AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ll make you a promise. If you’re a good girl and sit stillthis one time, I’ll let you climb trees with me and Daddy after the ceremony, okay?”
“Okay,” she pouts, picking up her basket of petals with a look that could kill.
Mom and I make it to the main walkway for the ceremony to begin. Dad’s there waiting to take me for the march.
He didn’t know what to make of his daughter and a Kiphian explorer until our first harvest together. He’s a changed man since realizing that he now has the tallest son-in-law Tlisan has ever seen.
He gives me to Rylan at the altar and shakes his hand. “Good luck, son. I couldn't have picked someone better myself.”
Rylan looks ready to tear up, overcome with how welcoming my family has been to him. Maxe stands next to him as best man, and my brothers are in line, too.
Rylan grew up a lonely kid in a nomad’s tent, so this familial closeness has been hard for him to adjust to. He likes it, though. We always know we could put down roots if that's what we wanted.
Handing my bouquet to Thippe, my maid of honor, I know that we don't have any desire for roots yet, but that’s okay. Maxe and Thippe have led the way for us. We’re quite the foursome on our adventures now, kids and all.
Rylan was worried about Juni growing up on the road. When she took an immediate interest in sport climbing, his competitive spirit took over. We haven't looked back since. We spend our nights planning the next great escape with her right between us, sorting the comm map with her delicate fingers.
Her tiny voice rings in my ears, the memory replaying as it has thousands of times since she first said it.“Where to next, Mommy?”
That same question led me here. Where to was just another challenge to be met. Another boy to be taught how tough and smart girls of any species are. The flutter rumbles in my tummy again. Where to?
Rylan's eyes are all I can see as the priestess steps up to officiate our union. Blurred in the moment, my heart fills with hope. I can't help but imagine where our journeys will take us in life. In our travels, but also, in our matehood.
“Humbled souls, let us give thanks for the blessings of this day…” Her voice trails off, silent as the woods as I stare at Rylan. He looks back at me, his eyes determined and focused, just like the day we crossed that finish line together.
He lifts the light fabric to kiss me. I can't help but brim with laughter at my luck. I found the one-in-a-million Kiphian whocan handle this mess. And not just that. Ours is a love weaved in time. Fate’s looking out for us if nothing else.
Rylan leads me out onto our dancefloor, custom-built by my three brothers. Jorath, Devin, and Lila join the many Kiphians who decided to join us today.
Rylan spins me around until Juni comes running in to join us. I love that he embraces her wayward ways, and even though it's supposed to be our first dance, he curls her up between us. It's just like we always promised, to do everything together.
My eldest brother calls to the guests from beyond the cake. The late afternoon glow is moments before setting on our little Tlisan farm. “Hey, folks, get ready. Head on down to the climbing grounds 'cause we’re about to have an old-fashioned Cantrell climbing match.”
The guests head down to the ground with big smiles in anticipation of the game. Years ago, my father skinned six straight pines behind the barn to teach my brothers to climb. We taught Juni to sit in a harness as soon as she could talk. We still argue about whether or not her first words were ‘repel’ or ‘belay.’
Junno, the brother closest to me in age, straps up to the first tree, with my elder brother, Weckham, to his left. Rylan assumes the third post to a round of cheers from the crowd. My father steps up to officiate in his farmer’s voice. If he wants it to, his echo can sound for miles.
“Give it up for our contestants, folks, especially the honeymooners.” Rylan’s face changes mood when he looks to his right to see me, about to step into the straps. My Dad and I planned for this. “Now I know what you’re thinking folks. That is no kind of attire for a climb, don’t we agree?”
On cue, I rip at the folds of my dress, revealing a shorter underskirt perfect for the race. My new husband looks about as shocked as he can. That is, until his daughter shows up at my side, harness in hand.
“Mommy, you promised!”
Rylan shoots me an accusatory look, a look I just can’t argue with.
“I did, didn’t I? Well, If mommy can do it in a dress, so can you little girl.”
Now there are five contestants ready to ring the bells at the top of the tree. The winner takes all.
My father raises his voice. “Bang!” he shouts in place of a real starting gun. All racers sweep into motion, with the crowd cheering for Juni most of all.
Before she can even doubt herself, the four of us stop at the topmost rung, waiting for her to hit the bell before the others. The crowd goes wild, sure, but my daughter’s face is priceless.
Her massive victory soon wipes the itchy dress from her mind. She dances near Rylan and me on the dance floor until the stars start to peak in the dusky sky.
The union veers into a cold evening, with Rylan and I still dancing long after it’s officially over. I guess in our rush to have an exciting life we forgot to just slow down for a bit, and get married. I don't think that’s where we’re headed now, but it’s nice to soak in it on this most special day.
I hate to break the quiet peace, but I have to know. “ Are you disappointed your parents didn't come?”
