All familiar characters belong to Janet. Mistakes are solely mine.

"Are you sure I should be going to this wedding?" Frank asked Stephanie but was really asking me.

"Your invitation was specifically given by both Arlen and Thaddeus, Frank," I told him. "And not because they feel guilty for playing a part in your divorce. Stephanie is family, and you and Edna are Stephanie's family. My mother would likely pull you there by your ear if you didn't join us."

"Trust me, Dad. He's not exaggerating. Mama Manoso takes family gatherings very seriously. Plus, you need to see Olive in her wedding dress."

"If you don't want me to have a heart attack, Babe, please don't say that again. Olivia is wearing a dress for the wedding, not wearing a wedding dress."

She tapped my arm sympathetically. "Don't worry, as Kenzie said about Remy … you've got at least eighteen years, well sixteen for us, before you need to worry about that."

"Try after I'm dead."

"If you die, I'll kill you … so let's go with a hopeful thirty-two years. Olive's parents know from experience that marrying the wrong person, especially when you're young and stupid, is a preventable mistake. Though I am grateful to have Julie in my life. Fortunately, me and you did get marriage very right eventually."

"We did. And it feels like Celia held out for the right one for her. She's glad to have as many well-wishers as the church can hold, Frank. We do have to leave earlier than the other guests because my ladies are part of the wedding, but you can still come with us if you have nothing else planned for the day. Or I can arrange a ride with one of the men attending."

"Can we fit with the girls and all 'em dresses?" Edna asked.

"First off, it's not the 80s or 90s anymore, so our dresses don't involve as much fabric. And we'll be getting dressed on site anyway," Steph assured her. "There'll be plenty of room if we leave the Porsches at home and take a fleet vehicle."

"Darn. I would've loved to make an entrance."

"I know you would," Steph said, mirroring Edna's put out expression. "Maybe we can switch things up to get to the reception. Dad, are you sure Aideen won't change her mind and come too?"

"She says if she doesn't impose on Ranger's family's hospitality," Frank shared, "I'll have to stop in and see her afterwards to tell her all about it."

"She's good," Steph said in admiration. "She'd be even better if she remembered that the Manosos don't know what the word 'impose' means. If fifty extra people showed up at the last minute, they'd just order pizza and make it a standing room only event."

"My family is a blessing and a curse almost equally," I told the group.

"You're not picking on Grandma, are you?" Julie asked, giving Olive a piggyback ride into the kitchen where we were draining a pot of coffee before the day officially begins.

"No, merely explaining her."

"Good. Because Grandma's awesome! How long do we have left before we leave?"

"About an hour and a half."

"Your Dad's worried about traffic and I'm worried about everything else," Steph teased. "So, we're factoring possible disasters into our drive time."

"There's never been a wedding that hasn't happened on time in our family," I assured her. "It could be in the middle of a downpour, blizzard, or power outage, but it will still take place."

I wasn't kidding just to get Steph to relax. The church could burn down, and my mother would still make sure the priest could perform the ceremony on the charred-out lot.

"I'm holding you to that," Steph said. "I'm not feeling very 'formal wear' today, but for Celia and Arlen … I'll do just about anything."

"I already have crackers, ginger ale, and a few snacks Ella believes will help, in Olivia's bag."

"It's more attitude than any kind of sickness, but I'm not going to let the family down."

"You could just tell them why you're not feeling like yourself, Babe. I promise they'll be happy hearing the news."

"I'll be okay with a snack and a plan," she said, basically begging everyone to believe her.

I didn't fight it, but I made sure to stay close to her for the remainder of the morning. I always love when Julie visits, and this time I felt an added sense of appreciation for my eldest who can distract Olivia like no one else. So, I was able to keep an eye on my wife while making sure my family was ready to leave when we needed to.

"Wow, Dad. You're looking good … and different," Steph said when we met Frank and Edna in the lobby. "Is this really a suit that isn't funeral black or navy blue?"

"Does it look alright? Edna and Aideen made me try it on and then convinced me to buy it."

"You look twenty years younger and loads happier. A brownish-gray tone really works for you."

"Because I decided to stay here a while longer," Frank shared, "I've ventured down to the gym before I go over to Aideen's for coffee and breakfast. I didn't realize that there is always someone working out in there and willing to spar with - or advise - me. I've lost ten pounds but gained three back of muscle."

Steph sighed. "Great. I'm now a gym orphan as well as a gym widow … with my husband and Dad getting sucked into that torture-y sweat chamber."

