Mia Ross - Circle of Family

“Matt told me about your father passing last year. I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you,” she said as she’d probably done a million times since his sudden death. Her eyes went to the empty chair at the head of the table. “We really miss him.”

Ridge wished he could say the same about his own father. Unfortunately, when the abusive drunk who’d made his childhood a living nightmare died a few years ago, it took every ounce of compassion he had not to celebrate.

While she sliced up some great-smelling banana bread, he filled glasses with ice and tea for both of them. After a long swallow, he grinned his appreciation. “I’ve been out west the last month. I really missed this stuff.”

That got him a gracious smile. “There’s always plenty, so help yourself.”

“Southern hospitality,” he complimented her as he refilled his glass. “Gotta love it.”

“Don’t get used to it, city boy.”

Ridge glanced over to find Matt Sawyer filling the doorway. Dressed in a gray suit with a buttoned-up white shirt and burgundy tie, Matt looked a lot different from the last time Ridge had seen him. Of course, that had been a trip to Vegas he suspected Matt’s family knew nothing about.

Laughing, Ridge shook his old buddy’s hand. “I won’t, believe me. Betsy and I don’t fare well if we’re in one place too long.”

Matt took the sweet tea Marianne handed him and drained it in three gulps. “Thanks, Mare.”

“When did you finish up the haying last night?”

Matt squinted at the schoolhouse clock on the wall. “Two, I think. There’s a lot more to do, but I’ve done all I can.”

“We need some more help around here,” she commented with a worried frown.

“Can’t afford it. Speaking of help, that reminds me,” he said to Ridge. “I rustled up some dusting contracts for you. Starting with us Monday morning. Did you talk to John?”

“Your little brother said I can stay with him while I’m in town. He was really cool about it.”

“Not much bothers John.” Matt glanced at his sister and apparently read the very obvious disdain on her face. “What?”

She didn’t respond, just stood there with her arms folded and giving him The Look. After a few seconds, understanding dawned, and he chuckled. Ridge didn’t remember Matt having much of a sense of humor, and he suspected the bride had something to do with his buddy’s new lighthearted view of things.

“Forgot to tell you Ridge was staying here, didn’t I?” Matt asked his sister.

“Yes.”

“Sorry.”

He leaned in to kiss her cheek, and she swatted him away with a laugh. “Since you’re getting married today, I’ll let it slide.”

“Come on.” Matt motioned Ridge toward the stairs. “I’ll show you where to get ready.”

As they went up the creaky wooden steps, Ridge said, “So, should I guess from what you were saying to Marianne that things are still pretty tight around here?”

“Tight ain’t the word. We’re better off than some, but not as good as I’d like.”

Ridge knew Matt wouldn’t accept anything more than free labor, but he resolved to find a way to help the Sawyers out a little. He wasn’t exactly swimming in money himself, but maybe he could come up with something.

In the meantime, he could manufacture a pleasant distraction. “I flew over your new house on my way through town. It looks great.”

“Yeah?” Matt opened the door at the end of the upstairs hallway. “I’ve been working so much, I haven’t seen it in daylight since last week.”

“The roof was going on.” Ridge laid his suit carrier across the foot of the bed. “I like the siding. Who decided on light green?”

“We both did. Caty wanted yellow, I wanted blue, so we settled on green.”

Just saying her name eased the tension from his voice, and Ridge congratulated himself on breaking Matt out of his funk.

“You’re really happy, aren’t you?” Ridge asked, even though he knew the answer. It was written all over the guy’s face.

“Yeah.” He added a wry grin. “Me and a lawyer. Who’d’ve figured on that?”

Ridge made a show of thinking that one over, and they both burst out laughing. It was a good start to the day.

* * *

The morning flew by in a blink and before Marianne knew it, she and Lisa were standing in their places waiting for Caty to come down the aisle. Refusing to choose between them, the bride had cleverly solved the problem by making them her “sisters of honor.” Unconventional, but Marianne appreciated her coming up with a solution that wouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings.

Angling a glance to her right, Marianne decided her little sister looked like a rosebud. They were wearing the same pink dress, but Lisa’s chandelier earrings sparkled in the sunlight, and the tiny roses and baby’s breath she’d eased into her French braid were the perfect touch.

After Emily skipped down the aisle and joined them, Marianne rested a hand on the bouncing flower girl’s shoulder to keep her in one spot. The guitarist strummed the first chords of the wedding march, prompting everyone to stand and look expectantly toward the front porch.

There, beneath swags of roses and hibiscus, the bride smiled up at the father she hadn’t even known a year ago. As they made their way toward the flower-draped arbor, Ridge tapped Matt’s shoulder and leaned in to say something. Whatever it was made her brother grin like an idiot, and Marianne sent up a desperate plea for divine intervention in getting them to behave themselves for just ten more minutes. Since Matt was the oldest Sawyer, she’d never had much luck being a mother hen to him in the past. Still, miracles happened every day.

Like the one that had brought Matt and Caty together in the first place.

In the past year, they’d navigated a long, rough road. Now they stood in the same spot where her parents, Ethan and Jan Sawyer, were married thirty-five years ago. The couple repeated their vows back to Pastor Charles in clear, confident voices. Despite their obvious differences, Marianne believed with all her heart that they really were meant for each other.

She wished their parents had lived long enough to see Matt so happy.

A warm breeze rustled through the roses climbing over the archway, releasing the sweet scent of the pink-and-white blossoms to mix with the hyacinth and jasmine in the garden surrounding them. Fifty-three guests were there, smiling and snapping pictures from every angle. Today really was perfect, she thought with a smile. She couldn’t have asked for anything more.

When Matt turned to Ridge for Caty’s ring, Marianne’s sunny mood took a sudden dive. The best man’s crazy—and unexpected—arrival had put her more on edge than she needed to be. As if she didn’t have enough to worry about, now she’d have a stranger wandering around the farm for the next two weeks until he headed back to Colorado. She’d get Matt for that one, she promised herself.

After less than a minute with Ridge, she’d pegged him as disorganized and cocky. Although she had to admit the phone call to his mom had netted him some points. A grown man who so obviously loved his mother couldn’t be all bad.

And no woman with a pulse could help noticing that his tall, solid frame looked as good in his crisp gray suit as it had in jeans and a leather bomber jacket. Or that his hazel eyes had little flecks of gold in them that sparkled in the sunlight.

Unfortunately, Peter Weston had taught her that looks could be crushingly deceiving. And despite all of Ridge’s good points, Marianne couldn’t get past the aggravation he’d already caused her. Coming in late with a crazy flying display that nearly gave her a heart attack was just the start. Then there was the mock RSVP that caused her to waste money on a catered meal for his plane. No doubt about it, Marianne decided as the ceremony wound down.