Page 128 of Someone to Remember
Mimi wipes a tear from her eye. “We’ve loved you like a son for as long as we’ve known you, and we always will.”
We have a three-way group hug and emerge sniffing and laughing.
“Let’s get out there before they start without us,” Stan says.
We make our way to the back of the big room where the ceremony will be held. After Iris chose the flowers she wanted to decorate the space, I secretly called the florist and doubled the order, knowing how much she loves flowers of any kind. The scent is overpowering, and she’ll love it.
“It’s so beautiful,” Mimi whispers as she hooks her hand through my left arm while Stan takes the right one.
I catch my mother’s eye and see that she’s wiping away tears. They loved the idea of Mimi and Stan escorting me and fully understand the symbolism. I’ve been lucky to be so well supported by all the most important people in my life. Not all my widow friends have been so fortunate.
Iris and I chose Sting’s song “Brand New Day” to be played as the wedding party comes in, and as I hear the firstnotes, I’m filled with the emotion of the moment and everything the song represents to us.
As we make our way up the long aisle to where Derek stands waiting for me, I take in the glowing, excited faces of our Wild Widows, many of them with their new partners, and other friends and family who mean so much to me and Iris.
Taylor stands at the end of one aisle, smiling at me as I approach. I’m so glad she’s here, and Iris will be, too.
At the front of the room, I hug Mimi and then Stan. “Thank you.”
“Love you so much,” she whispers.
“Love you more.”
“All the best to you and Iris, son,” Stan says when he shakes my hand.
I’m too choked up to do anything but nod.
Our program identified them to our guests as Natasha’s parents and Ivy and Hazel’s grandparents. When I turn to face them, there’s not a dry eye in the room.
I hope my girls are close by today and know that I still love them with my whole heart and soul, even as I prepare to marry Iris and the kids.
When Sophia and Laney come to the doorway, wearing pretty white dresses with their hair up and lips tinged with color, I’m immediately in tears. They’re so damned cute as they make their way toward me, dropping rose petals from the baskets they’re carrying, smiling as big as I’ve ever seen and delighted with everything about this.
All their grandparents are mopping up tears as the little angels come toward me.
I kneel to hug them both and whisper how much I love being their Daddy Gage.
We hold on to one another for a long time as our guests sniffle right along with us. I hope the videographer is getting this so Iris can see it later.
I finally release them, and they go to theirassigned seats to wait for Roni as she makes her way down the aisle, smiling to me and Derek as she hugs the girls.
Next, Iris and Tyler appear in the doorway, and my heart aches with love for the woman who’s made this new life possible and the son I never had before Tyler.
They’re so adorable as Tyler escorts his mother down the aisle. His effort to take the occasion seriously is hilarious, as anyone who knows him can tell he’s barely holding it together.
As they arrive at the front, I kneel to hug him. “You did such a great job, buddy. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
He takes his mother’s hand and turns it over to me, as we rehearsed yesterday.
Finally, I’m left with my bride, who’s so beautiful and sexy and perfect, she takes my breath away. I’m so thankful for the night she crawled into my bed and changed both our lives.
Our forever starts right now.
