Page 91 of Consummation

“Yeah,” Jonas says from behind me. “Sarah had originally planned to have just the harpist, but when she heard the violin and cello at your house during our ‘romantic dinner for two’—thanks again for that, by the way—she flipped out and hired them for the ceremony on the spot.”

I chuckle. “Those ladies ought to give me a commission for all the work I’ve indirectly sent their way. Kat’s brother Dax hired them to play on his album, too.”

“Yeah, I know. I met Dax, remember?”

“Oh yeah. I forgot.”

“Have you heard his album?” Jonas asks.

“Just the first three songs. They’re really good—I sent them to Reed and he absolutely loved them. He’s probably gonna sign Dax’s band. He just wants to watch them play live first.”

“Awesome,” Jonas says. “I’d love to hear them.”

“Stay still, Jonas,” Uncle William says from behind me. “Joshua says I have to retie the knot to make itperfect. Stand still, Jonas, for the love of God.”

“Sorry. I’m bouncing off the walls.”

“Really? I hadn’t noticed,” Uncle William says, chuckling.

I continue scanning the faces of the guests, looking for anyone I recognize.

Well, I see Henn and Hannah in the third row, sitting with their hands clasped tightly together. And there’s Uncle William’s longtime housekeeper (and longtime lover?), Katya, sitting next to my uncle’s vacant chair. I see a handful of familiar faces from Faraday & Sons—the CFO, Jonas’ assistant and her husband, a few people on Jonas’ team. There’s Sarah’s mom Gloria in the front row wearing a corsage and Jonas’ friend Georgia with her boyfriend and son Trey, all of whom I met last night at the rehearsal dinner.

My eyes lock onto T-Rod in the back, standing in front of a mammoth wall of white flowers, talking to a woman in black holding a clipboard. I smile to myself. Six years ago, when I decided to dive headfirst into launching the L.A. branch of Faraday & Sons, I hired Theresa through a temp agency, thinking I was gonna need someone a few hours a week (at most) to organize my life and possibly run a few errands for me. I never in a million years thought, six years later, Theresa would be my faithful ‘woman behind the curtain’ for the Wise and Powerful Oz.

Holy shit. There’s Miss Westbrook—Mrs. Santorini now—sitting with three kids, including a teenage boy who must be her son Jonas, the one she named after my brother. I smile to myself. Sarah Fucking Cruz is a force to be reckoned with, I swear to God. Apparently, she’s hell-bent on “healing” my brother’s tattered soul, through any means (and people) necessary, God love her.

My eyes continue drifting over the faces in the crowd and finally lock onto Kat’s parents, seated in the farthest row. Kat’s mom is in the process of whispering something into her husband’s ear and he’s smiling and nodding. Man, they’re a handsome couple. EspeciallyKat’s mom. Damn. She’s a knockout, even at fifty-something, especially in that sparkling gold dress. Holy shit, it blows me away how much Kat looks like her mother. It’s like Louise is a crystal ball, showing me exactly what her hot twenty-something-year-old daughter’s gonna look like thirty years from now: a hot fifty-something-year-old.

As I’m spying on her, Louise rests her cheek lovingly on her husband’s shoulder—the exact same move Kat always uses on me—and all of a sudden, I feel the world warp and buckle around me, like I’ve slipped through a gap in the space-time-continuum. Suddenly, I’m no longer looking at Kat’s parents awaiting Jonas and Sarah’s wedding, I’m seeing Kat and me, awaiting our son or daughter’s wedding, thirty years from now.

Whoa.

I quickly shut the door, my heart pounding in my ears, and turn around.

Uncle William’s just finishing tying the knot on Jonas’ tie.

“There we go,” he says, patting Jonas’ chest. He grabs Jonas’ shoulders and turns him toward me like he’s a preschooler on picture day. “I used a Windsor knot the second time. Does that meet with your approval, Master Joshua?”

I survey my brother from head to toe. “Yeah, he looks absolutely perfect now. Good job.”

Jonas beams a huge smile at me. “I’m right here—you can compliment me directly.”

“You look absolutely perfect, Jonas.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m gonna take my seat now,” Uncle William says. He hugs Jonas and pats him on the cheek. “I’m happy for you, son. Sarah’s a great girl. Be good to her.”

“I will. Always.”

“I know you will. You’re an exceptionally kind-hearted person, Jonas. Always have been.” He pats the side of Jonas’ neck. “She’s a lucky girl.”

“I’m the lucky one.”

“Be happy, Jonas,” Uncle William says softly, emotion warping his voice. “That’s all I’ve ever wished for you, son.” His voice cracks.

Jonas swallows hard. “I will be. I already am.”

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