"You were there last night, Babe, since you knew you'd miss a workout this morning. You don't have a leg to stand and complain on."

"Yeah, but I'm anticipating a thirty-pound addition to my body, and a labor I'm hoping to make less painful. My working out is more necessity than vanity or choice."

"You tell 'em, Stephanie!" Edna agreed, looking years younger herself in a barely pink, structured, knee-length dress with matching wrap secured just below the thankfully modest neckline.

She also appears happy and more relaxed. She's fully comfortable with her place in our lives and within the Manoso family. I changed before we left the apartment so all that I needed to do was hang the gowns up in the back of the Tahoe out of Olive's reach after securing her car seat in the vehicle and her into the seat.

When we reached my parents' church, Edna and Frank were greeted by my father and quickly taken away to be introduced to everyone they 'had' to meet according to him. That allowed me to tail my wife and girls without needing a reason beyond watching Olive, as Steph and Julie would be busy with more than just getting into their gowns.

"I promise this fit better on me yesterday," Steph told Celia and the entire bridal party when she stepped out of one room wearing a bridesmaid dress with spaghetti straps yet everything else covered. "I know because I tried it on after we got back from the rehearsal dinner."

Unless you know Stephanie's body as intimately as I do, there isn't a visible change to it like she believes we're seeing. The material is more hugging her hips than caressing them now, but that's the only difference I can detect ... and I'm an expert on all things Stephanie.

"All I have left to do is climb into my dress," my sister replied, "so let's talk about that."

"I'm sorry …" my wife began.

"You look beautiful, Stephanie, as do all of my girls today. What I have an issue with is why you didn't tell us we're getting another niece or a nephew? Mama called it more than a week ago."

"Ummm …"

"We were planning on telling you all as soon as we found out," I said, rescuing my wife, "but this is your moment to celebrate. We weren't going to take any attention away from you and Arlen. You've been planning this wedding for half a quarantine."

"Your brother is protecting me again," my wife said. "I was the one who thought we should wait. Where I'm from, you'd get tarred and feathered for trying to usurp the attention on someone else's special day."

"You poor dear," Mama Manoso said, elbowing her way through the group to get to my wife. "You should know by now that there are enough of us Manosos to celebrate everything ... all together ... at any time. I'm going to be an Abuela times three … unless someone else has something to share too?"

I almost had an aneurysm when Julie opened her mouth to say something. The blood suddenly draining out of Stephanie's face was a reflection of my current feeling.

"Mom and Dad said I can skip summer camp and spend most of my summer vacation here in Jersey with all of you if I want … and you want me. I was waiting to bring it up because I know you'll be busy getting ready for the baby …"

"Okay, I get it now," Steph said to my mother. "Happy news is always welcome. This is amazing, Jules. Of course, we want you for however long we can have you. I think your parents threatened to call the cops to get you back last time. Our kids make our home feel like one, so promise me you'll stop feeling like a guest. You, Olive, and whoever comes out of me, will always have a place and parents to come to. Only Kane, Atlas, and Lester have conditions placed on them. Those 'kids' need an invite first."

"That joke doesn't get funnier the more times you make it."

"I think you're wrong, because I think it does," my wife said, getting an arm around our eldest.

"Jeez, Steph. Stop trying to suck anything in. You're gonna squish my baby brother or sister. My sibling needs plenty of room to move."

My wife sighed. "Nice try. I'm going to hug you whenever I want to even if you try to lecture me about something every time I do. Okay," Steph said to me, "it's getting close to showtime so you can leave Olive with me. I'll be alright."

"She's already dressed. The two of us can wreak havoc in the vestibule while you all finish getting ready."

"Dad, I'm here too. I can watch out for both Steph and Olive."

"Your daughter is right, Carlos," my mother chimed in. "Don't hover. We'll take good care of your girls."

"Are you sure?" I asked my wife.

"Yup. We're a team here with a collective goal of getting Celia hitched with zero drama or problems. I'm sure your in-progress baby will work with us to make that happen."

I wanted to sigh, but I know when I'm being too overprotective … in my family's eyes. To me, there's no such thing as being too protective.

"Alright," I reluctantly said. I gave my wife and daughters a kiss before turning to my big sister. "You are a beautiful bride, Cel. Inside and out. And if Arlen ever hurts you, I'll hurt him a hundred times worse."

"He knows that and loves me anyway."

"He'd better, because except for who I married, no woman is better than the one he's marrying today."

