Conflicted Home (The Survivalist Book 9) A American (fun to read .TXT) 📖

Thad blushed and smiled. “Thank you, Mel.”

I shook his hand and patted his shoulder. “Looking good, buddy.” He smiled and nodded.

Aric was sitting in a chair against the wall. He was leaned forward on his knees as they bounced rapidly up and down. I walked over to him and he looked up. “Nervous much?” I asked with a smile.

He sat up and bit his thumbnail. “Kinda.”

I laughed and patted his shoulder. “Don’t sweat it, buddy. You got this?”

He smiled nervously. “Yeah.”

The ladies were all inside and much chatter leaked through the door to the house. I was informed no men were allowed inside. I looked around the porch and saw Ian and Jamie sitting on a chase lounge on the far end of the porch. Perez was in a chair beside them.

“Where’s Sarge and guys?” I asked.

“They’ll be here soon,” Ian said.

“Anyone seen Dalton?” I asked.

All I got in reply was blank stares. I shrugged. “Maybe he’ll show up.”

I heard a truck roll up out front and walked around the porch to check it out. Sarge’s Hummer was idling in the yard. When the door opened, I was surprised when Mitch stepped out.

“Mitch!” I called out. “Hey, man, great to see you,” I said as I stepped down off the porch. Then Cecil got out, dressed in a suit no less. It was such a shock to see these guys dressed like they were. When Michelle got out, she looked amazing as well. I greeted each of them and hugged Michelle.

Then the old man got out and I nearly passed out. He was in a suit as well, tie and all. As soon as our eyes met, he pointed at me and said, “Say one fucking word and I’ll break your legs.”

I blinked and shook my head. “Uh, no. You look really sharp. I genuinely mean that.”

Then Ted, Mike and Doc piled out of the back of the truck. Ted and Doc were both likewise decked out in a nice suit. It made me scratch my head. Where in the hell did all these suits come from? I wondered. Then I took a second look at Mike. He was wearing a jacket. But it was over a pair of Multi-Cam pants and combat boots. I had to shake my head and laugh.

Mike looked at me and asked, “What?”

Still shaking my head, I replied, “Nothing. You look exactly like I’d expect.”

Mike grabbed the lapels of the coat and looked himself over. “I think I look pretty sexy myself.”

“You look like some kind of retard that dressed himself,” Sarge shot back.

“Nailed it,” Ted added.

Mike smoothed the coat and said, “Y’all are just haters.” And he headed for the steps up to the house.

We all filed up onto the porch. Sarge opened the door and started to go in. Mike went to follow him, but the old man stopped and pushed him back, “Nope,” he said as he slammed the door in Mike’s face.

“What the hell?” Mike asked.

“No guys in the house,” I replied.

Mike pointed at the door and asked, “What the hell’s he doing in there then?”

I shrugged. “He’s giving them away. Guess they’re working out how that’s going to happen.”

Ted grabbed Mike by the shoulders and said, “Come on. Let’s go out back and I’ll get you some juice and cookies. And we can put your helmet on before you hurt yourself.”

Mike shrugged him off and replied, “I’ll stick my helmet up your ass.”

Mitch and Michelle went into the house as well while the rest of us waited on the back porch. We were doing this early, trying to beat the heat. We were sitting on the back porch shooting the shit when the old man came out and said everyone needed to go out and grab a seat. Mel and the girls came out, along with Jess and Kay. We all made our way out to the back of the pond. But I saw Mike dip out and head around the house. I really hope he’s not up to anything nefarious.

Mitch was standing in front of everyone, a huge smile on his face. I looked at him and asked, “What are you doing?”

He smoothed his coat and said, “I’m performing the ceremony.”

“Where the hell did you figure out how to do that?”

“I have the analog internet.”

“What’s analog internet?” Lee Ann asked with a hint of excitement in her voice.

“Encyclopedias,” Mitch replied.

I laughed. “That’s a hell of an idea. Having a set of them.”

“We’ve had them for many years,” Michelle said. “I used them when I was a kid and took them when we got married.”

“Awesome idea,” I replied. I looked over my shoulder at Lee Ann and said, “Sorry, kiddo. Not what you were expecting, I know.”

Thad and Aric walked up and stood in front of Mitch. He shook both their hands. There were a couple cat-calls from the crowd, which got a smile from Thad and nods from Aric. Suddenly, we began to hear a guitar and everyone looked back.

Sarge was heading towards the pond, Fred on one arm and Mary on the other. Behind them was Mike, like a strolling troubadour, except, thankfully, he wasn’t singing. But he quietly strummed something like the wedding march as he followed the brides towards their grooms. Little Bit led them as she dropped handfuls of azalea blooms onto the ground.

The crowd fell silent as they made their way towards where Mitch waited for them. It was quite the sight to see the old man in a suit with Mary and Fred on either arm. Each wore a beautiful dress, and I glanced at Mel and saw her wiping tears away at seeing her wedding dress again. The three made their way up the small aisle created by the arrangement of chairs. Fred and Mary were both smiles as they made their way to the front.

I caught Danny’s eye. He was watching Mary. She wore Bobbie’s wedding dress and I’m sure a lot was running through his mind. But he had a