Chapter Thirty-one #2
They had a commitment ceremony with all four of them lighting candles together and declaring themselves one family.
Kenny wobbled a little lighting his, and Zoe reached out to guide his hand.
Something about that undid Matty. The tenderness of it.
The way they were standing in front of everyone and saying this is who we choose, this is who we love.
Emotion rose fast, lodging in her throat so suddenly it almost hurt.
She was startled when tears sprang to her eyes.
When she glanced over, she saw that Reese was crying too. A tear had slipped free and was trailing down her smiling face. Matty reached up without thinking and wiped it away with her thumb, her chest tightening at the soft warmth of her skin.
Reese looked at her then.
And just like that, everything else seemed to disappear. The guests, the flowers, the soft music drifting through the warm evening air, all of it faded until it was only Reese in front of her, beautiful and tearful and looking at Matty like she was all that mattered.
Their lips met just as the officiant said, “You may now seal this union with a kiss.”
***
The wedding venue was a classic Southern setting.
A rustic barn with exposed beams, huge rolling doors, and weathered wooden floors.
The mix of florals and wood, bows on the backs of white chairs and tables made from reclaimed wood, all coordinated in the most romantic way.
Lights hung from the high ceilings. A large arch decorated in soft purple and cream-colored flowers stood behind what looked to be the wedding party table.
The tables had sweet centerpieces of glass vases with the same flowers and a healthy dose of baby’s breath.
“This is gorgeous. The whole thing is perfect. Bette is so talented to put this together,” gushed Reese as they walked into the barn.
They found their names on a seating chart with other Turtle Grove employees.
Tyler had split, but Elsie, her husband, Jayvon and his girlfriend, and a few others were there.
“I’m starving. Do we know what they’re having to eat? Please tell me it’s not diet food, otherwise we’re hitting Taco Bell after this.”
Matty laughed as she pulled Reese’s chair out for her. “They got the local BBQ place to cater it. It was the one thing Bette let Kerrie have full control over.”
“Thank God, I was afraid it would be salad and plain chicken.”
Matty wasn’t sure how the reception for a wedding would go but it didn’t take long before the brides entered.
Excitement welled within her as she and the others began clapping.
Halfway in, Kerrie paused and raised their intertwined hands, spinning Bette around then grabbed her, dipping her into a kiss.
Whoops and hollers sounded. The whole room was alive with joy.
She looked over at Reese and her heart beat faster. Her eyes were glossy with happiness, her hands clutched to her chest, and she glowed with excitement. Matty couldn’t help but stare. She was so beautiful.
With the brides finally joining them, it was time to eat.
The vendor workers pushed open a long sliding wood door. The smell that greeted them made Matty’s mouth water.
As they went to get in line, Kerrie waved her over. She was at the long buffet table.
“Would you mind taking this to Kenny so we’ve got him settled?” she asked, holding a plate out to Matty.
“No problem.”
She was turning around with the plate when Kerrie grabbed her shoulder, stopping her, then pulled her into a tight hug.
“Thank you for being here today. And not just today.” Her voice was thick with emotion.
“You’ve been there for Kenny in ways I can never repay, and for me too.
For all of us, really. You show up, Matty.
You always do. I don’t know what we’d do without you. ”
A large lump formed in her throat. She one-armed hugged her tightly back, suddenly unable to trust her own voice. “Tha—thank you. That means a lot.”
Kerrie gave her one last squeeze before letting go. “You’re family, you know that, right?”
Emotion rose so fast it almost made her dizzy. She nodded, not trusting herself to say much more, then took Kenny’s plate before she embarrassed herself by crying in the middle of the buffet line.
“Did you get Kenny sorted out?” Reese asked when she joined her in line.
“Yep, he’s very happy right now. His plate was loaded.”
It turned out to be a full spread of delicious dishes. Pulled pork, brisket, and smoked chicken thighs were in three heaping pans. The sides were also not skimped on. Green beans with seasoning meat, mac and cheese, coleslaw, and rolls. Just looking at the baked beans made Matty’s belly growl.
“I’ve never seen a wedding with such good food. Like it’s still hot and fresh,” muttered Reese as she scooped up mac and cheese onto her plate.
“I guess Kerrie wanted to make her one task a success.”
“I think she accomplished that.”
The food was delicious and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement.
Chatter filled the old barn as well as music.
She was surprised at how many people were there that she knew.
People from their local recovery scene were in high attendance.
Kerrie had been involved for decades so she was well-liked and respected.
Many came up to Matty to talk to her. It was nice to introduce Reese as her girlfriend.
After spending some time on the dance floor, they were just sitting down to take a break when a woman approached them. Matty knew she had seen her before somewhere but couldn’t place her. Maybe at the engagement party.
“Hi, you’re Matty Crew, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’m Silvia Turner. I know this may be a little odd, but I thought I’d come speak to you in person since we’re both here. Bette works in one of my salons and recommended you for a full-time maintenance manager position I’m trying to fill. If you’re interested, I’d love to talk more about it.”
Matty’s eyes widened. What was this? Bette had never mentioned it. “Uh, yeah. Yeah, I’d like that.”
“Great. Here’s my card. Give me a call around nine on Monday and we’ll set something up.”
Matty took the card, then offered her hand to the woman. “Thank you. I will.”
When Silvia walked away, Matty turned wide-eyed to Reese, who was grinning. “Did that just happen?”
“That just happened. This is exciting.”
“It is. And it was really sweet of Bette to put my name out there.”
“She sees how hard-working you are.”
Matty didn’t know what to say. It was hard to see the steps she’d taken as anything really extraordinary.
She was just Matty Crew. A woman who went to work, kept her head down, went to her girlfriend’s a couple times a week, and liked a routine.
It was hard to imagine being someone worth suggesting for a good job like that.
“Hey,” Reese said softly, squeezing her thigh lightly. “You know you’re worthy of this, right?”
She looked up to meet Reese’s kind eyes with her own. “It’s weird. I’ve been alone and unsupported for so long that it feels unreal. I feel like for the first time... I have people who truly care about me and see me as a valuable person.”
“Oh, baby, you are such a valuable person. We all love you and want to see you get what you deserve.”
Matty choked back tears. “I love you too.” She paused for a few moments, then said, “This is what family is, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. This is how loving people treat each other.”
By the end of the evening, Matty was emotionally exhausted in the best way. She had spent the whole night surrounded by people who made her feel her best. People who saw worth in her. People who treated her with respect. They gave to her as much as she gave to them.
When they were walking back to the car, she took out her phone and saw several missed calls from Grammy.
Her stomach instantly soured. The contrast between how Grammy made her feel and how the people she had spent the evening with made her feel was sharp and undeniable.
She vowed to make a change. If her family wouldn’t respect her, she’d just have to put firm boundaries up.
They didn’t deserve unrestricted access to her.
She would pour her energy into the people who poured right back.