Seth goes to the locker room to clean up, and it’s not until we’re on the way home that Sky turns to him and says, “What did you say to that boy’s dad, Seth?”
Seth blows out a breath. “I told him to keep fighting. That’s all.”
I have to blink back tears again. Seth is going to make one hell of a man. Sky reaches back and takes Seth’s hand in hers and gives it a squeeze. He leans forward and kisses her cheek.
“I love you, Aunt Sky,” he says quietly.
“I love you, too, Seth,” she breathes.
“Me, too?” Mellie chirps.
Joey follows with, “And me?”
Sky laughs and reaches back to tickle their feet. “You two, too.”
Then she takes my hand in hers and says, “You, too.”
I give her a squeeze because it’s all I’m capable of right now.
Skylar
Two months later
My mother stands in front of me and fluffs my veil. It has been a long time coming, but we’re making progress. She got out of rehab a couple of weeks ago, and we’ve actually been spending some time together. We pop popcorn and talk about…nothing. It’s nice. It’s something she’s never been capable of before. Neither was I. I had to set aside my doubts and my distrust. Sometimes, if you choose to walk the same road, you have to keep filling in the holes so you can find your footing. But other times, it’s safe to take a new path altogether, and my mom and I are on a new path, completely. We’re discovering one another like we’ve never met.
When I got my news yesterday, she was the only one I told. I’m going to tell Matt after the wedding. We got his good news last month when his blood work revealed that he is still in remission. Now I’m going to give him some more good news.
“You look so beautiful,” my mom says. She has adjusted my hair, and she even held my dress up when I had to pee one last time. She has really been here for me today.
“Thank you,” I breathe. My nerves are frayed, not because of the wedding but because of what I have planned afterward. “You have Matt’s gift, right?” I ask.
She pats her clutch. “I have it. It’s safe.”
We found out last week that Joey and Mellie’s dad is willing to give up his parental rights and let us adopt them. They’ll have the Reed name. Matt has never been happier, but I have a feeling the news today will top even that. We’d like to adopt Seth, too, but he says he doesn’t need it. He says he wants to keep his mother’s name. That’s fine with me, as long as he knows he’s ours, too. And I’m pretty sure he does.
My mother gives me one last hug and goes to take her seat.
I hear the wedding march begin, and Dad comes to collect me. “It’s not too late to back out, if you want to,” he says.
I shake my head. “Never.”
He laughs. “I didn’t think so.” He sticks out his elbow. I slide my arm inside. I only have three bridesmaids, and they’re all standing at the front of the church already. Friday, Reagan, and Emily are family, but they agreed to get all dressed up and stand with me. Of course, Matt had to have every one of his brothers and Seth stand with him. He couldn’t leave a single one out, so our sides don’t match. But that’s okay with me.
I step up to the walkway and look up. The guests all get to their feet. But I don’t look at them. I look at Matt. I can tell the minute he sees me because his eyes get glassy and his mouth falls open. I watch his face the whole way down the aisle. Paul punches him in the arm, and he still doesn’t break my gaze. My dad kisses me on the cheek, and the rest of the service is just a dream. I look into Matt’s eyes and say my vows and he says his. When it’s time for rings, I let him slide mine on my finger and nothing ever felt so right. Until I slide his on, too. And then it’s perfect.
“You may kiss the bride,” the preacher says.
Matt takes my face in his hands, his fingertips splayed toward my ear, and he lays a kiss on my lips that steals my breath. Paul starts to cough indelicately to break us up. When Matt finally lifts his head, he stares into my eyes. I hold his wrists and can’t break away.
The preacher says, “I’d like to introduce, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Reed!”
The crowd goes nuts, and we walk out amid a shower of birdseed. We both close our eyes and let it rain down on us, soaking up every second.
Friday has Mellie by the hand and Reagan has Joey, so we scoop them up in our arms, each taking one of them, and we run toward the reception hall. We accept a ton of well wishes, and then it’s time for a toast.
Paul stands and holds up his glass. “If there was ever anyone deserving of love, it’s my brother.” He stops to clear his throat. “I’m just glad he found it. Sky, you make my brother even better than he already was, and I know he’ll do the same for you. You know everything about him, and you love him anyway.” The crowd laughs, and Matt scowls playfully. “To you, to your love, and to your life and your family. May you continue to be blessed.”
He tips his glass and drinks. So does Matt. And everyone in the crowed. Except me. “What’s wrong?” Matt asks.
“Nothing,” I say. I motion my mother forward, and she puts a box in my hands. It’s small, but it’s weighty at the same time. “I have a present for you.”
“I thought our honeymoon was our present to each other,” he reminds me with a scowl. We’re leaving for the Carolina coast for a week with the kids tonight. I can’t wait.