Family Man

something terrible has happened to him. Nothing short of disaster would keep him away today. But frankly, I think he's just fine. He'll be here any minute. You'll see.” She lowered the veil in front of her eyes.
    A knock sounded on the anteroom door. “Hey, Katy,” Matt called out. “It's time. Are you ready?”
    “I'm ready.” Katy plowed a way through the tangle of Gilchrists cluttering up her dressing room. She opened the door and found Matt on the other side. He was fussing anxiously with his bow tie.
    “How do I look?” he asked. Then his eyes widened at the sight of his sister in her gown and veil. “Geez. Katy, you look like a princess or something.”
    “Thank you, Matt. You look pretty terrific, yourself.”
    Matt grinned. “Wait until you see Luke. He said there wasn't time to change.”
    There was a concerted gasp of astonishment from the crowd behind Katy.
    “Luke is here?” Hayden demanded.
    “Sure.” Matt glanced at the rest of the Gilchrists. “Why aren't you guys where you're supposed to be? Darren, you're best man. You'd better hurry. The music is starting.”
    The Gilchrists looked at one another. And then an all-too-rare gleam of relief and happiness appeared in their emerald eyes.
    Maureen led the way out the door, pausing to give Katy a brief, surprisingly affectionate little hug. Her eyes glittered with emotion. “You look lovely, Katy. Just lovely.”
    The others followed, each one stopping briefly to give Katy a quick embrace. When they were gone Matt held out his arm.
    “Ready?” he asked.
    “I'm ready.” Katy glanced at Liz. “Ready?”
    “Wouldn't miss it for the world. I've always wanted to be a bridesmaid.” Liz picked up her bouquet.
    “You're not gonna believe this,” Matt said, his eyes full of laughter. “The photographer is having a fit.”
    “Gilchrists never do anything quietly or routinely,” Katy said in cheerful resignation. “How bad is it?”
    “Not bad. Just funny. You should have seen the look on Justine's face when she saw Luke. Boy, is she pissed. But I think she's also real happy.”
    “Let's get this over with.” Katy took her brother's arm and started down the aisle.
    Luke was waiting at the front of the crowded church, right where he was supposed to be. Katy blinked in astonishment at the sight of him. And then she nearly dissolved in laughter.
    Luke was as disheveled as it was possible for any Gilchrist to appear. He had obviously used his fingers rather than a comb to rake his ebony hair into some semblance of order. Instead of his formal clothes he was wearing a pair of black jeans, a black pullover sweater, and low black boots that had not even been polished for the occasion. His sorcerer's eyes gleamed with green fire at the sight of Katy coming down the aisle.
    Luke did not wait alone at the altar. Zeke, dish clamped between his jaws, sat proudly beside him. The dog's tail thumped happily when he saw Matt and Katy.
    Most of the audience was grinning. The minister looked resolute. Justine was clearly annoyed, but her eyes, when they met Katy's, glowed with a deep joy.
    The remainder of the Gilchrists were clearly too relieved that the whole thing was going to go off to express any displeasure over Luke's appearance or the presence of his dog.
    Luke smiled as he took Katy's hand firmly in his own. “Sorry I'm a little late,” he whispered. “I was unavoidably delayed by some unfinished business.”

    Justine finally cornered Luke an hour later, just as he was about to lead Katy out onto the dance floor.
    “I assume you have an excuse for showing up for your own wedding in a pair of jeans?” she said imperiously.
    “Yes, ma'am.” Luke's fingers tightened around Katy's.
    “Well, then…” Justine lifted her chin. “What is it?”
    “I don't know if you really want to hear it now,” Luke said.
    “I am not budging until I get the full story out of you.”
    Luke shrugged. “I had some business I had to finish up. I sold the Pacific Rim to Nate Atwood for one dollar.”
    “You what ?” Justine stared at him in stunned disbelief.
    “Don't worry. I bought it back again.”
    “For a dollar?”
    “Not quite.” He looked at Katy, aware of a deep sense of tender possessiveness. She was his at last. He could hardly wait to take her into his arms. “We settled on a price that was close to fair market value.”
    “Good heavens.” Justine looked dazed. “I don't believe this. That would be in the neighborhood of several