The ride back to Provenza's house wasn't long, and Andy couldn't wait to get out of the car. It wasn't that he disliked Provenza, Rusty, or Ricky, quite the contrary, considering the old guy had been his best friend for years, and the boys were family. He just wanted to be alone. Andy wanted time alone to get excited about his wedding. He had been excited when he'd gotten up for the day, but as the day had progressed, he felt like a deflated balloon. The day had been a series of mishaps, and he just wanted to lock himself in a room and stay there until he could greet his bride at the end of the aisle.
"I'm going to my room," Andy grumbled when the four arrived back at Provenza's house. Provenza, Ricky, and Rusty looked at each other.
"Andy, you okay?" Ricky asked, their faces all worried.
"Fine," Andy waved to them without turning around. "Just want some time to be alone, to relax before the wedding."
Andy continued down the hall and let out a sigh of relief when he closed his bedroom door. He ran his hands through his hair and made his way to the bed to sit down. He should be excited. He wanted to be excited, but he was having trouble because now, he was in a bad mood. He decided to call Sharon. The worst that would happen is that she wouldn't answer.
She didn't answer, and he sighed as he fell back onto the bed. He looked up at the ceiling and tried to decide what would improve his mood. Seeing Sharon sure would, but he knew she wouldn't have that, not before the wedding. He checked his watch and found that he had two hours before he had to be at the church. Provenza's house felt like it was closing in on him; he just wanted to see Sharon and marry her.
As Andy stared at the ceiling, he started to reflect on the last few years with Sharon. He started thinking back to different places they had gone, the feelings he'd had as he'd cautiously pursued her, the slight awkwardness they'd had as they'd transitioned from friends to a couple, and he smiled as he continued to think about all of that. He'd had several wonderful years with Sharon already, even with the blood clot and heart attack.
"Hey, Andy," he heard a knock on the door and sat up quickly. "Just checking on you. You about ready?"
"Rusty?" Andy called out, and he looked to the door to see Rusty opening it slowly. "I hope you are dressed because while I have to live with you and watch you parade around the house in your idea of pajamas, I'd rather not deal with that today." Rusty opened the door fully and his face turned to shock. "Whoa, you're not dressed."
Andy looked to him, "You are," he nodded to Rusty. Andy had taken Rusty and Ricky for new suits a few weeks ago when Ricky had come to visit. He'd made sure they bought good suits that he'd also had tailored to fit them perfectly. After Sharon had picked her bridesmaid dresses, he'd found shirts and coordinating ties for both boys as they were going to walk Sharon down the aisle together. "Wait, what time is it?" he asked as he pulled his hand up to check his watch.
"Ahh, we need to leave for the church in like 10 minutes," Rusty explained. "Wait, were you asleep?" he asked, now his eyes wide at the realization. "Crap! We were trying to give you some space. We all realized it's probably not been a great start to the day for you. We thought you were just irritated with all of us."
"I was," Andy nodded. "I am," he corrected. "I guess I fell asleep," he shook his head as he was trying to come out of his dazed state. "I'm getting married," he suddenly jumped up as everything hit him at once. "I'm going to be late."
"Ahh, yeah," Rusty nodded, as he surveyed the room. Andy started moving quickly around the room looking for his things.
"Andy ready?" Ricky asked as he walked up behind Rusty. "Oh," he said as he let out a low whistle. He turned to Rusty with a smirk on his face, "How could you let Dad fall asleep?"
"Oh my gosh! He's not my responsibility!" Rusty exclaimed as he threw his hands in the hair. Andy stopped and turned to the two boys.
"If you are going to stand there and argue, just leave. You know how your mother is about promptness. I'm not going to be late. I guess I fell asleep. I haven't slept well, last night for sure, but really the last few nights. Now, I need to hop in the shower again and get ready. If you two can stop arguing, maybe you can help me."
"I'm not bathing you, Andy. That's like for the nursing home people to do. Nope," he shook his head. Andy looked to him, horrified.
"Would you listen to yourself? I just need some help getting my bags out of here. I'm not planning to come back to Provenza's place. Ricky, maybe you can stop grinning long enough to help me," Andy said sternly.
"Sure," Ricky grinned as he looked between Rusty and Andy. "You know," he pointed to Rusty, "you said he wasn't your responsibility. You didn't correct me for calling him your dad."
"Stop it, Ricky!" Rusty exclaimed. "I'm going to find the lieutenant," he sighed and walked off leaving Ricky there watching Andy who was collecting his suit to head to the bathroom.
"Sorry, I guess we should have checked on you earlier. We wanted to give you some space. I guess I should apologize for not recognizing this as a big day for you. We sort of dragged you all over the place," Ricky admitted.
Andy nodded as he tried to move quickly, "Thank you," he nodded. "You're right. You did. Just remember that when you go to get married," he smirked. "Oh, I'll be there." Andy, with his clothing in hand nodded to Ricky to move out of the way.
