Page 75 of Bossy Bride: Emma and Jesse

I nod, kind of understanding, but not really getting the specifics of that declaration. Wanting to ask more questions. But then he pushes on the door, swinging it open, and on the other side is Johnny, and Joey, and Zach.

I walk forward, momentarily forgetting about Jack Dumas.

Because these three men—these three fucked-up, dangerous, rich, powerful, weak, imperfect men… they were what was missing from this day.

They look at me and I look at them.

And just like that day I proposed to Emma, we don’t need a lot of words to understand what this moment is.

It’s just… happy.

Johnny nods at me. Joey starts taking off my tie. And Zach is slipping my fancy coattail jacket down my arms.

“Shirtless,” Joey says. “Mermen get married shirtless.”

Zach slides a chair up behind me and Johnny pushes me into it

“And barefoot,” Joey adds, as Zach starts taking off my shoes and socks.

I laugh and then suddenly that dream I had the day after Emma gave me the one-up dream date comes flashing back into my head.

We were all mer-people. Emma and me. Alonzo and Johnny. Tony and Joey. Luke and Zach. Jack and Silvia. And there was Saturday night dinner. And dolphins who might’ve been dogs.

And that’s when I know that no matter what happens after this wedding is finally over, this day is perfect because we’re all here.

Together.

Johnny leans down and grabs me by the shoulders, much the same way that Jack did. He looks straight into my eyes. “He would be proud of you, Jesse. I think you should know that. He wasn’t the greatest father, but I really believe he did his best with us.”

I swallow hard and nod, suddenly overcome with emotion. Suddenly overcome with love for these brothers of mine. Because yeah. Johnny might be my only true brother in this room, but the four of us… we are the definition of brotherhood.

It took a while to get here. There were many moments of silence. Many times when we were small specks floating in a huge ocean. Separate and on our own paths.

But we were never alone.

We have never been alone.

“This isn’t a second chance,” Johnny continues. “This marriage isn’t some way to make up for what you think you didn’t have. We don’t need a do-over. You understand me, Baby Boston? We’re allowed to be this way. There is no wrong or right way to love each other.” He straightens up and looks at Joey, then Zach, then me. “We’re allowed to be this way.”

And that moment is back.

The silent one.

The lingering one.

The happy one.

“Awww, man,” Zach says, pulling me to my feet and then wrapping his arms around me in a tight bear hug. “I love you, Jesse. And I want you to know that I understood what you did for me.” He pulls back, wiping a tear from his eye. “You’re the best brother a guy could ever ask for. And I didn’t even have to ask. You just… showed up.”

Joey reaches for me, putting his arms around me. He hugs me tight for several moments too long, saying nothing. Because nothing needs to be said.

We’re brothers.

That’s all we need to know.

Joey sucks in a deep breath as he releases me from his embrace. And then we’re all looking at each other.

Happy.