One Year Later

I squeezed my mom’s hand as I walked her in. My head whirled as I thought about what an amazing year this had been.

After I’d told Declan about Dhameer, and how he came into the lives of Tibby, X, and then me, he took a little while to believe it. But two weeks after that, we’d had lunch with Seth and Tibby and X and Olivia, and they backed me up. I think seeing that Seth and Olivia totally believed the whole thing helped to tip him into the ‘I believe’ camp.

I’d thought he was already there, but a couple of days after we’d seen my—now our—friends and their spouses, we were sitting out on the back deck.

“That’s why,” Declan said softly.

“What?” I asked, looking up from my laptop.

He looked over, and I realized that he hadn’t been talking to me, not exactly.

“Do you remember the day we met?”

I nodded. “Of course. You threatened to have me sue myself,” I smiled.

“Well, it was weird. I’d gone for a ride, but I didn’t remember coming over to where your office was. I couldn’t understand why I was there when that wasn’t the route I’d planned.”

“So?” I was missing something.

“Do you think your genie, or djinn, did it? Sent me that way, so we’d meet?”

I opened my mouth to say, no, of course not, when I stopped. Dhameer had told me that what I wished for would come once I’d started the work I needed to.

“I don’t know,” I said slowly. “Maybe.”

“Well, good,” Declan said. “I’m glad you did what you were supposed to.”

I took his hand. “Me too.”

It was one more thing that showed me that being honest was the best way.

In spite of how fabulous things were between us, I didn’t ask him to move in with me. While I forgave him for lying to me, I decided that I needed to take time for myself, even as he and I were moving forward. We still didn’t live together—well, not yet. I hadn’t forgotten what I’d learned while I was working my way to getting my wish. In order to be someone else’s forever, you had to make your own forever with yourself first.

Declan meeting my parents also happened shortly after we got back together. I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. My parents really liked him — even my dad. I think it was playing Buckeye football that won my dad over.

That, and another grandchild.

They immediately adopted Sasha as though she were mine. When I told them about her, and Mari, and all that Declan and Mari had been doing for their daughter, my mom sprang into action.

Six months prior, Mari and Sasha had moved here. Sasha—she’d told me that I could call her Sashi—was still in remission, but it wasn’t a sure thing. Thankfully, the hospitals here were amazing. Declan hadn’t been sure that Mari would want to move, but it turned out that she was ready to move away, to get away from everything in Kokomo (no, we didn’t sing the song, except for Tibby) and start over.

Coming here, with a support system in place, made it easier for Mari, and for Sasha. Between my mom and dad, they found her a job, and we helped her find a place to live. She and Sashi came to dinner with Declan and I a couple of times a week, and whenever we went to my big family dinners.

I didn’t know what happened, but Melissa had come around. I was glad for Casey’s sake. He loved his wife. He’d told me that it was as though someone flipped a switch. I resisted the urge to ask him if he’d noticed glitter in funny places at home. It didn’t matter—I was delighted to see Casey Jr and Hannah again. I didn’t think I’d ever have the relationship with Melissa I’d once had, but she was pleasant, and Sashi loved being around the kids. Melissa seemed to like Mari, which surprised me. Maybe that was it. I didn’t know. But I didn’t worry about it. It wasn’t my concern.

The best part was that I’d never been happier. I loved Declan, and I’d told him shortly after we’d gotten back together. The amazing part, to me anyway, was that I didn’t have any expectations of hearing it back, but he’d said, “I love you, too,” with no hesitation.

I had a family. A family of my own. Me, Declan, Sashi, and Mari. It wasn’t your typical family, but it was mine.

All because I’d finally let down my walls and come out of the closet in every way. I was open and welcoming. And now, the most darling girl in the world was walking towards me. She stepped carefully, aware of the importance of the event.

When she got close to me, I reached out a hand for her, which she took.

“How did I do, Brydad?” Sashi asked.

She’d started calling me Brydad, since she said she got to have another dad. I still couldn’t hear it without getting choked up.

“You did great, sweets,” I said. “Now let’s watch for Daddy.”

Declan came in, arm in arm with his mom. I didn’t know what had happened there, either, but he and his mom had mended fences. He wore a tux, and he beamed at me. His mom looked more happy and relaxed than I’d ever seen her.

He finally got up to where I stood, hand in hand with his daughter, surrounded by the people who loved us. Xavier and Tibby stood next to me, and on the other side of Declan stood Mari. She held out a hand, and after Sashi handed me the rings, she hurried over to her mom.

“We ready?” Granddad boomed.

Declan and I turned to face him. I could feel the joy from Declan. It matched mine. I nodded at Granddad.

“Well, then, since the District of Columbia still allows me to do this, let’s get this show on the road. Dearly beloved, we’re gathered here to marry these two.” He smiled at Declan and I.

I felt a sprinkle on my head, and I looked up. We were inside. There was no chance at rain.

Then I felt Declan pluck at the arm of my tux.

Glitter.

I looked up again and sent up a thank you. Words weren’t enough, but they were all I had. I also sent my own wish to Dhameer, that he was happy, as happy as he’d made me, and Tib, and X.

“You with us, son?” Granddad asked.

“Yes,” I said enthusiastically.

Granddad leaned forward, and in the worst stage whisper ever, said, “It’s not quite time for that.”

Declan and I looked at one another and smiled as the people with us laughed.

“So now that the grooms are paying attention, Bryant, you ready?”

I nodded, squeezing Declan’s hand.

“All right. Here we go,” Granddad said.

And the whole world opened up for us.