When we went down to the kitchen, Gordon had opened a bottle of champagne, "To settle the nerves." I'm not sure who's nerves he was talking about because everyone looked relaxed to me, but we threw the bubby our way anyway.
Kayden and his dad disappeared down the hall for a quiet father and son chat, and again I felt at a loss because I knew I'd never get to have a chat like that with mine. Turning, I headed for the kitchen door and stepped outside to the bright Iowa sunshine.
I closed my eyes, took a long deep breath and tried my hardest to put my feelings aside so that I could be everything Kayden and Valerie needed me to be today. I knew they were both going to need support.
I was head groomsman, but I was Valerie's partner, and the last thing I wanted to do was inject my fucked-up feelings any further into what was already an emotionally charged day for the entire Darsin family.