The Cruiserweight (42 page)

*****

Brett met Patrick at the airport Tuesday
evening. Patrick‘s flight from Austin arrived on time, and the pair
returned to Brett and Karen‘s apartment.

“Da, da, da, da! Here is the bride!” Patrick
sang and poked Karen in the ribs when he came in the door. “How are
you, gorgeous?”

“Before or after you almost made me jump out of
my skin?” Karen asked.

“Sorry,” Patrick said. “I just love
weddings.”

“More like he loves the free food and booze,”
Brett replied.

“Oh, come on, Midget, you know me better than
that.”

“Yeah, I know you, all right.” Brett started to
laugh. “I could write a book about some of your antics.”

“Hey, Karen, talking about books, how’s
progress on your novel?” Patrick asked.

“Would you believe it’s almost finished? I just
sent my manuscript to the publisher. The paperback version’s going
to come out early next year.”

“Awesome!”

“Yes, you’re still getting a free copy,” Karen
said.

“Even better. Where’s Autumn?”

“With Brett’s sister. We’re all going to dinner
later, so you might want to clean up and change.”

“Yeah,” Brett said. “We have reservations at
Antonio’s up in Sandlake for eight o’clock. Everybody should be
here in about an hour.”

“Wow, Mr. Fancy Pants tonight, are
we?”

“Night before my wedding, I think I have a
right to splurge on the people I care about most, don’t you
think?”

Patrick hugged his longtime best friend. “You
sure do, man, and thanks for making me part of this special moment
in your life.”

Brett returned the hug. “Wouldn’t have it any
other way, holmes.”

CHAPTER 83

Antonio’s was an elegant but not ostentatious,
yet Brett, Nick, Eddie, and Patrick felt lost dining in such an
upscale establishment. When their food arrived, each stared at the
array of flatware that lay before them.

Their confusion wasn’t lost on Karen. “Start on
the outside and work your way in,” she told them.

“Really?” Patrick asked.

“You’ll never go wrong using that
system.”

“Thanks, K,” Eddie said. “Nice to have someone
with us who knows what they’re doing.”

“Nicholas, sit up straight,” Pilar told Nick.
“We’re not at McDonald’s.”

“Hey, guys, watch this,” Brett said, taking a
little food from his plate. “Little Bit, try some for
Daddy.”

“Brett,” Karen said, “she’s six months old and
doesn’t have any teeth.”

“Don’t worry, it’s soft.” He attempted to feed
his offering to Autumn, who took a small morsel and made a
face.

“I don’t think she wants any more, man,” Nick
said when the others laughed.

“Quit using the baby for entertainment and
finish your dinner,” Pilar said. She gave Autumn a bottle. “Here,
sweetie, this might be better.”

Brett looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “Ma,
we’re not kids. I’m the one getting married tomorrow,
remember?”

“I know. Now act like an adult the night before
his wedding.”

“No bachelor party?” Eddie asked.

Brett shook his head. “Don’t want and don’t
need one.”

“Killjoy.”

“Eddie,” Phoebe said, “not every guy dreams of
lap dances and getting drunk the night before his wedding.
Seriously, grow up.”

“You, Nick, and I can go clubbing later,”
Patrick answered, then turned to Brett. "It’s your last night of
freedom. What are your plans after dinner?”

"Jesus, Pat, I’m getting married, not
imprisoned," Brett replied.

"What’s the difference?" Nick asked, which
earned him a slap on the head from Sharon. “Quite being an
asshole,” she said.

Brett shook his head at the exchange. “I’m
planning to head back home for the night with Karen and our
daughter. It’s been a hectic two weeks.”

“I’d say ‘hectic’ is an understatement,” Karen
said. “At least by tomorrow, all of this will be a
memory.”

“Hopefully a very good memory. Everyone ready
for dessert?”

The women looked at each other and smiled.
“Bottomless Pit Brett,” she and Sharon said in unison, before the
entire table broke into laughter.

CHAPTER 84

“Come on, grumpy,” Karen said the next morning
when the alarm clock rang at eight-thirty. “Up.”

A long groan came from under the pile of
blankets. “Do I have to?” Brett asked.

“Yes you do. It’s our wedding day. Everything’s
going to be perfect." She threw back the covers. “Move your lazy
ass.”

"We can always postpone the
wedding."

"Would you stop?" she said, chuckling. “Go
clean up while I take care of Autumn.”

Karen got out of bed to get the baby, then fed
and bathed Autumn before handing her to Brett to entertain while
she started getting ready. She gathered everything she’d need and
set it near the front door. She gave him a quick kiss before she
was ready to leave. “Make sure you’re at the judge’s chambers by
noon.”

He wrote something on a Post-It note and stuck
it on his forehead. “Got it.”

She laughed. “You’re something
else.”

Brett looked around. “Shit, where’s my
suit?”

“In the bedroom closet, where you put
it.”

“Oh, right.”

“Everything’s going to be perfect,” she said
again before she took Autumn and left.

*****

"I’m here," Karen called as she carried Autumn
and their things into Phoebe‘s hotel suite.

Phoebe, who was already dressed and her hair
and makeup immaculate, greeted her.

“You’re just beautiful!” Karen said. “I knew
that dress would be right for you.”

"Who knew a hairdresser and makeup artist who
performs miracles existed?”

“Don’t be silly. You’re probably had the
easiest job they’ll have all morning.”

“Oh, Miz Kerrigan’s here, and so is Sharon.
Come join the crowd!”

“That’s a pleasant surprise. They can help
dress and entertain Autumn while I’m getting ready.”

Pilar came out and greeted Karen. "There you
are, and you brought our little sugar plum!”

