and threw him through the doors and out into the lobby.
“What the hell is going on? You disappear for years only to show up at my wedding—my freaking wedding, Ace,” Cooper thundered. “I invited you because I’ve missed you. But if you’re going to act like a fool then I can’t do this,” he finished.