(Chapter 42. February 14. Liv's house, the church.)
Steve rolled over and looked at the digital clock readout. Damn, it was 5:43 already. He'd spent all night with Liv in his arms, listening to her breathe. She had slept soundly while he wrestled with his dilemma. Liv always said exactly what she meant, but Steve had learned that it wasn't always easy to understand her. What had she meant when she said she loved him as much as she could anyone who wasn't Keith? Steve was tempted to write it off as her way of saying Keith would always be special to her, but she was truly in love with him, but the were several reasons he couldn't.
First, when Keith asked if she loved Steve, why hadn't given him a direct answer? It seemed to Steve that she was trying to convince herself that she had sound reasons for marrying him. Keith shouldn't have had to ask her twice. Second, if she really loved him as much or more than she loved Keith, Steve thought she would have said so. It was a simple yes or no question. Why had she made the answer complicated? Steve knew she would never intentionally hurt Keith's feelings, but she wouldn't lie to him or give him false hope either. Finally, when Keith mentioned that she had made a promise, she did nothing to indicate that there were other, vastly more important reasons for her to marry Steve. In his opinion, a promise was a lame reason for anyone to get married, and Steve had been disappointed and hurt that Liv had let the conversation end sounding as though that was her main reason for marrying him.
He felt if she really loved him and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, she should have said so emphatically. Yes, let Keith know she would always hold a special affection for him, but also let him know that Steve was the one she planned to be with forever.
Steve glanced at the clock again. 5:47. Time seemed to be crawling and flying at the same time.
In less than twelve hours, he and Liv would be pledging their lives to one another, "to love, comfort, honor, and keep each other, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others." God, he wanted to make that promise. He wanted her more than anyone or anything he'd ever known, but he needed to know she felt the same about him.
He knew they could live well and happily together for many years. He knew they were good for each other. He knew their marriage would be a good and happy one and last for the rest of their lives. He knew she loved him, deeply, passionately, and with abandon, but…
It was that damned but that had kept him up all night.
…*did* she love him more than Keith?
5:52. He had eleven hours and eight minutes to find his answers.
Steve spent another interminably sleepless hour and twenty-three minutes in bed, holding Liv close, feeling the warmth of her body spooned against his, breathing in the scent of lavender, and listening to her breathe. When the alarm sounded at seven fifteen, he sighed. At least now, he would have some distraction and wouldn't have to spend every moment worrying about his problem. He hoped the solution would come to him in a distracted moment, and when it did, he hoped and prayed it would be clear, plain, simple, and unquestionable. He prayed for a sign.
Breakfast tasted like sawdust. Mark was cooking for the whole house, and was having a ball, but he didn't fail to notice Steve's lack of appetite. He managed to find a private, quiet moment to approach his son.
"Nervous?"
Steve smile weakly and asked, "Is it that obvious?"
Mark shook his head no and smiled back. "Only to those who know you well. You're not eating."
Steve laughed a bit and said, "This is a big deal. I'm kind of scared."
"That's natural, son. Just remember to breathe, and don't lock your knees when you stand in front of the altar. It'll cut off the circulation and make you pass out."
"Thanks, Dad. I needed one more worry to take my mind off things."
Mark grimaced and said, "Sorry."
By ten o'clock, all the women had left to go get ready for the wedding, leaving Steve and the other men to sit around the house for six hours until it was time to put their tuxes on and ride to the church. Steve retreated to the gym. Because of his injured shoulder, he couldn't lift weights, and he couldn't swim, but he needed some kind of physical activity to help him think. It wasn't the beach, but running on the treadmill might be just the ticket.
He'd lost all track of time when Jesse tracked him down for a talk.
Steve continued running as the younger man pulled up a chair, turned it around, straddled the back, and faced him.
"I have to admit, you're much calmer than I expected. I thought you'd be a nervous wreck."
"Why? Really, Jess, we've been practically living together since Christmas. I know it's not a long time, but we've found we get along very well. We fit each other. A wedding just makes it official."
Jesse grinned. "No, Steve. A wedding makes it permanent…more or less. It makes it a lifelong commitment."
"Well, I have never known anyone I'd rather spend the rest of my life with, so I guess it's a good thing we're getting married."
"I suppose," Jesse agreed. "So why are you trying to run away from it?"
Steve stopped short, and nearly fell when the treadmill didn't stop with him. Grabbing the rail, he looked seriously at Jesse and asked, "What do you mean?"
