“Happy New Year, my love,” Rory said.
They kissed as the ball dropped.
This was the beginning of their life together. As a loving couple.
Epilogue
One year later
BERNARD FACED THEmirror. His fitted blue suit enhanced his physique. He liked how he looked. He loved himself again.
He continued to adjust his tie, trying to get it perfect. He finally gave up and tossed the tie to the side.
“I’ll go without.”
Sarah walked in behind him, dressed in a floral gown.
“You look amazing,” she said. She picked up the tie. “You forgot this.”
She created a beautiful wrap for his tie and adjusted it.
He turned back to the mirror and smiled. “Thank you.”
“How are you feeling?”
“I can’t believe it’s happening. I’m finally getting married, or at least as close to getting married as I can.”
“The love you and Rory have for each other is beyond a piece of paper. I know it’s important to have legal protections, but one day you will.”
He wrapped his arms around her. Sarah’s friendship had never wavered. She was always there for him. Tears welled up in his eyes. He’d made it. He’d found love when he thought all was lost.
“No crying,” she said. “You’re going to make your face all red and puffy. That won’t look good in pictures.”
“You’re right,” he laughed.
He grabbed tissues and cleaned up his face.
“Now,” she said, “I’ll meet you out there.”
*
BERNARD ENTERED THEmain space of the Portuguese hall. He and his brother used their standing in the community to rent the hall for his ceremony. A few of the older members disapproved, but the younger, more open-minded members outnumbered them. A wedding at the hall was his dream, and he’d be damned if anyone would stop it.
They had erected an arch for their ceremony. A woman in priest garments stood under the arch.
On Bernard’s side of the arch stood Emilio, Sean, John, Sarah, and Kelly. On Rory’s side stood Duncan, Davi, Nicolas, Sophia, and Jeff. Neither of them wanted to have a best man or best woman. They just wanted their closest friends in their wedding party.
Bernard stood next to Rory at the end of the rows of seats. Dressed in a gray suit, he looked as handsome as ever. He was going to spend the rest of his life with the man standing next to him.
The guests stood as they walked up the aisle together, hand in hand.
Love filled the room as their friends and family wept tears of joy for their union.
Bernard’s family sat on the right side, two empty spots for his mother and father. Camila and the twins sat smiling up at him. Camila held little Mikey in her lap. He reached for his mother, but she cooed for him to relax.
This was his family. The family who always believed in him. His Aunt Antonia and his cousins, Bella and Carlos, sat in the next row, beaming.
On Rory’s side, Catherine and Penelope sat with Rory’s father. His mother refused to attend. After the incident at the church, his mother filed for divorce. It was a blow to his father, but he’d recovered. He said it had been a matter of time before it would end. She said she never truly loved him.
