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The wedding is a stunning showcase of our nation’s finest I still can’t believe both my older brothers are veterans Patrickhis natural tendency to be exactly like our father, but my favorite brother is so playful and fun It’s still hard to i it to kill someone Of course, I’m pretty sure his stint in the Guard was intended to satisfy our father’s chauvinistic require Talk about backfires

“Looks like you came back from Europe a woman” The familiar male voice surprises me with its cheerfulness I turn to seefor the first time in my life

“Looks like you came back from Saudi a happy man”

He shakes his head “I never went back to Saudi That’s what nals the bartender A scotch neat for him, vodka rocks for me “Have you met Mariska?” he watches me as he sips the amber liquid

“I haven’t, but she’s very beautiful”

“I asked her to marry me”

That almost makes me drop my drink “Et tu, Brute?”

“Yep,” he grins again “Me too”

“I go away and everything falls apart” Taking a long sip of vodka, I watch as he chuckles He’s so fucking happy, I can’t believe it Stuart does not chuckle Only now it seems he does

“So what brought you back? I thought you loved Paris”

“Oh, I do love Paris” I take another, longer drink, finishing off my vodka as my mind races to find a suitable answer I can’t say the truth: Arht home

“Even the City of Lights gets old after a while” It’s not very good, and I can tell he doesn’t buy it “And Moer”

Stuart accepts that lie a little better “Well, I’ain” He pats my arm “Come over and meet Mariska”

“Met a fresh drink”