"Steve, you've been on that treadmill for two hours straight, running like hell. Something's eating you, and I'd like to help if I can. I figure you're either worried about nothing, or you think you're about to make the biggest mistake of your life. Why don't try to tell me about it?"
Steve checked to make sure the master bath and the sauna were empty, then he looked out on the balcony to make sure it was clear. Finally, he locked the gym door and took another chair facing Jesse.
He started with, "Just tell me if I'm making a big deal out of nothing, ok?" Then he proceeded to tell Jesse about what he'd overheard last night and the thoughts that had kept him awake until dawn. Finally, he said, "I just don't know what to do, Jess. Is this just jitters and cold feet, or is there a real problem?"
Jesse thought a minute and asked, "Why did you ask her to marry you, Steve?"
"I love her, Jess, and I want to be with her forever."
"Has that changed?"
"N-no."
"You don't sound so sure."
"It's what I want, Jess, but not if it isn't what she really wants. I don't want her to go through with this just to keep some stupid promise. If I marry her, I want it to be because she can't imagine the rest of her life without me, without waking up next to me, without seeing me across the dinner table, without tripping over my dirty laundry when I forget to put it in the hamper."
"Well, Liv seems certain she'll be happy with you, Steve. Do you think you could live happily ever after if you never knew for sure whether she'd rather be with you or Keith? Could you be happy just being with her, or do you need to know she prefers you to Keith?"
Steve chewed his bottom lip for a bit as he thought about the answer to that question. Jesse mused that he had never seen his best friend look so uncertain in all the time they'd known each other.
There was a knock at the gym door, and they both heard Jack's voice calling, "Hey, Steve, it's almost time for lunch. Mark wants to know if there's anything special you'd like for your last meal."
Steve opened the door to find an amused Jack laughing at his own bad joke. Suddenly, the smile fell off his face.
"What's wrong?" Looking into the gym, Jack asked, "Jesse, is he all right?"
Checking the hall, Steve grabbed Jack by the front of his shirt, pulled him into the gym, and locked the door again. He explained the entire problem to Jack much as he had for Jesse.
"I agree with Jess, Steve," Jack said. "If you think the two of you can be happy regardless of how she feels about Keith, there's no point in saying anything, but if you need to know she loves you more, you have to ask."
"I know, but I'm afraid of the answer I might get."
Jack shrugged and said, "Then don't ask. Just accept it and be grateful for it as the gift it is."
Steve gave a sardonic laugh. "Thanks for nothing, guys."
Just then, they heard Mark calling up the stairs. With a worried glance, Steve looked at his friends and said, "Not a word to Dad, ok?"
Jesse and Jack looked at each other uncertainly, but they agreed anyway.
"…Then by the powers vested in me as a minister of the gospel according to the laws of the State of Pennsylvania, I now pronounce you man and wife, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen. Those that God has joined together, let no man put asunder. You may kiss the bride."
Steve turned to Olivia. He could see her lovely face through the gossamer veil. Her hair cascaded around her face in wild, unruly curls. It was almost a living thing. True to her word, she had honored his request not to hide her freckles behind makeup. She wore pale lipstick, eye shadow, and mascara, but nothing else covered her flawless skin. Her green-and- gold eyes looked at him with so much love it made him tremble to the core. Such love was a gift, he knew; and he was determined to do everything he could to deserve it.
He looked down to find the edge of the veil, and when he lifted it with shaking, ice-cold fingers, he was appalled to find Olivia gone, and Amanda in her place. He looked to the minister in wide-eyed shock, and the fool just stood there, smiling benignly and waving a hand to indicate that he should get on with it. No one in the congregation seemed to notice anything out of place.
He turned back to his "bride," and before his very eyes, Amanda morphed into Cheryl. He took a staggering step back, but she held on to him. As he watched in horror, Cheryl's image changed to that of Lynn Conklin. To his relief, Lynn soon became Lily Wilson, and Lily turned into Randy Wolfe.
He looked to the congregation and saw his father and friends looking on. Olivia was there, too, beaming happily, Keith beside her with an arm around her shoulders, smiling. They didn't seem to think anything was amiss.
"Go on, Steve," Jesse said at his elbow. "What are you waiting for?"
Steve could hear the thump-thump-thump of the blood rushing in his ears. He looked back to where he'd seen Olivia in the congregation, and she and Keith were gone. Turning back to his bride, he saw Liv again, but her image instantly faded into that of his high school sweetheart, and then into another woman he did not know. Her hair was a nondescript blondish brown, her eyes an unidentifiable changeable color. For some reason he couldn't see her whole face at once.
