Epiphany (23 page)

Taking a seat on one of the benches, we wait as the group starts to disband, getting
in the proper formation. Over the speaker system, “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele
starts to
play,
making me wish Skylar was here to see this. This might be the most romantic gesture
I’ve ever witnessed in my entire life, even what I’ve read. Whoever planned this
deserves huge brownie points.

Kylee’s phone starts singing into the chorus, but I’m so involved with waiting to
see this unfold, I don’t register if she actually answered it or not. “Who called?”
I ask, remembering I’m on a date with her, and it’s rude to ignore someone you’re
out with.

“Jacoby.
He wanted to see if we’re ready.” Wait, what? Jacoby’s here? Furrowing my eyebrows,
I wait for her to elaborate. I was under the impression it was just us or I would
have insisted Skylar come, too.

“I didn’t know he was coming. Are we meeting him at the diner?” I ask, slightly disappointed
Skylar won’t be joining us. There’s no way he can get down here in time.

“No, right over there,” she says, pointing to where the wedding will be taking place.

“Why is he over there? I’m starting to get one of those feelings like you know something
I don’t know.” Kylee smirks, trying to hide it behind her jacket when she burrows
inside, eyes still gleaming with mischief.

“You didn’t think he’d miss your wedding, did you?”

“My wedding?
Are you fucking high? Did you find some pot in the apartment and smoke that shit?
I’m pretty sure you need to go to the hospital.”

Now, my phone starts ringing. This night just keeps getting weirder and weirder.
Pinching my arm, I confirm that I’m awake and not in some kind of crazy dream … again.
The caller ID is flashing Skylar’s name and I answer.

“Hey,” I answer.

“Hey, yourself.
Got a question for you,” he says, sounding every bit as devilish as Kylee looks,
staring at me with wide eyes.

“I’ve got an answer, shoot.”

“You still think that I won’t want to marry you because we might not be able to have
a traditional family?” My stomach flips and I consider lying to him, only to not
make this night any stranger than it already is, but I don’t. I can’t lie to him.

“Sometimes, yeah.
Why?”

“If you’d do me the honor of walking down the aisle, I’d like to prove you wrong.”

“We can start planning whenever you want. I don’t want to pressure you. There’s
a lot to consider. When you asked, we thought I’d be able to give you children.
You don’t have to feel obligated, Skylar.” I try to rationalize with him, wanting
him to understand that he’s got an out if he needs it.

“Can you just walk down the damn aisle? It’s getting lonely down here. A wedding
just isn’t a wedding without a bride.” My eyes shoot back to the gathering in the
quad. A man looking very much like Skylar is wearing a suit and has a phone to his
hear. Holy shit, it
is
Skylar.

“What are you doing?” I loudly whisper. Has he lost his fucking mind?

“I’d like to make sure that you know I’m going to marry you because you’re the only
person in this world I want to spend the rest of my life with.
Kids, no kids, whatever.
It’s you that I want. So, how about we hang up and you walk your sexy ass down
here?”

I turn back to Kylee, glaring at her. She knew. She was in on this. “Kylee Renee
Anderson. You’re a part of this.” I don’t question, I already know the answer.
Her girlish giggles don’t help her case. She’s guilty as sin right now.

“Of course I knew. Do you think it’s a coincidence you’re wearing a white, fancy
dress to go out to dinner? Baby girl, I’m much smarter than that. Now, can you follow
his direction and get your ass down there. My Maid of Honor kindness is only going
to last so long.”

Kylee stands first, outstretching her hand, which I take reluctantly. The phone still
to my ear, I must be in shock because Kylee’s voice and all the people buzzing around
me are drowned out by the person on the other end of the call.

“You coming down, Sweets?” Skylar asks.

“I’m sorry. I’ve got to go. It was great chatting with you, but I have a wedding
to get to. I hope you understand.” I don’t wait for a response, hanging up and putting
the phone back in my bag.

“You ready, baby girl?” Kylee takes my arm in hers and we make our way toward the
gazebo.

