Here With Us, page 6
My vision clears, and my life comes into focus. Evan, with his hand on our son’s shoulder, is watching me with so much love and adoration. He’s who I’m meant to be with. When I finally reach them, I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself in check. I want to jump into his arms and profess my love for him, for our family. Unfortunately, there’s a time and a place for that, and it’s not while everyone is watching my every move. I sigh when the music stops, and everyone sits because this means we’re one step closer to becoming husband and wife.
“Welcome and thank you for being here today to witness the union between Evan and Ryley. Who gives this bride to this man?”
“I do, without hesitation,” my dad says as he places my hand into Evan’s. “Good luck, son.” Everyone laughs, including me.
“Now’s your chance to run,” I whisper.
“Nah,” Evan says with a crooked smile. “I’m right where I want to be.”
The Chaplain reads from his passages. He talks about love and how there isn’t a predetermined timeline for things to happen. I glance at Livvie and then Justin. He’s staring at her, and every time she looks at him, he smiles. The Chaplain speaks about how delicate life is, how we must love wholly, and never go to bed angry at one another because tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.
When it’s time for our vows, I hand my bouquet to Lois and place my other hand in Evan’s. We’ve chosen to go with the textbook version mostly because we don’t have any issues expressing our love for each other, and it’s nothing we need to share with our friends. Evan and I know how each other feel about one another. He leaves no doubts in my mind that he’s madly in love with me.
I hope I do the same for him.
“Without further ado, I now pronounce you, husband and wife. Evan, you may kiss your bride.”
Evan doesn’t hesitate and smashes his lips to mine. The initial awkwardness eases, and he puts his arm around my waist while the back of his hand strokes my cheek. When we part, he says, “I love you, Mrs. Archer.”
“I love you,” my words dangle in the air. For years, I’ve called him Archer, and I don’t want to stop, and I don’t want to add mister. “Archer,” I finally say. “You’ll always be Archer to me.”
“Fine by me,” he says. We part, hold hands and face our friends and family.
“It gives me great pleasure to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Evan Archer.”
Our hands go up, and we kiss again.
CHAPTER 9
EVAN
I’m thankful this is the only time I’ll ever get married. If I have to smile on command one more time, I may shoot someone. I don’t know who, but someone because this shit is hard. Chin up, move it slightly to the left, now right, look this way, that way . . . the only saving grace in all of this is Ryley. I’ll happily stand next to her for anything. I will say, every time the photographer tells me to kiss my wife, I eagerly oblige.
“Okay, we are done out here. The rest will be during the reception,” the photographer says.
“Oh, thank God. I’m starving,” EJ says, much to everyone’s enjoyment.
“Me too, bud.” With Ryley’s hand in mine, the group of us walk toward the reception. Ryley and I decided to let her parents put the reception together. It’s more of a party anyway, with the important part being our ceremony. Ry and I knew what we wanted there, but for the ending, we just wanted to have fun and relax.
Well, relax as much as I can. I knew something was up last night before I went to the Clarkes. I should’ve trusted my gut and stayed home, but my pride and manhood got in the way. This morning, when I caught up with Cara, she told me the car was a rental and needed a bit more time to track down the renter. I have a feeling she knows who it is but won’t tell me until tomorrow, once Ryley and I have had what little honeymoon we’re going to have. When I met up with Nate, he said he hadn’t slept a wink the night before, so he snuck Deefur out of EJ’s room before dawn and instructed him to “find it,” even though Nate didn’t know what “it” was. He said Deefur went around the property's perimeter with his nose stuck to the ground, and then Nate took him for a walk, hoping the dog would alert to a matching scent. Our dog is getting old, but I still trust him.
And then my day went downhill fast when Carole called and told me about the shack. She knew right off it wasn’t something I had done—or any of us for that matter—and said Ryley knew right away something was off. I hate that our lives have to be like this, questioning everything. During our photos, Jensen had some friends take it to a storage building where we could pull it apart, piece by piece. We have no idea what we’re going to find, but I suspect a listening device and camera. Someone definitely wants to know what we talk about—part of me thinks we should’ve had Ryley use the structure. I could’ve planted some great conspiracies in there.
We reach the tent where our reception is. When Ryley and I walk in, everyone cheers. Once again, we hold our joined hands high in the air. We chose All My Life by K-Ci as our first dance, and when it starts to play, I take my bride onto the dance floor. I hold her body to mine, and we sway to the music.
“You know, I think the last time we danced was at your homecoming.”
Ryley’s eyes light up. “Wow, you know I almost stayed home. I thought about bailing as soon as we got to the parking lot or excusing myself to go to the bathroom. I guess it’s a good thing Lois held my hand the entire way into the gym.”
Evan smiles. “It’s a damn good thing, or I would’ve looked like a fool.”
“I’m glad I stayed.”
“I’m glad I came home that weekend to surprise you. It wasn’t easy, keeping that a secret.”