Karen handed over Autumn. “Could you and Sharon
dress her?”

“I’d love to.”

“I left everything for her in that blue case by
the door.”

“Come on,” Phoebe said, taking Karen’s hand,
“I’ll introduce you to Jeff and Raoul, the miracle
workers.”

“Darling!” a tall, lanky man beamed when he
spotted Karen. “You must be the guest of honor. I’m Jeff. I’ll be
working on your hair.”

“I’m Karen, and since I have short hair, it
shouldn’t take long.”

“You’re very lovely, so your makeup won’t take
long either,” a shorter Latino man replied.

Karen smiled. “You must be Raoul.”

“At your service, my dear.”

“Aren’t they the sweetest guys?” Phoebe asked.
“Talented too. Sharon found them.”

“We’re actually fans of your husband-to-be,”
Raoul said as he worked on her face. “He’s hot. You lucky
woman.”

“Thanks
…
I
think.”

"You all right, darling?" Jeff asked Karen,
giving her the once over. "You look a little flushed."

“Bridal jitters. I’ll be fine. Come on,
gentleman, think you can perform the same miracles on me that you
did Phoebe?”

*****

“Hey, do you all think these pants make
Kerrigan’s ass look big?” Patrick asked in an amused voice, lifting
Brett’s suit jacket.

“Hilarious.” Brett rolled his eyes.

Eddie shook his head. “Dude, you have
issues.”

“Honestly, man, checking out guys’ asses? Is
that like sort of a wrestler trait?” Nick raised a suspicious
eyebrow.

“Patrick into
guys?
Did hell freeze over
and I missed it?” Brett asked. “He’s one of the biggest skirt
chasers I know.”

“I’ll have you know that I have standards,”
Patrick replied.

“Yeah, she has to have a pulse, an IQ less than
100, a single-digit dress size, and big tits.”

“Exactly.”

“Did I mention you’re a lost cause?”

“Only several times over the last ten years
we’ve known each other.”

“Do you still have the rings?”

“Huh? Oh, wait.” Patrick rummaged through his
suit pocket, as if he’d misplaced the rings that were to be in his
possession. “Shit, where did they go?”

Brett went red. “You stupid fucking asshole, if
you lost them…”

A goofy grin crossed Patrick’s face. He reached
in his jacket pocket and pulled out two gold rings. “Oops! Must’ve
missed them the first time.”

Brett laughed with relief. “You’re lucky to be
standing for me and I like you, or I’d kicked your ass for pulling
that trick.”

“Thanks, my brother liked it too.” Patrick slid
the rings back into his pocket.

"So, you nervous?" Eddie asked.

"Nope,” Brett answered.

"Not a little?”

"Come on, big bro," Nick said. "You can tell
us. It won’t leave this room."

"I’m not nervous, guys. Jesus.”

"Not even a bit of cold feet?" Patrick asked,
handing Brett his tie.

"No way, dude. I found a woman who loves me as
I am, and I love her for what and who she is. It doesn’t get better
than this.”

"Awww, aren’t you all warm and fuzzy. Since
today’s your wedding, I’ll wait and bust your ass for that comment
some other time.”

“Holy shit, no more heckling me about anything
else today? Not even your famous short jokes?”

"Nope," Patrick said.

Eddie clapped his hands. “Speaking of short,
we’re getting that on time. Chop, chop, boys, or K’s going to think
she’s been stood up.”

******

The courtroom was buzzing with low voices as
guests arrived and were seated. Pilar and Sharon soon appeared with
Autumn, who was dressed in a Christmas red dress, matching
headband, and tiny Mary Janes. She dozed off in her grandmother’s
arms the moment Pilar and Sharon took their seats behind Nick and
Eddie.

Judge Anthony Bass and his clerk entered,
followed by Brett and Patrick, indicating the wedding was about to
begin.

Patrick leaned towards Brett and placed a hand
on his shoulder. "No turning back, bro," he whispered when Karen
and Phoebe appeared.

"Thought never crossed my mind," Brett replied
before he turned and smiled at his bride.

The entire ceremony lasted twenty minutes. When
Brett and Karen were officially announced husband and the couple
shared their first married kiss, applause broke out in the room.
The noise woke Autumn, who began to fuss.

Patrick scooped up the baby. “Welcome back,
sleepyhead. You missed the best part of the whole show. Well, maybe
not; we’re going to dinner pretty soon.”

“I thought Brett was the only one who lived to
eat,” Phoebe said.

“Stick around, Pheebs. Sometimes Pat can outdo
me,” Brett said.

After the ceremony, everyone headed to their
cars to go to the hotel Pilar had chosen for the reception. Brett
and Karen walked hand in hand to their waiting limo, and once
inside, she removed her heels. She leaned back with a relieved
sigh.

"Baby, you all right?" he asked once he had
told the driver where to go.

She smiled, pulled out a small bag, and slipped
its contents onto her feet. “I am now. Thank God the people at Dr.
Scholls created Fast Flats.”

The day was perfect; the sky was a beautiful
cerulean and the puffs of clouds floating in them were pure white.
The temperature was neither too hot nor too cold, so there was no
need for the limo’s air conditioning. The newlyweds shared a glass
of champagne on their way to the hotel, giggling and making out
like teenagers until they arrived at their reception.

*****

"Everyone’s having a blast," Karen said,
smiling as she posed for impromptu pictures with her husband, new
in-laws, and friends. “I don’t think this could’ve come together
without your help, Pilar.”

“I can’t take all the credit, dear. You had
some good ideas too.”

Dinner was served, and everyone sat down to
indulge in the array of delicacies that were offered before Patrick
clinked his water glass and brought everyone’s attention up to the
front of the room.