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Walt
Itwasn’tmyplan to get married on vacation, but it felt right. We’re all stunned. There is no other way to put it. Even with having dinner after the ceremony and seeing the light play off the new hardware hanging out on our left hands, it still feels surreal. My parents are the most shocked since they never officially meet Everest. She hid in her room the entire time they visited after finding out that I was alive.
I’m sitting between my two favorite women in the world as they talk around me to get to know each other. Whit sits across from me with a smile painted on his face. It has nothing to do with the speed in which I married Everest and more to do with Moonlight gushing over how romantic weddings are to her, especially the surprise ones.
If I look closely, I might see his left eye twitch. I get it. He loves her more than anything, but he associates marriage with being hell. It’ll take a moment for him to reprogram his mind, but it hasn’t been a year.
Lucky for him, the way Moonlight drops the subject and lays her head on his shoulder while inquiring about the next place they want to visit, tells me she gets it.
Rowe and Sparrow just returned from “taking a tour” but the way her eyes are glazed over, I know the only thing he toured was her body.
I can’t be mad; I would’ve done the same thing. When I called him to tell him to round up the family, I was happy that he was excited to be my accomplice. Although we have a way to go, we have also come so far. My primary concern was to make sure that he knew nothing will replace his importance in my life.
Everest laughs at something my mom says, and it makes me happy that they’re getting along. She’s been void of a mother for so long that I’m happy to share her. My plate is empty, so I tip my head to my brother to suggest we get some fresh air.
“I’ll be back,” I tell the ladies.
They laugh when they both go for a hug at the same time. My mom makes it her goal to give me all the affection I missed over the years. It makes me happy that I fought through the darkness to be here. I hug her first and drop a kiss on her cheek. Then turn to my wife and give her a sweet kiss. My dad sees Whit and I on the move and tags along.
It’s much quieter on the balcony and the night air feels great on my skin. Dad throws his arms around both of us.
“I was worried I’d never see this.” He looks in my direction. “Actually, I was sad I’d never see it for you, but here we are. Both of my boys are happy for the first time in a long time.”
He stops talking because I can tell he’s getting choked up. He’s more of a salt and pepper version of Whit with how he styles his hair, but his personality falls between the both of us. It’s almost like we’re him split into two.
“Yeah, if someone would have told me earlier this year I’d be back with my family and married before the summer was over, I would have sworn that they were on drugs.” I look at the ring on my finger. “Wow. What a whirlwind...”
“But you love her,” my dad says. “I know you still don’t remember everything yet, but I can tell you without a doubt that you’ve never looked at a woman the way you look at her. Love is one of those crazy and unpredictable things. It comes out of nowhere and fucks you up.” He looks at Whit. “I’m happy you got to experience the real thing. Don’t worry, none of us expect you to get married right now. Not even Moonlight.”
I don’t know why it tickles me like it does, but I throw my head back and laugh. “I think he was sweating the entire time.”
Whit laughs with me as he shakes his head. “It’s definitely something I need to work out in therapy because the word gives me hives at this point. I know we live as a married couple already, but the title makes me sick to my stomach.”
“That’s what happens when you’re shackled to a crazy, murderous bitch,” my dad grumbles.
“Ah, just in time for some words about my incubator.”
“Get in here, my boy.” My dad reaches out and bear hugs him like he did when he was young.
“Ouch. Now you owe me ice cream, old man.” We have so much money that Rowe and my dad still speak to each other like ice cream is currency.
“Whatever, kid. I see you’ve wrapped yourself around your young friend.”
“She’s not my ‘young friend’, she’s my future fiancée. I’m deciding when to propose, actually.”
I’m not surprised, but my dad and Whit seem to look like they are.
“It depends. Do you want to get married before or after college?” I ask since we’re all wired to not let anyone tell us what we’re not going to do.
“That’s what I’m considering. Long engagement or a short one.”
“I say wait until you’re at least twenty-one because a boozeless wedding is almost pointless,” I offer my opinion like alcohol wasn’t the last thing on my mind when I was putting all of this together.
“I married your grandmother when I was twenty,” my dad adds. “It can be wonderful or go terribly wrong.”
Whit chuckles when we look his way. “Mine doesn’t count. I never really liked her. It’s an enormous responsibility, son. Just remember that and we’ll support you no matter what you decide.”
I felt the hug before it happened. Returning from the dead will make a lot of feelings surface for everyone involved.