Ryley rests her head on my chest. “You’re the best thing to ever happen to me, Archer.”
“I say the same thing about you.” I hold her tighter as our song plays. I don’t know how this dance is supposed to go, whether we’re supposed to look at each other the whole time or what, but what we’re doing feels right for us. When the song ends, I take a step back and lift her chin so I can look into her eyes. “I love you, Ry.” I don’t need a response. I know how she feels, and she’ll tell me every day and night because she always wants me to know. I lean down and kiss her, much to the delight of everyone.
The DJ announces that the buffet is open, along with the dance floor. I don’t know who I expected to dance first, but I’m not surprised to find Jensen and Carole already cutting a rug. Those two like to party and have a good time. We could all take a lesson from them.
I lead Ryley to our table and hold her chair out. I sit down after her and lean over, “I am a fool.”
She looks at me oddly. “Why would you say that?”
“Because I forgot to tell you how beautiful you look today. I mean, you’re beautiful every day, but this dress.” My eyes move up and down her torso. “I can’t wait to take it off of you tonight.”
“I can’t wait either.”
“And then maybe you can put it back?” I waggle my eyebrows at her. She laughs and nods. I touch the strap on her shoulder and ask, “Are you married to this dress?”
“I’m married to you,” she states matter-of-factly.
“What I mean is, maybe we can have a little fun while you’re wearing it.”
Ryley’s eyes widen. “I love my dress, but thankfully there’s a little thing called a seamstress, so no, I’m not married to it.”
“Thank God,” I mutter.
Lois comes over and whispers something into Ryley’s ear. I'd be worried if it were anyone else, but it’s probably girl talk and doesn’t concern me. Ryley reaches for my hand and stands.
“Where are we going?”
“People want to eat, but it’s rude to eat before the bride and groom, so we’re going to go get our food.”
As soon as we step up to the buffet, the rest of the guests do as well. I had no idea this was a thing and honestly would’ve sat there and wondered why no one ate anything. I carry Ryley’s plate back to our seats and then help EJ with his. He’s growing up so fast and I find I have to catch myself when assisting him. I don’t ask if he needs help. I just offer, and if he accepts, great. If not, I’ll follow behind and wait for him to ask.
“Hey, bud. You got this?”
“Yeah, I’m good. Is it okay if I sit with Grace?”
“Yeah, of course. You can sit anywhere you want. If you need me, just holler.”
EJ nods and reaches for a plate. I stay for a minute to make sure he’s all set before heading back to Ryley.
“He’s going to sit with Grace,” I tell her.
“You’re going to have to have ‘the talk’ with him before too long.”
“They’re not old enough,” I point out.
“With the internet, TikTok, and YouTube, they’re old enough. Believe me, I’ve seen some of the stuff online. And I’d rather he knows now than for it to be too late.”
“I’ll talk to him,” I tell her, although it’s the very last thing I want to do. “We’ll start with respect and how you treat a woman.”
Ryley kisses my cheek. “Thank you, Archer. And don’t forget to use real words, like erection and vagina. Don’t sugarcoat anything.”
“Damn, woman. You really know how to sour a mood.” I reach for my beer and take a drink.
She laughs. “Do you want to be a grandpa in five years?”
It’s a good thing I swallowed before she says this. “Five years, he’ll be . . .”
“A horny kid.”
Ryley’s not wrong. When Nate and I were twelve, we used to love going to our friends’ houses because, more often than not, their dads had a box of Playboys in the garage. Shit got real when we’d come across a Hustler. I don’t want that for EJ. Not if I can help it, at least.
I promise to start talking to EJ about the birds and the bees and the changes his body will go through. When we’re done eating, it’s time for Ryley to dance with her father. They dance to Isn’t She Lovely by Stevie Wonder. Jensen spins Ryley around the dance floor while the rest of us look on. And when it’s my turn to dance with my mom, I find that she has changed the song.
“This was mine and your father’s favorite song. We used to dance to it every time he came back from deployment or before he’d leave. I thought it would be nice,” my mom says as Landslide by Fleetwood Mac plays.
“It’s perfect. I had no idea, or I would’ve chosen it.”
When the song finishes, the DJ says he’s open to requests. I have a feeling that before the night is over, he’ll have us on the dance floor, doing the funky chicken. I’m going to need a lot more beer, just in case.
Ryley and I make our rounds. Our guest list is small, and while we know most people, we invited a few colleagues of Jensen and Carole’s. They’re the behind-the-scenes people who helped us unravel the mess we’re in.
Once we’ve thanked everyone, I take Ryley out to dance. I don’t care how I look. I want to remember tonight as being fun and free, and the day after tomorrow, I’ll deal with whoever is fucking with my family. We dance around until the music slows, and then I bring her close to me.
“Are you having fun?”
Ryley nods. “I am. Are you?”
“I am. It’s strange to think that years ago, we probably would’ve had a hundred or more people at our wedding, probably in service people alone, and now, we have barely forty.”
