“Depends on who’s telling the story.” Douglas’ deep voice was filled with humor, and she wondered at the good-natured ribbing.
Ms. Patti rolled her eyes. “I did something stupid, which caused me to fall. Twisted my ankle. I tried to get to my purse and phone which I’d put on the floor, but when the plywood underneath me shifted, I ended up on one side of the shed and they were on the other, out of reach. Fortunately, a neighbor came and found me before the rattlesnake under the shed crawled up to find out what was causing all the noise.”
“Rattlesnake? You didn’t mention any snake.” All humor fled from Douglas as he stared at his wife.
“Oops, I forgot that part. Anyway, Stan took me to the hospital, got my ankle wrapped, and if I stay off it a couple of days, it’ll be fine. I’m more interested in this new little one. Give me all the details.”
Beth smiled and cuddled the baby closer. “Douglas, Ms. Patti, meet Patrick Elijah Boudreau. Eight pounds, two ounces, twenty-one inches long.” Looking at her mother-in-law, she asked, “Would you like to hold your grandson?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” Easing her hands under the baby’s head and back, she handed the baby to Ms. Patti. Watched the expression of love fill her gaze as tears ran down her cheeks.
“I was so afraid I’d miss his birth. When Rafe told us you were in labor, and I was in another county and couldn’t get here, I thought I wouldn’t make it back in time.” Reaching out, she grabbed onto Douglas’ hand. “Thank you, Beth. Thank you for loving our son. Thank you for giving us a beautiful grandson.”
“No, Ms. Patti, I should be the one thanking you. You brought me into your home, accepted me and my daughter as part of your family. But most importantly, you gave me Brody. I love you and Douglas and can’t imagine my life without you being a part of it. I’m so glad to belong to the Boudreaus. I feel like I’m finally home.”
“You are home, Beth. You and Tessa and all the others, the Boudreau clan is growing, and I couldn’t be happier. We are truly blessed.”
Patrick let out a wail, and Ms. Patti gave a watery chuckle. “He wants to meet the rest of his family. Guess we should let them all meet the newest Boudreau.”
CHAPTER TEN
Candelabras with tall white pillar candles bathed the front of the church with a golden glow. Huge arrangements of flowers stood on either side of the front steps that led to the church’s pulpit, and the center row of pews were beribboned with gold and silver-toned bows and petals. There was a quiet solemnity throughout the church, and the building was filled to near capacity.
Douglas couldn’t believe his family managed to pull off an event this big without Ms. Patti suspecting anything. A tiny smile curved his lips. He hadn’t admitted anything to his kids, but he’d know almost immediately what they were doing. He also knew his beautiful bride deserved every moment of happiness this ceremony, this vow renewal, would mean. He rubbed a hand over his chest, barely able to contain all the love he felt for the men and women he called family. Never in a million years could he imagine his life without a single one of them. When he’d sat beside a terrified and insecure Rafe’s bedside all those years ago and told his wife he was bringing the boy home, little had he realized how blessed his life would become. How filled with the kind of love you usually only get once in a lifetime. Yet he’d been blessed with eleven strong, caring, and wonderful boys who’d grown into fine men. Men he was proud of, and humbled that he was part of helping mold them into gentlemen who not only knew right from wrong but upheld and defended those not as fortunate. Eleven men and one feisty daughter who’d stolen into his life and his heart, and he couldn’t imagine a single day without them in it. Of course, there were really more if you counted their “Lost Boys,” which he did. They might not carry the Boudreau name, but they were still part of this family.
“You okay, Dad?” Dane leaned around Chance, who stood next to him, a look of concern on his face. All his sons were lined up beside him at the front of the church, each resplendent in tuxedos. While Douglas would’ve been happy with simple shirts and jeans, his sons insisted they do this wedding up right. He’d complied, because after all, his beautiful wife deserved the best.
“I’m fine, son. Can’t believe y’all pulled a fast one on me and your momma. It’s all too much.”
“It’s past time you and Momma got something special. There’s nobody who deserves it more. I don’t even want to think about what our lives would have been like without you both. I know none of us would have turned out the way we did without you, and the example you’ve shown us, teaching us how be good men and good fathers.”
Douglas closed his eyes, fighting back the tears his son’s words brought. He felt blessed to call each one of them son, and was so proud of the men they’d become, and the women they’d chosen to spend the rest of their lives with. Of course, Nica was the daughter of his heart, and would always hold a special place, but just because she was biologically his didn’t diminish the ties he felt to the rest of his children.