“It’s like a fairytale. I don’t even know what to say.”

“That’s silly. You do know what to say.
Repeat after me.
I do.”

As we reach the path that will lead me to my forever, Kylee stops me. My mother comes
up on my other side, handing me a bouquet of daises.

“You’re here!” I yell, pulling her into my chest, hugging her without abandon. Nothing
could make this night any more perfect.

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, Princess. This is your night. I’m just happy
my son in law remembered to call my little old self. Kylee,” she turns away from
me, nodding her head.

Kylee slowly walks down the pathway, also holding a bunch of flowers. The way Jacoby’s
looking at her, I’ll be surprised if she actually makes it all the way to the makeshift
altar and not get kidnapped for some sexy times. Surprisingly, my mother walks ahead
of me also, putting out her hand for me to stay put.

Suddenly, another wave of emotions come over me—this time sadness. I don’t have a
daddy to walk me down the aisle. I won’t have a daddy to dance with or give me away.
Starting to cry, a familiar strong hand starts to rub my back, comforting me.

“When Skylar called, I couldn’t say no. I figured who better to give you away? We
probably should get moving before he passes out. Sky’s not lookin’ too good up there,
a little green for my liking,” Danny says, embracing me. His scent, a mixture of
fall and summer and heavenly, takes my hand and together we walk to where my future
husband waits.

“You have no idea, Danny. Thank you for this. I’ll never be able to repay you.”

“No repayment necessary, Pea. All I ever wanted was for you to be happy. You were
mine
first. I’ve held on to so much pain recently, because I thought he stole you from
me. This is my way of telling you that he can’t steal something I willingly give
to him. This is me giving you the parts of your heart I refused to return.”

My stomach turns and the tears cascade from my eyes. I lied when I said nothing could
make this night anymore perfect. This is the icing on the cake and I’m so blessed
and lucky to have such amazing people in my life.
People that love me for no other reason than I’m me.
Wiping away the moisture, careful to not get mascara all over my face, I squeeze
Danny’s hand. “Thank you,” I whisper.

“Come on,” he nudges my side, “your husband’s waiting.”

The Adele song, that’s been on repeat, changes and the traditional wedding march starts.
Just like in the movies, I move toward Skylar slowly, with small steps, our eyes never
losing contact, both of us with fresh tears and cheesy smiles plastered all over our
faces.

Skylar

She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Standing at the other end of the pathway,
wearing the dress Kylee said she’d fall in love with, watching me with loving eyes.
I’m going to need her to start moving so my knees will stop shaking, threatening to
buckle.

This has to be the most nerve wracking feeling ever. Standing here, in front of a
few members of our family and friends, waiting for her to walk to me, hoping she does.
My dad told me once, even if you know it’s a sure thing that your woman’s going to
walk down that aisle, the urge to vomit doesn’t stop until her hands are safely in
yours. I’m beginning to think he’s the smartest man in the world, because I’m about
to lose it all over the altar.

My nerves don’t stop when Danny takes her hand. I knew I wanted him to be here for
this and thankfully, when I called him earlier this morning, he was able to catch
a flight home, but I wasn’t aware he’d be walking Mira down the aisle. It’s doing
weird things to my head, remembering not too long ago, he thought this would be him
and Mira, being joined together forever. But, as my best friend, he needs to be here
with me. He’s my Best Man no matter what’s happened in the past. I just hope Mira’s
okay with all of this.

It’s pretty risky, planning and carrying out a surprise wedding with the help of the
bride’s best friend and mother. I’m thankful to have them in my corner, and the way
Mira’s watching me, it would appear that she’s not upset, the exact opposite in fact.

When she starts walking down the pathway, my heart hammers powerfully against my chest
and my mouth goes instantly dry. Swallowing hard, I try to moisten it, but there’s
no use. I see why people drink before weddings. This shit is stressful.