"It must be nerves," he told himself. He closed his eyes and leaned in for a kiss, trusting that Liv would be there when he opened them again. The pounding in his ears was getting louder.
"Steve! Come on!" Jesse was yelling at him.
Steve sat up in a cold sweat, gasping for air. Someone was pounding at the door to the bedroom. He heard Jesse yell, "You have to be at the church in ninety minutes, Steve, and you asked me to wake you. If you don't answer, I'm coming in."
Looking around to get his bearings, Steve yelled, "Ok, Jess, I'm awake, already, I'm awake. Come on in."
Jesse entered the bedroom and said, "Jesus, Steve, you look like hell."
"Nice to see you, too, Jess."
"I mean it, Steve," Jesse said, feeling his forehead. "No fever. How are you feeling?"
Steve sighed.
"Like hell."
"Ah, then my diagnosis was correct. Do you want to talk?"
Steve shook his head no. "I'm nervous. I'm scared. What else is there to say?"
Jesse sat on the edge of the bed and looked at him seriously.
"Steve?"
"Yeah, Jess?"
"You can still call it off."
Steve surged out of bed and paced the room like an angry bull as he yelled at Jesse.
"What the hell are you talking about, Jess? I am not going to call this off. I have loved her since I met her. That is the stupidest idea I have ever heard. You know, you are very close to losing your place as my best man!"
Jesse spoke in a low, soothing tone.
"Look, Steve, I'm sorry if I offended you, but you've been so upset today. I just want to make sure you're ready to do this." After a pause, Jesse continued, his voice still pitched low to calm his friend. "Maybe you should postpone it, just until you figure out how Liv feels about Keith and you; or until you figure out how you feel about Liv and Keith."
Steve flopped into one of the chairs by the fireplace, his anger suddenly spent.
"No, Jess. There's nothing to figure out. I love her, and I want her forever." Steve grinned, "And forever starts today."
"Despite what you overheard last night?"
Steve nodded, "Yep. If she still wanted him, she wouldn't have said yes to me."
"You don't sound convinced."
Steve's voice took on a hard edge. "Well, I am, so you must be hearing things."
Jesse put both hands up to show he meant no harm and said, "I'm just making sure, buddy. Let's not have another argument. I don't think your nerves could stand it."
Steve answered in a softer voice, full of apology and gratitude. "I'm sorry, Jess. I shouldn't have exploded at you. I know you have my best interests at heart. I guess I'm just kind of edgy. I was having the weirdest damned dream when you woke me up. I'm ok, now, though. Really."
Looking at his watch, Jesse said, "Ok, then. I suggest you get into that tux. You have to be at the church in a hour and fifteen minutes, and it takes at least half an hour to drive there."
Steve grinned and said, "Yes, sir."
Mark, Jack, Steve, and Jesse were gathered in the small dressing room off behind choir. Steve had felt choked by his bowtie on the way to the church and had roughly yanked it away with a grunt of frustration. Now he was having the Devil's own time getting it back on.
Mark watched his son struggle to get his large, meaty, trembling hands to tie the small strip of silk into a neat bow, and his moustache twitched with amusement. His wounded shoulder was healing nicely, and already he had no need for a sling. Mark had to admit, his boy cut a fine figure in the tuxedo. Now all he needed was a straight tie.
Looking at Jesse and Jack, Mark urged them out of the room with a jerk of his head. He wanted a private moment with Steve. Steve didn't even notice them depart.
"Would you like some help with that, son?"
"Would you? I just can't get it right."
As he deftly worked on the tie, Mark said, "So, this is finally it, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess so," Steve admitted.
"Nervous?"
"Petrified."
As he straightened the tidy little bow under his son's chin, Mark said, "You and Olivia are good together, son. She loves you very much, and I know you love her. This is going to work." His voice cracked as he continued, "I love you Steve, and I am so happy for you. Just don't get so wrapped up with your new bride that you forget about the old man, ok?"
Steve smiled and took hold of his dad's hands.
"I love you, too, Dad, and you know there's no way I could forget you. Thanks for always being there."
Both men were on the verge of tears as they embraced.
Jesse ducked back into the room and said, "It's time, Steve. The minister wants you at the altar."
Steve took a deep breath, put on his best smile, and said, "On my way, Jess."
