They took their time with cleaning up and coming down from the high of the day…and their afternoon delight.

They changed into fresh clothes. Clay into a pair of khaki shorts and a button-up. She had set a shorter all lace dress aside for tomorrow, but it would do now.

When she had finally gotten the dress on, Clay took her hand, and they walked back downstairs. Most of the other guests were back out on the deck, clearing off some of the debris from the rain and wiping down the benches so that they could sit down.

The wait staff had brought out dinner as well as an assortment of Parisian macaroons, all in blush pink, pearly white, and dusty blue. Her favorite. The cake was three-tiered even though there were so few guests, but she had insisted. It looked as if it were made of pearls with an artful mosaic of their wedding colors running like a river down one side.

Once everything was cleared off, they sat around the pool, eating and mingling with all their friends. Music played through the poolside surround sound stereo on the deck. She had actually allowed that since it made little sense to have a band for fifteen people. It was one of her few compromises on the wedding.

As “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne filtered in through the speakers, Clay wrapped Andrea up in his arms for their first dance.

After their first dance, Savannah cut in to dance with Clay, and Brady offered to dance with Andrea. Clay twirled his little sister around the dance floor like he had done when they were kids. Savannah was laughing exuberantly.

Brady was an excellent dancer. He practically swept Andrea off her feet. She understood why Liz had fallen for his dancing.

“I’m really happy for you two,” Brady said with his charming smile.

“Me, too.”

“No, really. You’ve done wonders for Clay. I never knew if he’d come around.”

“Well, all I did was leave,” she said with a shrug.

“I’m sure that had to be hard.”

She frowned and then remembered it was her wedding day. Life had given her lemons, and she had actually made a kick-ass Arnold Palmer. “It was hard, but it worked out in the end, didn’t it?”

“Absolutely. I couldn’t have asked for a better sister. You really bring out the best in him.”

She chuckled softly. “Thank you, Brady. I’m really happy for you and Liz, too. I know you went through a lot to get to where you are. Way more than Clay and I did.”

He shrugged. “It’s all on a scale of terrible, I suppose. The important thing is, we each found our way to the people we love.”

“Well, I couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for telling me about how Clay was doing while I was away…even when I didn’t think I wanted to hear it.”

“Always looking out for him, you know. Old habits die hard. And, anyway…we’re here today, Mrs. Maxwell.”

“Oh, that’s the best,” she said with a giggle.

After the dancing, Clay and Andrea cut the cake, while champagne was passed around. Brady clinked his fork against his glass to get everyone’s attention.

“Since all of you happened to be at my wedding earlier this year, you might remember a certain toast from the groom over there,” Brady said.

“Oh no,” Clay mumbled.

“Oh, yes,” Andrea said with glee.

“And so you all know he had this coming.”

Their friends and family laughed.

“Just keep it under an hour!” Clay yelled back.

Brady laughed and nodded. “Fair.” He cleared his throat. “Obviously, I’ve known Clay his entire life. He’s my younger brother. For a long time, he was just that annoying kid, following me around. Then, he was that annoying kid who got into Yale. Then, the Supreme Court. Then, Cooper and Nielson. I’d like to say he outgrew the annoying part, but we all know him better than that.”

Everyone laughed good-naturedly, and Clay just shook his head.

“That is, until this year. I remember a time during my senior year of college, when I was playing ball at UNC, and Clay came to visit. That was rare. We didn’t get along like that back then. I tried to show him a good time. Sorry, Mom and Dad.”

Their dad laughed, and their mother just covered her ears, like she hadn’t heard what he just said.

“We had a great time that weekend, as brothers. But, even then, I knew something was different about him. I knew Andrea, of course. They’ve really been together since they were kids even though they didn’t officially start dating until college. But it wasn’t until that weekend when I realized that Clay really loved her. Call me crazy. Back then, I wasn’t exactly a romantic.”

Liz nudged him in the side. “Well, thank God I changed that.”

“Agreed, baby,” he said with a laugh. “The thing is…I don’t think Clay knew how much he was head over heels for this girl.”

Andrea beamed, and tears glistened in her eyes. When Brady had first told her this story, she had broken down into wretched sobs on the spot. But, now, she could remember it with fondness…knowing Clay had always loved her. And would always love her.

“With anything that’s truly great, it takes time, sacrifice, and devotion to maintain. You two have put in the years. You’ve put in the time. Lord knows, we all saw the sacrifice and devotion over the last year.”

Clay smiled back at his brother, who held his glass high.

“I couldn’t have asked for anyone better for my brother, anyone who just understood him and loved him for who he was. And, in return, I’m ecstatic to call you my sister. To Clay and Andrea.”

Everyone toasted and drank their champagne.

Brady finished his off and then grinned. “And, apparently…to great sex!”

Andrea buried her face in Clay’s shoulder.

He just laughed. “Got that covered, man.”

“After that horribly embarrassing moment,” Andrea said with a laugh, “I want to throw my bouquet!”

Of course, the only unmarried women in the bunch were Savannah, Gigi, and Chris’s sixteen-year-old sister, Alice Atwood. Clay groaned as they lined up to try to catch the bouquet. Andrea was sure that he was hoping no one would catch it. He was super protective of the women in his life but especially his little sister.

Andrea tossed the bouquet over her head. It flew in the air, and all three girls reached up to catch the gorgeous peonies. Then, it landed softly into Savannah’s hands.