Bennett
Everyone settled, I watch my dads talking quietly to Aleksandar and Marie, Will gooing over the stroller and a sleeping Emeli.
Annabelle and I share a concerned look as I glance at my watch and she shrugs her shoulders, moving to stand up. I shake my head, holding a hand out to gesture her to stay seated.
“I’ll find him,” I mouth quietly, sure not to alarm any of the other guests as I skirt along the edge of the room in search of my best friend.
I find him pacing just outside the door, his palms running roughly over his face.
“Dude, ceremony should’ve started ten minutes ago. What’s up?”
I close the door softly, shutting away the rest of the guests.
He pauses his marching, hands moving to his hips in uncertainty. It’s a look so out of place on him that I nearly laugh.
Shaking his head, he turns his gaze away from mine, drilling holes into the door at my back.
“What if I fuck it up? What if the biggest moment in Adam and Will’s lives, is a fucking train wreck, because of me?”
Huh. Go figure. Will was right, Archer is in panic mode.
“Archer,” I placate, moving closer to him, hands clasping his shoulders, to force his eyes to mine. He concedes, reluctantly, his nostrils flaring in distress. “My dads respect the fuckin’ hell outta you. Everyone in that room does. I do.”
His Adam’s apple bobs with the effort to swallow down the emotion constricting his throat.
“You can push it aside all you want, but you’re a hero, whether you care to admit it or not. Not only have you served our fuckin’ country, you fought your way outta hell, and you’ve fought fuckin’ hard.”
I clear my throat, his green eyes boring into mine with a glassy intensity. “You’re a rock for us all, man. You’ve never stopped serving, brother. The support you throw at each and every one of us.” I shake my head, struggling to find my words. “You’re the core of our family. The strength.”
“My dads wanted their wedding to be intimate, Archer. Personal. They didn’t want a stranger officiating a moment they’ve waited their entire lives for. They wanted to be married by someone they admired, someone they loved.
Quiet sits between us, save the heaviness of our breathing. “And I’m proud as fuck that they chose my best friend.”
Archer’s eyes close over, a tear escaping the confines of his eye sockets and I’m a little stunned at the show of emotion. He clears it away as quickly as it fell, inhaling heavily.
“You couldn’t fuck this. Even if you tried. You stand up. You marry them with love in your heart. You declare them husband and husband. Then we all get drunk.”
He barks out a cough of quiet laughter, our gaze locking as he nods confidently. Pulling me into a tight embrace, his palm squeezing at my neck before stepping back.
“Just so you know, proud as fuck of the person you are too, brother.”
I smile wide. “Ready?”
Exhaling forcefully, he cracks his neck. “As I’ll ever be.”
A quiet calm falls over Annabelle as Archer and I make our way into the room. The crowd of people is small, intimate, exactly the way Adam and Will wanted. The room isn’t ostentatious. Instead, an understated elegance transforming the space into something that is no longer just a venue, but a memory everyone here will carry for the rest of their lives. Large bouquets of white roses are artfully placed on platforms by the side of a small altar. Wide lighted chandeliers hang from the ceiling, offering a muted light throughout the space.
I watch on as Archer approaches my dads; his hand clasping tightly onto Adam’s. Will moves in, a laugh shared as he embraces Archer tightly, gripping his shoulders in affection. Soft murmurs are shared between the three of them and having settled into their seats, the guests watch in a warm fondness.
Clearing his throat, Archer moves to the altar, Adam and Will close behind and my throat tightens immediately. Darci’s small hand finds mine, our fingers entwining. Looking down at her smiling face, she reaches to join our lips quickly.
“Love you, Riding Hood.”
“Love you, Bennett.”
My eyes fall to Emeli, tucked warmly in her stroller and my free hand moves to rest on the gentle up and down movement of her belly as she sleeps soundly.
Fuck. So much love. In this room. Inside of me. For the two girls in my life. For my family. Lifting my eyes, I take in the people that make up my tribe.
Jake sits comfortably in between Annabelle and Aubrey; his arm thrown along the back of Annabelle’s chair, Aubrey cuddled into his side, their hands entwined. Toby and Willow are next to them; Willow’s back angled against her husband’s chest, his arm resting over her shoulder to hold her hand. Frankie and Luca behind them, not touching, but talking quietly, smiles easily exchanged. Janie, her man, Aleksandar, Marie, my best friend, and my parents all in the same place. These are my people. My family.
Archer’s quiet burr filters through the room, legalities recited as he officiates.
