Jimmy finished his drink before searching out the makeup. What was a bride's room? He knew what he would do if he had a bride and she had a room to herself. What was he thinking? Perhaps he should knock twice before entering the mystery room. If only Tate went with him, he envisioned her body pressed against his. Instead, he would have to wait until the dance floor.

The second floor was quiet since the wedding was happening on the main floor of the old building referred to as a castle. Ivy deserved a castle. Smiling, Jimmy's teasing had finally come true, she was a princess. He stopped as he heard voices in the room where they had posed for the photographer.

"You need to go back before she misses you."

"I just wanted a few minutes alone."

"Philip, please you'll ruin Ivy and Baxter's day. At least, your cross brought happiness to one couple."

"I'm sorry, Ellie. If I had a time machine."

Ellie? Ellen? Her voice raised doubt. The woman sounded refined, like she came from money. Why didn't he marry her? Ask yourself, jackass.

"No going back. I'll find to say hello to Tate, she looks beautiful tonight."

"I'm worried about her. She hasn't gotten over that night."

"I know. I remember. Go. Please. I'll wait awhile before I return."

"I love you." Silence.

Jimmy unfroze himself and slipped into the bride's room without knocking. He hadn't seen the two who were talking, but knew one was Philip Kane. Even without seeing their faces, he understood the conversation. The cross made Philip fall in love the woman in the room and she was invited to the wedding.

The lack of love in the Kane marriage didn't surprise him. Did Tate know about her father's lover like Baxter? Whoever she was she mentioned her.

He found Tate's makeup bag and smeared the greasy paste on his cut. He wasn't vain, but the photographer would capture images all evening. As he took one last look in the mirror he imagined cornering Tate at her child's wedding. The thought left a hollowness in his chest.

His path was clear until he reached people milling by the restrooms. Jimmy ducked into the men's room, no one would know he had been upstairs. The wedding guests had moved into the ballroom which was filled with large round tables.

Each table sparkled with glasses and gleamed with silver. A bouquet of tea roses sat in the center of each table along with pillar candles. The elegant room glowed and reminded him of umpteen thousand banquets, but the white and dusty rose color theme felt bridal. Or maybe it was the large cake. Was every layer a different flavor?

"Stop drooling?" He felt a jolt as Tate snuck up behind him. "Did you fix your face?"

He saw Ivy talking to an older woman. "Where's the groom?"

Tate rolled her eyes. "Being dressed down by Amelia."

Jimmy frowned. "Why? Where?"

"Away from the guests. She didn't like Ivy and Baxter's nontraditional choices."

"It looks classic, very traditional to me."

"There is no head table. They are sitting with us at that table in the middle."

He had missed one table with the rose table cloth. Tate's dress was a deeper color which complemented, but didn't match the linens.

"Who cares?"

"According to Amelia, everyone."

"Let's go rescue him. Show me."

She pointed towards the kitchen door. "Haven't you been to weddings?"

"I usually send my regrets with a gift, but I'm going to my cousin's."

"Why did you go to mine?"

"I was hoping to kiss the bride." Tate hit his arm hard. "Fine, I went for the cake." She whacked him again. "Ouch!"

They had stepped into a hallway between the kitchen and the large room. Jimmy remembered a cake in a similar passageway. Dumb waiters and an elevator stood at the end to bring food to the second floor.

"Ouch! Stop hitting me, Tate!" His loud voice drew attention.

Amelia turned and looked at the new arrivals. "Tate?"

"Jimmy's being his usual self."

Jimmy bowed. "The best man has come looking for the groom. Amelia, you look lovely."

Baxter stepped to Jimmy and kept walking away from his mother. "Thank you."

"She knows you're a grown man. I hope so, because you have a wife."

Baxter smiled. "I do have a wife."

"What's the big deal? I don't get it."

"Image. It's what drives her. I need a scotch." Baxter smiled as they entered the ballroom. "Or my wife."

Like a puppy, he followed Baxter to Ivy who was standing by her mother. Her face turned up to his and their lips met like they were each other's life source.

Ivy with her hand still on his shoulder asked, "What did she want?"

"Nothing she could control. She'll get over it."

