The Christmas Wedding - James Patterson [50]
Mike’s eyes rolled up and back. His eyelids closed. His right leg shot up and down like an automated lever that had been broken.
Then calm came over Mike, and that was even scarier.
“Let him just stay here for a few minutes,” Bart said. “He’s doing fine. The storm’s passed.”
Lizzie rubbed Mike’s shoulder gently. Tallulah knelt at her father’s head. Then Mike finally opened his eyes, as if he’d just been sleeping there in the middle of the wedding reception.
“What the hell did you put in that champagne, Gaby?” he said, and he tried hard to laugh.
After another five minutes or so, Marty and Bart got Mike up and into a chair.
“How you feeling, Big Mike?” Marty asked.
“I’ll make it through the dessert course,” he said.
“I think we should get you to the hospital. Are you strong enough to walk?” Bart asked.
“I can walk. But no fast dancing. A waltz would probably be okay.”
Marty and Bart hoisted Mike to his feet. Then they walked him slowly toward the barn doors.
“I’ll go with you,” Lizzie said.
“No need to,” said Marty.
“Yeah, no need to, sweetie,” said Mike. “I know how much you love wedding cake. Have a piece for me.”
They continued to walk to the door. When they got there, Bart turned to the crowd and called out, “Enjoy the party. Mike’s going to be fine.”
Chapter 62
SUDDENLY I FELT uncomfortable in my wedding dress. The thousands of white lights looked overdone. The band played, but no one was dancing. I was sitting at the family table, holding Lizzie’s hand. So was Tallulah.
“What are you thinking?” I asked her. “Talk to me, Lizzie.”
“I’m thinking that Mike’s going to be so embarrassed that he caused this big commotion,” she said.
“If I hear an apology, from you or Mike, I’m going to do something I never did when you were a child.”
“Hit me?” she asked.
“Very hard,” I added. Lizzie smiled and said, “I’ll be right back. Stay with Tallulah.”
As Lizzie walked toward the barn door, a waiter asked me if I wanted more coffee. “Only if you put a stiff shot in it,” I replied.
“Whatever you say. You’re the bride.”
In a moment, Lizzie returned.
“Uncle Marty’s car is still there,” she said. “I can’t find anybody.”
“Maybe they went to the hospital in Bart’s car. I’m sure that’s it.”
I drank my brandy-spiked coffee. It warmed me. I thought how glad I was that Marty was with Mike and Bart. And then—
A crash of cymbals. A loud staccato beat of drums. A trumpet blare. Then suddenly the band was playing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.”
I spun around, and to my amazement I was looking at Marty, Bart, and Mike walking back into the barn. All three of them were smiling.
Mike gave a small wave to the crowd. Lizzie and I practically ran a race to his side.
“Didn’t you go to the hospital?” Lizzie asked.
“Apparently not,” Mike said as he kissed his wife and then leaned in to receive a hug from Tallulah, who had joined us.
“There’s nothing they could do for him at the hospital that we couldn’t do here,” Bart said.
“Like what?” I asked.
“Like have him relax a little, rest a little, and have a nice big glass of Coke.”
By this time several more members of the family had gathered around Mike. He was clearly touched by everyone’s concern. How did I know that? The tears in Mike’s eyes were a dead giveaway. Also—no jokes for the moment.
“I knew you couldn’t stay away from our weddings,” Seth said as he gave Mike a hug. Then Andie put her arms around her new brother-in-law, and as I watched the warmth in her eyes and the tenderness in her touch, I knew she was now officially a part of the family.
“I’m sorry for stealing the limelight, Gaby,” Mike said. “But—that’s what I do.”
The band was striking up “The Bride Cuts the Cake.” I had forgotten all about the crazy ritual.
“I think we’re wanted back at the cake stand,” Marty said to me, “unfortunately. Nice try, Mike.”
Mike put his hand on Marty’s shoulder. “Thank you for everything. I don’t know what I would have done without you and Bart.”
Marty and I took each other’s hands and