Page 101 of Take Me
“Harper Ann.”Lucy wrestles the mic back.“Anyone giving champagne to our kid will have to facemein the parking lot.”
The crowd laughs, but we know she’s not kidding.Harper’s not getting a drop of bubbly.She’s holding a glass of kombucha anyway, and she throws me a wink as Lucy wades through the rest of her speech.She calls out our mother, who blushes and swipes at her eyes with a tissue.
Erika squeezes my hand.“I love seeing your whole family together like this.”
“So do I.”We’ve lost a few members along the way, but we’ve gained a few, too.That’s all part of life, I guess.
Lucy wraps up the gratitude portion of her toast.It’s time to move on to the next part.“I don’t know about the rest of you,” she says, “but I’m a little wedding-ed out right now.”
Peter speaks into the mic again.“I’d like to politely point out that ours was the only wedding in recent family history without some major spectacle.”
Lucy grins and glances at me.“How unfortunate.”
That’s my cue.I push back my chair, releasing my grip on Erika’s hand.
She looks up in surprise.“Mason,” she hisses.“What are you doing?”
“Stage two of my declaration of love.”
I stride to the front of the room as my twin keeps talking.“Honestly, I’m feeling a little left out on the wedding shenanigans,” Luce continues.“I don’t suppose we have any experienced spectacle creators in the house?”
We’ve timed it just right so I reach my twin’s side before anyone else can step forward.I hold out my hand and she gives me the mic before bouncing on tiptoe to whisper, “Good luck.”
Here’s hoping I don’t need it.I tug at my tie as my gaze sweeps the crowd, then settles on Erika.She’s looking confused, but maybe some part of her knows what I’m doing.
We’ve always been synced up like that.
Clearing my throat, I speak into the mic.“Good evening, everyone.For those who don’t know me, I’m the bride’s much smarter and better-looking twin.”I grunt as Lucy slugs me in the chest, then sits down at the table in front.Harper and Peter take their seats, too, so now it’s just me sweating in the spotlight.
Here goes nothing.
“My sister requested no toasting this evening, so this isn’t a toast.Nothing against toast—it’s great with huckleberry jam.Where was I going with this?”The audience chuckles politely.I glance down at my twin, who’s beaming with pride and breathtaking in her wedding gown.She knows what’s coming.
Maybe not this part.
“I wanted to take just a second to say how lucky I’ve been to have the world’s coolest sister.It’s weird sometimes, being a twin.Everyone considers you a unit—Lucy and Mason, Mason and Lucy.It probably set us both up to bond like Krazy Glue to romantic partners, but I’ll leave the psychoanalysis to my future sister-in-law.”I wink at Brooke, and there’s another small ripple of laughter in the crowd.“For what it’s worth, I feel really lucky I scored a twin who is patient and clever and funny and supportive and kind and—okay, I’ll admit it—a lot smarter than I am.”
The audience titters as I turn to Peter.“When Lucy met Peter, something shifted in our family.I got to witness my sister being the happiest I’ve ever seen her, and that’s saying a lot—Luce and I have literally been hanging out together since before we were born, so I can say, without question, I’ve known my sister longer than anyone.When I tell you that Peter is her absolute perfect match, you can check my credentials on that.I know my sister, and I know she’s found the love of her life in Peter Marcus.He’s a kind man and an amazing stepdad to Harper.I’m honored to call him a brother.”
There’s a smattering of applause and some sweet smiles from guests, but my immediate family knows what comes next.We prepared this last night, after dinner at Lucy’s.Kaleb gives me a subtle thumbs-up as Brooke mouthsyou’ve got this.
Drawing a breath, I look back at the crowd.“I wouldn’t normally choose to end up in the limelight at somebody else’s wedding—” I pause for the groans we rehearsed.“But Lucy’s given me the floor this evening, along with her blessing to do what I’m about to do.”
I pause to seek out Erika’s face in the crowd.She gives me an uncertain smile.I’m suddenly aware of just how crazy this is.My palms start to sweat and I’m conscious of how dry my mouth is.
From the table in front, I hear Harper whisper, “Here, Uncle Mason.”
She hands me her glass, and I take a big gulp of kombucha.“Thanks, kid.”
“You’re doing great,” she whispers.
That’s all I need to keep going.“For the past twenty-six years, I’ve been lucky enough to call Erika Gentry my best friend.That beautiful woman right there, in the sunflower sweater and purple dress.”She blushes as eyes swing to her.“For the past couple months, I’ve also been lucky enough to call her my girlfriend.There’s a funny story there that I’ll tell you someday over beers at Big One’s—happy hour is from three to five daily, by the way.”I wait for the ripple of laughter to fade, more nervous than I’ve ever been holding a mic.“What I’ve realized these past couple months is that I can’t imagine my life without Erika in it.She’s been there for the hard times, but also the happy times.More happy than sad, and she brings so much joy to my life.I don’t think I ever fully realized that until—well—” My throat clogs up and I force myself to swallow.“Until I thought I might lose her.Don’t worry, though—spoiler alert—she’s not getting rid of me easily.In fact, I’d like to make sure of that.”
A few people shift in their seats, maybe guessing what’s about to happen.Does Erika know?Can she tell what I’m planning to ask her?
“It seems wild that Erika and I only said ‘I love you’ to each other for the first time ten minutes ago.Because the thing is, I’ve loved Erika since I was a kid.I’ve loved her wicked sense of humor and her kindness to strangers.I’ve loved her great-big laugh and how much trouble we get into together.I’ve loved that she is one hundred percent her own unique person, unlike any woman I’ve ever met.I love how she knows more than anyone else about cars—sorry, Kaleb—and how she can kick my ass at darts—er, sorry, kids.”
Harper pipes up again.“Cursing drives children to drink, Uncle Mason.”
