As I drew close, I could hear chamber music. Well, I thought, that’s pretty classy. There was a crowd of seventy-five or so people, milling around under the tent, talking and claiming seats. I spotted Hunter and Tyler. They were each wearing a navy jacket and khaki pants with a shirt and tie. Their hair was wet-combed. Their loafers were shined. Someone had seen to every detail. Probably Archie. They looked adorable.

“You both look so handsome!” I said to them.

“We’re the best men!” they said together.

“That’s wonderful!” I said and thought, At least they’ll feel like they’re a part of the whole event. “That’s a very big deal, you know.”

“We know. Dad told us that about a million times,” Tyler said.

“I’m still mad I don’t get to go to Bermuda,” Hunter said.

“Oh, come on, now,” I said. “Let’s put that behind us. And besides, we have a whole week to do things together! It will be better than Bermuda.”

They eyed me with keen suspicion, the kind of suspicion only little boys can harbor.

“Like there’s anything we can do about anything anyway,” Tyler said.

I knelt down to his level and looked him in the eyes.

“Tyler, it’s not easy to just trust anyone completely. Believe me, your father has thought all of this through. He only wants what’s best for both of you. Someday, when you’re a dad, you’ll understand just how carefully these choices are made. So promise me you’ll both give Sharon a chance, all right?”

They looked at each other. Tyler had his hands stuffed in his pants pockets. Hunter was kicking the dirt and sucking his teeth.

“Okay,” Tyler said.

Hunter said, “We’ll see. If she’s nice to us, then we’ll be nice to her.”

“No, no, young man. That’s drawing a line in the sand, and that’s not how this has to be. You have to begin with an open heart, Hunter. Promise me?”

“Okay,” he said after a moment of consideration.

I looked up to see Archie coming toward us. He was drop-dead gorgeous in his tuxedo.

“Is everything all right?” he said.

“Sure, Dad! Let’s go get you married off!” Tyler said.

Hunter was less sure but managed a crooked smile all the same.

“Let’s go. The sooner you get married, the sooner I get cake!” he said, and he scooted away with Tyler.

I stood there looking at Archie. He was so handsome I wanted to cry. Men in tuxedos were like men in uniform. There was just something so appealing about the formality of it. And he was wearing a Brackish bow tie, made of peacock feathers. I could feel his excitement, and then it all changed. He looked at me then as if he’d never seen me before. We both knew what the look meant. It was recognition.