The low murmur of voices from the crowd was like white noise in the background, as Douglas pulled up the memory of the first time he’d married the love of his life. He’d know the minute he’d seen Patricia Mackenzie that somehow he’d find a way to marry her. The feelings he’d had for Elizabeth, the woman he’d thought he loved and lost to his brother, fell away into simple affection when compared to how he felt about his “Miss Patti.” Her sweet Southern charm overlay the backbone of steel she possessed, and he knew she’d be the perfect wife. The one woman in all the world he wanted to spend every moment of every day with. Those feelings hadn’t changed, even after thirty wonderful years.
Glancing down at the front row pew, his brother Gator and his family filled the pew. Ranger, Etienne, Jean-Luc, and Sebastian were all there with their wives. Gabi and her husband, Dylan, were there too, along with their newborn daughter, who was cradled snugly against Gabi’s chest. His other brother, Hank, sat directly behind them. The whole family was here, had traveled from their homes to attend this joyous occasion, and it meant everything to him. He only hoped they knew how much.
He shifted from foot to foot, ready to get the show on the road, but he didn’t want to rush things. This day, this moment, it was something his beloved Patricia deserved, and he wanted her to savor every moment, to bask in the adoration of her children, her neighbors and her friends and know that she was loved.
But he couldn’t keep his eyes from the double doors at the back of the church, his heart beating faster and faster at the thought of her stepping through them and repeating the vows they’d taken thirty years prior. He’d meant every word of them then, and he’d mean every word of them now. It was almost like a new beginning, the second half of their journey. One he couldn’t wait to take with the woman he called his everything.
Ms. Patti smoothed her hands against the dress again, and felt the silken fabric rub against her. Thankfully, the women hadn’t picked out a frou-frou dress for her wedding. This was more like an evening gown, but it suited her far better than a lacy white concoction. That might have worked when she’d been a young bride just starting out, but now she was an experienced woman. One with a family full of children who’d gone out of their way to surprise her and Douglas with a ceremony that would see them repeat their wedding vows before their family and friends.
Her family had gone all out, making sure everything was perfect. Flowers filled the front of the family church, the scents lending a quiet elegance to the upcoming proceedings. The entire church was decorated from top to bottom, with gold and silver highlights on every pew and candelabra. She’d gotten a sneak peek at the sanctuary when she’d arrived at the church to get ready a few hours ago.
Not only had the women picked out her dress, but they’d managed to somehow find and decorate a cane she could use to walk down the aisle because of her strained ankle. As far as she could tell, her daughters-in-law and soon-to-be daughters-in-law had thought of just about everything.
Tears prickled at the back of her lids, ones she didn’t dare shed, because the makeup artist they’d hired and who’d driven in all the way from Austin had warned her not to ruin her makeup. She had to admit the woman was a genius with her craft, because Ms. Patti would swear she looked ten years younger.
Her hair had been upswept in a style she hadn’t worn in probably close to thirty years. It reminded her of how she’d worn it at her first wedding to Douglas. It had been longer then. Heat rushed into her cheeks as she remembered him taking the pins out and it flowing down around her shoulders on their wedding night. They’d had so little time together before he’d had to head back to Germany, but the few short days together had been beautiful. This whole vow renewal ceremony brought back hauntingly familiar memories, and she vowed to make brand new ones today.
Standing, she walked over to the full-length mirror set up in the room off the foyer that had been confiscated to use as a dressing area for the bridal party. The sleeveless gold dress hugged her curves in all the right places and fell to the top of her toes. Her mouth scrunched up at the sight of the sock on her right foot instead of a fancy shoe to match the dress. Oh, well, she had them in a box and she’d wear them one day, just not today.
“Ms. Patti, you look beautiful.” Maggie stood behind her and gently ran a hand over her shoulder. “I knew this color would be splendid with your coloring. Douglas isn’t going to be able to keep his eyes off you.”
“Thank you, sweetie. I can’t believe you all managed to plan an entire wedding event and tried to pass it off as Beth’s baby shower. Which we’ll have to really do, by the way. Just because the baby came a few weeks early doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate.”
“Patrick Elijah Boudreau decided it was time to make his grand entrance.” Tessa grinned and pulled her hand from behind her back, holding a single white rose and a sprig of baby’s breath. “For your hair.” She gestured toward Ms. Patti’s head. “May I?”
