Hendrix (Caldwell Brothers)

Everyone laughs, including Livi, of course. Fuckin’ crazy ass woman, I think with a smile.

“I heard a married couple just the other night arguing. The wife said she was a fool when she married him. He looked at her and said, ‘I know you were, but I was in love and hadn’t noticed.’”

As the crowd laughs again, I look at Livi who is smiling, beaming actually.

“I, myself, was married once. Do you know what I did before that?” He looks at Livi who shakes her head. “Any damn thing I wanted. My wife dressed to kill and cooked the same damn way.” The laughter keeps him going. “We were married by a judge, but it should have been a jury. Our motto was ‘never go to bed mad,’ so we stayed up many nights and fought.” More laughter until he continues, “Don’t get me wrong, I married Mrs. Right. I just didn’t know her first name was Always.

“I’m not alone in my struggles. I passed a church on my way here. The ten o’clock service tomorrow is titled, ‘Preparing for Marriage,’ and the six o’clock one is, ‘A Look into Hell.’ Coincidence? I think not.”

Livi laughs along with everyone else.

“I am sure these two will endure similar struggles, but as you know, I have known Hendrix for years, and I am one hundred percent certain that if he is standing here in his bar, in that damn get up, he’s made up his mind. I don’t doubt his love for Livi. Hell, it’s not like he’s doing it to get laid. The man has had so much pus—”

“Jared, can we move on to the vows?” I shift uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact with Livi’s parents.

“I spent three hours online and a few bucks to become ordained, so you’re just gonna have to deal.”

Jared turns to Livi. “Livi, you know he isn’t the last man on earth, right?”

“To me, he is.” She smiles sweetly at me.

In unison, the whole place says, ‘awe,’ and I lean in to kiss my girl

“Not yet,” Jared interrupts. “Hendrix, you know we consider her family the minute you say I d—”

“We already do, Jared,” Jagger chimes in.

“All right, then.” Jared chuckles.

“You wanna marry him, Livi?”

“I do.”

“You sure?” he jokes.

“I am.”

“Hendrix, you know how lucky you are?”

“I do.”

“You sure?”

“Hell yes, I’m sure, Jared. Do you—”

“I now pronounce you man and wife. Kiss that girl before I do.”

And, hell yes, I do. I kiss her, lift her up, and nod to the band that is already set up. When they start playing our song, her tears immediately start falling as the words begin.

I would never let her down. I would never let her walk behind me, always next to me.

“This song okay?”

She nods her head up and down, unable to speak.

I wipe her tears away. “I can’t believe I get to have you forever. I love you, Mrs. Caldwell.”

“I love you, too, Hendrix.”

While we make our way down the makeshift aisle to the bar area, Livi smiles up at me. Then, she looks to my brothers who both nod. She takes my hand and leads me out front where she points up as soon as we exit the door. Where the old sign to my dad’s place once hung is a new sign:

Caldwell’s

Established May 5, 2014

Chapter Twenty- Six

From Livi … with love

No two stories are the same, but the power of healing and forgiveness is universal.

This is my story of becoming. This is our story of overcoming.

I found good in a world of bad.

A letter to my former self.

Dear Olivia,

I write to you today to tell you that everything is all right.

The confusion about your body experiencing pleasure from touch wasn’t because you were ‘dirty.’ It wasn’t because you were ‘broken.’ Your body naturally reacts to stimulation.

You didn’t ask for it. You didn’t invite it. Hell, you didn’t even know what ‘it’ was.

The age of consent isn’t a number; it’s a birthright. We find our voice to practice that right when we are stronger and more knowledgeable to the world and our bodies.

It is now time that you allow yourself to accept. It is now time to forgive yourself for something beyond your control.

You Survived.

It is time to stop hiding in the darkness of your mind, wondering why you allowed this to happen and realize you didn’t allow it.

It was taken.

Step into the light now, celebrate that instead of falling further down into the rabbit’s hole.

You are stronger than most.

To the outside world you are intelligent and strong.

Classy and Fabulous.

You have learned to allow some people into your darkness to shine a light for your way through. Friends who understood, because they, too, have been violated. They helped you.

Own it. Overcome it.

Gone are the days you lay in bed crying and wondering what is wrong with you. There is nothing wrong with you.