Chapter 55
Note to self:
If home is where your heart is,
I know exactly where to find mine.
The ceremony was beautiful.
The décor, the flowers, the wedding party, all of them gorgeous. But in the end, it was Melanie and Cal who took everyone’s breath away.
Cal had been right to be nervous about forgetting his vows. When it was his turn to speak, he froze. His wild eyes found mine. I patted my chest and mouthed, from your heart. He blinked and something settled in him. I watched it happen. He went from terrified to self-assured in just a few seconds.
“I can’t remember a word of the vows I wrote.”
The guests tittered.
Cal cleared his throat. “But someone told me to speak from my heart, so I’ll do that instead. Melanie, every day I am thankful for you, for your patience and kindness, for your love. For being my person, the one I want to see first thing in the morning and before I close my eyes at night.”
I sniffled and tried to keep my eyes on the bride and groom. But my gaze wandered to Theo, so handsome, it made my heart ache. What would I do if he moved to Chicago? It felt like we’d just found each other and now I might have to let him go. That wasn’t fair. Would I consider moving to Chicago? If he asked me?
When Alec wanted me to move to Dallas, my answer had been easy and fast. But Theo wasn’t Alec. Theo was my heart.
“I doubt I’m worth all that,” Cal continued, “but I’ll spend every day working to be worthy. I love you, Melanie Harrison. I look forward to spending the rest of my life making sure you always know that.”
Fifteen minutes later, Cal had a wife. Melanie had a husband.
“Excuse me,” Mom said, a death grip on the microphone someone had given her. Smiling, she waited for the wedding guests seated for dinner to quieten down.
After the ceremony, it had been a whirlwind of guests moving their chairs, wedding party photos, introductions, and I’d only just made it to my seat at an extra-long table stretched across the front of the room. I was seated in the middle of the bridesmaids, exhausted, happy, and so hungry, I was beginning to wonder if the flowers in the bouquet I carried might be edible.
Melanie couldn’t keep the smile off her face, nor was she paying attention to much of anything except Cal. I knew that to be true when she hadn’t even noticed I’d forgotten to take care of one little wedding-related detail: replacing the shoes Karen had mauled. In my defense, I did remember about thirty minutes before the ceremony and with very little time or options, I wore my flip-flops down the aisle. I figured by the time Melanie got the photos back, I’d be safely back in Texas.
When the murmur of the guests quieted, Mom continued. “I wanted to extend to you our family’s deepest gratitude for joining us today for Calvin and Melanie’s wedding.” She placed a hand on Cal’s shoulder. “I’m so proud of the man you’ve become, and you’ve chosen a wonderful woman as your bride.” She paused, sniffling. “You’ve made your own family. Of course, I’ll be tickled when you decide to add to that family. Maybe by then, you’ll move back to Texas, so I’ll be able to see my grandbabies.”
Several guests laughed.
“Mom,” Cal groaned. “Please.”
My mother managed to look contrite. “I’m sorry. I went off on a tangent. Anyway, I wanted to let you all know: to thank you, the centerpieces are yours to take home. They were made with love for you all to enjoy. And if you like the candles, you can find my shop online. Just search for Candles by Stephanie.”
Mom managed to produce a candle like a magician and held it up, the twin peaks and their wicks standing tall and proud.
From my vantage point, I saw several guests press their lips together, holding in laughter. Some stared at their plates of chicken or steak. But no one, no one made a sound.
Cal rubbed his forehead, looking torn between laughter and tears. Same, bro.
Lydia turned to me, her eyes huge. “Your mom is the candle lady.”
Laura choked on a roll. “Holy crap. She is.”
“Who’s the candle lady?” Penny asked.
“The candle lady.” Lydia slapped her sister on the back as she coughed. “She’s the one who makes the candles that look like boo?—”
I stood and smiled brightly. “Thanks, Mom, for all your hard work.”
I rushed over and took the microphone away from her. Still clutching her candle to her chest (oh, the irony), I walked her to her seat next to my father and the same table as Melanie’s parents where Aggressively Polite Sonya looked apoplectic.
As I was walking back to my seat, I heard Dad say, “Did you know Stephanie is internet-famous?”
As the best man, Frankie gave the first speech at the reception after everyone was served. The maid of honor, Penny, followed. Then it was basically open mic night. Anyone who wanted to say something, could. And boy, did they.
One after another: cousins, parents, work friends, old friends, new friends, Mom for a second time, and then Theo.
“If you don’t know me, I’m Theo Goodnight, and I’ve known Cal and his family since I was nine. We’ve been through a lot together and I have the battle wounds to prove it.” He pointed to his chin and told the story of how he’d gotten it after my brothers dared him to jump off the roof onto our trampoline.
“We’ve shared a lot of memories—good ones, bad ones, a few illegal ones, that one time in…Well, I’m not supposed to talk about that.” He paused for the laughter to subside. “But this last week might have been the most epic, most important week we’ve ever undertaken.” His eyes found mine again. For a suspended second, it felt like we were the only two people in the room. At least, until he looked away.
