Jenna passed the main floor powder room and opted for her bathroom upstairs. Once inside, she sat on the closed toilet, leaned back, and took some deep breaths.

Moments later, a knock at the door broke her from her meditative state.

"Hey kiddo," said a voice she instantly recognized as A.J. "I know you're not peeing. Can I come in?"

Jenna looked a bit cross at her brother. He always knew what was going on, but she remained hopeful that he wouldn't know exactly why she was upset this time. She was not prepared for that conversation.

"Yeah. Come in."

A.J. entered and closed the door behind him. He leaned on the sink across from his little sister and waited for her to start.

She knew she was being petulant, but she refused to start the conversation or even make eye contact.

The elder Collins made it easy on his sister by not forcing the issue. With the confidence of someone who usually knew what the problem was, he started.

"I know you're upset that Derrick might not be there. We still have a couple weeks, and they might find a new kidney for him. There's the 'Be the Match' drive coming up. We need to stay positive."

Jenna's sadness was compounded by dismay as she wasn't even thinking about that. Her brother was fighting for his life, and she was upset that a man she'd not seen in 13 years was not invited to her wedding.

"Yeah," she said after a moment of comprehension. "I've been pretty optimistic, really. Sometimes it dawns on me that he won't be there."

"I know."

"I know you agreed to be my 'Man of Honor' and stand up there with me, but if Derrick isn't there, I don't know who will give me away."

"Listen, I was really flattered you want me to stand up with you. I really am and I'm excited to do so. That said, if you'd like me to give you away, I can."

"Actually," Jenna paused. It just dawned on her to suggest Davis but dismissed the thought as quickly as it entered her mind. She had already decided that she wanted Roland to be her backup to give her away. It was the most appropriate decision, and she loved her brother-in-law so much. "Actually, I was thinking about Roland. Do you think he'd be my backup to give me away?"

Tears started to form in A.J.'s wide eyes at this surprising news. He instinctively looked away. A.J. was humbled on his husband's behalf and knew how much it would mean to him. He took a minute to compose himself before replying.

"I think that is an amazing idea. He would be honored," he said softly.

Jenna stood up and gave her big brother a big hug, holding a bit tighter and longer than usual. When the two separated, A.J. turned to the door. Jenna returned to the toilet, sitting on the edge of the seat, staring at her lap where she was fiddling her fingers.

A.J. turned to face his sister.

"Is there something else?"

Jenna took a deep breath. She debated one last time and opted for a buildup to what else was bothering her.

"You know how our family has gotten smaller? Y'know, we had six of us. Then five. Mom went, then Dad. It's just three of us, I know four with Roland, but there's just three. And Derrick might not be at the wedding and, it could be just the two of us."

"Yeah," A.J. said nodding skeptically. He was not 100% sure where this was going, but feared he knew.

"When we were looking at the seating chart, the thought dawned on me. I had thought about inviting someone but didn't want to raise an issue. I kept waiting for the right time and it just never came. Now, with everything finalized, there is no right time, and the window may have closed. I just..."

She stopped talking, unable to finish her sentence.

"Fuck," A.J. sighed. "You're talking about Deuce."

He'd picked up on some clues that she could be thinking about him over the last few weeks. She'd always been curious about her estranged brother. There were questions about her older brothers from time to time over the years. They started after their father passed. It was understood that, while their parents were alive, that the subject was off limits.

Tears welled in Jenna's eyes as she nodded in the affirmative.

"I'm not going to interject my feelings or how I know Derrick feels," A.J. said, aiming for a delicate tone. "We all know what his 'situation,' but it's your day and your decision."

"I will say this," he continued. "If he were to come to your wedding, he would be the center of attention, and not in a positive way. Our family would talk. They would talk to Trent's family. I think, on a day when we should be focused on you and Trent, we would be walking into a minefield with him."

Jenna nodded along, tears streaming down her face as he talked.