"Yeah, guess I deserve that. Look, I'll help you finish getting ready. Just get your shower and shave," Ricky told him.
Andy put his hand up to his face, "Ugh," he sighed. "I do want to shave again. Last thing I need is a five o'clock shadow look at the wedding."
Ricky nodded, "I can call Mom and tell her we are running late," Ricky offered.
"Don't even think about it," Andy stopped and gestured to Ricky. "We will be out of here in 10 minutes. I'm going to be at the church on time. Your mother tried to back out of this once, and I'm not going to make her uneasy because we are running late."
"Mom tried to back out?" Ricky asked, his eyes now showing his shock.
"Not discussing it now," Andy moved by Ricky. "I'm going to get ready."
Andy moved quickly in the bathroom and was surprised when he came out a few minutes later to find Ricky and Rusty standing in front of the door, both with arms crossed.
"Boys, would you move? We need to get to the church," he sighed.
"What's this about mom trying to call off the wedding?" Rusty asked.
"Flynn! How are you not ready? You've wanted to marry this woman for years," Provenza threw his hands in the air as he started down the hall toward all of them. Andy was standing in the bathroom doorway, and the boys were across from him, side by side, and the three were taking up all the hallway space. "What's the matter?" Provenza asked. "I've been loading up the car," he rubbed his hands together.
Andy turned to him with a curious glance, "What have you been loading? I can't remember the last time you did anything."
"Supplies for today," he said as if Andy should know what that meant. He turned to the boys, not giving Andy any more information, "Why are you standing here? You look like you are ready for an interrogation."
"Mom apparently called off the wedding," Rusty told Provenza.
Provenza's eyes grew wide, "Again! Now! You can't be serious!"
"No," Andy raised his hands and tried to silence Provenza. "Not again!"
"Wait, he knows?" Rusty nodded to Provenza.
"Why do I feel like an outsider in my own family?" Ricky shook his head as he looked to each of the men.
Andy sighed as he shook his head, "Can we not do this now? We need to get to the church."
"Oh, we're talking, now," Rusty nodded. "I'm not living in another broken home."
Andy made a face at Rusty, "What broken home now? You're fine, Rusty. Broken home," he sighed.
"Oh, no, I'm not watching you two get married, to have Sharon freak out and kick you out or something," he nodded.
"Mom wouldn't do that," Ricky pointed out as he turned to Rusty. "She stayed married to Dad for almost 30 years. You'd probably just have to decide if you wanted to stay living with Mom or live with Andy. Since they both are on the deed to the condo now, that could be interesting," he nodded as he put his finger to his mouth.
"Would you stop?" Andy exclaimed. "There's not going to be any broken home, no divorce."
"I guess there can't be a divorce if Mom has called it off. Can't get divorced if you aren't married," Ricky nodded.
"Lieutenant Provenza, what's this about again? You knew about it before? Why has Sharon called it off again?" Rusty asked.
"Well, he told me all about it," Provenza gestured to Andy and turned to Rusty. "Rusty, you were gone that weekend. I think that was when you went to Napa."
"Oh, can we not talk about that?" Rusty groaned. "I don't need to relive seeing Gus with his boss. That needs to stay buried. Wait, Mom didn't cheat on you like Gus did with me, did she?" Rusty said, now horrified.
"Guys!" Andy said sternly, and everyone stopped to look at him. "Stop talking. Please. We are going to be late to the church. Sharon and I are fine. We're getting married. There's no cold feet. She will be there, and I will be there. No one cheated," he shook his head at Rusty. "I can't believe you would even think that knowing your mother and our relationship. Your mother did was she does best, she worried. She worried that we weren't on the same track for the future. I've been talking about retiring, and she's not ready. I'm okay with that, but she started to freak out."
"You didn't tell me it was a conversation about retiring, Flynn! Don't be an idiot!" Provenza exclaimed.
Andy rolled his eyes at him and then turned his attention back to the boys, "Nothing has been decided," he said as he looked Ricky, Rusty, and then Provenza in the eye. "Sharon thought she was holding me back if I wanted to retire, and she didn't. There's no problem of love or trust. You know Sharon. She overthinks things and wants to self-sacrifice for everyone she loves. That was it, a momentary freak-out," he explained.
"She did give back the ring," Provenza pointed out.
"For a few hours!" Andy exclaimed. "Drop it, Provenza!"
"So, are you sure she's going to show up today?" Rusty asked.
"Yes! She's going to be at the church. The question really should be if I'm ever going to make it to the church?" Andy exclaimed. "Now, we are late. We need to go. Ricky, grab my bag while I put on my shoes."
"Don't worry, little bro," he patted Rusty's shoulder. "Your parents won't leave you with a broken home," he smirked as he moved to grab Andy's bag and move down the hall.
"What did I ever do to get stuck with this family?" Rusty grumbled as he made a face at Ricky.
Andy patted him on the shoulder as he moved by him to get into his room, "Well, if you are really asking, you stumbled onto a serial killer."