“Cal is the first of us to get married so I’m not sure I can give you any solid marriage advice. But I’ve had this in my wallet for a long time. Someone very special gave it to me. And I thought I’d share it with you.” From his pocket he produced a piece of paper. It looked brittle, the folds fragile, like something he’d pulled out often. “I’ve always thought if you find someone who makes you feel this way, do everything you can to hold onto them. It’s called ‘Home:’”
“A home is more than four walls and a roof.
“A home is protection from storms and rain.”
My breath caught. I flashed back to sixteen-year-old me slaving over yet another poem dedicated to Theo, the same poem I had earnestly and foolishly used to profess my undying love to him there in his dorm room. That terrible, awful poem, the same one Theo was reading right now. It was one I’d given him all those years ago.
And he’s kept it tucked away in his wallet. Tears gathered behind my eyes.
Theo continued:
“A home is strong and sturdy and faithful.
“A home is a place to rest your head at night.
“A home is where all your precious things live.
“But to me,
“A home is a person, a soft place to land.
“A home is the person who protects your heart.
“A home is the person who loves you on your worst days.
“A home is the person you can’t imagine living without
“A home, my home, is you.”
Carefully, Theo folded the piece of paper back up and tucked it back in his pocket. “Cal and Melanie, I think you’ve found your home.”
He looked over at me just once after he sat, his eyes warm and full of love. The dragons and their wings were performing a Cirque du Soleil act in my stomach.
The dancing started soon after. Like we’d planned it, we found each other and met on the edge of the dance floor. Standing close, but not too close.
“That poem was terrible.” I clasped my hands in front of me even though I wanted to touch him.
Smiling, he shook his head. “It’s my favorite poem. I have it memorized.”
“Have you really kept it in your wallet all these years?”
“Also, true.”
“It’s like I don’t know you.”
He took a step closer. “You know me. You know all the important things.”
“I want to find out all the other things, too.” I bit my lip. “But I’m scared this won’t work out somehow. Or I’ll screw it up. Or you’ll realize I’m not worth the trouble.”
“You don’t think I’m not scared?” He slid a hand down my arm and threaded his fingers with mine. “I’m scared of all those things too. But you know what’s bigger than the fear?”
I shook my head.
He brought our joined hands to rest on his chest, above his heart. “It’s how I feel about you.”
“Oh,” I breathed.
“You’re stuck with me. I’m not going anywhere,” he said, his voice firm. “If I need to spend the next month, year, decade proving that to you, I will. I’ll write you poems and bake you your favorite cake and scare off any man who starts looking a little too friendly and remind you every single minute that I love you.”
“You will?”
“I will. Like I said, when you find the person who makes you feel like you’re home, you do everything you can to hold onto them.”
My mouth lifted slowly in a trembling smile. “I might drive you crazy sometimes.”
“Go for it. Do your worst.”
“I can be a menace.”
He shrugged, not looking the least bit concerned. “Don’t forget slightly unhinged.”
“That, too.”
“But you’re also sweet and kind and funny and up for any challenge and loyal and fierce, and when you smile at me, I feel like I could do anything.”
I stared up into his eyes, those blue, blue eyes shining back at me with such love. “I love you.” A laugh escaped me. “I really, really love you.”
One minute, he was smiling at me, the next I was wrapped in his arms, and he was kissing me, a slow, lingering kiss, a promise. When we broke apart, he rested his forehead on mine.
“I do have to tell you something,” he said. “I’m moving.”
I frowned and tried to pull away. His arms tightened around me. “What? You can’t just say all that and then tell me you’re moving to Chicag?—”
He put a finger on my mouth. “To Two Harts. I’m moving to Two Harts. I want to make sure I’m able to vote in the next election. Someone I know is running for mayor. And she’s smart and hardworking and loves that town. She’s going to do amazing things.”
My eyes narrowed. “I haven’t even told you I planned to run.”
He held his palm out. “Don’t get mad.”
“About what?”
“I snuck into your backpack to find that application form. I wanted to see what it all entailed and if I could convince you to send it in, but you’d filled it all out already.”
I crossed my arms.
“And I sent it in for you. You’ll be on the ballot this spring.”
“What? I wasn’t sure I was going to do it,” I said in outrage.
He smirked. “Yes, you were.”
“You didn’t know that.”
“Yes, I did.”
“We’re going to have a talk about this later.”
“I understand.” He tried, and failed, to look properly apologetic.
“I’m serious. That is the first rule of our relationship. We don’t enter each other into mayoral races without expressed written consent.”
“Deal.”
“And no Rush during long car trips.”
“Now, wait. I am not agreeing to that.”
“We’ll see.” I raised on my tiptoes and whispered in his ear, “Kiss me, Goodnight.”
So, he did. A toe-curling, breath-stealing, name-forgetting kind of kiss.
I think I heard a few catcalls. Someone announced that the limo for the bride and groom had arrived and that it was hot pink with the words PARTY TIME in huge letters and a stripper pole inside. And I’m pretty sure Mack walked by and asked if there was a pool for wedding dates yet.
But whatever.
Theo Goodnight loved me.
I think I won.