Adam and Will share their softly spoken vows. No flashy declarations, just warm words of mutual love and respect, of adoration and life promises. Tears are shed, smiles shared and laughter had. A ceremony that was totally and completely encompassing of both my dads. I’m a proud son. The two men in my life taught me, through example, how important love is. They taught me that when you find that person that will hold your heart for eternity, there should be no restrictions, no shackles. That love, real love is greatest in its purest form. There is no need to hide away from who you are, because when you let your soulmate bury themselves within the fragile confines of your heart, they love you without condition, flaws and all.
“Before I use the power vested in me,” Archer speaks quietly to Adam and Will. Only them, the rest of us mere eavesdroppers in a private moment. “I just wanted to thank you, for honoring me in the way you have today.” Pausing for a moment, he glances to Belle, his chest expanding heavily with the breath he takes before continuing. “I respect and admire you both. A whole lot. I hope with everything that when the time comes, and Belle and I decide to bring a life into this world, my kid looks at me the way Ben does you. With love, with pride, with respect. Thank you for showing me what a dad should look like.”
My heart stutters in my chest, skipping on its rhythm as tears hit my cheeks before I’ve realized they’ve formed in my eyes. Pulling my emotional gaze away from my dads, my eyes seek Archer’s. He dips his chin and I offer him the same. A silent acknowledgment of a lifelong friendship, a bond that’s gifted us more than we could’ve ever expected.
My head turns, searching for Toby and pulling his glassy stare from Archer, he taps a fist on his chest as his eyes meet mine and I return the gesture.
“Now,” Archer coughs, pulling the attention of every watery eyed guest at the wedding. “It’s my greatest honor, with the power vested in me by the state of Washington, to pronounce you husband and husband.” His hands clap together in joy, a wicked smile transforming his severe features in unbridled happiness. “Let’s see a kiss.”
Toby’s loud holla echoes through the room and standing, I clap my hands together as loud as I can. Proud as a motherfucker and just as happy. The rest of the party follows my lead, the kiss sealing my dads’ marriage met with loud applause, joyful laughter and face splitting smiles.
Just the way it fucking should be.
Emeli screams blue fucking murder as I change her diaper, her little face turning red with the effort to cry as loud as she possibly can.
“Baby girl, Daddy ain’t hurting you. He’s making sure you go home with Baba and Djed with a clean butt.”
She pauses in her cry, her little legs kicking as I secure the diaper around her waist. The reprieve is short lived, her chubby face transforming into a silent squeal before the sound hits again.
I hum the tune of a random nursery rhyme and her cry stops in her throat, her brown eyes widening in indecision as she listens to the soft sound dancing between us as I clip the buttons of her onesie in place.
The kid fucking loves music. Much to everyone else’s disgust, it’s given Jake favorite status. She cries her eyes out if anyone other than Darci or I are holding her unless Jake’s in the room. The guy just has to start singing and she lays, cradled in his arms, eyes staring up at him in wonder as he serenades her. Usually to sleep, it’s magic.
“Lucky we don’t let Auntie Aubrey sing though, hey, baby.” A shiver runs up my spine and her bottom lip pushes out, forcing me to start my hum before the crocodile tears begin again.
All dressed, I reach her little arms above her head, leaning in close to nibble under her armpits. She giggles, soft and happy bells of laughter that make my heart grow. Pulling back to see her little face, brown eyes smiling up at me, I rub my nose against hers.
“Little Bird,” I adopt Darci’s nickname, sighing contentedly. “I fucking love you. Never imagined my heart could feel so full in my chest.”
She goos at me, her little plump lips pushing forward to blow a raspberry. My eyes go wide, joyful shock freezing me in place. “Did you just blow a raspberry?”
She answers by making the noise again and my face splits into a wide smile.
“You’re so clever, Emeli.” My voice assumes that stupid as fuck tone we all use with babies; the gah-gah, baby talk that we all vow we’ll never do. I’m not even ashamed I’ve fallen into the trap. My baby girl loves me gooing at her like a fool, and what my baby wants, my baby gets.
Tipping my tongue out between my lips, I blow a raspberry to her smiling face and she imitates me immediately. Picking her up, I lift her into the air, raising her above my head. She squeals in delight and I bring her back down to kiss her cheeks.
“Come on, baby girl. I love you, but you are having a sleepover with your grandparents. Momma and Daddy are gonna have some sweet time alone.”
Cradling her to my chest in one hand, I pick up the baby bag in the other. “And Uncle Archer interrupted a very important moment before. Bad Uncle Archer.”
She makes no sound at my incessant talking, I like to think listening intently to her daddy’s rambling.
“Today was a good day, sweet girl. A great day. Every day since your momma and I really met is a great day, but today was extra special.”