Steve rolled over and looked at the digital clock readout. Damn, it was 5:43 already. He'd spent all night with Liv in his arms, listening to her breathe. She had slept soundly while he wrestled with his dilemma. Liv always said exactly what she meant, but Steve had learned that it wasn't always easy to understand her. What had she meant when she said she loved him as much as she could anyone who wasn't Keith? Steve was tempted to write it off as her way of saying Keith would always be special to her, but she was truly in love with him, but the were several reasons he couldn't.
First, when Keith asked if she loved Steve, why hadn't given him a direct answer? It seemed to Steve that she was trying to convince herself that she had sound reasons for marrying him. Keith shouldn't have had to ask her twice. Second, if she really loved him as much or more than she loved Keith, Steve thought she would have said so. It was a simple yes or no question. Why had she made the answer complicated? Steve knew she would never intentionally hurt Keith's feelings, but she wouldn't lie to him or give him false hope either. Finally, when Keith mentioned that she had made a promise, she did nothing to indicate that there were other, vastly more important reasons for her to marry Steve. In his opinion, a promise was a lame reason for anyone to get married, and Steve had been disappointed and hurt that Liv had let the conversation end sounding as though that was her main reason for marrying him.
He felt if she really loved him and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, she should have said so emphatically. Yes, let Keith know she would always hold a special affection for him, but also let him know that Steve was the one she planned to be with forever.
Steve glanced at the clock again. 5:47. Time seemed to be crawling and flying at the same time.
In less than twelve hours, he and Liv would be pledging their lives to one another, "to love, comfort, honor, and keep each other, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others." God, he wanted to make that promise. He wanted her more than anyone or anything he'd ever known, but he needed to know she felt the same about him.
He knew they could live well and happily together for many years. He knew they were good for each other. He knew their marriage would be a good and happy one and last for the rest of their lives. He knew she loved him, deeply, passionately, and with abandon, but…
It was that damned but that had kept him up all night.
…*did* she love him more than Keith?
5:52. He had eleven hours and eight minutes to find his answers.
Steve spent another interminably sleepless hour and twenty-three minutes in bed, holding Liv close, feeling the warmth of her body spooned against his, breathing in the scent of lavender, and listening to her breathe. When the alarm sounded at seven fifteen, he sighed. At least now, he would have some distraction and wouldn't have to spend every moment worrying about his problem. He hoped the solution would come to him in a distracted moment, and when it did, he hoped and prayed it would be clear, plain, simple, and unquestionable. He prayed for a sign.
Breakfast tasted like sawdust. Mark was cooking for the whole house, and was having a ball, but he didn't fail to notice Steve's lack of appetite. He managed to find a private, quiet moment to approach his son.
"Nervous?"
Steve smile weakly and asked, "Is it that obvious?"
Mark shook his head no and smiled back. "Only to those who know you well. You're not eating."
Steve laughed a bit and said, "This is a big deal. I'm kind of scared."
"That's natural, son. Just remember to breathe, and don't lock your knees when you stand in front of the altar. It'll cut off the circulation and make you pass out."
"Thanks, Dad. I needed one more worry to take my mind off things."
Mark grimaced and said, "Sorry."
By ten o'clock, all the women had left to go get ready for the wedding, leaving Steve and the other men to sit around the house for six hours until it was time to put their tuxes on and ride to the church. Steve retreated to the gym. Because of his injured shoulder, he couldn't lift weights, and he couldn't swim, but he needed some kind of physical activity to help him think. It wasn't the beach, but running on the treadmill might be just the ticket.
He'd lost all track of time when Jesse tracked him down for a talk.
Steve continued running as the younger man pulled up a chair, turned it around, straddled the back, and faced him.
"I have to admit, you're much calmer than I expected. I thought you'd be a nervous wreck."
"Why? Really, Jess, we've been practically living together since Christmas. I know it's not a long time, but we've found we get along very well. We fit each other. A wedding just makes it official."
Jesse grinned. "No, Steve. A wedding makes it permanent…more or less. It makes it a lifelong commitment."
"Well, I have never known anyone I'd rather spend the rest of my life with, so I guess it's a good thing we're getting married."
"I suppose," Jesse agreed. "So why are you trying to run away from it?"
Steve stopped short, and nearly fell when the treadmill didn't stop with him. Grabbing the rail, he looked seriously at Jesse and asked, "What do you mean?"
