Page 36 of Meet Me at Sunset Cove (Jonathon Island #5)

Chapter Nineteen

G et in. Eat Cake. Get out. That was the plan.

Hunter adjusted his suit as he stepped through the heavy wooden doorway of the church.

Piano music sifted through the quiet crowd, drawing guests in to sit down.

Hunter searched for a quick, inconspicuous path to the pews, hoping to avoid any cousins, aunts, or well-meaning friends of his mother.

He just wanted to slip in unnoticed, do his duty as a son, and leave.

Evan gave him a nudge and pointed toward the front of the church. To Hunter’s horror, there was a small sign that read: Reserved for sons of the bride .

Reluctantly, Hunter followed his brothers up the long aisle.

“Don’t—” he started to say as they all filled in the pew, leaving him to sit at the end, exposed.

All right. Now all he had to do was sit here. He could do that.

A quiet female voice cut through the murmurs of the crowd. “Excuse me, I’m looking for Hunter. Does anybody know Hunter?”

He hesitated. He could just sit there. Do nothing. For all he knew, she was asking so she could kick him out. No need to draw attention.

“I’m looking for Hunter,” she said again.

He let out a heavy sigh and rose from his seat. “I’m Hunter.”

The woman, a brunette with a clipboard, let out a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank goodness. Your mom is asking for you. She’s in the bridal suite.”

Hunter exchanged glances with his brothers, a mix of surprise and apprehension on their faces.Miles gave him a slight nod, reminding him that he didn’t have to be in control. Maybe this was just one of those things he needed to trust God about.

So he followed the woman as she led him through the church, their shoes padding across the red carpeting throughout, and down into the basement, to another set of heavy wooden doors.

She knocked gently before opening them. “Ms. Sherman? I found Hunter.”

Hunter stepped into the room, his heart pounding.

The room was quiet; the music from the sanctuary faded into the distance.

On one side of the room, a makeup station had been set up along a wide folding table.

On the other side, a large screen closed off a portion of the space for changing.

Hunter swallowed as she stepped out from behind the screen.

It had been more than ten years since he’d seen his mom. The last time had been his high school graduation. She’d come with a date, and he’d punched the guy…if he was remembering correctly. It hadn’t been his best moment. He’d been a different man then.

And she’d been a different woman.

The woman who turned to face him now wasn’t the broken, haunted figure from his memories. She looked…happy. Healthy. Her eyes held smile lines he’d never seen before. Her hair was a beautiful gray, bringing out the blue in her eyes.

Her gaze met his, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.

“You look nice, Mom,” Hunter finally managed, his voice thick with emotion.

She smiled, but tears were already welling up in her eyes. And that smile trembled.

And Hunter crumpled.

“Don’t,” he said. “Don’t cry.”

He crossed the room in two strides, sweeping her into his arms, willing those tears not to fall. “I’m sorry.”

His mom let out a loud sniffle and stepped back, the tears pouring down her face, leaving tracks in her foundation.

“You’re sorry? I’m the one…” Her voice broke, and she sniffled again.

She snatched a tissue from the nearby table, dabbing it to her eyes.

“I’m the one who should be sorry. I never should have left you.

I never should have said it wasn’t worth it to be a…

a Barrett…anymore.” Her words came out in a string of tears and sniffles.

“Because I’m so proud that you are one.”

Hunter swallowed hard. “It’s okay, Mom.”

“No, it’s not.” She shook her head, her mascara blotting. “And I couldn’t get remarried without you knowing that. I am so…so proud of my Barrett boys.”

Hunter pulled her in again, wrapping his arms around his mom as she wept.

After a few moments, she pulled back, wiping her eyes and trying to compose herself. “You know, I ask Miles about you all the time. I just…I didn’t want to bother you. I wasn’t sure if you wanted a relationship with me after…”

“I know, he’s told me.” A knot formed in his chest. “And I’m sorry I shut you out. I’m…I’m learning a lot about rebuilding relationships.” He grabbed another tissue, stepping up to dry her tears. “Do you think…maybe we could have a fresh start?”

“I’d like that.”

There was a knock at the door, and the wedding planner poked her head in again. “Two minutes, Lisaaah—oh, your makeup!” She blinked. “I’ll get someone in to touch that up.”

The wedding planner vanished, and Hunter’s mom gave a little chuckle. She glanced back at him, a hopeful look on her face. “I was going to ask one of my boys to walk me down the aisle. Would you…?”

