Page 105 of Something Like Forever
“Samson was still alivethen,” Tim said. “Chinchilla too, so I’d like another week of that.I wouldn’t waste a single minute of it, I swear. I wouldn’t evensleep. Not unless it was another nap on the couch with her.” Tearsbegan to stream down his cheeks.
“Very strong,” Ben said.“Sweet too. Come here.”
He opened his arms, holding Tim against himas best he could. They stood embracing each other until they heardsomeone calling for them downstairs.
“I guess it’s time,” Bensaid.
Tim rubbed at his eyeswith the back of his hand, then put on a smile. “Let’s go watch ourson get married.”
ChapterSixteen
The humidity was building,the sky on the horizon dark and threatening rain. Outdoor weddingswere more romantic than they were practical. Ben felt grateful thathe and Tim had lucked out during their big day, but he was worriedthat Jason and William might be wiping away sweat instead ofemotional tears when taking their vows. Everyone was seated, mostguests cooling themselves with the foldable fans that had beenplaced on each table as decorations. Another lesson learned fromhis own wedding, although if they were really smart, they wouldhave found somewhere sheltered and air-conditioned to stage thisevent.
Then again, Ben adored theidea of his son getting married in the same spot where he and Timhad. The very same place Ben was proposed to! This yard held a lotof memories. The corner where Samson and Chinchilla were buried,the patio where he sometimes shared drinks with Tim at night, orsat and talked with Jason and Emma. In all of their discussions,had they ever imagined this day?
Ben turned in his seat,looking down the aisle. Daisy was hopping along the carpet, tossingflowers around and giggling at all the complements she receivedalong the way. Behind her were two people. Emma sauntered along inher tuxedo. The woman next to her had russet skin and straightblack hair that touched her shoulders. Christie Patel, the mechanicWilliam had worked with so closely during his Cape Cod days, andwho he had remained friends with ever since. The white dress shewore gripped her figure and shimmered in the sunlight. Togetherwith Emma, they resembled a bride and groom, except they wereactually the two best men. Or best women, who kept laughing andturning to look behind them.
He soon saw why. Emma andChristie were guiding a pair of blindfolded grooms down the aisle.Jason and William were walking with outstretched hands. Theygrinned and sometimes grimaced when accidentally kicking chairs ortripping over the carpet. The music they had chosen to accompanythem wasn’t the traditional bridal march. Jason had chosen LedZeppelin, of all bands, but Ben’s initial concerns had disappearedwhen Jason first played the song for him.Thank Youwas a tune both wistful andpassionate. Ben found himself singing it recently while gettingteary. He had expected to cry now, since the walk to the altar waswhen many people started to weep, but amusement reigned instead,helping to combat the heaviness caused by humidity.
When the group finallyreached the gazebo where Marcello stood behind a podium, the twobest women attended to their respective grooms, turning the men toface each other before they loosened the blindfolds and slippedthem free. Jason and William blinked against the light. Then theyfocused on each other. William smiled bashfully, Jason staredlongingly. They must have felt irresistibly drawn to each other,because they leaned forward and started kissing.
“Gentlemen!” Marcelloboomed. “You are getting ahead of yourselves!”
“Sorry,” Jason said afterpulling away. “I’m pretty sure I heard you say we shouldkiss.”
“Me too!” William said,backing him up.
“Then I suggest you paycloser attention.” Marcello scowled with the authority of hisposition. “No more outbursts! This is a sacred institution you areentering into. Let us show proper reverence! I find it is alwaysadvisable to exercise self-control before entering into anything oranyone.”
Ben exchanged a glance with Tim. Whose ideawas it to let Marcello preside over the wedding?
“Now then,” Marcello said,clearing his throat. “I find myself in an unusual position, for Iwish to impart advice, and yet I have never been married. I have,however, been in love, which I consider an experience as common asthe days are long. But ah, not all days are created equally! Somedays you venture out into, only to be burned by the sun. Othersleave you chilled and wondering if you’ll ever find warmth again.The best days, in my experience, are blessed by summer. Slow hoursfilled with sunshine that stretches from the moment you wake upuntil the last dwindling light of the evening. Such days are bestspent with someone special. Jason and William, you have this kindof love. Despite the years of history you have already accumulated,you are still in the early morning of your relationship. Imagineyourselves, if you will, standing side by side at the kitchencounter and yawning. Well, gentlemen, this is the moment of yourawakening! This is when the coffee kicks in and you discover allthe potential of the day together. This is the moment your lovebecomes one.”
Ben felt like applauding,or maybe blubbering, and he wasn’t alone. He looked across theaisle to see William’s mother dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.William’s father beamed proudly. Closer to him, Tim slid an armaround his and took Ben’s hand.
“Fear not,” Marcellocontinued. “I won’t let you begin this journey unprepared. Poeticwords might move the heart, but the mind requires more pragmaticinstruction. How fortunate then, that we have an expert in ourmidst, someone with more than forty years of experience in thisarena. I would like to step back momentarily so that you maybenefit from her knowledge. Esmeralda, if you please.”
Ben was confused. The namewas vaguely familiar. He believed he had seen it recently on atravel reservation, but he certainly hadn’t greeted anyone by thatname today. A chair creaked from the other side of Tim and a shortwoman stood up, her bouffant hair compensating for her lack ofheight. Nana, Tim’s grandmother, took her time walking to thegazebo, moving around the grooms and not looking in the audience’sdirection. Not until she was behind the podium. Marcello placed abox behind it first, taking her hand and helping her step onto it.Nana gripped the podium with both hands and squinted at everyonegathered there.
“Marcello, he help me withthe translation,” Nana said. “Whatever I get wrong, it hismistake.”
“I accept noresponsibility!” Marcello declared. “I suggested we hire aprofessional translator!”
Nana shook her head. “Noone fills my mouth with words. I prefer cake. Or a nicedrink.”
“You’ll get no argumentfrom me,” Marcello replied. “On that note, I set aside a bottle forus that— Sorry, time enough for that later. Go ahead.”
Nana sniffed andconsidered the two people in front of her. Her expression wasstern, although it nearly wavered when she focused on Jason.“Marriage is serious. Too many people put it on like a hat they cantake off again. I say you try it on at the store. You like it?Leave it and come back the next day. And the next. Don’t buy thehat unless you are certain.” She peered at them both critically.“You had enough of the shopping?”
“Yes,” Williamsaid.
“Absolutely!” Jason said,nodding eagerly.
Nana nodded too, seemingsatisfied. “Now I tell you what to do. Remember these words,because marriage is no easy.” She closed her eyes briefly, as ifconcentrating, then opened them again. “Admit when you are wrong.And if you are right, don’t goat!”
“Gloat,” Marcello chimedin helpfully.
“Yes,” Nana agreed. “Neverdemand forgiveness or hold it back. Always give it freely and learnto wait for it too. Understand?”