A.J. continued, now with a bit more of an agenda behind his words. He crouched down in front of her, taking his sister's hands. "This is your day. You don't deserve that kind of aggravation. And does he really deserve to be there?"

He stood.

"Plus, we have no idea where he is or how to find him," he added, knowing full well that it was, in fact, due to a lack of trying.

The two sat there in silence. After a couple of minutes, she dried her eyes and looked at your brother.

"You're right," she said.

As she stood, he put his arm around her. He let out a sigh and said under his breath, "I wish I wasn't."

The two returned to the party downstairs. They drew undivided attention as they entered the room. To cut the tension, as well as give some context to their absence, Jenna asked to speak with Roland in the kitchen. Her surprised brother-in-law acquiesced and followed her out of the room.

A.J. put on a smile and crossed the room to his glass of champagne. He finished the half glass in one gulp and filled the flute again. He was looking out the window deep in thought when Jenna and Roland re-entered the room. Both of them had fresh tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces.

Trent got up with an even larger smile.

"Will you do it?" he asked.

Roland smiled and nodded.

"That's great," Trent said, crossing the room to give him a hug.

"I'll be very happy if I'm not needed," Roland said, "but I'm proud to help if it comes to that."

David and Sarah, aware of the proposal, congratulated Roland. A.J. followed with a hug and kiss of his own. Roland lingered in his arms, soaking in the feeling.

"Right, then," Trent offered in hopes of getting everything done. "Program?" he asked, turning towards David.

"Yes," his brother responded. "Father O'Riley is lined up to officiate. He has accepted the request of 'religion lite,' so to speak. Cousin Randy is doing a reading, Aunt Elise is doing another. I think everything just needs to be put in order."

"Do we want to run through it and see what works?" offered Sarah.

The party wordlessly went with the suggestion, with David offering direction.

"The fireplace here," he said motioning to the wall opposite the entry, "will be the altar. Trent, you go here and everybody else into the hallway."

When everyone had their places, David started his narration.

"Mom and dad go, then us. First A.J., you roll solo," and A.J. went down the aisle.

"Sarah, you and I are up," and the pair went down the aisle. When they reached the altar, David assumed the role of officiant.

"Jenna and Roland," and they followed suit.

"Finally two more couples." David waved his hand in a flourish to represent the remaining wedding party.

"Okay, let's get started. We are gathered here today and whatnot. Speech about Christian marital values or some shit," everyone smiled. "Do we want a reading now?"

Trent looked at his fiancée and they shrugged in the affirmative.

"Right, then. Cousin Randy will represent the Arnolds. He will read a proverb about the Irish loving marriage," David said as he wrote down the order of the proceedings.

"Where did we finish on unity candles?" Trent asked Jenna.

"We went with sand," she replied.

"Well then, something something 'unity' something something sand," David offered glibly, scratching more notes.

"I can get the sand in the wedding colors," chimed in Sarah, raising her hand.

"Thanks," replied Jenna with a smile.

"Okay, let's get Aunt Elise up here with some poignant words on commitment. It will be a sober reminder that there is no divorce, only death," David said, without thinking. He jotted down more notes. "Then we finish with the 'I dos.'"

"Does anyone have any objections with this run of show?" he asked, scanning the room. "Speak now or forever hold your peace."

Everyone looked around as well and nodded in agreement.

"Okay, we're done then. I'll make the final arrangements with the program and this wedding is officially planned."

Sarah and Roland offered up a cheer. Trent kissed his bride-to-be, leading the others to join in the cheering.

Streetlights lit up the night sky as Trent, Jenna, David and Sarah left the house. A.J. and Roland bid them good night. On the front stairs the quartet lingered for a few minutes with their own goodbyes.

Jenna held Trent's hand on the way to his car, giving it a light squeeze as they approached. He took the cue and looked down at her. She gave him a smile and a kiss.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked.

"A bit," she said with an affirming smile.

"Well, that's a step in the right direction."

He let go of her hand and went around to the driver's side. They entered the car and pulled away into the night in search of dinner.