Page 102 of River
CHAPTER 27
Anonymous
Noah
I loved everything about Kit’s and Owen’s wedding. Even though the only people I’d known when I arrived were Maximum and River, I still felt welcomed by everyone. The Irish were festive and warm people, and as River had predicted, Damian and I quickly became friends.
“It’s good to see that River has finally come to her senses. All those other men she dated were as useful as a chocolate teapot if ye ask me.”
“I’m happy you approve.” I smiled.
“Ye’re different, and River said that ye used to be a police officer back in Norway.”
“I was, but I quit my job. I mainly joined because I wanted to work with dogs. I was in the canine unit. River said you’re on the SWAT patrol.”
Damian grinned. “What can I say? I’m an adrenaline junkie.”
“I know what you mean. Chasing down a suspect can be exhilarating. Nala, my dog, loved it as much as I did.”
“Awk, we’ll have to get together and exchange some stories. I’d love to hear what life is like in Norway. I’ve never been up there.” Damian grabbed hold of the groom who passed us at that moment. “Owen, my friend, come say hi to Noah.”
Owen was a tall man with a large scar on his forehead and chin. He stopped and placed an arm around Damian’s shoulder. “Did ye say Noah like the man with the ark?”
“Yes.” I shook his hand. “Congratulations on your wedding.”
“Thank ye. Ye’re here with the young Robertson.”
“Yes, River.”
Owen looked back to a group of women talking around a table where both Kit and River were.
“From the toasts tonight, I understand that you and Kit were childhood sweethearts and that she waited many years to marry you.”
“Naw, it was the other way around. I met her when I was nineteen and she was seventeen. I knew she was the only woman for me, but she broke it off and left me.”
“I’m sorry.”
Owen shifted his balance. “I was too proud to go after Kit back then, so I ended up with another lass. I got her pregnant by accident and figured a man has to do the right thing, so I married her.” The expression on his face revealed it hadn’t been a happy marriage.
“I never stopped thinkin’ about Kit, and then one day out of the blue, she texted me.”
I could relate to that feeling. “Were you excited?”
“I’d been divorced for eight years and had given up on love, but the moment I heard Kit’s voice on the phone, I knew I’d never stopped loving her.” His face softened as he looked back to his bride again.
“It’s a powerful force… love,” Damian agreed.
“Aye, I only regret that we waited too long. I know Kit wanted to be a mother, but with our age, it’s too late for that. I have my two teenagers, but if Kit and I hadn’t wasted all those years, I could have fulfilled that dream for her.” Owen gave a small sigh and tapped our shoulders. “Awk, well, there’s no point in regretting the past when we’ve got beer in our hands.” He lifted his glass to us, and the three of us drank together.
“It might be too late to make my sister a mother herself, but ye sure delivered on her dream wedding.”
Owen laughed and looked around. “It’s something, isn’t it?”
“This place is stunning,” I chimed in.
“She gave up our honeymoon to have the party here. We’re not like the Robertsons, but once in a lifetime, we’ll pretend that we are.” Owen drank again.
Damian frowned. “But Lumi and I will be happy to help.”
