Ryan
The summer flew by fast. Tucker, now filled with inspiration from the day we spent with Davey, met with the local school leaderships, various organizations for the disabled, and with several sports coaches, acquiring advice and help with setting up his after school flag football program so things would be ready by the fall.
Just before school started, Tucker convinced his old team to sponsor his new program and to put the word out that other retired players could also coach teams, as he tried to grow his idea. It didn’t take long before we had several nearby teams who could practice and compete with each other.
My therapy dog center also grew over the next few months, with additions being added to the back of my place thanks to Tucker’s contribution from the sale of his house. I had acquired more staff, and Elaine and I were helping as many as twenty dogs at a time now. I had sponsors who paid our salaries so that the dogs could be donated to the people who needed them most.
It was at a Sunday brunch that we both got our icing on the cake.
Tucker was acting extra giddy that morning and had told me he had errands to run, but would meet me at his parents’ house around noon.
I shrugged my shoulders. It was a Sunday after all. Perhaps he wanted to grab some food to bring to the brunch.
After I arrived at his parents, they quickly ushered me to the back deck where once again they had quite the spread on the table. Soft music played in the background on the outside speakers, and everything seemed extra special with Tucker’s mom’s decorations.
There were flowers everywhere: on the table, lining the railing of the deck, up the posts of the awning, everywhere.
Everyone was dressed in their Sunday best, as per the usual, but Tucker’s brothers, who usually weren’t as spot-on with their attire, had managed to be quite the handsome spectacles today. I was starting to get suspicious that something was up.
That was when Eric told me to have a seat, pushing one of the lounge chairs right up to me so I had no choice but to sit. Jack brought over a drink and handed it to me. “Guzzle up. You’re gonna need it.”
“I am, huh?” Okay, I had to admit at that point I was getting nervous. What the heck was going on?
Then Mama Lee came outside, announcing, “I have appetizers! Who’s hungry?” She thrust a small platter in front of my face.
I cautiously took a sample and the napkin she handed me, juggling the drink Jack gave me while doing so.
“What’s up, Mama Lee?” I asked with a mouth full of food.
She asked, “What? Oh, uh, Pops has a big announcement.”
Tucker’s brothers, each sitting on the lounge chairs beside me, looked at each other with confused expressions, then back at Mama Lee.
Then Pops walked outside with a drink in his hand, seeming to be a bit tipsy. “Hey there, Ryan.”
“Pops, what’s the big announcement?” I asked while polishing off the rest of my drink, placing the glass and napkin on the table to my right.
He looked confused and before he could say something Mama Lee interrupted, “You know, honey. The big announcement?”
A look of understanding appeared on his face, “Oh right, right. That announcement. Uh, yeah, so my son has something to ask you, Ryan.”
Just then Tucker walked in wearing a tuxedo with Morgan by his side. She sported a tuxedo-style vest as she carried a small box in her mouth.
“Morgan, go see Ryan!” Tucker said. Then he followed her over as she ran to me and dropped the small box on my lap.
Tucker knelt down slowly and carefully, which I knew was a hard thing for him to do, then he took a deep breath. “Ryan, will you marry me?”
I looked around at everyone and then back at him and his radiant blue eyes. He nodded toward the box that sat in my lap unopened. “Open it up, it might help you with your answer.”
I looked down and opened the velvet blue box. Inside was a beautiful set of rings, an engagement ring and two matching wedding bands. I looked up in confusion at Tucker who still knelt before me, now with watery eyes. “Oh yeah, did I forget to add, will you marry me, erm, today?”
He picked up the engagement ring and placed it on my left ring finger. Then he shut the box with the wedding bands still inside and turned toward his dad. “Hey, best man, can you hold onto this for a second while we all wait for Ryan’s answer?”
Then he turned back to me. I was just sitting there in absolute shock.
“Dude, you’re killing us. Answer the man!” Eric called out.
I started crying. It couldn’t be helped. “Well yes, of course I’ll marry you, Tucker.”
“Today?” he asked.
I smiled the biggest smile of my life. “Today!”
Everyone cheered at that point.
Tucker’s dad came over and helped him to his feet, then hugged him. “Congratulations, son!”
Tucker’s mom walked over as I stood up, and she gave me the biggest hug. She then pulled back and looked me square in the eyes, tears flowing down her face. “I always knew someday I would be able to call you ‘son.’ Welcome to the Lee family, son.”
“Thank you, Mama Lee.”
Eric and Jack came over and gave me a bro hug sandwich.
Then Mama Lee clapped her hands. “And wouldn’t you know it? Jack here got ordained just so he could marry you two!”
They set it up so that Morgan could walk down the ‘aisle’ holding the ring box again. And just like that, we were making our vows to each other, exchanging rings, and kissing. Eric recorded the entire ceremony on his phone.
I discovered later that they had invited my folks, but my family had turned down the invitation. I didn’t care, I had the Lee family’s support.
And I had Tucker.
I had it all.