Along the Broken Road (16 page)

“They’re good people. All of them. And if I could stay there forever, fixing leaky sinks and cleaning gutters, I’d be honored to. Because life isn’t just about having the right job or the right career. It’s about people, Dad. The difference you make in their lives, how you help them. How you honor them.” Ian stood. “That’s something you never did understand. Guess not much has changed around here.”

His father stood too, the light of a beautiful morning casting a glow on the side of his face. He looked hurt by the words, but right now, Ian didn’t care about that. He just wanted to go, to leave, to run because—just like old times—if he ran hard enough and fast enough he could outrun the pain his father was to him.

As the day went on, Ian found himself with a surprising case of nerves. When Charlee asked if he was okay, he’d smiled, kissed her cheek, and told her he was going to find his sister. The wedding planners were setting up chairs outside where a beautiful arch of flowers and greenery anchored the wedding area. Ian rounded the corner and knocked on his sister’s door. “Come in,” she yelled, voice a bit of a squeak.

She wore a white bathrobe, and a giant white dress was hanging from the doorframe behind her. Kristi Carlisle was two years Ian’s junior. Her hair was curled and sprayed, creating long tendrils around her face. When he opened his arms, she came willingly, smashing the curls.

“Nervous?” he said.

She pulled away to look at him. “I guess. Yes. I don’t know.”

He chuckled. “Three answers to one question, I’d say you’re a bit nervous.”

Her slender, manicured hand went to her stomach. “I’m a little nauseous.”

“Have you eaten breakfast?”

Kristi blinked and Ian realized she was wearing fake eyelashes, which he couldn’t figure why because Kristi had always had long, thick lashes like him. “I don’t think I could hold down any food.”

He gave her a half grin. “I could make you crepes.”

Her eyes, glittery with a smooth splash of gold, lit up. “With crème fraîche?”

He shrugged. “Of course.”

Her hand fell from her stomach. “Good. I’m starved.”

He squeezed her shoulder. “That’s my girl. Come on. The kitchen is still fairly quiet. On the way, you can tell me about the plans for the day.”

“The reception is at three. In that big tent at the edge of the house. It’s really going to be beautiful.” Arm around her, giving her the support she needed right now, Ian listened to her yammer on about the day. “Oh, thanks for Wynona. She’s been gluing rhinestones to the place settings, the decorations, she’s like a machine. It looks great.”

“I have a confession, sis.” Ian leaned closer.

Kristi stopped at the top of the steps and blinked those giant hooded eyes at him. “What?”

“The artists came for other reasons.” He leaned closer. “They thought I needed some moral support with Dad and also with Brenna staying here.”

Kristi’s giant eyes narrowed; a smile played at the edges of her mouth. “Charlee’s not your girlfriend, is she?”

He leaned back. Nothing ever got past Kristi.

She poked him in the chest. “If she were, she would have come with you. What girl doesn’t love going to a wedding?”

Ian rubbed a hand over his face. “She’s not your typical girl.”

Kristi shook her head, causing long curls to bobble. “Undoubtedly. And you’ve got it bad for her. So, what’s the problem?”

What was the problem? “She was in a bad relationship recently. Think it tore her up.”

Kristi shrugged. “And she’s too stupid to spot a good thing when it lands on her doorstep?”

He laughed. “I’m just trying to take it slow, you know. One step at a time.”

“Do you remember when we were kids and we went to the swimming hole?”

“The one with the rock ledges?” He remembered. There were rocks you could climb and jump into the water from varying heights. Only the bravest went to the top.

“Yes,” she said.

“You didn’t bother to test the lower ledges the first time I took you there. You climbed straight to the top.”

Kristi laughed. “And froze. Everyone was laughing at me.”

“You were braver than most of them for just climbing to the top.”

“I started to climb back down, but you came up. You wouldn’t let me back out.” She reached out and squeezed his hand. “Do you remember what you told me?”

He remembered wanting her to jump. If she didn’t then, she never would.

“You told me to jump. You said my courage was waiting for me at the bottom of the ledges.”

Ian pointed to himself. “Smart guy.”

“And you were right. There was no fear after that. At the end of the day you said, ‘Good job, kid. I wanted to swim with my sister today.
’
”

Ian cast a glance heavenward. “How do you recall all that?”

“You were my hero back then, Ian. My big brother hero.”

He kissed the top of her head, unconcerned with what it might do to the curls. “Come on, let’s get you some breakfast.”

Ian sat in the front row with Charlee at his side. She looked amazing in a pale pink dress that made her tan look three shades darker. Her hair was down and her lips shimmered with a juicy splash of dark pink gloss. She needed to be kissed. He hoped the day would warrant that. When Charlee crossed her legs, one angled toward him. Tall heels elongated her luscious legs and it was a darn good thing they were leaving to go home after the reception because he didn’t think they could stay in the same room again and he continue the gentleman act. The slit in her skirt offered a glimpse of skin that also shimmered and he wondered if she’d used some kind of lotion with glitter in it.

Charlee leaned over. “You’re staring at my legs.”

