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My attention snaps to Dana who has already started crying, close to weeping, trying to wipe away her tears with tissue after tissue from the box in her lap. “Dana taught me patience. And how to give with your whole heart while asking for nothing in return.”
Drew rubs my sister’s knee, his other arm wrapped around Mia.
“Even if you deserve the whole world,” I add. “Just like Dana does.”
“Oh my god, I can’t do this,” Dana says, waving her hands in front of her face.
“And then there’s my dad.”
Dad straightens up in his seat. Victoria looks up at him with the utmost love in her eyes. I never thought I’d see someone look at my dad like that again.
“Daddy, you showed me what a real man looks like. Someone who is kindhearted isn’t afraid to be vulnerable with those he loves, and lets himself change in order to be the best man he can be for those he loves.”
My dad’s eyebrows rise, lips tightening, clearly holding back tears. Victoria rubs his arm and whispers something in his ear.
I return my gaze to Orlie. “Still, with all of those lessons, I managed to bungle the first part of our relationship.”
Everyone laughs, including Orlie. “Not just you, Kira,” he says.
“But I promise for the rest of our lives to give my best self to you. Because I see you give your best self to me. And to Owen. Everyday. And I hope I give even a pinch of what you give.”
“You do,” Orlie whispers. “You do, baby.”
I shake my head. “I want to grow with you. I want t-to do life with you. With all its twists and turns. You make me feel capable and powerful and seen in ways I’ve never felt.”
I pull his hands to my sternum, closing the space between us. “So, I think I’ll marry you if that’s alright.”
More laughter. Orlie smiles. “More than alright with me.”
With the vows done, we exchange our rings, and then, the moment I’ve waited for since the moment I saw him at the end of the aisle.
“Excuse me for the tears –” Trevor says weepily. “I’ve felt like Kira’s been one of my own for years now. And now she really is, so by the power vested in me –”
Owen’s head pops up and he reaches for me. “Ma!”
I scoop him into my arms from Trevor and nuzzle his cheek. “Owen!”
“By the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife! Orlie, you may kiss the bride.”
Orlie embraces me, Owen between us, looking sleepy and confused. He touches my cheek and kisses me with all his gentleness. “I love you.”
I kiss him again, harder. There’ll be more of that tonight, that’s for sure. “I love you.”
“And you too, baby boy,” Orlie says, kissing Owen’s forehead.
“Introducing Mr. and Mrs. –”
“I’m keeping my last name, Trevor!” I call out.
“Listen, it doesn’t have the same ring to say Mr. Wynters and Ms. Solace!”
Orlie and I laugh as the string quartet begins the recessional music. He slings his arm around my shoulder. “I think you taught us all a lesson too, Kira.”
“Oh? What’s that?”
With a sentimental look at my family, he beams. “Be grateful for where you come from.”
These words ring in my brain the rest of the night as we embrace, laugh, and dance. We’ve had a lot of heartbreak in our lives, us girls. But without it, we never would have found our way here. Totally in love with our lives, our husbands, our children.
