Chapter 10
Our Family Secret
Waves play along the shores of Dreamwood Isle.
The sun casts golden fingers of light over the sand where all our loved ones and friends are gathered in white chairs.
Everyone is in beach attire, because that was an absolute requirement: to chill the heck out and feel as “easy breezy” as possible.
Marcus stands next to us as the best man of sorts, soon joined by Joshua, who acts as the ring bearer, yet insists on being called “ring master”. We let it happen.
My ma is already crying and trying to blame the salty air when Tanner and I take our place under the flower arch, which stands slightly tilted and refusing to be fully upright no matter how many times Nadine or Malcolm fussed with it.
We’re barefoot in the cool soft sand facing each other, all eyes on us, when it’s time for the vows.
“I finished it last night,” Tanner quietly confesses, pulling out a piece of paper tucked away in his shirt. “The letter.”
I’m surprised. “Really?”
“My dearest Billy,” he reads, letting go of my hand to take the letter into both of his.
I notice his hands shaking slightly. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.
Probably starve. Your cooking and your baking has me so dang spoiled, I couldn’t possibly survive if I had to live off someone else’s.
I’d go mad if I could never taste a Football Sundae Special again.
Or enjoy that satisfyingly crisp-yet-soft texture of your perfect pancakes in the mornin’ … ”
“Is this whole thing gonna be about food?” I ask gently.
“Good point,” he says—then skips an entire page and resumes.
“But what I do know is that while I might not be the kinda guy who can write poetry to express how much I love you, as we can both likely tell this sure ain’t a poem …
I know I’m willing to endure whatever it takes to make you the happiest man on earth, which is what you make me every day I’m alive.
” He lowers the paper, his eyes beaming with pride. “I fuckin’ love you, babe.”
I take hold of my husband’s hands, crinkly letter and all, and gaze into his eyes.
“I’ve learned recently that love isn’t a sweeping gesture, or a lifelong pillar of perfection and security, or eternal emotional stability and happiness.
Love is the little things. A quiet evening when nothing’s goin’ on and nothin’ special happens.
The mornings when you leave out my work things ‘cause you head off to the school before I’m even up sometimes.
How you touch my hair every time before you kiss me.
How you sing to yourself when you do the dishes and think no one’s listenin’. ”
“Do not,” he protests. The front row chuckles. My ma sniffles loudly, shoving tissues at her face to dampen her tears.
“Love is every moment we spend together … even the tough moments.” I glance over at Joshua, whose eyes shine in the sunset.
Then Marcus, who is wearing a rare, cheery smile despite his arms being crossed.
“We’ve made magic out of these last eight years.
I can’t wait to make magic for eight more. Forever.”
“Forever,” says Tanner—and goddamn, if it doesn’t feel like a promise on his lips when he unites them with mine.
And while our dear Joshua hisses at us, “It’s not time to kiss yet!
” everyone in our mish-mashed crowd of family and friends cheers anyway, like a miniature explosion of fireworks before the real ones tonight.
I sure do love this man.
I promise to listen more. To let go more. To remember we’re not just husbands, but also best friends.
And always were.
The festivities kick off while the sunlight drains from the sky and leaves behind a blanket of glitter over our heads.
Everyone is dancing barefoot in the sand.
Music plays in the air with the warm glow of bonfire-lit circles on our faces.
It isn’t even midnight when the fireworks start—set off by a match-happy clique of boys that includes Jimmy and Bobby—and it doesn’t matter.
Nothing tonight has to be perfect. I’m a new Billy.
I embrace the messiness of life. It’s what made us a family when Marcus and Joshua dropped into our laps.
It’s the secret sauce that brought me and my husband together at all.
Chaos—the spicy ingredient I left sitting on the counter and should have sprinkled into my life long ago.
Midnight arrives, and that countdown sure feels less like an ending to something and more like a beginning. While the sky explodes with every color of the rainbow, I hold Tanner close, our foreheads pressed together, and share our first kiss of the year.
We’re not what we used to be. Far from.
We’re something better—something stronger.
No one will ever know the Tucker-Strongs almost fell apart. They don’t need to. Not a whisper will be heard outside our little family and our big-hearted kids. And for once in its history, Spruce keeps a secret.
The End.
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Thank you for reading!