The entirety of his backyard flooded with wedding attendees, as Maxwell peered out the window of his back porch. He glanced up to the skies in awe as hints of violet, reds, and orange clouds hid the falling sun off to west. Marilyn approached him from behind holding her right arm out and hooking into the opening of Max’s left side. To his right, stood Durango, accompanied by Josiah Baxter opposite him.
With the help of a pianist hammering out the beginning chords, music beamed from the loud speakers which perched on each corner of the spacious yard. Ushered by his mom, Maxwell paced slowly down the path in the center of their set-up. He walked past his friends and family invited in from Indiana, Colorado, and several different places. Max smiled as they looked straight ahead at his proud self, about to embark on the new chapter of his life with the man who may as well have saved it for the second time by proxy.
Once he arrived at the front, he looked back in Durango’s direction, who began his walk down the aisle, as the harmonic voice of Calum Scott’s “You Are the Reason” sank below his skin, permeating down his spine. Every goddamn lyric stood out as a symbol of every element of his relationship with Durango. Within moments, his man joined him at the front. They locked their sights on each other’s gaze, as Max shivered with anticipation. It’s finally here.
Under a tall arch riddled by lush vines accented with tiger lilies, stood Rabbi Frankel of their congregation. Their ceremony continued with readings of their union and in the appropriate moment, as previously arranged, Durango was first to read aloud the vows he prepared.
Durango appeared to keep from choking up, but the fact of the matter was, Max knew it would be hard for either of them to not cry while professing their love in front of the several dozen wedding guests.
“Max, I didn’t know what true love was until I met you. For years, I ached. Wondering if the concept of soulmates truly existed. And then last year, the universe provided the validation I’d been searching for after all that time. It brought me you and I knew very soon after we met, I felt this connection which seemed so strong. The morning I learned for the first time just how the stars aligned for us, I knew you were my soulmate. Maxwell, I promise to care for you in sickness and health, trials and tribulations. Into eternity.”
Blowing noses and subtle “awwws” were heard scattered throughout the ample audience as Max pulled out the paper to begin reciting his vows for Durango.
“Durango, when I lost my husband almost a year ago, I thought my life was coming to some sort of dramatic end, slowly and painfully. But then something whispered inside my head that I needed to fight like hell to survive. I knew I needed to move away from Denver and destiny brought me here, where we met on my first trip up. I knew I’d be taking care of a child on a fulltime basis and I needed to ensure she got the best care. Little did I know until Christmastime, I hadn’t lost my first true love, because he’s right there inside you. And while I realize his soul is far gone from this realm, his lifeforce has brought us together and given me another gift—a man who is gentle, kind, smart, and sometimes stubborn,” Max had to pause, wiping away the tears of joy from his eyes.
He glanced out into the crowd and for the briefest of moments, spotted a shining light illuminate in the back row. The figure appeared to look exactly like Brogan Baxter. Out of disbelief, he dabbed at his eyes again to catch a clearer glimpse, while the crowd hushed and glanced around in the same direction. But whatever, or whoever, was there—disappeared in another quick flash. Maxwell shook his head and turned his attention back to his vows.
“and helped me grow into a stronger, better man. I’m so grateful to have you and Gage as part of a complete family, and I am honored to take this next step in my journey with you by my side. I promise to be every part of the man you need me to be—to keep that healthy heart beating strong into eternity.”
Upon finishing his vows, Rabbi Frankel continued the ceremony by commencing the Sheva Brachot—or seven blessings. Accompanying this should have been two glasses of wine, but taking Maxwell’s sobriety into consideration, they were filled with grape juice instead. During this short time, the two grooms held each other hand-in-hand looking intently and passionately into one another’s stare. When the reading was complete, Yael nudged Gage up to the front to present a satin bag which contained a single blue glass.
As they finished the ritual of drinking from the symbolic wine goblets, Maxwell took Durango’s hand once again as they both faced the crowd. They lifted their legs closest to one another in unison, and with the assurance of their strong bond, their feet trampled the glass.
While the crowd of people began clapping and cheering, Rabbi Frankel raised his hands in a display of joy. “Mazel tov!” he shouted.
Maxwell turned his head as Durango leaned in closer. “That’s the last thing you get to break on purpose, mister,” he whispered with a wink.