To You and Back

Bonus Part 2 It's Time For A Wedding

Time was growing short. Soon the ceremony would begin, and no one had seen—

"Charlie!" exclaimed Michael, as the door to the room opened and his younger brother walked in. "Where have you been?"

"I was getting our boutonnieres," said Charlie, holding a clear-topped box in his hand. "Relax. I wasn't going to miss this."

Michael sighed heavily. "Good," he said. "Because I can't do this without you." He turned back to the full length mirror and smoothed his black tux with nervous energy. Inside, he wore a dove grey vest and matching bow tie. Beside the mirror, one arm resting on the metal frame, was a similarly dressed figure with mahogany colored hair and dark eyes twinkling warmly at the reflection.

"Are you ready?" asked Peter. "To enter the inescapable cage."

"Aren't you romantic?" muttered Charlie, going to his brother with a boutonniere and affixing it to the buttonhole on his lapel.

"Is that what marriage is to you, Peter?" asked Michael with a laugh.

"In my family, yes." The brothers glanced at him simultaneously. "But," he added, with a smile, "it really depends on who you're caged with."

Michael looked back at the mirror with a chuckle, but Charlie's gaze lingered. Peter met it steady on, a look on his face that made Charlie frown. The other man had been acting strangely for a while, and Charlie didn't know if it was perhaps residual feelings for Michael that was surfacing in the face of the impending nuptials, or something else. He narrowed his eyes at the other man, when Peter walked pass him with a smile.

"I can't believe it's happening," Michael said. "So much has happened, so much has changed—with all of us." Turning, he faced his brother and his best friend. "When you think about it, my relationship with Jane began at the same time yours did. We went through the same rollercoaster, complications...doubt. Maybe we should have done a double wedding, too," he said with a laugh.

"I think Jane would object to sharing her special day," said Charlie. He checked his watch. "It's time to go."

Michael took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Peter clasped his shoulder and squeezed, and Michael clasped his hand. Charlie straightened his bow tie, and Michael couldn't help but step forward and take his brother in a hug.

"Thank you," came the whisper in Charlie's ear. "Seeing you live your life openly gave me the courage to live mine."

Charlie, after a startled moment, wrapped his hands around his brother. He had no words; none would come around the tightness in his throat.

**

The ceremony took place under an arch of flowers and a stained glass window of Jesus' birth. Deep and full, the organ began to play, filling the church with its reverb. Everyone stood. The double doors at the end of the isle opened, and a figure in a blush pink princess cut dress with a sheer cathedral veil cascading behind slowly entered. Sunlight shined through the stained glass windows, blessing the union with light as the priest did the same with words.

As the rings were exchanged and vows spoken, Charlie cast a surreptitious glance below lashes at the man standing beside him. But Peter, smiling softly and warmly, looked otherwise unaffected. Maybe Charlie was wrong; maybe it wasn't the wedding of his brother that was making Peter act weird. But Peter's pensive expressions, the unexpectedly penetrating gazes at Charlie, and the hiding of his check book meant something.

**

The reception took place at the hotel, in the downstairs dining room adjacent to the patio and garden. As the hour grew late, Charlie slipped out to the patio. It was a cold November night, the bite of the air, scent of turning leaves and damp earth bringing memories of another night, many years ago. Closing his eyes, Charlie inhaled deeply.