* * * *
Our suite consisted of two bedrooms and a living area. I was in the second bedroom, fussing with my bowtie. Wills usually had trouble with his, and I approached the other bedroom to help him.
“Here, son. Let me give you a hand with that.”
“Thanks, Dad. I don’t know why I’ve become such a wreck.”
I came to a dead halt. Was Wills having second thoughts?
“It’s a big step,” his father said softly.
“Yeah, but I’ve been living with Theo for over a year. Were you nauseous when you married Jill?”
“No. But I can’t say the same when I married your mother. Of course I was a good deal younger then.”
“Do you…do you think she’d approve?”
“Oh, yes. All she wanted was your happiness, and she’d have loved Theo.” Jack sounded certain of that, and I blew out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. Wills said something I couldn’t quite hear, and Jack snarled, “Damn Tony.”
“Dad, did you ever think that maybe he loved you?”
“When we were boys, yes, I have no doubt of that. Once I went away to college, though, he became wrapped up in his own life. And then of course I started dating your Mom.”
“No, I mean that he was in love with you.”
“Tony? In love with me? He was one of the most macho…I…I never thought…” Jack was silent for a moment, then said thoughtfully, “That would explain so much.”
“I’m sorry, Dad.”
“It’s not your fault, Wills. None of this was your fault. His poor wife.”
“Do you think she knew?”
“If I didn’t—”
There was a tap on the suite door, and I hurried to it. Paul and Harry stood there. “Ready to go tie the knot?”
“Sure.” I went to the bedroom. “Wills, it’s almost time. We’ve got to—” Had something more passed between them? “What’s going on, babe? You’re not…you’re not having second thoughts, are you?”
“Ass. I’ve finally got you where I want you. Do you think I’m about to let you go?”
“I’d better go down and check on Jill.” Jack smiled and shook his head. “She insisted that unless she was actually in the hospital giving birth, she was going to be here.” He gave a final tug to Wills’s bowtie and smoothed my lapels. I noticed a sheen of tears in his eyes. He cleared his throat. “Harry, I’m trusting you and Paul to make sure they show up on time.”
“No problem, Uncle Jack.”
“Will do, Mr. M.”
Jack hugged his son and pounded his back before turning to me and squeezing my shoulder. “That tux suits you very well, Jack.”
“Thanks, son.” He hurried out, and I stared after him. Did he realize he’d called me son?
“Paul, do me a favor and wait outside.” Wills’s words shook me out of my daze. “Harry, you too.”
He grinned at us. “You’ve got five minutes. And try not to muss each other, okay? Or Uncle Jack will hand me my head.”
As soon as he closed the door, I turned to him. “What’s wrong?”
“My grandparents…I’m sorry, it’s selfish of me. So many of my family are here, and you just have your mom and dad and Acacia, but—”
“But you’ve always had them. Even after your mother died, they stayed in your life.” I stroked his cheek. “I know how much it hurts.” All my family, who weren’t here, who thought I was nothing more than a drug addict…
“Yes. You had to live with it for thirteen years. Where do I get off pissing and moaning about it?”
“It’s their loss, Wills.”
“You’re right.” He kissed the patch of skin below my ear, and I shivered. “And Paul and Harry are going to think we’re molesting each other in here. Come on. Let’s go get married.”
* * * *
Everything went according to plan. We stood before the Unitarian minister, our rings on an open Bible. Wills picked up mine. He looked into my eyes, smiling as he slid the ring on my finger. “With this ring I give you my heart. It will be here for you to take, today, tomorrow, and always.” He brought my hand to his mouth and kissed the ring.
I squeezed his hand, then took his ring and put it on his finger.
“With this ring, I give you all my love.” In a lower voice, so only he could hear me, I said, “I was too blind to see what was in your eyes when you looked at me, but now I do. Will you keep that light shining for me?”
And before God, our families, and friends, the man I would love for always said, “I will.”
The formal pictures were done. Me and Wills, me and Wills and my family, me and Wills and his family, and his family, and his family…My God, it was huge. I’d started to wonder if we’d finish in time for dinner.
But now we were sitting down for the first course. I’d just taken a bite of the tomato caprese when…
Dingdingdingdingding.
“You up for it, babe?”
I finished chewing, took a sip of my wine, and leaned forward to meet my husband’s lips. “Always.”