Page 39 of Only Time Will Tell

Alex cleared his throat and pulled note cards from the breast pocket on his tux. “My dearest Charlie, from the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were special and in time our friendship grew, blossoming into a love like I’d never imagined. The first time we kissed, I knew you were the one. You’ve made the world a better place just by being you. I’m yours, Charlie, heart, mind, body, and soul, forever. I love you.”

How was I supposed to follow that?

“Charlie, it’s your turn,” she told me.

I cleared my throat, a feeble attempt to get my emotions under control. “My love, my Alex. The first day we met, I couldn’t take my eyes off you. You came barreling in, protecting me like a lion does their cub, and I knew I’d always be safe with you. When I came out to you, you didn’t laugh, although you weren’t happy I paused the game we were playing.” Friends and family laughed and when it died down, I continued. “Instead, you pulled me onto your lap and asked me to be your boyfriend. From that day on, I knew there’d never be another for me. You and you alone hold the key to my heart. I’m forever yours, Alex. I love you.”

“Alexander Joshua Travers, do you take Charles Thomas DuBois to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”

“I do.” Alex pulled my ring from his pocket, the very one I’d reluctantly relinquished this morning, and slipped it back into its rightful place on my finger.

“Do you, Charles Thomas DuBois, take Alexander Joshua Travers to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”

“I do.” With a shaky hand, I slid his ring from my pocket and slipped it back on his finger.

“By the power vested in me, by the internet and the great state of Washington, I now pronounce you Mr. and Mr. DuBois-Travers. You may now kiss your husband.”

Applause erupted as Alex cupped my face in his hands and whispered, “I love you, Charlie,” then kissed me for the first time as his husband.

Our kiss was so deep, so filled with love, that I felt it with every inch of my being. But sadly, it was once again cut short when Dad cleared his throat.

“Okay boys, break it up. You’ve got plenty of time for that on your honeymoon.”

We hugged Adrianna and Mom and Dad while the others funneled out. Everyone but the wedding party headed to their house while the five of us went into the garden to have our pictures taken. Afterwards, we joined the others at the reception.

The transformation their backyard underwent was utterly amazing. I knew what Mom had ordered, but she wouldn’t give me any details. The biggest tent I’d ever seen covered their backyard. One side opened to their porch where we entered it. The opening was tied back with blue and silver ribbons with balloons floating above.

As we stepped inside and onto the wooden floor, our DJ, Tyler announced us, “Everyone, let’s give a warm welcome to our grooms, Mr. and Mr. DuBois-Travers.”

Applause filled the tent as everyone rose. Charlie and I walked to the center of the room hand in hand. When Tyler started playing Etta James’s At Last, Alex turned to me. “Isn’t that Mom and Dad’s song?”

“Yes,” I said, the emotion of what this song meant to our family was overwhelming. I grabbed Alex’s hand and whispered, “Just follow my lead.”

He stopped and clutched his heart. “You wound me.” Then he took my hands and placed them where he wanted them to be. But he said he couldn’t dance, so how could he lead?

Before I could remind him of that, he spun me around then dipped me. “Surprise, baby.” Then he kissed me as he stood me upright to a round of whistles and claps.

“Oh my God, Alex, you learned to dance for me. That’s where you’ve been going these past couple of weeks.” I’d done nothing but cry this entire night, I swear. Alex reached up, never faltering from our enchanted dance, and gently wiped them away and kissed me again. This man never ceased to amaze me. His love was a gift, and one I’d spend the rest of my life proving I was worthy of.

I laid my head against his chest and enjoyed the rest of our first dance, which ended far too soon for my liking. As we headed off the dance floor, hand-in-hand, Tyler announced, “No folks, this is the song the grooms really wanted to dance to,” and proceeded to play Elvis’s A Little Less Conversation.

The tent filled with laughter as everyone sung along, many joined us on the dance floor. A little less conversation, a little more action. I flipped Tyler off and blew him kisses, which only made him laugh harder, and when I glanced around the dance floor, I spotted Mom and Dad cutting a rug and enjoying themselves. At a nearby table, Adrianna was chatting away with one of the guys from Alex’s work. Who knows, maybe there will be another Travers wedding to plan soon.

Alex went to the bar to get us a drink while I sat in the designated seat for me at the wedding party table beside my husband’s. My husband. The one thing I avoided for so long brought me more happiness than I could have ever imagined. The only thing missing was my family, but they were here, in spirit.

“Here you go, babe,” Alex handed me a glass of white wine.

“Thanks, love.” He leaned over and kissed then sat down. “Mom and Dad look so happy out there.”

“That they do.” I loved seeing them so happy and carefree. “What do you want to eat?” My stomach was a mess all morning, so I didn’t dare put anything in it.

“You sit, I’ll fix our plates. You and mom really outdid yourselves, Charlie. Everything was beyond perfect.” He came back a few minutes later, each place with a little bit of everything on it.

“This salmon is divine. Alex, make sure to tell your catering friend that the food was fantastic.”

“Tell him yourself, he’s standing behind you,” he chuckled.

Red-faced, I turned and introduced myself. “Hello, I’m the dumbass husband who doesn’t know who anybody is. My name’s Charlie.”