"Hey!" Was collectively shouted from everyone else in the room, my other sisters being the loudest among the protest.

"It's her wedding day, I was instructed to be nice," I teased.

I kissed my wife again and got the fuck out of there before my sisters decided to gang up on me. I walked back into the church where the guests were almost all accounted for. I wasn't surprised when one of my men came up to me a beat later.

"You realize that this wedding would be a nightmare to secure if we weren't who we are," Bobby said. "Your sisters plus your wife all dolled up would cause a brawl if there were too many unfriendlies in the building."

"Why do you think I posted extra men here in the church and more walking the grounds? That added security is for my sisters, not my wife. If anyone looks at Stephanie, I'll handle them single-handedly … and painfully."

"When's this thing starting?" Tank wandered over to ask.

"Getting worried that Mabyn might get too many ideas while sitting in the middle of wedding hell?" Lester asked from his left.

This moment reminded me of when Steph pointed out that men claim women travel in packs, but if there's more than one Range Man or RangeTeam in a confined area, we automatically seek each other out.

"Where we sittin'?" I heard Edna ask from a few feet away.

"Front row, bride's side with my parents and grandparents," I answered. "The men will be in the row behind us. Celia and Arlen did say you can sit wherever you'd like in case you want to show support for the men who got you free from Helen."

"Oh you," she said, swiping my arm playfully. "I could've got out any time, but I didn't wanna leave Stephanie ... and then Frank ... behind."

"You are a badass broad, aren't you, Mrs. M?" Lester said, flirting mercilessly.

Edna was enjoying the attention more than I was comfortable with, so I found Frank and walked us both to our seats, knowing the clock's ticking down to the ceremony.

I had my doubts about a wedding planned around a metallic color scheme, picturing a bad Vegas show, but the wedding party complemented each other in a way I definitely hadn't expected as they filed down the aisle. Olivia stole the show for the time she had the spotlight to herself by treating the rose petals she was instructed to sprinkle conservatively ... like confetti on New Year's Eve when the clock strikes midnight. Whatever she got a fist around went flying into the air.

"Dadda!" She yelled as soon as she'd made it all the way down to where the priest and Arlen were standing and turned to survey the venue.

Running out of petals likely sped up her decision to abandon her post. I held my arms open for her and she filled them less than a second later. Once she was seated on my lap, she began trying to tug off the silver dress shoes that were buckled onto her feet in anticipation of this exact reaction.

"You did a good job," I whispered to her, kissing her temple so I wouldn't mess up the intricate bun/baby's breath hairstyle that has lasted longer than most have in the past.

Though here at the church, there are no dogs, Mado, or bored Uncles to help aid in the destruction. Since she'll be sitting with me for the duration of the service, I unbuckled and removed both baby shoes before giving her a book full of blank pages to hold while I held another full of flower stickers so she could peel and stick at will while we waited for her Mama's duties to end as well.

My baby and the Maid of Honor's dresses are made from a soft silver material printed with a monochromatic but matte floral design, while my Babe and Julie are in rose gold dresses like the rest of the bridesmaids with only the top of the gowns varying in style. I try not to let my emotions color my judgment, but my ladies are the most stunning of the wedding party.

My retinas are glad the groom went the black tux route, only adding hints of matching gold for Arlen, silver for his best man, and rose gold for the groomsmen with their vests and the watches Arlen had given as gifts to the men using the jeweler I'd introduced to him so he wouldn't get screwed over or sold an inferior product.

While every eye, especially Arlen's, were trained on Celia, who is literally glowing in a pale gold 'princess gown' ... which is what Julie had always called anything with a dramatic circular skirt and barely-there cap sleeves. Her smile at seeing her groom close to tears rivaled the material that shimmered in the sunlight already being filtered through the stained-glass windows.

But Brown clearly isn't blinded by the bride.

"Who the fuck is that?" He leaned over to ask me.

He's familiar and friends with Stephanie and my sisters, who are all bridesmaids, so I know his eyes found Celia's best friend ... her Maid of Honor today.

Mireya Merritt can hold her own in any crowd, but she also stands out in a way beautiful women like my wife and sisters do. Wrap that caramel skin in a silver gown topped with a flirty, side-swept hairstyle, and Bobby is clearly mesmerized.

"Mark my words and this date down because I swear on my life," he whispered to me, "I'm gonna marry that girl as soon as I get her to agree that she'll have me."

I thought the same thing when I first saw Stephanie, so I'm not in any position to judge or question his prediction.