Married to my Dad’s Best Friend

My mom yanks my dad to the side. “You are so immature sometimes. Why do you have to react with violence?” she scolds.

After she’s done reprimanding my dad, both of my parents focus on me and now everyone is staring. I start to twitch under the attention. My eyes fall back on Lonnie. We look at each other as if we’re the only two people in the world.

My dad clears his throat. When he talks, he’s still out of breath, but able to manage a full sentence. “What did you say Savanna?”

I glance at my dad and my face grows hot. “I said I’m in love with Lonnie.”

My mom sees the ring on my finger and gasps, breaking up the silence.

“What is going on, Savanna?” she says, seeming utterly confused.

I swallow back my fear. “I’ve always loved Lonnie.” I glare at both of my parents. “You should know that by now since you read my diary. But in the past, it was an immature love. I was silly, and at first it was little more than a crush. Yet he was always that person I could talk to and trust. As an adult I realize not much has changed except my maturity level. I know now what it means to love someone. It isn’t just infatuation anymore. We’re perfect together. We have everything in common. I adore him.”

I glance at Lonnie for a reaction. I haven’t said any of this to him. My parents look at him too. My stomach turns to knots. I know Lonnie cares about me. I can feel it in the way we touch, the way we kiss, the way he makes love to me. But I don’t know if he loves me.

“I’m sorry I spilled our secret like this,” I tell him.

I can’t blame him if he’s mad at me. I made him promise not to say anything and we told each other we wouldn’t let it interfere with our lives outside of work.

Lonnie walks up to me and puts his hands on the sides of my face, holding my stare in place. “I love you too,” he says, “more than anything.”

I can feel the weight of my parents’ gaze on us. My dad doesn’t say anything.

“Is that ring real?” my mom asks. “Are you two really married?”

There’s pain in her voice. I know it breaks her heart to think that her only child could go behind her back and get married without her there to witness it. It’s such a big moment in a mother’s life, and I’m her only daughter. We get one chance at this and she probably thinks she missed hers. I want to tell her about Mr. Sapline and the deal, but Lonnie cuts me off.

“Yes, it’s real—or it will be very soon,” he says.

I raise my eyebrows in question.

He gets on one knee in the sand. “Savanna, I want to be with you for the rest of my life. I want a big wedding, the ceremony, our friends and family there to witness how happy we are. I can’t go on without you in my life, even if that means my best friend will shun me again.”

He stands and I jump into his waiting arms, hugging him fiercely, clinging onto him as if we were in a tornado about to fly away. I grab the back of his head and bring his mouth

to mine. Tears stream down my face. Neither of us seem to care about the salt of my tears on our lips.

When we part my dad looks a bit uncomfortable, but not angry anymore. He says, “I’m not shunning anyone anymore.” His words surprise us all. “Not if you’re serious about your feelings when it comes to my daughter.” He looks pointedly at Lonnie. “If you really love Savanna like you say you do, I have no choice but to support this merger.”

We all laugh at his choice of lawyer speak in this situation. It helps to break up the tension and I’m happy for it.

“Mom?” I say, wanting to know how she’s feeling about it.

She’s crying and smiling at the same time, unable to get words out.

Lonnie steps toward my dad. They shake hands and hug briefly. My mom throws herself at me and squeezes me so tight it cuts off the circulation in my arms.

“We have a wedding to plan,” she says, excitedly.

11

Lonnie

I stand in the mirror at the hotel room where I’m staying. It’s my wedding day. I’m about to marry the girl of my dreams. Of the big decisions I’ve ever made, this is the one that doesn’t make me stop to hesitate. Not even for a second. If there’s one thing I’m absolutely sure of, it’s my feelings for Savanna.

I take a step back and look at my tux in the mirror. I want to make sure I look perfect for her. Stan walks into the room. He wears a similar tux as mine with the red pocket square that matches the dresses of Savanna’s bride’s maids. Not only will he be walking his daughter down the aisle, but he’ll be my best man as well.