The months of planning, the little snafus, and the minor disagreements that came along with a wedding all paid off when the day had finally arrived. The flower debacle was solved, the last-minute change of DJ a success, and Mother Nature couldn’t have been kinder. The showers that had been forecasted all week long seemed to just disappear into thin air, making way for a beautiful, breezy, early autumn day. My nerves had finally departed now that the church part was over and we were finally settling down at the reception. I was pretty certain the glass of wine in my hand had aided in the newfound calmness that had overcome me. I looked out at the crowd of people and smiled. Everyone that mattered most to me was together in one room. I took my seat at the table, waiting eagerly as the DJ requested that everyone focus their attention to the groom, who wanted to give a speech. I grabbed my napkin from my lap, just in case I would need it to wipe my eyes. Concentrating on one of the most handsome guys I knew, I wondered exactly what his speech would entail. Silence filled the room and he began to speak.
“I want to thank everyone for being here today and being part of our special day. It means so much to both of us. I know that everyone goes into marriage thinking their relationship is unique and will be able to handle anything that’s thrown at it. Because let’s face it, if you didn’t, no one would probably get married.” He paused while everyone laughed. “And even though you know that hard times are going to be inevitable, you’re still willing to face them with this person and have faith that no matter what life throws at you, you’ll get through it together.”
I lifted the napkin to my face and dabbed my eyes.
“I guess I’m a little more of an optimist when it comes to this, because I’ve had two of the greatest role models to show me that true love really does exist.”
I covered my mouth with my hand while Simon reached for my other one under the table.
“My father and my mother.” Jack looked in our direction and smiled. “My dad, he’s the best father anyone could ask for. I just hope that I can be half the dad he is when the time comes for me to take on that duty. It was just he and I for a while until she came into our life. I vividly remember the first time we met, because I was so young. All I knew was I wanted her as my mother. She was so kind, so caring, and so accepting of me. She made my dad happy, and she made me happy too. When they got married, she made a commitment not only to my father, but also to me, and she never broke that vow. Even when I went through those awkward teenage years when I could be a real jerk.”
I smiled, remembering those times, realizing they weren’t so bad after all.
“Even when I’d bring home girlfriends she didn’t approve of.” He turned to his beautiful wife. “Don’t worry, Christina, she always liked you.”
The two of them laughed, as did everyone else.
“She was there for me through all my successes and all of my heartbreaks, cheering me on to become the person I am today. There’s not a day that goes by that I’m not thankful to her for fulfilling the role of my mother when she didn’t have to, but she did because she loves my father and me so very much.”
The tears rolling down my face had gone from a gentle stream to a runaway river in no time. I knew I probably looked a mess, but I didn’t care. My heart was happy and that was all that mattered.
Jack’s eyes shifted to the beautiful green-eyed blonde sitting up with the bridal party. She rolled her eyes and shook her head, knowing she was next.
“And the best part of all…that love my mom and dad shared gave me something else: this bratty little girl who has grown up into a pretty remarkable young lady. I’ll admit, I wanted to trade her in for a brother, but after a while I realized she wasn’t so bad. Love you, Hannah.” He grinned.
Love you too. She mouthed the words back to him.
I knew if I were to die that very second, my life would have been fulfilled, with everything I had ever wished for and then some. Simon took my hand and led me onto the dance floor when the music began to play.
“Are you embarrassed to be seen with me? I’m pretty sure I’m covered in mascara right about now.”
“Nope, not embarrassed at all. You actually look kind of cute with the raccoon look.”
I shook my head and smiled. “I think Jack’s story is going to end with a happily ever after too,” I remarked as I glanced at him and Christina on the dance floor, both with huge smiles plastered on their faces.
Simon looked their way and nodded in agreement before turning his attention to Hannah and her boyfriend.
“Hannah, on the other hand…” He started.
“Simon, will you stop. Andrew is a great kid.”
He rolled his eyes.
“He really is. I know you think that no one will ever be good enough for your daughter, but I think he may be her one.”
“Well, she’s still young. I’m sure it will pass.”
It amazed me how he was in such complete denial that Hannah was in love. Yet in the past whenever I’d turned my nose up at one of Jack’s many former girlfriends, he’d told me I was being too critical.
“Simon, they’ve been together for well over a year now. I don’t think it’s going to pass. Remember what you’d tell me whenever Jack would bring someone home who I wasn’t too keen on?”
“Yeah, but that was different.”
“Oh, and why is that?” I laughed. “Because it wasn’t your little girl? Well, I felt the same way about Jack. No one would ever be good enough for him, but now I’m content that Christina will be, and if she proves me wrong…” I shook my head, not wanting to even think if that were to happen.
“What would you do? Beat her up?” Simon chuckled.
“I might. But I’d wait until after I helped Jack pick up the pieces.”
Simon peered over my shoulder in Hannah’s direction once again, and quickly looked away in disgust. “Ugh! Does she really need to make a spectacle of herself like that?”
I turned around to see what the problem was, only to find Hannah and Andrew creating a very public display of affection in the middle of the dance floor with their open-mouthed kiss.
“Oh my god! Will you lighten up?” I focused my attention back to Simon and couldn’t help but laugh. Reaching for the sides of his face and pulling him closer, I whispered in his ear, “I think we can do better than that.”
He raised his eyebrow and grinned. “You think?”
I inched closer to him. “If you can’t beat them, join them.”
His lips met mine and we did just that. I was pretty certain it was Hannah who was having her own moment of repulsion as she watched her parents going at it on the dance floor, but I didn’t care. She and Andrew may have been younger, but Simon and I were certainly showing them how it was done.
The End