Page 30 of Absolute Valor

“Here is to my last,” he looks at his watch, “nine hours of bachelorhood.” Clinking of glasses filled the area on the balcony as we silently drank to his toast.

Dylan poured another round and held his glass in the air. “To being lucky enough to have a girl like Lainie choose your sorry ass out of a line up.” Austin scowled at first, and then nodded in agreement.

“You know, I always assumed it would be you who got married first.” I said to Dylan. “Somehow I pictured the Daddy of one of the multitude of girls you bedded, holding a shotgun to your head as he pushed you down the aisle.”

Dylan kicked at me with his bare foot, laughing as he called me a fucker. “You know, I’ve never had a scare like that. Not once in all the years I’ve fucked around have I ever had a girl come to me in a panic.”

Austin brings his glass to his lips, “Good thing, too. Your son, or daughter, would have been a real asshole.” Dylan got out of his chair and tackled Austin, knocking them both over in the chair as he punched him a few times. We shared a few more drinks and spoke of pranks we’d pulled off when we were younger

“Granddaddy would have loved Audrey.” Dylan slurred. Half the bottle had managed to disappear during our journey through our childhood. “I meant what I said earlier, momma couldn’t have had Jesus himself make a better girl for you.”

Austin had passed out thirty minutes ago and we decided to leave him alone. “Have you noticed how she has some of the same phrases he did?”

Dylan looked to me, his eyes glassy and his movements slow and sloppy. “You know what, you’re right. She does.”

I started to offer him another drink, but as I turned my head, I found Dylan passed out in his chair, his glass dangling from his fingers and his mouth wide open. You bet your sweet ass I snapped a picture of that shit.

Hangovers never mesh well with bright lights and laughter. Dylan was trying hard to push through the pain his copious amounts of alcohol consumption had left him. He’d spent over an hour this morning wrapped around the toilet in my room, praying to the porcelain God who lives there. Austin fared a little better, as he shoved a slice of toast down his throat and then went for a run. However, I imagine his ability to muddle past his hangover has more to do with the girl who has a smile and an enormous ring on her finger, courtesy of him.

I, on the other hand, laid in bed long after my brothers passed out, listening for any noise to come from Audrey’s room, wondering if her dreams were filled with visions of heaven or places in hell. When I finally drifted off, no longer able to avoid the sleep which pulled at me, Audrey’s room remained silent.

Dylan didn’t disappoint as he flipped me off when he left my room. His face was pained as he found several text messages from Claire, who’d slept alone in their room. She was all smiles though, as she sat beside him. Claire was one of a kind to forgive a man when he tried to relive his youth, attempting to drink his little brother under the table, and failing miserably.

After my brothers left, I called room service, ordering a few things, including a diet coke. When it was delivered, I knocked on Audrey’s door, finding her as beautiful as the day before. Her bed looked as if it hadn’t been slept in, but I knew she had taken the time to make it back up, leaving the room as she’d found it.

“Lainie looks so happy.” Audrey observed, a new and lingering smile taking up residence on her face. “Austin, too. Your momma must be so proud.” Priscilla was proud, and already planning the party to celebrate the new daughter she was getting. Even though the daughter came with a loud mouthed, crazy in-law, Candy Perry.

Austin and Laine held each other’s gaze and hands as they swore to love, honor and protect each other as long as they both shall live. The seagulls pecked around looking for food as beach walkers stopped and appreciated the informal exchange of vows. Just as the hotel officiate pronounced them husband and wife, a gust of wind signaled a storm on the horizon.

Lainie’s mother gushed about how it was time to move closer to her girls and be available to help when they needed her, especially when the new baby came. It was a moment, all right. Watching Lainie stand beside my brother, her mouth wide open as she repeated what her mother had said.

“Who told you I was pregnant?”

Candy gave her a confused look, like some secret had been revealed, one everyone already knew. “Lainie, there’s no shame in it. I mean why else would you rush a wedding like this?”

It was anyone’s guess as to who was angrier by the accusation. Austin took a step toward his new mother-in-law, but Lainie stepped forward, placing her hand in the center of Austin’s chest. “I may be your flesh and blood, however I would never step as low as you to trap a man into being with me because of a child.”

Before a full blown tsunami could form between mother and daughter, Priscilla stepped in and asked Candy to help her choose between two necklaces she’d noticed on the way down this morning. Austin pulled his new wife away to get ready to catch their flight to Hawaii. The rest of us needed to get our things together, as well, so we could head back to Charleston.

No sooner had we loaded the bags into the two SUVs we’d rented, did the heavens open up and start pouring. Austin’s phone rang not a second after he settled Lainie into the seat beside him. When he’d made the arrangements for Candy and Heidi to be here, he flew them both in, planning for Heidi to ride home with us, and Candy to fly out with them. As he thanked whoever was on the phone, he scrubbed his hand over his face.

“Well, that was the airlines. All flights out of Jacksonville have been cancelled due to the storm.”

Audrey looked out the side window, as the rain and wind blew sideways so hard you could barely see two feet in front of you. “I can’t imagine trying to get a car down the street in this, much less an airplane in the sky.” Running my fingers through her hair, the soft tendrils slip easily from between my fingers.

Momma and Daddy are in the SUV behind us with Candy and Heidi. Austin calls Daddy’s phone, making them aware of the change in plans. Instead of a stop at the airport, we’ll head back to Charleston where new flights will be booked. For tonight, Candy will stay at Dean and Priscilla’s.

The ride back to Charleston is slow but steady until we reach the Georgia, South Carolina border, when the sky clears and the sun comes out.

Lainie yells, “Thank you, Jesus!” Austin was able to confirm seats on flights leaving tomorrow. “Dylan, my favorite brother-in-law?” Lainie calls from the back of the SUV.

“Excuse me?” I tease her, leaning my head back so I can see her upside down. “I do believe you have forgotten who is sitting right in front of you.” Clair rolls her eyes as Austin pulls her close, nibbling at her ear, affectionately. Lainie sends me a wink as her eyes flash back to the front of the car.

“Don’t you owe Claire some makeup sex after staying out all night last night?” Lainie looks to Austin, a new fire in her eye—one I feel igniting in my soul for Audrey.

“Fuck! Even if I didn’t, ain’t no way I’m staying in the same house with newlyweds on their wedding night.” Everyone tumbles into laughter as Dylan mocks a shiver.

Audrey has a habit of hiding her smile behind a carefully placed hand, I reach over and pull it back. “Stop hiding, you’re beautiful.” It’s going to be a battle, one I’ll have to crawl uphill both ways to win. She is worth it, this slip of a girl is totally worth it.

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