Jimmy frowned. Amelia Kane couldn't control her husband. Aside from running around, she couldn't make him love her. Thanks to the cross. He glanced across the room at Tate talking to some guests. Any woman he dated or even slept with felt lacking to him until two years before. The cross controlled him. Most of the crowded room assumed no one or thing could control James Sinclair, but that was far from the truth.

The burden of the Sinclair name controlled him. He had to succeed. Baxter understood, and Grant listened. Once again, he looked at Tate. Did she understand or was she blessed by being second, like Matty? His little brother wouldn't have grown up with the pressure. Jimmy imagined them working side by side, or Matty being a genius and curing cancer.

He turned towards the hand gripping his shoulder. "Son, being here won't give you the pox."

Jimmy felt his smile melt away his heavy thoughts. "Dad, I know. My mind was elsewhere. I'm looking forward to Shaun's wedding."

Joseph chuckled. "It won't be like this. I like where the couple is sitting. The head table always reminded me of an inquest with the judges lined up. Odd since the wedding party is typically the drunkest and not good at judging anything at all."

Jimmy chuckled. "You should share your opinion with Amelia. She is unhappy with the break in tradition."

"I would prefer not to. She's not like your mother."

"No." Jimmy laughed. His mother grew up with every privilege imaginable, but she made everyone comfortable. Ironically, his parents wouldn't care if he fell in love with a bartender or retail clerk. They just wanted him to get married.

"Foods being served. Time to sit."

Jimmy's place was at the middle table, between Ivy and Tate. He felt lucky. Tate leaned in, and he felt luckier. "Are you ready for your toast?"

"It's going to make the old cronies laugh." Tate bit her lip. "Are you worried?"

She shook her head. "I'm not very funny."

"I'll clap even if you bomb."

She hit him. "Thanks a lot."

Jimmy rubbed his arm. "Stop beating on me. I'll have a bruise." His arm felt warm, but it didn't hurt.

Ivy leaned over. "Be nice."

Jimmy responded by tapping his glass with a spoon. Soon other guests joined in. The noise stopped after the couple kissed.

Tate glared at him. "Don't do that all night. It's tacky. Were you planning to torture me at my wedding?"

"No, because then you would kiss him. Odd how you consider a bride kissing the groom torture."

Her face matched the roses. "Just like kissing you."

He leaned in. "That's a different torture because it sparks an unquenchable desire."

"Prick." Tate threw her head back and laughed.

The band leader announced it was time for the toasts. "Best man, please come forward."

Jimmy winked at Tate and walked to the microphone. He had addressed rooms full of employees and executives. There were only three people whose opinions really matter. Maybe five if he included his parents.

"Almost thirty-years ago, a little boy went to the park to play. Dressed in his sailor suit, the pamper child didn't want to get his hands dirty. Another boy dressed in a less emasculating outfit with dirty hands and knees asked him to play. A friendship was born. In case you're confused, Baxter Kane was the dirty one." A burst of laughter went through the room. "Together we shared a lot of firsts. First day of school, first crush, first detention, but we won't talk about that." Kasper and Doyle laughed the loudest. They knew the story. "First scotch, first time... oops sorry Mom." A restrained laughter. "We even shared beautiful Ivy. No, not like that. Baxter was slow to acknowledge he had fallen for our bride here, so I stepped in. Many of you know I have a reputation of getting what I want." Men cleared their throats while women giggled. "I wanted today to happen. So Ivy and I became friends to make Baxter jealous. Obviously, it worked, but it also secured a place in my stone heart for Ivy as part best friend and part little sister, so Baxter treat her right or you'll have to answer to me." More laughter. "I may stand here as Baxter's best man and oldest friend, but I happily relinquished my role as his best friend... to Ivy. Don't worry I've found a new friend." Baxter would think Josh, but he was wrong. "So to Baxter and Ivy Kane may these two best friends live a wonderful life full of love and happiness. I may shock you all, but I look forward to being an honorary uncle. Beware, I'm known for giving ponies as Christmas presents."

The crowd laughed and murmurs rose to the ceilings. He smiled as he returned to his table. Baxter stood and hugged him and Ivy kissed him on the cheek. "See princess. I promised you."

He stood next to Tate. "You're up."

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