"Steve, you've been on that treadmill for two hours straight, running like hell. Something's eating you, and I'd like to help if I can. I figure you're either worried about nothing, or you think you're about to make the biggest mistake of your life. Why don't try to tell me about it?"
Steve checked to make sure the master bath and the sauna were empty, then he looked out on the balcony to make sure it was clear. Finally, he locked the gym door and took another chair facing Jesse.
He started with, "Just tell me if I'm making a big deal out of nothing, ok?" Then he proceeded to tell Jesse about what he'd overheard last night and the thoughts that had kept him awake until dawn. Finally, he said, "I just don't know what to do, Jess. Is this just jitters and cold feet, or is there a real problem?"
Jesse thought a minute and asked, "Why did you ask her to marry you, Steve?"
"I love her, Jess, and I want to be with her forever."
"Has that changed?"
"N-no."
"You don't sound so sure."
"It's what I want, Jess, but not if it isn't what she really wants. I don't want her to go through with this just to keep some stupid promise. If I marry her, I want it to be because she can't imagine the rest of her life without me, without waking up next to me, without seeing me across the dinner table, without tripping over my dirty laundry when I forget to put it in the hamper."
"Well, Liv seems certain she'll be happy with you, Steve. Do you think you could live happily ever after if you never knew for sure whether she'd rather be with you or Keith? Could you be happy just being with her, or do you need to know she prefers you to Keith?"
Steve chewed his bottom lip for a bit as he thought about the answer to that question. Jesse mused that he had never seen his best friend look so uncertain in all the time they'd known each other.
There was a knock at the gym door, and they both heard Jack's voice calling, "Hey, Steve, it's almost time for lunch. Mark wants to know if there's anything special you'd like for your last meal."
Steve opened the door to find an amused Jack laughing at his own bad joke. Suddenly, the smile fell off his face.
"What's wrong?" Looking into the gym, Jack asked, "Jesse, is he all right?"
Checking the hall, Steve grabbed Jack by the front of his shirt, pulled him into the gym, and locked the door again. He explained the entire problem to Jack much as he had for Jesse.
"I agree with Jess, Steve," Jack said. "If you think the two of you can be happy regardless of how she feels about Keith, there's no point in saying anything, but if you need to know she loves you more, you have to ask."
"I know, but I'm afraid of the answer I might get."
Jack shrugged and said, "Then don't ask. Just accept it and be grateful for it as the gift it is."
Steve gave a sardonic laugh. "Thanks for nothing, guys."
Just then, they heard Mark calling up the stairs. With a worried glance, Steve looked at his friends and said, "Not a word to Dad, ok?"
Jesse and Jack looked at each other uncertainly, but they agreed anyway.
"…Then by the powers vested in me as a minister of the gospel according to the laws of the State of Pennsylvania, I now pronounce you man and wife, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen. Those that God has joined together, let no man put asunder. You may kiss the bride."
Steve turned to Olivia. He could see her lovely face through the gossamer veil. Her hair cascaded around her face in wild, unruly curls. It was almost a living thing. True to her word, she had honored his request not to hide her freckles behind makeup. She wore pale lipstick, eye shadow, and mascara, but nothing else covered her flawless skin. Her green-and- gold eyes looked at him with so much love it made him tremble to the core. Such love was a gift, he knew; and he was determined to do everything he could to deserve it.
He looked down to find the edge of the veil, and when he lifted it with shaking, ice-cold fingers, he was appalled to find Olivia gone, and Amanda in her place. He looked to the minister in wide-eyed shock, and the fool just stood there, smiling benignly and waving a hand to indicate that he should get on with it. No one in the congregation seemed to notice anything out of place.
He turned back to his "bride," and before his very eyes, Amanda morphed into Cheryl. He took a staggering step back, but she held on to him. As he watched in horror, Cheryl's image changed to that of Lynn Conklin. To his relief, Lynn soon became Lily Wilson, and Lily turned into Randy Wolfe.
He looked to the congregation and saw his father and friends looking on. Olivia was there, too, beaming happily, Keith beside her with an arm around her shoulders, smiling. They didn't seem to think anything was amiss.
"Go on, Steve," Jesse said at his elbow. "What are you waiting for?"
Steve could hear the thump-thump-thump of the blood rushing in his ears. He looked back to where he'd seen Olivia in the congregation, and she and Keith were gone. Turning back to his bride, he saw Liv again, but her image instantly faded into that of his high school sweetheart, and then into another woman he did not know. Her hair was a nondescript blondish brown, her eyes an unidentifiable changeable color. For some reason he couldn't see her whole face at once.
