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“That’s Noah’s Uncle Jim. He’s not Evelyn’s brother, but they call him uncle anyway. And yes, he looks familiar. I can’t place him. Can you?” I ask. This is the least of my worries today, but at least I’m not going crazy.
“It’s gonna drive me crazy. Oh well, it’s a worry for another day. I’ll see you out there. Baby, I love you.”
Tia rushes in the room. “It’s time. Or at least that’s what Kate says. Fuck, she’s a feisty one, that girl,” she exclaims.
“Pot meet kettle, little sister.”
She lets out a mock scoff as she takes my hand. “Let’s go get you married to the love of your life, big brother.”
Mom waits for me behind the few rows of chairs. Less than thirty people are here to witness our union, but the small and intimate ceremony will always be a reminder of today and those who mean the most to us.
In front of where my mother stands, I have a straight view to the altar. It’s something that has been hidden from me. In large shapes, behind where Kate is, are two A-framed wooden stands, made of reclaimed wood. One is a little shorter than the other. It’s stained in the color of wood Noah’s Grandpa’s cabin is made of. The difference between both stands is only two inches. I’m two inches shorter than Noah.
Behind the altar is a sculpture of the tree that shades us from the sun at our bench by the creek.
Where our guests sit—are paintings hanging from the ceiling at eye height on each side. These are all renderings that signify the beginning of our life together. Haystack Mountain at Cannon Beach, the factory that is now the home we share together, a rendering of a Pearl Jam Album—a reminder that we were both at the same concert when we were seventeen, our first Christmas tree, a vineyard we visited in the Yakima Valley a month ago, and Noah and I, standing next to one another in the classroom. Something so special is captured in this particular painting. Noah is looking out at the kids, and I’m watching him. It’s how I always watch him—with complete awe.
The art isn’t Noah’s. I know his paintings like I know him. But I recognize the technique. And they’re all oil paintings.
This is Devin. I love that kid! He has captured something so special.
On the other side of our A-framed altar, is the picture I hid from Noah. It’s us, the day on the beach when he proposed. He’d hired a professional photographer. From the picture that captured our engagement is the painting I created for today to show our commitment to each other.
Tying everything together aesthetically are white roses. This place is so beautiful,and so us, and I know I want to paint it one day.
We haven’t chosen the traditional wedding march. That’s not us. “Just Breathe” by Pearl Jam begins to play, and Noah and Liam walk up to the altar from a different entrance leading to the main gallery. But nothing compares to the beauty that is Noah. His eyes focus on my painting, and his jaw drops when he sees the six renderings Devin painted specifically for us.
Tiana walks down the aisle, and I take my mom’s arm. “Your father would be so proud of you, Ash.”
She’s already crying. “And these are happy tears, baby. He’s watching us from heaven. Not even death will stop him from missing this day.”
Oh, sweet baby Jesus. We’ve barely begun to walk down the aisle, and even with the tears that spill from my eyes, thanks to my mother, my attention doesn’t leave Noah’s.
Stopping in front of Kate, my mom takes my hand, giving it to Noah. “Thank you for loving my son.”
Noah leans over and kisses my mom. “Thank you Caitlyn for taking care of Ash until I found him.”
No one wants me to get through this day without crying. He interlaces his fingers with mine, leading me to where we’ll promise each other a forever. He leans down, whispering into my ear. “You okay honey?”
“Mom told me Dad was watching me today.” Noah’s compassion comes from every part of his soul, and he bends over and drops a kiss onto the top of my head. “I have no doubt, Ash.”
“Okay, we better start,” Kate says, “before they start kissing each other and marrying themselves.” People begin to laugh, and we join in. “I set these two up a year ago. At the time they were experiencing an artistic block. And I thought, what the hell, what better way to get them past it than…” She looks out at Lainey and Collin. “A really good date. They just needed to go out and have fun together.” Tia lets out a snicker, understanding Kate’s words. Hell, everyone understands Kate’s words, except for the two innocent kids.
“But what I didn’t take in to account is that it could lead to love and a future together. And I’ve never seen two people who love each other as much as Noah and Ashton do. These two have written their promises to one another. So, I’m going to give them the floor.”
I clear my throat to begin. “I’ve never given any thought to soul mates, but with you, Noah Alexander James, there’s no doubt—you’re that person. I vow to live by your side, carry you when you can’t, and grow our family together. In all we do, any adversity that comes our way, I know we can overcome it, as long as we walk side by side. And I promise to walk by your side for the rest of my life.”
Noah turns to our friends and family. “Well, shit. I don’t think I can top that, but I’m going to try.”
He turns back to me. “Ash, my beautiful, sweet, sexy, and amazing Ashton. You’re not only my best friend, my lover, and the person I want waking up next to me for the next eighty years, but you’re the best person I’ve ever met. You make me want to be better, for you, for our future, and for our family we’ll build one day. You’re more than my future, Ashton Michael Brooks, you’re my whole entire world. I vow to never take you for granted. I vow I’ll love you until my last breath, and I vow that you’re the only man I’ll ever wake up next to.”
I incline my head up to his where only he can hear me. “I think you did fucking awesome, and you totally beat me!”
He winks, and I memorize this moment, the moment that I take his name and become his legal husband.
“Well, hell, you both made my job easy,” Kate imparts. “So, let’s make this official. Do you, Ashton, take Noah as your wedded husband?”
“I do. Forever. Only death will separate us.”
