Epilogue
Dean
T he wedding was incredible.
Not because of any lavish displays; Em and Eli didn’t spend a fortune on designer dresses and weird shit like doves and a cake that cost as much as a down payment on a house.
It was all very simple, very relaxed, very them .
Just family and friends in a registry office, with a reception in a hired room in the hotel next door. Flowers, good food, and a DJ for later.
And I’m so glad I didn’t miss it by punking out.
Eli was jittery while we waited for Em to arrive at the registry office.
Eli. Jittery . Not a sight you see every day.
And the look on his face when Sadie walked Em down the aisle was hands down the happiest I’ve ever seen him.
Standing up for him, those few seconds where I handed over the rings, made every second of the residential stay completely worth my time and energy.
Liaden sang and played the piano for them when the guests arrived, and while Em walked down the aisle.
I knew I should give my full attention to the happy couple, but my girl always has it, no matter what else is going on.
She’s always beautiful, but today, in her blue formal dress, she stole my breath away.
Leo did a stellar job as officiant in the end.
I think we were all expecting him to fuck about, but aside from cracking a couple of jokes - like when he surprised Em by initially starting the wedding vows in fluent Klingon, before shaking his head and saying, “Sorry, wrong book”, and handing me a Star Trek novel - he treated the actual content of the occasion with the warmth and respect it deserved.
No ‘taking the piss’, as the British say.
I think people underestimate him.
And I think Sadie was unable to pull her eyes from him at several points.
In any event, Emily is now Mrs Gastright, and I’m sat next to, I hope, the next Mrs Gastright.
I’ve been ready to ask her for a long time now, but I think we’re almost at the stage where I can ask without it being ‘too soon’.
We’re stronger together by the day, a real team.
We check in with each other every day, and I will never stop learning from this terrific human.
I can finally focus on being the man she deserves, and I keep that in mind every morning when I wake up, making a conscious effort to think about what I can do to be that man today.
Her sighs of enjoyment as she ate the Eton Mess dessert have been getting me hard, and I hope my dick calms down enough so that when I make my speech in a few moments, no-one can see what she does to me.
She turns to me and beams, leaning forwards until our foreheads touch. “You ready?” she asks softly.
I nod. Weirdly, though my heart rate has picked up slightly with a normal amount of nerves for public speaking, I’m not worried. I know what I want to say.
I know I can do this now.
So Liaden taps her fork against her wine glass, and once we have everyone’s attention, we stand.
Le o
Dean starts to sign.
“I’m a man of few words,” Liaden starts with a smile, translating for him, and there’s a gentle chuckle running through the room. “So I will keep this brief and to the point.
“First of all, Emily, you look as beautiful outside as you are inside, and your parents would be incredibly proud. We, your family, certainly are.” Em’s hands start flapping at her eyes as a few ‘awws’ come from some of the guests, and Eli kisses her shoulder.
“Secondly, Eli: you got it right this time.” Eli grins. “I’m so happy for you, and so glad I could be here to watch you make the best move of your life. Thank you for making it possible.
“I also want to thank you for the incredible example you’ve given me all my life.
If anyone ever asks me what it means to love, I will point to Eli Gastright, who uprooted his life to be there for me, never turned me or anyone else away when they needed help, and never asks for anything in return.
The world could learn a lot from you about what love really is, and it’s my honour to be your best man, your cousin, your friend, your brother . ”
There are more than a few sniffles in the room, and Eli himself is pressing his lips together hard. I may or may not be swallowing a lump in my throat as they hug.
“If I can make my…darling Liaden,” she says as Eli sits back down, her voice cracking as she watches him sign, “as happy as you and Emily make each other, I’ll consider my life well spent. And now, I invite everyone to raise their glasses to two of the best people I know: to Emily and Eli!”
“Emily and Eli,” everyone agrees, and there’s a round of applause, with a few people standing. The people in this room know how hard Dean worked to get here.
Sadie whoops, clapping above her head. She looks stunning in her pale mauve strapless dress, her hair neat for once in an elaborate updo.
Her smile is of the megawatt variety, splitting her face in two, but I know her well enough to see a hint of strain in the creases at the corners of her eyes, the light in them slightly dimmed.
I’m imagining it must be hard for her to sit through a wedding not long after her long term relationship with the biggest asswipe this side of the equator ended.
Naturally, she must be thinking about him, about the wedding she thought they were going to have, whether she still wishes it could happen or not.
So, with all that dancing across her face, why am I getting such a strong feeling that it’s now or never for me?
I knew I’d have to leave it a decent period of time before I gently explored the possibilities. It’s basic decency and sensitivity after all. But in this environment, surrounded by the love of my family, witnessing two genuine soulmates get married…maybe that’s what’s getting to me.
I’ve loved her so much for so long. Since almost the same moment I first saw her.
And, watching her smile fade, it’s suddenly clear to me that it’s my job to put it back, and keep it there.
I wish I could run kisses up the curve of her neck, until I reach her ear and whisper to her how much she means to me.
Certainty fills my chest, and I down my glass of champagne.
No more secrets. No more concealment.
Tonight’s the night.
Tonight I finally shoot my shot.
THE END