“It’s forty people we love and trust. Our lives are different now. We’re different. Before, it would’ve been a grand affair, but that was years ago. We’ve changed. I want our wedding to be intimate. I love that we’re sharing this moment with our friends and family, and we’ll remember every single bit of it. We know who is here, and we’ll leave tonight knowing we spent time with them.”
There’s a tap on my arm, and I look to find our son standing there. “May I cut in?” he asks, with a hint of laughter in his voice.
I step away from his mom. “Of course.” I put her hand in his and step off to the side, where I find my sister. “Hey, Tink, wanna dance?” I hold my hand out and wait for her to take it. She does and lets me lead her onto the floor.
“So, are you or Nate next?”
Tink scoffs. “I have to find someone first. Nate and Cara seem headed down the path of wedded bliss.”
“Ryley seems to think you have something going on with Rask.”
“We’re just friends,” she says. “He doesn’t have anyone.”
“He always has his team. The brotherhood doesn’t die.”
“It’s not the same. He confides in me. His parents have really hurt him.”
Returning from the dead, after six years, really messed our families up. I was the lucky one, so to speak. My family was where I left them. They had just moved on. McCoy had to hunt for his family, while Rask’s parents told him they didn’t believe he was their son. And River, well, he’s another story.
“Just make sure he knows the door is always open. He doesn’t need an invite. If he needs a family, he has one with us.”
“I’ll tell him,” Livvie says.
We finish our dance, and the DJ announces it’s time to cut the cake. I wait for Ryley to walk over with EJ, and then we head to the cake table. “Are we doing the smashing thing?”
“I’d rather not,” she says.
“Sounds good to me.”
The caterer hands us a knife and shows us where to cut. We have to go slow so the photographer can get a million pictures that I’m sure we’ll never do anything with. The caterer then slices the piece we cut into bite-sized pieces and tells us to pick one. Again, we move slowly for the photographer. At the same time, Ryley and I lift the cake to each other’s mouths and gently take a bite. It’s the most anticlimactic thing I have ever done.
The DJ gets on his mic and says it’s time for a toast and that the best man has something to say. Nate comes up to us and asks that we take a seat on the two chairs on the dance floor. We do and find our son standing there with a microphone in his hand.
CHAPTER 10
EVAN JR.
When my papa told me it was my job to give a speech, I thought I was going to puke. I don’t like speaking in front of people and I don’t like writing. But Papa said he could help me if I got stuck. He also said I needed to speak from the heart. When I asked him what that meant, he said that I should write down all the thoughts I have about my parents and make sentences with those words, and then those sentences would turn into my speech.
My parents look happy today, especially my mom. I remember when she used to cry all the time. I don’t think she knows I saw and heard her, but I did. It took me a long time to understand why she was always sad, and then my Uncle Nate explained everything to me.
I clear my throat and hold the microphone close to my mouth like the DJ told me to. In my other hand is my speech. Claire helped me type it and showed me how to make the letters really big, so I don’t lose my place. She’s a good friend.
“Hi, I’m EJ which stands for Evan Archer Junior and I’m the best man. My friends call me EJ.”
Everyone laughs, but not in the way that they’re making fun of me. I look at my mom—she’s beautiful. I see her wink and that makes me smile.
“When Evan asked me to be his best man, I didn’t know what that meant until my papa told me. He said it’s my job to give a speech, so here it goes.” I set the microphone down so I can flip the page over. My papa comes and stands next to me and holds the microphone, so I don’t have too. “Thanks, Papa.”
“Ryley is my mom and I love her. I know I don’t tell her every day, but I think she’s the best mom in the whole world and loves me with her whole heart. I love her with mine too and never want to see her sad. Evan is my dad.” I don’t know why, but a noise causes me to look up and I see my dad wiping something off his face. “I am lucky to have a dad like him. For a long time, I didn’t know him, but since he came home, he’s taught me how to fish, throw a football, how to swim and tread water like a SEAL, which is funny because sometimes I look like I’m just standing in the water.”
Everyone laughs because I made a joke.
“I love my parents and am happy they got married, even though we already live together. A kid at school says everything changes, but not in our house. I think the only thing that could make our family better is another dog.”
Everyone laughs again, even my papa.
I flip to the last page and take a deep breath. “Thank you, Evan, for making my mom happy. I’m really happy that you’re my dad and that you got to come home to us. I know my mom is really happy too. I love you both, but mostly I want to say I love you, Dad, because I don’t say it enough.”
Everyone claps, but my dad. He’s walking toward me and when he reaches me, I see that he’s been crying. He picks me up and holds me to his chest. “This was the best damn speech I have ever heard in my life,” he says. “I love you so much, EJ.”
“I love you too, Dad.”
Don’t go far—Choose Us—is waiting for you!
Looking for more books by Heidi? Try taking a Sexcation or get wrapped up in a series, the Beaumont Series with Forever My Girl and the Beaumont Series: Next Generation with Holding Onto Forever.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers.
Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs.
