She extends her hand, and he takes it with both of his, his voice warm as he greets her.
Her gaze bounces between us. “So, tell me about the two of you. How did you meet?”
My heart lurches. Just a few days ago we had this conversation. She remembered then. But now it’s slipped away like so many memories.
Tyler squeezes my thigh under the table, and it’s such a simple thing but it keeps me from crumbling.
“Mawmaw, this is Abby’s father.”
Her head tilts, like she’s digging deep to slot memories into place, and then her face lights up.
“Of course it is. She looks just like you.” Turning to me, she says, “Josephine, you sure do have good taste. Well, except for that ex of yours. He was like a moldy muffin.”
“Mawmaw!” I gasp, and Tyler barks a laugh.
We take turns telling her about our plans, from the house to the wedding and to Jay. Her eyes shine with tears when Tyler tells her he plans to adopt Jay and she clasps her wrinkled hand in his. I show her my ring and she is appropriately awed by how lovely it is.
Tyler and I sit with her for over an hour, listening, answering questions, basking in her approval, but I can tell she’s getting tired. She takes a nap around this time each day, and by the huge yawn she tries to stifle, I can tell nap time is upon us.
I hug her first, then she pulls Tyler into her arms. I watch the two of them, full to the brim with happiness.
As I reach for the doorknob, her voice calls softly from behind us. “Fight hard. You two can do hard things together. Marriage takes work, but with the right person, it’s worth it. Josephine knows how I feel about gambling, but if I was a bettin’ woman, my bet would be on you two.”
Penny and Lisa are working my hair into a half-up, half-down style, soft tendrils framing my face, while I apply the finishing touches to my makeup. I’m so overjoyed, hands trembling, I nearly jab my eye out with my eyeliner.
We’ve taken over my art studio today, transformed it into a dressing room because it has the best light, with all those tall windows lining one wall. Penny brought her full-length mirror and now I sit across from it, surrounded by makeup, hairspray, and bobby pins.
Today, Tyler and I will commit our lives to each other under a tent in our backyard. March weather is unpredictable, but today it’s not too cold, though I did select a long-sleeved wedding dress in case. My dress is soft and simple, exactly what I wanted. Nothing fussy or overdone. The ivory fabric fits at the waist before flowing freely to the hem. The sleeves are sheer and weightless, cinching at the wrists with intricate lace cuffs. It feels vintage, like I plucked it from another life where I still chose him. Oh, and no veil. I don’t want a thing between myself and the moment Tyler lays eyes on me.
Not long after we talked to the kids, we all decided we wanted to hurry things along. Within a week, the kids and Iwere fully moved in. We let them pick their bedroom colors, and Tyler and I spent a weekend painting both. Then we painted my art studio. We may or may not have locked the door and made a glorious mess with the paint—naked.
My studio is everything I dreamed it would be. My art room at the old house was just that—a room. But this is a studio with perfect light to see every shade on my canvas. And because it shares a wall with a bathroom, Tyler even had a sink installed in one corner to keep all my brushes clean and the mess contained in one place. He hasn’t said it, but he was probably tired of paint splatters in the other bathroom. I warned him I’m messy. He knew what he was signing up for.
Tyler found an antique cast iron sink and we surrounded it with the most beautiful marble countertop. Some days I come up here and run my hand across the smooth surface, to remind myself this is all real. This life I love so much.
Our house is humming with voices today. Family and friends fill every corner, laughter trailing from room to room. Jay will walk me down the aisle, with Penny and Abby as my bridesmaids. Tyler asked his father to be his best man, and Austin will stand as groomsman. Jackson is handling all the food with the help of Tyler’s mom. And Liam, unbeknownst to any of us, is ordained and he’ll be our officiant.
Last time I glanced out the window, he was standing on my driveway, cigarette dangling from his lips, squinting at a piece of paper—probably his speech. I told him he had full poetic license to do his officiant duty. From the looks of things, he hasn’t quite kicked the smoking habit yet. Cassie stays on him about it, and he’ll do great for a day or two, but then he’ll cave.
“Lizzie’s kicking. Do you wanna feel?” Penny asks, one bobby pin tucked between her lips.
My hands can’t get to Penny’s baby bump fast enough. Penny guides my hand, and sure enough, tiny movement flutters beneath my palm.
“Hello, baby Lizzie,” I whisper. “Auntie Josie loves you. I can’t wait to meet you.”
Penny and Austin found out a few weeks ago they’re having a girl. They want to name her after both their moms so our little nugget will be Elizabeth Anne. Elizabeth is Austin’s mom’s name, and Anne was Penny’s mom’s middle name. Penny allows me a few seconds nuzzling her belly before nudging me upright to finish getting ready.
A couple bobby pins later and Penny steps back and hands me a mirror. I gasp when I see what she’s done with my hair. She’s woven forget-me-nots into an elaborate twist and it’s absolutely perfect. My something blue. The bouquet will match, because Tyler is more than just a memory. He’s my present, my future, my everything. And today, I get to promise him forever, in this life and all the ones after.
“You’re doing it again,” Abby says from the chair in the corner.
Putting one hand on my hip, I pin her with a look. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I know what you’re talking about, Abby,” Penny chimes in. “Josie, you drift off with this dreamy look on your face. A smile I’ve never seen until recently.”
“Well…” I swat Penny’s ass with the back of my hand. “You know what it’s like.”
“Well, I don’t.” Abby crosses her arms, sulking. “Boys at school are the worst.”
