“I ha
d no clue. I mean, yeah, he asked me.” I raise my hand to show them my ring, as if they needed the proof. They’ve already seen it.
“If I didn’t know any better, I would say that boy’s in love with you,” Mom comments.
“Knock, knock,” Aaron says, coming into the room. He’s carrying a smiling Lexi in her little white dress. “This squirmy little monster is hard to dress. We made it happen though, didn’t we, Lex?” She coos and reaches for his chin. He acts like he’s going to bite her fingers and she grins.
“You dressed her?” I ask in disbelief.
“Yeah, Mom was here with you, and I thought I would help. Easy-peasy once we got the damn thing over her head. Well, and the tights, that was a task,” he says with a laugh.
“I would have paid good money to have seen that, son,” Dad laughs.
“Damn! I should have recorded it. Evan probably would have too. Lexi girl, we could start a side business.” Aaron kisses her cheek.
“Well, looks like we’re ready to go. We don’t want to keep them waiting.”
“Um, hello, minister here, the show can’t start without me,” Aaron says.
“Um, hello, bride here, the show can’t start without me either,” I mock him.
“Good thing you’re all pretty and shit, or I’d be giving you the biggest noogie,” he jokes.
“Let’s go, you two,” Dad laughs.
I reach for Lexi, but Aaron turns away from me. “No way, sister. Mom would kill me if you get wrinkled or something . . . baby on you. I got her.”
“What about you?” I counter.
“I’m just the guy who says the words. No one’s going to be looking at me.”
“It’s a very small group, Aaron, of course they will.”
“McKinley, have you looked in the mirror? You’re beautiful. I can say with absolute certainty that all eyes, no matter how many are in attendance, will be on you.”
“Stop before you make her cry and mess up her make-up.” Mom smacks his shoulder and Lexi repeats the action.
“Let’s get you married, baby girl.” Dad loops his arm through mine and leads me out to the car.
We’re getting married in my grandparents’ church. It’s a private service and the pastor was completely fine when we explained the brother of the bride would be the one marrying us. My grandparents have been members for over fifty years. They handed them the keys and said to clean up when we’re done. Originally, it was going to be in the backyard, which is where McKinley still thinks it’s going to be, but I wanted more for her. I want this to be a day she will remember.
So, we got the church. Mom and a few other ladies took care of decorations and I took care of the photographer. I mean, come on, I’m marrying a photographer who has a true passion for capturing memories. I can still remember that day months ago when she told me why she chose photography. How can I not hire the best to give her pictures—her passion—to remember this day?
I contemplated inviting a few of our friends, but selfishly, I decided not to. I like the idea of an intimate setting, the idea of saying our vows in front of just our immediate family. I hinted around to McKinley about inviting others, and she pretty much said the same thing. The wedding is for us, to pledge our lives—well, for me, my love—but she won’t know that. She said it’s not for the showboat of the event. We share very similar beliefs, and that just made me fall a little more in love with her. I am admitting it in my head now, especially after this morning. Confessing to my daughter and having Aaron overhear it all, there’s no sense in denying it in my head. I know how I feel.
Everything came together seamlessly, and now, I’m sitting in a back room of the church waiting for my bride and my daughter to arrive. I’m not nervous, anxious maybe, but no nerves.
“Come in,” I say to the knock on the door.
“Hey, son.” Dad slowly enters the room and takes a seat on the bench beside me. “You ready?”
“Yes.”
“I’m proud of you, Evan.”
“Yeah, your son who knocked up his girlfriend who ended up wanting nothing to do with him or the baby. The son who has to marry his best friend’s little sister, who also happens to be his best friend, to keep his daughter.” I don’t know where that came from. I guess I’m a little ticked off at the circumstances. I would rather be able to tell McKinley how much I love her as we stand at the altar today.
“Evan, you love that girl. Everyone can see that. You two might be hiding behind this arrangement, but anyone with eyes can see this is more than that.”