Page 48 of FWB

Tiegan - Halloween, Two Years Later

K enny proposed two weeks ago. Lily—with a Y .

He legally changed the spelling of her name one year ago—Kenny, and I took a trip to a local pumpkin patch for her first time.

The nearly two-year-old toddler bounced in between each pumpkin, urging me to bend down as she held my hand in her tiny one, so we could inspect each and every one before deciding on which three pumpkins were coming home with us.

Only the best ones would make the cut. As we weaved through the rows of orange gourds, I saw Kenny bend down and pick up the most perfectly round pumpkin I’ve ever seen.

As he turned around to bring it to us, Lily let go of my hand to run to her daddy.

“Daddy got a punkin!” she cried with excitement.

“This pumpkin is for Tiggy, flower,” he said, looking straight at me, using the nickname that Lily uses for me because she can’t say Tiegan yet. As he approached, l noticed something tied around the stem of the gourd in his hands. It looked like a piece of blue velvet ribbon.

“What’s going on?” I asked, breaking out in a nervous sweat.

Then, he turned the pumpkin around to show the words “ Will You Marry Us, Tiegan? “ carved into its flesh, and the most stunning rough-cut diamond ring, with an intricate band melted together to look like three tree branches intertwined, hanging from the stem. It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.

Before I could form any words, Kenny, getting on one knee, said, “Tiegan, you came into my life like a tornado, but you helped rebuild something inside me I didn’t realize was so broken until I met you.

I have watched you tackle your fears of parenthood when you didn’t have to, and come out stronger on the other side.

You are the fiercest, kindest, most beautiful woman I know, and I couldn’t ask for a better mother figure for Lily.

So, Tiegan, will you do the great honor of making me the happiest man of my life, and marry me? ”

So here I am, two weeks later, sitting in a stunning cabin overlooking Mt.

Saint Helens, getting ready for my elopement to the love of my life on my thirty-fifth birthday.

I didn’t want to wait a second longer than I had to.

We decided to elope in Washington for the stunning views—and epic weed—inviting only Kiersten as my matron of honor, Sam as Kenny’s best man, and Trevor, who Kenny really bonded with, officiating the ceremony.

Lily is acting as the Ring Guard. Her words, not mine.

We found a travel photographer with a last-minute cancellation for another Halloween wedding.

We would have married two weeks ago, but we wanted Trevor to officiate and the ordainment took longer than anticipated.

I also couldn’t get off work at my new job at an indie record label until now.

It all worked out in the end. I found a stunning dark navy blue, almost black, dress with silver and gold sparkles throughout.

With long, flowing sleeves, a long, billowing skirt with a slit on either leg, showing off my tattoos, and a deep, but tasteful V-cut neckline, I look like walking nightfall.

I opt to wear my sparkly silver Converse since we’ll be hiking a short trail to an overlook on the property we’re renting for the ceremony.

I finish the look with a silver crescent moon necklace that sits above the head of the dragon tattoo poking out between my breasts, another coat of lipstick, and a few spritzes of Kenny’s favorite perfume, Elizabeth & James’ Nirvana Bourbon.

Kenny and I decided to host a big Friendsgiving celebration in November when we get back to Nashville to celebrate our union.

We’re also going to be announcing that I will be officially adopting Lily as my daughter at the first of the new year.

No one knows yet, not even Lily. Jazmine released all parental rights to Kenny when she was sentenced to several years in state prison for her crimes, so I’m in the free and clear to go forward with the adoption.

There’s a knock at my door before I hear Kiersten’s voice. “T, can I come in?”

I take another look in the mirror before opening the door. “Hey, I’m ready!”

She comes into the room, shutting the door behind her, and takes a long, hard look at me, before breaking out in a bittersweet smile. “You’re really getting married.” Tears gather in her eyes.

“I know. Who would have ever thought this day would come?”

“I always knew you’d find the one to fit your puzzle someday.

I just didn’t realize you were actually missing more than one piece.

I’ve seen you blossom as a person the older Lily gets.

It’s an honor and a privilege to watch you grow into an even more incredible woman than you already were. I love you so much, sister.”

