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“How could we not be? This is great,” Olivia said with another giggle.

“I’m just sorry Mallory had to stay home with the baby while the men are out golfing and we’re having so much fun here.”

“Yeah, it’s just too bad,” I said, trying to make my voice sound as convincing as possible. The truth was, the rest of us wished we had an excuse like Mallory. She was the lucky one. I would’ve offered to stay home with her to save myself, but I knew Reagan would kill me.

“You know what?” Carter quickly stood from the table. “You’re right. We shouldn’t be here having fun while she’s taking care of Duncan by herself. I think we should head back.” Carter smiled mischievously.

I practically fell out of my seat because this was so unlike her. Must be the alcohol. I stood up beside her. “Carter is right.” I looked at my mom. “What do you say?”

My mom nodded. “You’re right. I need to get home to cuddle my great-grandson.” She pointed at me and Reagan. “And you two need to get some rest for your big day tomorrow.”

***

The next day, I stood at the edge of my parents’ backyard, staring at the small makeshift ceremony space we had made. It was nothing fancy. Just a few rows of chairs for our limited guests with a space down the middle for the aisle.

“Ready to marry me again?” Reagan said from behind me as she put her hands on my hips.

I leaned back into her. “I’m always ready.”

I turned around so I could get a good look at her. She was wearing black pants and a white button up with a black bow tie. It went well with my simple white sundress. I looked behind her toward the house. “Where are the kids? They are supposed to be here to walk us down the aisle.”

Reagan put her hands in her pockets and rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet. “It turns out there has been a change of plans.”

“A change of plans?” We had decided months ago that Ronan would walk me down the aisle and Olivia and Carter would walk with Reagan. Why the sudden change?

Reagan nodded. “Olivia and Quinton are going to walk down together and Ronan and Mallory are going to pull Duncan in a wagon. Carter is still going to walk me down.”

What the hell?Did Reagan not realize that she forgot to account for a pretty pivotal person? “Who’s escorting me?”

“Someone who should’ve been there for you a long time ago.” I turned to find my mom standing next to me with her arm outstretched for me to grab onto. “I’m sorry I’m so late, Charlie.”

Tears immediately sprung to my eyes. All of the years I spent wishing and hoping for this suddenly felt like a distantmemory. My mom was here now, and even as a sixty-year-old woman, that still meant the world to me. “You’re not. You’re right on time.”

My mom patted my hand but didn’t say a word, most likely because she was just as choked up as I was. We stood together by the house while everyone else walked down the aisle.

When it was almost our turn to go, my mom finally spoke. “If I could give advice to all new parents, do you know what it would be?” When I shook my head, she continued. “I would tell every parent out there that they need to accept their children unconditionally, no ifs ands or buts. Because when you’re nearing the end of your time on earth, it doesn’t matter what the gender of their spouse is. What matters is that they have someone to take care of them and you and Jamie do. You both found the perfect life partners, no thanks to me.”

Speaking of perfect life partners… When I looked down the aisle, mine was staring at me with tears running down her cheeks. Standing next to her were our three kids that we had somehow raised to be (somewhat) fully functioning adults. This was my whole world, and if the tears hadn’t already started, they definitely would have from the sight of all of them waiting for me.

My mom gave me a hug when I made it to the end of the aisle and Carter held my hand as Reagan and I re-promised our lives to each other. The officiant, AKA my father, spoke once more after we said our vows.

“I’ve watched you two love each other for over thirty years, and I’ll admit there was a time that I didn’t want to see it, but there was never any denying it—a love like yours doesn’t come along often. You two define what love should be, and after thirty years of marriage, there is just as much love between you two as there was that first time you said I do. I know the next thirty plus years will be even better for you. It is my absolutepleasure to pronounce you wives for the second time. You may now kiss the bride.”

When Reagan dipped me and kissed me the same way she had in the driveway a few days earlier, it was as if I was floating. I couldn’t even feel the ground below me. The small crowd of friends and family cheered as Reagan lifted me back up and we walked down the aisle hand in hand.

After greeting each of our guests and thanking them for being part of this special day, Reagan and I snuck away to stand by the lake together.

Reagan shut her eyes and took a big breath through her nose. “A lot of memories here, huh?”

I nodded my head, but she didn’t understand the extent of just how many memories this lake held for me. It was where I sat and prayed to God to take these feelings from me. It was the lake I jumped in after I kissed Mary Beth for the first time in hopes that it would wash me clean. This was the spot where I made love to the most important person in my life before I was willing to admit that that’s what it was. It was where I finally saw the smile return to my daughter’s face after she had her heart broken. It held my highest highs and my lowest lows.

But nothing it gave to me even came close to what the woman standing beside me had given to me. “You know how much I love you, right?” I asked Reagan as I leaned into her.

Reagan kissed the top of my head. “Not as much as I love you.”

Before I could argue with her that I clearly loved her more, we were both wrapped in a big bear hug from behind. “I hope you both realize that none of this would’ve been possible without yours truly,” Jamie said with a chuckle.

“Oh yes, all great one.” Reagan motioned for Jamie to come on the other side of her and wrapped an arm around both of us. “Thank you for lying for years about your huge lesbianroommate being your girlfriend,” she said sarcastically. “I owe you my life.”

Jamie leaned against Reagan in the same way I was. “I mean you kind of really do.”

“You’re right.” Reagan looked over at me and I knew exactly what she was thinking, her whole life was standing right beside her. I knew, because I felt the same way.

THE END!!!!!!!!!!