“Was I?” he said, trying for innocence, but just sounding ridiculous.

“Mm hmm.” He watched her bite back a smile.

Ian’s eyes narrowed. “And you like that, you little vixen.”

Charlee filled her lungs, causing her chest to expand, and recrossed her legs, causing the slit to ride a bit higher and exposing more of her flesh.

He leaned closer and growled in her ear. “You’re lucky you’re going home tonight. I promise you’d be in danger if we were in the same room again.”

This caused a bright red stain to settle on her cheeks as he watched the thought of that tick over her features. Her silvery-gray eyes danced and if he wasn’t mistaken, she was breathing a little harder.

It was a moment before they realized something was wrong. The earlier case of nerves returned as Ian cast a glance behind him, only to see people getting fidgety. He looked down at his watch. Twenty minutes late. Probably not that unusual, except they’d seated everyone and all the preliminaries were complete. There should be a wedding march.

“What do you think is going on?” Charlee whispered.

“Don’t know. Think I better find out.” And he slipped off the seat and out the side so he wouldn’t make more of a spectacle.

Ian made his way into the house, where he found his mom guarding the library door. Her face was a wash of horror, pale and frightened. Ian rushed to her. “Mom, what?”

“He’s gone. Allen. He just . . . flew in and told Kristi he wasn’t ready for this, and he left.”

Ian’s mind spun to catch up. It was rather difficult to have a wedding without the groom. His heart sank for Kristi. He pointed to the door. “Is she
alone
?” Surely not, her mother would never leave her.

“She wanted to be. Asked me to leave, give her some time, but your dad barreled in there.”

Ian didn’t need to hear more. He sailed past his mom and into the room. Kristi was sitting on the edge of the long leather couch, her perfect hair a strange frame for the tear-swollen face. Makeup gone, save for streaks on her cheeks. His dad stood staring out the window.

He figured it wouldn’t help to say the
I’m sorrys
so instead, he walked to her, dragged her up from the spot and held her in his arms. Within minutes the tears stopped. “What can I do, sis?”

Behind him, his dad shifted to stand closer. “We gotta send these people home. Someone’s gotta tell them. Guess that’d be my place.”

Kristi raised her eyes to look at Ian and his heart broke. She was shattered. “Sweetie, what do you want? How do you want this to go?” Because Ian knew his sister and knew that a simple “sending everyone home” wasn’t her style. “This is your call.” And he knew it was a little bit like the rock ledges.

Kristi mustered her strength. He watched determination enter her, the tilt of her head, the squaring of her shoulders. “All our family is here. Some of them came from twenty hours away.” As she spoke, her voice grew stronger. “No one is leaving. We’ve got a beautiful party facility set up. We’re not going to let it all go to waste.”

Ian smiled. Proud of her. So very proud of her. He cast a look to his dad. “Can you tell them the reception is now a party? And any of the bride’s guests are welcome to stay.”

Thomas Carlisle, hands in his pockets, frowned. “I . . . I can do that.” His piercing eyes landed on his daughter. “You sure, honey?”

“Positive.” A hand went to her mouth. “Oh, Ian, I’m so sorry, but Allen left with his cousin, the one who had the job.”

He took her hands in his. “Kristi, I don’t care about that right now.”

She smiled up at him, thick fake lashes flashing as she blinked. “You’re the best brother anyone ever had.”

Ian wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Change into some party clothes, sis. I’m not letting you sit this one out.”

She hauled a ragged breath. “I guess you wouldn’t, would you?”

To Ian’s surprise, his dad handled the situation well. Explaining there was no longer going to be a wedding, and please don’t ask the bride about the situation. Sometimes people get cold feet and come to their senses later. Only a quarter of the people—Allen’s people—left. The others migrated to the party tent. Ian was glad to find the artists had swooped in and removed much of the “wedding specific” decorations. He held Charlee’s hand as they walked across the tent.

“Wynona took a bucket and filled it with the little dove accents and the table decorations with the tiny gold rings,” she said.

“Good call.” Ian tilted her hand to his lips and kissed it.

“It’s still pretty fancy, but not so wedding-ish now.” She pivoted to face him, sadness in her eyes. “How’s your sister?”

“She’s really strong. Got a good dose of that from our mom and just enough of Dad’s stubborn pride, she wouldn’t allow the day to be completely ruined.” Still, his heart ached for her.

When the orchestra started up, Ian cringed. “Think these guys know anything but wedding music?”

Charlee shrugged.

Ian left her and made his way across the floor. Charlee watched as he grabbed a few guys on the way and dragged them to the low stage where the orchestra was set up. Minutes later, he was back beside her.

“What just happened?”

Ian pointed. “That’s my Uncle Phil. He plays harmonica. That’s Roy, bass. And over there is my Uncle Jeb. He plays lead guitar in a country band. But he’s only got his banjo with him.”

“Are they replacing the orchestra?”

Ian grinned. “Nope. Joining them.”

Charlee’s eyes widened.

“They all know country music, Charlee. They may be classically trained, but they live in Oklahoma.”