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“It turns out my grandma didn’t want me to sacrifice the love of my life for her to stay at home.”
“Hen, I love you.”
“You do?”
“Of course I love you. I love you in a way I’ve never loved another woman. But you love your family. And even though I miss you like crazy, I can’t promise forever to someone who’d put me second. I barely made it through you turning me away the last time. I couldn’t make it through another.”
“Tyler, I already have. My heart? It’s yours. My body? My life? Yours. There will never be anyone else like you, no one to replace you, Tyler.”
“If I have to renovate this thing by myself until I can prove to you how committed I am, I’ll do it.”
“When did you get this?”
“Because I knew no matter how much I moved, my heart would always be with you. You’re the one, Tyler.”
“Marry me,”
“What?”
“I’m not going another day in this life without you by my side,” ...
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I covered her yes with my kiss, filled with dreams of forever.
Confession: I still can’t believe I’m getting my happily ever after.
Home. This was home.
“I asked you to marry me without asking your dad first. How could I have been so stupid?”
“Because I’d love for you to stand by my side when I say ‘I do’,”
“We would have gone to city hall yesterday, but Tyler wants to ask my dad for his blessing before we tie the knot,”
“And Tyler’s mom and sister begged for us to have a wedding for our families to get a chance to celebrate and meet each other. So, this was the compromise.” My grin spread across my entire face. It was crazy, getting married this soon to the man I lost my virginity to, but on a soul level, it didn’t feel crazy at all. It felt right. Perfect. Inevitable. I just couldn’t wait.
“Can I marry you?”
“Sorry, I fucked up. Shit. Sorry for cussing. Shit.”
“I asked Henrietta to marry me.” Shock raised his eyebrows, but I pressed on. “I know I should have asked you first, but I was so excited she wanted me back that my heart spoke before my mind thought. And now that I asked, and she said yes, I can’t take it back from her. But I wanted to know if we could have your blessing, despite my lapse in judgment.”
“Her yes was all the blessing you needed.” He wrapped his arms around my shoulders. “Welcome to the family.”
“Mom and I always saved our big arguments for after you kids were asleep, but I don’t want you to think we never had any fights.”
“When you and Tyler have arguments, because you will, don’t look at it like a break from the ideal life you want to live. Look at it as a chance to make things stronger than they were before.”
Don’t get caught up in keeping score, because in a marriage, you’re both on the same team.”
“He’s lucky to have you, Hen. Don’t you ever forget that.” “I promise, I won’t.”
“It’s hard work; don’t get me wrong, but it doesn’t feel like work when I’m with her.”
“Does she have any idea that you’re doing this?”
“Hats off to you, man. We knew you were a good guy, but this seals the deal.”
Because in one day, I’d be giving Hen my last name and every last breath I had as her husband.
“And besides, I want to remember my best friends forever.”
“It’s just... I... his hairline changed.”
‘It’s not that I’m afraid to meet people. It’s that I don’t know if I have enough room.’”
“You were so worried that if you met too many people you wouldn’t be able to give them all of yourself. You wanted to remember their names, their favorite colors, have enough time to play with them all on the playground... It made you so anxious that you choked up every time you met someone new. And then it happened at school and kids picked on you for being shy, and it all snowballed from there.”
“I always knew you’d make the best partner to someone, because anything you do, you give all of yourself.”
My mouth fell open as I saw myself, really saw myself. I may not have been small in any way. I may not have the perfect smile or a high-level corporate job. But I looked every bit worthy of the woman to be Tyler’s wife. And I was so glad he agreed.
When the photographer lowered her camera, Mom smiled at me, tears in her eyes. “It’s time.” I’d never been more ready for anything in my life.
“It’s time.”
“You look very handsome. I’m glad you decided to go with suits.”
“I think Hen’s family would have been horrified if I walked down the aisle in jeans.”
I wanted to look my best for her. When she saw me today, I wanted her to see a man who loved her, who cared for her, and who wou...
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And then everyone stood. The back door to the house opened, and my heart stopped.
The woman I loved, the woman of my dreams, was walking toward me. Her long white dress fit her perfectly, and were those...? I grinned, seeing the toes of her boots peeking under her dress. But it was her smile that captivated me.
“Take care of her, son.”
“This is something extra,” I replied before taking the microphone from Matthew. I reached into my jacket pocket and held up the piece of paper I’d been staring at ever since she said yes. But instead of looking at her, I faced our guests. I faced her family.
“I’d be remiss to think it didn’t involve all of you too. I’ve seen the way Henrietta loves you, and through her eyes, I’ve come to love you just as much. I want to promise you that even though Hen is becoming my wife, she’ll always be your friend, your sister, your daughter and granddaughter too. I promise to always make time for your bond and value it just as much as she does. I am so grateful to be joining your family today, just as Hen is joining mine.”
Matthew continued the ceremony, and I put all my heart into the vows as I promised my life to the woman across from me.
“Married for four hours, and you’re already keeping me on my toes.”
“I hope you’re ready, because I plan to do that every day for the rest of my life.”
“Are you insane, woman?” Tyler chastised, coming beside me. “Let me get your suitcase. You go inside.”