"It must be nerves," he told himself. He closed his eyes and leaned in for a kiss, trusting that Liv would be there when he opened them again. The pounding in his ears was getting louder.
"Steve! Come on!" Jesse was yelling at him.
Steve sat up in a cold sweat, gasping for air. Someone was pounding at the door to the bedroom. He heard Jesse yell, "You have to be at the church in ninety minutes, Steve, and you asked me to wake you. If you don't answer, I'm coming in."
Looking around to get his bearings, Steve yelled, "Ok, Jess, I'm awake, already, I'm awake. Come on in."
Jesse entered the bedroom and said, "Jesus, Steve, you look like hell."
"Nice to see you, too, Jess."
"I mean it, Steve," Jesse said, feeling his forehead. "No fever. How are you feeling?"
Steve sighed.
"Like hell."
"Ah, then my diagnosis was correct. Do you want to talk?"
Steve shook his head no. "I'm nervous. I'm scared. What else is there to say?"
Jesse sat on the edge of the bed and looked at him seriously.
"Steve?"
"Yeah, Jess?"
"You can still call it off."
Steve surged out of bed and paced the room like an angry bull as he yelled at Jesse.
"What the hell are you talking about, Jess? I am not going to call this off. I have loved her since I met her. That is the stupidest idea I have ever heard. You know, you are very close to losing your place as my best man!"
Jesse spoke in a low, soothing tone.
"Look, Steve, I'm sorry if I offended you, but you've been so upset today. I just want to make sure you're ready to do this." After a pause, Jesse continued, his voice still pitched low to calm his friend. "Maybe you should postpone it, just until you figure out how Liv feels about Keith and you; or until you figure out how you feel about Liv and Keith."
Steve flopped into one of the chairs by the fireplace, his anger suddenly spent.
"No, Jess. There's nothing to figure out. I love her, and I want her forever." Steve grinned, "And forever starts today."
"Despite what you overheard last night?"
Steve nodded, "Yep. If she still wanted him, she wouldn't have said yes to me."
"You don't sound convinced."
Steve's voice took on a hard edge. "Well, I am, so you must be hearing things."
Jesse put both hands up to show he meant no harm and said, "I'm just making sure, buddy. Let's not have another argument. I don't think your nerves could stand it."
Steve answered in a softer voice, full of apology and gratitude. "I'm sorry, Jess. I shouldn't have exploded at you. I know you have my best interests at heart. I guess I'm just kind of edgy. I was having the weirdest damned dream when you woke me up. I'm ok, now, though. Really."
Looking at his watch, Jesse said, "Ok, then. I suggest you get into that tux. You have to be at the church in a hour and fifteen minutes, and it takes at least half an hour to drive there."
Steve grinned and said, "Yes, sir."
Mark, Jack, Steve, and Jesse were gathered in the small dressing room off behind choir. Steve had felt choked by his bowtie on the way to the church and had roughly yanked it away with a grunt of frustration. Now he was having the Devil's own time getting it back on.
Mark watched his son struggle to get his large, meaty, trembling hands to tie the small strip of silk into a neat bow, and his moustache twitched with amusement. His wounded shoulder was healing nicely, and already he had no need for a sling. Mark had to admit, his boy cut a fine figure in the tuxedo. Now all he needed was a straight tie.
Looking at Jesse and Jack, Mark urged them out of the room with a jerk of his head. He wanted a private moment with Steve. Steve didn't even notice them depart.
"Would you like some help with that, son?"
"Would you? I just can't get it right."
As he deftly worked on the tie, Mark said, "So, this is finally it, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess so," Steve admitted.
"Nervous?"
"Petrified."
As he straightened the tidy little bow under his son's chin, Mark said, "You and Olivia are good together, son. She loves you very much, and I know you love her. This is going to work." His voice cracked as he continued, "I love you Steve, and I am so happy for you. Just don't get so wrapped up with your new bride that you forget about the old man, ok?"
Steve smiled and took hold of his dad's hands.
"I love you, too, Dad, and you know there's no way I could forget you. Thanks for always being there."
Both men were on the verge of tears as they embraced.
Jesse ducked back into the room and said, "It's time, Steve. The minister wants you at the altar."
Steve took a deep breath, put on his best smile, and said, "On my way, Jess."