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I wiped away my tears with a tissue my mother provided. “I’m surprised she could keep the secret from me.”
“She and Dylan have quite a bond. He wasn’t worried.”
“And I thought we were just here to singPart of Your Worldwith Ariel,” I said, laughing through my tears. My heart was singing. “As we did that the first day Dylan met Rory in her hospital room at St. Jude’s.” I was still processing it all. “But… all the girls are going to Universal.”
“No, they are going to get their hair done. We have a stylist meeting us at the hotel. The tuxes were ordered, and measurements sent, so the men were picking them up this morning and making sure they fit.”
“Wow.” I couldn’t believe it. “What about Rory? I always pictured her wearing the pink sparkly dress I wore for your wedding.”
“I know.” My mom nodded. She still looked like she always had, so beautiful and young. I couldn’t believe she had a twenty-five-year-old daughter and a four-year-old granddaughter. “I had it altered, and we got her Cinderella slippers in her size. It was only a little bit big.”
“It sounds perfect.” I was overwhelmed that they would do this for me.
“We’ve thought of everything! We’ve been planning this for months!” Missy exclaimed. “This week has been tortured not being able to tell you. I threatened Josh within an inch of his life.”
“And Mace!” Mom put in. “He’s a blabber mouth, but Daddy told him he’d make him pay for his own car insurance if he didn’t keep it a secret.”
We laughed as we pulled up at the hotel and Missy paid the driver. “Thank you!” she said.
“Congratulations, miss,” he said to me before I got out. “Best wishes for a happy life.”
“Thank you,” I gushed. “Thank you, so much!” I was more excited than I could say.
Dylan
I was surrounded by all the guys who ever meant anything to me waiting to marry the love of my existence. Remi had been part of me for as long as I could remember, and I just knew that she would be as long as the universe had existed.
Chase’s old friends who had serenaded Teagan at their wedding were here and ready to do the same for Remi.
“Daddy, don’t I look pretty?” Rory said, scampering into my arms and out of her Grandma Josies. “I’m a flower girl, princess!” she exclaimed happily.
My heart was so full as I scooped her up. I never expected to be a father this young, but Remi and I were blessed to have little Rory and when Remi was finished with her residency, we would probably have more. Maybe earlier because Bethy was our live-in nanny now. We could pull it off, but I was sure that Remi would hope to be more hands-on. Residents worked long hours and my instincts said we should wait at least a few years. Until then, we had Rory and she was a shining light.
I felt so proud looking down at the little girl in the same pink sparkly dress that Remi wore for her parents’ wedding. “You look beautiful. I didn’t know your mommy when she wore it, but I bet she did.” Rory’s curls were in perfect loose spirals around her head, with the sparkling tiara on her head. The memory that really resonated was at my own parent’s wedding when Remi had told me she was my damsel. I’d never forget that moment, as I’d never forget this one.
“Hers was surprised! Grandma T said Mommy cried, like she was sad, though.” Rory seemed confused. “Grandma said it’s cuz girls cry when they’re happy. But I smile when I’m happy! See?” she showed her teeth in an exaggerated smile.
“Are you ready to walk down the aisle with your cousins?”
“Yep! I’m going right in front of mommy and Grampa Ace!”
I kissed her cheek and patted her bottom through the many layers of her dress. “Okay, go back to Grandma Josie and she’ll take you back to Grandpa, okay?”
“Okay!” I set her down and she went back to Josie who was waiting, extending a hand for Rory to take her back to Chase.
Remi had graduated the month prior, and the USMNT had a break between games, so Chase and I were able to take two weeks for a vacation. It seemed the perfect time to finally have our big wedding. Chase and I started plotting with Teagan and my parents to keep it a secret from Remi about a month before her final exam.
Everything was set. We had rented the East Pavilion of Cinderella’s castle and Teagan had done an amazing job of hiring a wedding planner that got everything set up, just as it was for Teagan and Chase. This time, the colors weren’t all those of the rainbow as I’d seen in the photos of Chase and Teagan’s wedding, but ivory, soft pink and light coral hues all blended beautifully. Our entire family was here, including Teagan’s mother, Chase’s parents, Ben, Marin, and all of our cousins. Ben was my best man, and the groomsmen were our little brothers, Josh, and Mace. A few of my teammates and coaches were here, but mostly, it was family. Bethy, Josie, and Bill were seated in the second row. Everyone looked so beautiful. The wedding was small, but, as always, when something important happened every one of my family was together.
Including my mother, who was dressed in a light coral silk suit. Her hair was done in an elegant updo, and she wore stilettos in ivory. Her eyes were filled with tears as she pinned the boutonniere to the lapel of my dark tuxedo. “Don’t cry, mom. I’m already married. Technically speaking,” I said wryly.
“I know, but I just… I’m so happy Dylan. I couldn’t be happier on how everything’s turned out.” She patted my chest and then I put my arms around her for a hug. “The way life has turned out.”
“Yes. I remember crying that Remi had two dads and I didn’t even have one, and now I have Dad. You two are the best parents. And… I have had Teagan and Chase. All of you were our parents from the we time were six and we love you, all so much.”
Ben, also dressed in a black tux, escorted Marin to her seat. She was wearing an ivory sundress and her hair was flowing down her back. He walked up to the altar and put a hand down on my shoulder. “Ready buddy?”
“I’m ready.”
