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“I was actually admiring the dress in the window, trying to find a reason to buy it. This is the reason. I’ll be right back.”
This is her wedding day too. If she wanted to change, I’m not going to argue with her.
I sit back, moving the stroller back and forth as I watch my son watch everyone else. He’s enamored with everyone coming here to start their lives together.
“Wow,” Dillon stops, his mouth hanging open. I follow his line of sight, and there, the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, makes her way to us. She’s wearing a white dress that has a sheer overlay that comes up to her neck. It’s sleeveless, comes in at her waist, and billows out slightly. It lands a little bit under her knees. Topping it off, she has brand-new ankle tennis shoes. I’ve seen her in heels—I love her in heels, but this is her. She’s a tennis shoe, shorts, and tank top kind of woman. I’m happy that while she didn’t want to get married in her daily wear, she kept that little bit. Her red hair is striking as it lays in a braid along her left shoulder. As she walks toward me, I tell myself how fucking lucky I am that she is the one I will soon get to call my wife.
“Wow, is not even enough to describe it, dude,” I mumble. I’m stuck in place. I can’t move. I’m awestruck.How did I get this lucky?My son hugs me right before he takes off to walk her to me. We agreed that she wouldn’t come all the way to the front of the courtroom. She’d wait for Dillon in the middle so he could give her away. I couldn’t wait. Seeing my son walking my bride down the aisle, I want to cry. So I do.“You take my breath away every time I see you.” I stand and hold my hand out for her, my tear slipping from my eye. I pull her in for a kiss, but we are stopped.
“STOP!” Dillon yells, causing a few of the others waiting to stop and look at us.“You haven’t said‘I do’yet! You can’t kiss her. It’s bad luck.” We look at each other and chuckle.
I keep her small, perfect porcelain hand wrapped in mine as though I’m scared to let her go. For fear she will come to her senses and run away from me, these kids that love her, and the life we have built together. Every time I give it a light squeeze, she matches it. What feels like hours later, the admin called for us, and we made our way to the front of the courtroom.
Dillon is set on walking his mom down the aisle again to meet me. They walk to the back, and I take a quick look at the judge, who has a smile on his face. They reach the end and immediately walk back toward me as I wait for them up at the front. My heart is so full as I watch how that sweet boy, mine by choice and love, looks at the woman who has been my end game since I laid eyes on her in Mama El’s kitchen.
The ceremony is fast and more about formalities than love. I’m okay with it because we have our whole lives together to fill all the other memories with love. Dillon is upset that there is no rice to throw when it’s all done.Where did he learn all this from?We’re handed a copy of our marriage certificate and told they would file the original.
“Thank you, your honor. I hope you have an amazing rest of your day.” Audrina tells the judge. Only one thing could make this day better.
We walk down the hall to get another round of paperwork started—paperwork that will allow my wife to be the legal guardian and mother to my children. Malika is giggling and enjoying all the people and the hustle of everyone that passes us. Before we could even make it to the main desk, a shrill scream rang out. Audrina and I spin to see Ashlynn hurrying over to us, tears in her eyes.
“Are you kidding me right now? In the courthouse! In a white dress! You did it!” Ashlynn screams, pulls Audrina into a hug, and pulls back to look at her hands. There’s no ring, and I feel a moment of guilt. This was all so fast. I didn’t even ask if she wanted a ring, a wedding, or otherwise.
“It was fast. Dillon asked me to be his forever mommy, and I couldn’t say no.” Audrina is beaming. She looked like everything was perfect in her world, easing my guilt about the ring. I am still going to get her the best ring money can afford. The world needs to know she is mine.
“Oh, my god! This is amazing! Congratulations, you guys!” Ashlynn gives me a small hug, and I see Willie behind her. He gives me a nod, but there is a twinkle in his eye.
“What are you guys doing here?” I ask,“You guys thinking about doing the same? Dillon is very helpful at walking the bride down the aisle.” My son’s chest puffs up with pride.
“No, we are actually here to pay a fine for…something.” Ashlynn waves it off.
“A fine for what?” my wife asks, her eyes filled with mirth.
“Indecent exposure and some kind of lewd behavior.” Ashlynn mumbles. My gaze shoots to my road captain, who holds his hands up.
“I planned a nice date, a lovely picnic in the park, and she,” he jerks his head in Ashlynn’s direction,“took it as a challenge to how far can we… uh, go… before getting caught.”
“Turns out you can get pretty far,” she shrugs.“but you started this. I wanted to see what the appeal was. Well, needless to say, I get it now.”
“What do you mean I started it?” Audrina looks from her friend to Willie. Both avoiding her gaze.
“Well, we need to get this taken care of. We will meet you back at the ranch.” Willie grabs his Ol’Lady and bolts from us. We look at each other, and then the realization hits both of us, and we know we need to get to the ranch fast.
***
Ashlynn had somehow beat us and got everyone together.
“Wait, what did she say? Please tell me she didn’t tell everyone the truth?”
“No,” Audrina starts,“her mass text says that she and Willie want a family meal because they have something they want to share. It also saysI want to get fucking drunk, and I refuse not to have the other women with me, so you asswipes better all be there, or we’re going to the field again, with guns and fire.This fucking girl, I swear,” she finishes as she rubs her forehead.“Why do we keep her around?”
“You know, I ask myself that all the time,” I laugh as she smacks my arm.
“I wasn’t serious!”
“I know, amour.” I lean over and give her a quick kiss as we pull up to the last red light before it’s a straight shot to the ranch.“I love you, Mrs. Roscoe.”
“Oh, I love the sound of that. I love you too, Mr. Roscoe.”