Before I know it, Mira and Danny stand before me and the minister, hand in hand.
Impatiently and a little jealous he’s touching my fiancée, I wait for him to give
her to me. He whispers something in her ear and she nods in response. Danny steps
forward, shaking my hand and pulling me into him, also needing to share a secret with
me.

“She’s all yours, man. Keep her happy, that’s all I ask.”

“That’s the plan,” I respond, taking Mira and helping her up the two steps until we’re
on the same level of the gazebo.

Mira turns around, handing her flowers to Kylee, who’s crying her damn eyes out.
Women and weddings, I tell ya.

As Mira and I look into each other’s souls, the minister begins going through all
the motions of the traditional wedding, until he gets to the vows. I don’t mean to
take Mira off guard, but I feel like I need to tell her exactly how I feel and not
something that’s written for me to recite. When the minister cues me to start, I
squeeze Mira’s hand and mouth ‘love you’ to her and she reciprocates.

“Almost five years ago, on this very lawn, I saw a girl. That girl was the definition
of perfection. She was standing with a friend during orientation. Because of my
own issues, I didn’t approach the girl, but let my Best Man do it. No matter how
long they were together, I loved her and was satisfied just being her friend.
Anything to be able to talk to her, to be with her.
When all of our lives were turned upside down, that girl came out the other side
with a new outlook on life.” Mira’s not even trying to wipe away the tears, letting
them freely fall to the ground, smiling, remembering our journey with me.

“When this girl finally let me into her heart, I promised to never hurt her, always
keep her on her toes and love her with every fiber of my being for each day we’re
alive, and even more than that, into eternity. Mira, I brought you here because I
wanted to go back to the beginning and do what I should have done all those years
ago.” I gently wipe a stray tear away from her face and take her hand in mine, like
you would for a handshake.

“Hi, Mira.
I’m
Skylar,
it’s nice to meet you. Would you like to go to dinner sometime?” Uncontrollable
sobs come over
Mira,
hand over her mouth, nodding her head.

“This is what I should have done. I shouldn’t have been trying to be the better man.
I should have been trying to be
your
man. And I’ll promise you this, Sweets. You’re
always
going to be my number one, my best friend and my source of comfort. I’m always going
to want to come home to you and nobody else. I promise to be the first thing you
see each morning and hold you through the night. I give you my word that I’ve been
in love with you since before I even realized it and I’m going to love you until after
I’m dead and gone. You’re the only one for me. I promise to give you the greatest
love story ever written.”

When it’s Mira’s turn to say her vows, she looks a little dumbfounded, having not
prepared for this moment, but my girl rallies and comes at me with everything she
has.

“They say the best relationships begin with friendship, and we have that. We’ve been
best friends for years and have always loved each other. Every day, I promise to
love you more than I did the day before. I promise to never forget that you’re my
man and you’re my partner. I promise to let you have your way sometimes and to fix
the leaky sink when it drips. I promise that I won’t take my car to the oil change
place without asking if you want to do it first. I vow to baby you when you’re sick
and think the world’s ending. I’ll promise, in front of everyone, I won’t make you
watch romantic movies every weekend, and watch a few of those motorcycle shows with
you. I’ll make sure dinner is on the table every night when you get home from work,
even if it’s just a takeout menu. Most importantly, I promise that you’re
it
for me; there’s nobody else and there never will be. I know more than ever that
the other half of my soul lives inside of you and that’s exactly where it belongs.”

When our vows are finished, the minister goes on to finish the ceremony, requesting
each of us to repeat after him. We both say “I do” and as it’s finally time for me
to kiss my bride, I take her in my arms, dip her slightly backward and kiss her with
every emotion a man can kiss a woman. I make every attempt to keep it classy, but
there’s no use. There’s absolutely nothing classy about it, although I refrain from
grabbing her ass and hoisting her onto me—which is harder than I care to express—pun
totally intended.

Walking over to the picnic table Mira’s mom had set up for after the ceremony, everyone
gathers. A blend of back
claps,
hugs and tears spill around this circle of loved ones, each one meaning something
special to us both.