Now I have tears in my eyes. “I love you, too. So fucking much. I’m so thankful you got to be here with us today.”

“Are you kidding? Even if I wasn’t invited, you’d still find me hiding out in the bushes with binoculars to catch all the action!”

I laugh, knowing damn well that would be exactly the case if we had decided on a private ceremony.

“Now, c’mon. Let’s go get you married! ”

The guys and Lily, along with the photographer, got to the spot thirty minutes ago to get everything ready and take some solo shots of Kenny and group ones with each other.

Kiersten and I begin the fifteen-minute walk to the overlook to meet everyone.

Before we get to a point where the group can see us, Kiersten turns to me.

“You ready, kiddo?” She calls me the nickname Aunt Tweetie always used, and that I have tattooed on my right wrist in her handwriting.

I lost Aunt Tweetie nine months ago to her pancreatic cancer, so hearing it again, especially today is bittersweet.

I take a deep breath in and out, steadying myself. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

“Okay,” she says before going around a curve in the path in the line of sight to give them a thumbs-up that we’re ready to start.

Once everyone is in position, the sweet opening chords of “Holding Pattern” fill the air around us, coming from the lantern that doubles as a Bluetooth speaker Kiersten is holding in lieu of flowers.

Lily begins her descent down the dirt path towards her daddy and the rest of the waiting wedding party, carrying our wedding rings.

Kiersten looks over, giving me the warmest smile, before making her way to the altar with the lantern.

Once Kiersten has taken her place, I begin my journey towards the beginning of my future, towards my family.

I round the corner, holding a bouquet of white lilies and red roses.

As soon as Chris Thile begins the second verse of the song, I hold my head high and lock eyes with Kenny.

He’s wearing a navy blue three-piece suit, with a feather gray button-up shirt underneath, and a matching pocket square tucked in.

A tasteful tie adorned with silhouettes of black cats finishes the look.

He recently got a haircut, and his beard is trimmed nicely.

Naturally, he’s crying. He’s turned out to be such a bawl baby!

He takes my breath away. I can’t help but shed a tear of my own. My love, my partner, my husband.

I march forward, ready for the rest of my life.

I see my three best friends, who are closer to family than anything else, standing with my actual family, amidst this stunning backdrop.

It’s more perfect than anything I can ask for.

When I finally reach the makeshift altar—a simple clearing of trees overlooking the most crystal clear blue lake I’ve ever seen with Mt.

Saint Helens in the distance—I take a moment to process the scene around me.

This is really happening. I take a big step forward, toward Kenny , and take his hands in mine after I pass my bouquet to Kiersten.

Sam is behind Kenny, holding Lily, his eyes on the verge of shedding a tear himself.

He looks so happy for us. Sam and I have become incredibly close over the last two years.

He’s become like an older brother to me.

Lily is playing with Sam’s beard, not paying attention now that her job as Ring Guard is about over.

I turn my full attention to Kenny, who has steady streams of tears running down his face at this point. I take his face in my hands and gently wipe the moisture from his cheeks. “My sweet crybaby,” I tease.

“I can’t help it. You’re just so devastatingly beautiful. ”

“I love you.”

“I love you so much.”

Trevor clears his throat, signaling he’s ready to begin. “Friends, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of not two, but three hearts.”

I take Kenny’s hands in mine and stare into that molten chocolate gaze that makes my insides melt every time. Then I look at Lily, who turned out to have her daddy’s coffee-colored eyes. Lily. My daughter. I can’t help but feel my heart swell in my chest.

Trevor continues, “Though the circumstances surrounding their union are, what some may say is unorthodox, I prefer to refer to it as fate.

I believe it was pure fate that two broken souls found each other, piecing one another back together.

Fate may have brought them together, but love will keep them together.

And I truly believe the love shared between Kenny and Tiegan can withstand the test of time.

“Kenny and Tiegan will now exchange their own vows. Kenny.”

Kenny and I decided not to write down our vows and just to say what we felt on the spot. We could obviously think about what we wanted to say beforehand, but we didn’t want to fumble around with scraps of paper on our big day. We want to live in the moment.