Page 108 of Husband of the Year
Before she pulls away, she whispers into my ear, “This feels right. Doing it now. I cannot wait for Friday.”
And yup, my damn eyes are leaking again. As I return Isabella’s embrace, who will soon be my… what do you call your husband’s ex-wife who’s somehow become one of your closest friends and now your lives will be intertwined forever? Isabella.
“Thank you,” I say. “For everything.”
“Marvin…” She pulls away, but still holds on to my arms. “You’ve been good for my family. Look at this face.” She cradles Illona’s chin in her hand.
“It’s a good face,” I say.
“It really is,” Isabella replies. “So happy. And you’re a big part of that. We are so lucky to have you.” She glances at her watch. “Now, go before you have to swim home.”
This apparently tickles Illona, and she bursts into laughter. “Swim home. Good one.”
Illona grabs my hand and we jog toward the waiting ferry. Before we hop on, we both turn around and give Isabella a wave. Her perfectly manicured hand returns our gesture and my heart swells with warmth at how much has changed in the past two years. When you open yourself up to it, the universe has a way of working its magic.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
“Friends, we’ve almost made it to the weekend!”
I’m on the carpet with my class as butterflies flutter in my stomach. Every single woman I work with has shared big personal news with their class without reproach. I spoke with Dr. Knorse this morning and she was thrilled. She quickly asked one of the support techs, Ms. Ball, to cover my class and was supportive of me telling the students why I’d be out. But, of course, being queer means always wondering if you’re crossing a line and making others uncomfortable. In this case, the parents, not the children. But in all my years here, the community at Pelletier has been nothing but supportive. There’s no reason to believe this will be different.
“I know on Fridays we usually share what our plans are for the weekend, and today, I have some news to tell you.”
Their little bodies lean in, eyes wide, chins down, waiting. Even Michael lifts his body from leaning against my side to listen and watch as I deliver my announcement.
“I’m going to be leaving at lunch today.” The sea of eyeballs grows slightly wider. “Olan and I are getting married.”
“In August,” Audrey says. “We have it on the calendar.” She pointsto the large summer months plastered on the wall where our wedding is listed along with all the summer holidays and birthdays. There was something less scary about it happening while we’re not in school.
“No, actually, today,” I say.
Mouths drop open, and I quickly speak to explain.
“We were planning to have a big wedding in August, but we decided we didn’t want to wait. Sometimes that happens. You make a plan and it changes.”
“That’s called being flexible,” Ben says. “When your original plan doesn’t work out, you make a new one.”
I smile at him, remembering our lesson on flexibility from the beginning of the year. And of course, he’s right.
“Exactly,” I say. “Olan and I are being flexible. We’re making a new plan.”
“Can we come?” Michael asks before leaning back in on my torso.
“Sadly, no. We’re only having family there.”
“But what about Ms. Kim?” Katherine asks. They know how close Jill and I are.
“Well, she’ll be there, of course.”
“But she’s not your family,” Alex says.
“You’re right. We’re not related. But she’s still family.”
“Like how I call Aunt Kandy my aunt,” Brian says. “Even though she’s really not. She still is.”
“Exactly like that,” I say.
“We should celebrate,” Aaron says, sitting up a little taller.
