Father Blake pressed his lips together and closed his hand, moving to return the rings to his pocket.
“Don’t,” Eric whispered. Having something so meaningful snatched away before he could even adjust to the idea was like a knife to his heart. “I want…”
Father Blake didn’t say a word. He simply took Eric by the wrist, dropped the two silver bands into his palm, and folded his hand closed over the two bits of aged metal. They sat side by side for a long moment. Eric wanted to thank him for entrusting him with the rings and more importantly, with his beloved daughter, but his emotions were high and he didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of his soon-to-be father-in-law by sobbing like a little girl.
“I still say you’re too tall for her,” Father Blake said, “but I know you have a good heart and that’s what really counts, isn’t it? The love between you.”
Eric gave a curt nod. “I’ll treasure these,” he said opening his hand to stare at the bands nestled there. The smaller of the two rings had settled inside the larger, partially filling the gaping space in its center. “And I’ll treasure her.”
“You know they say women tend to marry men who are a lot like their fathers,” Father Blake said.
Eric blinked at him in surprise. A Baptist minister and a degenerate rock drummer couldn’t possibly have anything in common. But the man’s eyes were a bit misty, and Eric recognized that same sentimental quality in himself. At least when it came to Rebekah. So at minimum they shared some syrupy feelings about one tiny yet strong purple-haired woman.
Father Blake laughed. “I just don’t see it.”
“Well, we both love her. That’s enough to have in common, isn’t it?”
The older man nodded and patted Eric on the thigh. “Are you ready to get married?”
Eric smiled, his stomach suddenly a jumble of nerves and excitement. He closed his hand over the rings and squeezed. “I am now. Thanks for saving my ass, Father Blake.”
“Watch your language in the house of the Lord, son,” he said, rising to his feet.
“Sorry,” Eric said at once.
"And for the love of God, stop calling me Father Blake. I'm not a priest."
Eric's heart sank. Great. He'd insulted the man. Was it possible for him to get absolutely everything wrong with Rebekah's parents? Because he was doing a spectacular job at fucking things up. He opened his mouth to apologize again, but Whatever-honorific-the-man-preferred Blake continued.
"Members of my congregation call me Brother Bill," he said and blessed Eric with a warm and welcoming smile. "But you; you should call me Dad."
Again Eric couldn’t find the ability to speak, so he just smiled and nodded. Father Bla— Brother Bil— Dad left the room and closed the door gently behind him, leaving Eric alone to collect himself. He prayed he wasn’t one of those douchebags who fainted at his own wedding. He was feeling a tad light-headed and incredibly overwhelmed. He opened his hand and stared down at the two silver bands, tracing them with one finger. He knew these rings would mean as much to Rebekah as they meant to him. He only wished he could give her half as much as she was giving him by offering the one gift he’d never dreamed of having—a real family. What did he have to offer her in return? Just one banged-up heart and any material possession her heart desired. He hoped they would be enough.
There was a knock at the door, and it opened before he could answer it. Sed popped his head around the gleaming mahogany structure.
“Are you decent?” Sed asked.
Eric grinned, suddenly feeling calmer for no reason other than Sed always had a strange settling effect on him. “I’m never decent. You know that. Is it time?”
“Not quite. Jessica decided Rebekah needed a veil and took off in my car to find one.”
“She’d better hurry. I’m not sure my nerves can take much more of a wait.”
Sed closed the door and took a seat on the bench beside Eric. “You’re not thinking about backing out, are you?”
“Not at all. I just want to get this over with and get on with our lives.”
Sed chuckled. “I can relate to that. Jessica’s mother is driving me insane with reception preparations. Seems your mother-in-law is a ballbuster too. We can commiserate for all eternity.”
Eric laughed. “I think Mrs. B has settled down a bit now that she’s figured out Rebekah isn’t going to marry Isaac, no matter how much she wanted her to.”
Sed squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. “The woman seems pretty taken with Trey, considering he’s the one who ruined Isaac for all women.”
“She’s recovering nicely since her mental breakdown at her daughter’s fake engagement party.”
Sed nodded empathetically. “I don’t envy you, but I still say my future mother-in-law is ten times worse.”
“What about Jace’s? Have you met Aggie’s mom?”
“Can’t say that I have.”
“Be sure to invite her to your wedding. She’s a party waiting to happen.”
Sed chuckled. “I just might. Jessica’s mom is so worried that some low-class loser will show up at the reception, she’s rewritten the guest list three times.”
Eric lifted a brow at him. “Has she seen your friends? We’re all low-class losers.”
“Who happen to have a lot of money, so that’s okay by her. She keeps adding A-list actors I’ve never met and taking Sinners’ road crew off the guest list. Without our road crew, we’re nothing. Those guys work their asses off for us. What’s weird is that Jess’s mom is not a part of high society. She just wants to be. Her ridiculous posturing drives Jessica crazy. Every time Jess talks with her mother, she gets pissed.”