“Of course.” Hunter felt a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Yes,” he said again, surprising himself with how easily the word came. “Yes, I’d be honored.”

* * *

“Ey! Look who it is!” Evan shouted from their table in the crowded reception hall.

“If it isn’t the big man!” Jude joined in the heckling, a wide grin splayed on his face. “How’d it feel, walking Mom down the aisle?”

“Did you feel strong?” Evan asked.

“Manly and heroic?” This from Jude.

Hunter chuckled as he slid across from his brothers. He leaned back, slinging his arm over the chair as he took in the space.

The venue, a fancy place in downtown Chicago, had been set up with a timeless look.

Soft, white fabric was draped from the ceiling, creating a billowing canopy.

Twinkling fairy lights were woven through the fabric, mimicking a starry sky and casting a warm, golden glow over the entire room.

The table itself was decorated with white floral centerpieces set in gold vases atop crisp, white linens.

Miles gave him a hefty pat on the back, bringing his attention back to the table. “You did great, Hunt. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Mom so happy.”

Before he could say more, the DJ made an announcement, his voice booming through the space like a sports announcer. “Ladies and gentlemen, please rise and join me in welcoming the newlyweds for the very first time…Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle Hansen!”

The guests stood, a wave of anticipation rippling through the room as the music swelled. Hunter and his brothers rose from their seats, turning toward the entrance.

The double doors swung open, revealing the bride and groom. Hunter’s mom beamed, her smile widening as she glanced up at her new husband. The music reached a climax, and they turned back to the crowd as they swept into the room.

In the center of the dance floor, Carlisle lifted his wife’s arm, spinning her out, her dress twirling around her. He pulled her back in, his eyes bright as he kissed her earnestly. The crowd cheered and Hunter smiled.

She was happy and taken care of, and maybe that’s all that mattered, really.

The music faded and the happy couple settled at the sweetheart table.

The caterers made their way around the space, releasing tables for dinner, and it wasn’t long before Hunter’s mom and Carlisle made their way through the room, greeting their guests.

Waylen slid back into his seat, frosting coating his lips, a chocolate cupcake half devoured in his hand.

“Aw, come on, Waylen,” Miles groaned. “Don’t you know you’re supposed to wait until the cake is cut to go in for dessert?”

Waylen blinked. “Really?”

Miles dropped his head into his palm.

Evan and Jude surged to their feet as their mom stepped up to the table.

“You look stunning, Mom.” Evan wrapped her in a hug, while Jude shook their new stepdad’s hand.

And then they traded. “Really beautiful, Mom.” Jude said.

The twins had made the trip out to Chicago a few times, along with Waylen. And of course, Miles lived out here. It seemed Hunter was the only one who saw the man as a stranger when his mother’s new husband stepped up beside her.

Mom turned to the table, her smile bright. “Carlisle, I want to introduce you to my youngest, Hunter.”

Carlisle extended a hand, and Hunter took it, gave it a firm shake. The man looked to be in his late fifties, with graying hair and a thick mustache, a strong jawline, and brown eyes. He fit in next to his bride.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Hunter said, stuffing his hand back into his pocket.

“Likewise.”

“What do you do?” Hunter asked, making the effort to get to know the man.

The man lifted a shoulder. “I work in the FBI. I investigate fraud. Digital forensics, actually.” The way he said it make it sound as though that should mean something to Hunter. “It’s a shame, that video of your fiancée. Linda told me about it,” he went on. “Hope you know it’s a fake.”

Hunter frowned. “What?”

Carlisle cocked his head, as though this was information everyone should have already known. “It’s a deepfake.”

All eyes at the table turned up to Hunter, who studied Carlisle, trying to wrap his head around what he was being told. “How can you tell?”

Carlisle’s brows lifted, and he pulled his phone from his pocket.

“I’ll show you.” He opened his browser and pulled up the video, Daisy’s face filling the screen.

“First of all, let’s zoom in on her mouth as she speaks.

” He enlarged the video. “It’s hard to tell, but in just a few places, the words she’s saying aren’t completely in sync. Just a word here and there.”

He zoomed back out and scrolled to a later part of the video. “And here.” He paused the video, moving it forward frame by frame. He pointed to Daisy’s smile. “See how there’s no outline on her teeth here?”

Hunter frowned, staring at the image.

“And most importantly…” Carlisle scrolled forward again. “Listen.” He lifted the phone so that Hunter could hear over the dinner music. The sound of distant traffic layered over birds and waves.

“Cars,” Hunter breathed. Whoever made this video obviously had never been to Jonathon Island.