32. Epilogue
EPILOGUE
ALEX
“You’re not seriously nervous… are you?”
I glance at my brother as we stand together at the altar.
It’s been about a year since I was here last time, and fundamentally, I get where he’s coming from.
It’s not like I’ve never done this exact thing with the same woman before today.
I imagine for everybody else in the church right now, this must be like Groundhog Day.
For me, this is a totally new experience, however.
I’m standing in a new place and space in time.
I side-glance Rikki and clear my throat. “This is different from the last time. It’s real now.”
“Sure. But you know she’s not going anywhere, right?” He nods to Yeva sitting in the front row, my son on her lap. The baby looks so much like Nona, a headful of red hair and big green eyes, the beginnings of freckles across his nose.
“She had your son,” Rikki says. “That’s commitment.”
“Hmph.” I glance up at the white flower garlands draped above the altar, then down at the pews with the same white flower arrangements leading down the aisle and the white lace runner down the aisle.
This is how I wanted to be married before. How we both wanted it. Our family, my brothers, everyone is here to witness this union. Everyone who matters.
“She’s certainly taking her time,” I say. It feels like we’ve been standing here forever.
Rikki doesn’t answer and I glance over at him. He’s looking down the aisle toward the back of the room. I nudge him. “You okay?”
He nods. “Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.” He smiles at me. “You probably shouldn’t drink so much this time at the reception. You don’t want a repeat of last time with her walking out on you.”
“True. I want to be here today and so does she, so I imagine if there’s any drinking too much happening, it’ll probably be the both of us.”
He smiles. “You know something? I guess you’re right. This is like a different wedding. You’re actually kind of pleasant this time.”
I scoff. “Thanks.”
The music that’s been playing underneath all this time changes suddenly, announcing the bride.
My bride. I straighten up and Rikki takes a second to adjust my tie.
Our matching suits look different on us.
White with embroidered rose vines in the jacket material, black vests, matching slacks.
The only real difference between the two suits are my gold cufflinks.
“Remember when Mom dressed us up like twins?” he says in a low voice. “And how entirely different we looked in the exact same clothes.”
That memory brings a smile to my face… and the knowledge that we’re on the same wavelength once more. “Mom would love to see us right now,” I say.
“She sure would.” He finishes fixing my tie and he pats me on the shoulder. “Heads up. It’s showtime.”
I turn and face the aisle. And standing at the end is my bride. Nona’s wedding dress is an echo of my suit jacket. Silk and lace, embroidered roses in the material, curving around her rounded hips and embracing her form fitting corset, little sparkling crystals in the center of the blooms.
Her long red hair is styled away from her beautiful face. Her pale skin glows against the red of her hair, her eyes are as bright as emeralds as she smiles at me, walking slowly down the aisle.
Everyone is standing and watching her as she approaches, reveling in her beauty. I am completely in awe. She looks like an angel or some being from heaven who’s somehow chosen me to be at her side.
Her sweet scent reaches me before she does and I take a deep breath in, filling my lungs with life. Her smile broadens as she reaches out for me and I take her hands.
“Hey,” she says playfully.
“Hey.”
“Ready to make this real already?”
I look at her sweet face, then at our son gleefully chewing on his teething ring. Whatever we’ve been through, whatever this is now, I can’t imagine a life without them in it.
It’s always been real for me, I realize. Possibly from the moment I first saw her. I was always going to be hers and she would always be mine.
“Absolutely,” I say to her. The priest standing between us smiles at us both and I turn to him. “Let’s do this.”
He nods and the wedding begins. What might look like the same day played all over again to some is a new day for me. Today, Nona and I are truly united and let no man tear this love asunder.
I mouth to Nona, “I love you.”
Her face flushes and she mouths back, “I love you back.”