An Innocent Thanksgiving

I definitely teared up, and Cal laughed a little as we kissed and exchanged rings. I must’ve looked a mess—thank God I’d worn waterproof mascara—but Cal leaned in and whispered, “you’re beautiful,” in an awed voice right in my ear, and I suddenly didn’t care at all about how I looked, so long as Cal liked it.

Afterwards we walked back down the aisle together as man and wife, and we went to the dinner set up in the main dining room area. We were all served delicious Thanksgiving food—including, yes, my pumpkin pie instead of a wedding cake—and then Jenn commanded the room to make her toast.

She looked radiant, wearing a dark red dress, and her smile at me was warm and sunny. I couldn’t help but smile back.

“I think the first thing that you all should know about Maggie, if you haven’t figured it out already, is that she’s stubborn. And independent. And when I say stubborn, I mean it. Once she gets an idea in her head, she won’t let go of it. That includes singing drunken karaoke.”

Oh no. I buried my face in my hands as Jenn launched into an unfortunately accurate imitation of me singing Shania Twain songs while absolutely plastered on the first night I’d gotten drunk once I’d stopped nursing Fern.

Everyone laughed, especially Cal, who demanded that Jenn send him the video footage once she got the chance. Jenn winked at him. “So you can imagine how shocked I was when this handsome fucker swooped in and for the first time since I’d known her, I saw Maggie at a loss about what she wanted.

“At first I thought she was crazy. How could she not be sure about this guy? Cal was sweet, thoughtful, he worships Fern, and he’s nothing but supportive of Maggie. And did I mention he was handsome as fuck? But eventually I realized… it was that Maggie did want him, and she was scared of how much she wanted him.”

“Because the other thing about Maggie is that she’s very selfless. She puts the people she loves ahead of herself, always. And when I learned the circumstances—the history between her and Cal, I understood her concern. Maggie is so concerned with how others will feel, and about what was the right decision for her family, for her little girl.”

Jenn looked at me, and now her face was still loving, but completely serious.

“And I told her, I’ve been telling her for years—she needs to take care of herself too. She needs to look out for herself and do what makes her happy, too. And thank God, she finally listened to me. Because I don’t know anyone—besides Fern, of course—” Jenn winked at Fern, who grinned and waved. “—who makes Maggie as happy as Cal does. And she deserves to be happy, wouldn’t you all agree?”

Everyone cheered and raised their glasses.

Jenn chuckled. “That’s the spirit. So, when I saw how happy Cal made Maggie, I knew it was meant to be. And I saw Maggie made Cal happy, too. He lights up when he sees her. It’s adorable, it’s like a puppy dog.” Jenn imitated a puppy barking and panting, wiggling her butt like it was a tail.

Everyone laughed, including me.

“I have seen a lot of couples in my business. Famous people are always finding someone new and breaking up and let me tell you, not one of the couples I’ve seen in my time can hold a candle to the way Cal and Maggie are together. They are the best, and I’m lucky to count them as my closest friends. I’m so glad that Maggie decided to be a little selfish and go after her own happiness, and I’m so glad that Cal is smart enough to realize what a catch she is and didn’t let her go.”

Jenn blew kisses at Cal and me, and then sat down.

Then Dad stood up.

I had been nervous about this. When Dad first asked if he could give a speech. Cal and I wanted him to—or, well, Cal wanted him to. I was fine either way. It was my dad and I loved him, and as long as he walked me down the aisle, that was all that I needed. But Dad was Cal’s best friend. And I knew that Cal wanted his best friend to be able to give a toast at his wedding, just like my best friend was giving a toast for me.

Cal had still been wondering whether he should ask or not, if it was okay to ask, and all of that, and then Dad had gone ahead and asked if he could give a speech without either Cal or me prompting him.

“Of course,” Cal had said, lighting up. I’d been nervous but I’d said yes as well, because how could I not? It was what Cal wanted.