Holt

The lake sparkles in the emerging sunlight, and the sound of chirping birds mixes with the monotonous buzz of cicadas in the trees. Sipping my coffee, I sit beside the seedling and watch the day come alive.

Another day without my Dad.

And a really important one.

“Hey Dad,” I murmur. “Today’s the day. I’m going to marry Kinley. I’m sorry you can’t be here, but I know how happy you would be for us.”

One of the ways I’ve coped with the grief was to come out here and say a few words, throwing them out over the water since they can’t reach the person I need to hear them. It seems to help.

He’s been gone almost three months. It seems like no time and an eternity all at once.

“Turner misses you. He leaves drawings out here for you sometimes.”

As if he heard me say his name, Turner yells, and comes running toward me, still dressed in his pajamas. I manage to set my coffee down just in time as he dives into my lap. “Daddy! You’re marrying Mommy today!” he cries.

“I sure am, buddy.” Getting to my feet, I lift him onto my shoulders and we start back toward the house. Turner jabbers away, and I feel a peace settle over me.

It tears me apart that Dad can’t be here, but I’ll be okay. I’m a father, and tonight I become a husband. I have a family who loves me and a fulfilling career. There are people who never get either of those things, and I’m grateful.

Kinley gives me a questioning look when I tell her I have to run an errand for an hour or two, but she doesn’t ask for an explanation. She has too much on her mind, which was exactly what I was hoping for. I have a date with a tattoo needle.

Though the wedding is very small, there are still preparations to get to throughout the day and Kinley can’t stand not being in the middle of it, so I don’t see much of her until we’re getting dressed that evening.

Harriet shoos me away, so she can help her prepare, and I agree to get Turner ready and meet her at the gazebo.

A night wedding was Kinley’s idea, but as soon as she said it, I knew what I had to do. Having my surprise flown in and hidden from her hasn’t been easy, but it’ll be worth it. Holding the ceremony at night also turns out to be a good choice because the heat and humidity are stifling throughout the day.

Kinley’s friends are invited, along with Vince, Dante, Harriet, and Clark. The entire staff and the guests are invited to the reception on the back deck afterward, but the ceremony is supposed to be small and quick.

My friends and Kinley’s are waiting at the gazebo when I show up, and we stand around and chat, waiting for Kinley and the rest of the guests. The gazebo has been freshly painted a bright white, and strings of tiny white lights wrap around the railings and trickle down the walls. A few paper lanterns stamped with hearts line the railings, and as the sun sets, the place looks as magical as I hoped it would. Kinley will love it.

Vince rushes up with a wide smile, and gestures toward the box in his hands. I nod and watch as he passes out the small containers to the guests and explains what they’re supposed to do.

Finally, Harriet’s car pulls up and Kinley steps out. The sight of her never fails to knock me off balance, and today, seeing her there in her simple white sundress, knowing she’s going to become my wife, I’ve never been happier.

Harriet fusses over her, which causes a few laughs. She isn’t happy that we aren’t doing a lot of the traditional things, like walking down the aisle, reciting our own vows, or marrying in a church, but this is our moment, and we know what we want.

Just a gathering of people we love, people who love us. The words we say don’t matter, only the promise to love one another forever is important.

It takes a few minutes to get organized until finally, everyone is gathered around Kinley and I as we recite our vows, repeating after an officiant.

Kinley beams at me as she says, “I do.”

A mosquito chooses that moment to land on the officiant’s lip, and he sputters, swatting it away. Giggles echo through the forest, and he gives a sheepish grin before finishing. “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Our lips meet, and she sighs softly, melting against me. So much has led up to this. So much heartache, so many tears, struggles and victories to get to this moment, and I know I’ll never forget it.

“May I introduce Mr. And Mrs. Singleton,” the officiant announces as we face our guests.

Right on cue, they open the containers and release thousands of fireflies. They fill the gazebo, then scatter into the night air around us, and Kinley gasps in awe, watching them as they glow and float around us. Tears stand in her eyes when she turns to me, and I pull her into my arms.

“You showed me how to see the beauty of the world again, Bug. You deserve to be surrounded by it.”

“I love you,” she chokes out.

“I love you.”

The night fills with the sound of closing car doors and engines as everyone leaves to head to the reception. We send Turner with Harriet and tell everyone we’ll meet them there soon.

After everyone has gone, we’re alone again in our gazebo, and Kinley curls up beside me on the bench, watching the fireflies disperse into the night.

“I have something to show you,” I tell her, unbuttoning my shirt.

“I’m well acquainted with what’s under your clothes.”

She gasps, and I catch her hand as she reaches to trace the new ink on my chest. “It’s still raw so don’t touch,” I warn softly. Between the rub of the shirt and sweat from all the humidity, it hurts like a bitch, but the look on her face makes it more than worth it.

She gazes at the jar filled with the swirl of darkness and deep blues of the universe, tiny planets, comets, and stars. Two fireflies have escaped it, and a trail of tiny luminescent stars pour out behind them, one spelling out Kinley, the other Turner. The tattoo artist left plenty of room for me to add our future children.

“Holt,” she chokes out.

I run my hand through her hair as she continues to stare. “You and Turner are my universe. You bring light to all the chaos.”

“I love it,” she murmurs, and pulls me in for a heated kiss. “And when I spell out your name with musical notes on my body, I don’t want to hear any objections.”

“No objections here.” I grin down at her and button my shirt. “You can put it right across your ass.”

“I’m not tattooing my ass,” she laughs, and cuddles up to me. We sit in silence for a few moments, before she speaks up again.

“I’m sorry your Dad couldn’t be here,” she murmurs.

“I’m sorry neither of us had our father’s here, but I’ve realized something.” She hums as I play with her hair. “We’re both incredibly lucky. We may have gotten cheated in the mother category, but we both had amazing fathers, who would be proud of us.”

“That’s true. I wouldn’t be who I am without my Dad.” She grins up at me. “He would’ve loved you.”

“And Dad absolutely loved you.”

“You’re carrying on the tradition by being a great father to Turner.”

“And the brood we haven’t had yet,” I tease.

“Brood?” She giggles. “How many do you have in mind?”

I tap my chin with my finger. “Well, let’s see. We need to keep the sexes even so how about three boys and three girls?”

Kinley snorts. “You’re out of your mind. You realize one girl makes it even.”

“Fine.” I pull her to her feet as the music from the back patio of Foxhaven drifts over to us. “Two more girls, one more boy.”

“You realize we can’t choose the sex, right?”

Pulling her into my arms, we start a slow dance in the center of the gazebo. “That’s true. We may have to have a lot more until we get even numbers.”

She lays her head on my shoulder, and we soak in the night around us. The music is faint compared to the sounds of the forest, and while most of the fireflies have gone, a few still fly around us.

“This is everything,” she murmurs.

I can’t agree more. Tonight is everything. This life and future laid out in front of me is everything.