6
Kit
Eight Days to Go… And Shit’s Going Down
Wedding to-do list:
Bridesmaid dress fittings: Done.
We ended up with soft yellow, full length, sweetheart neckline gowns that look very Belle, from Beauty and the Beast.
Send color swatch to the boys to buy their tiesand shit:Done.
Delegated. Not my problem anymore. They’re lucky we didn’t choose anything in pink.
Findmydress: Also done.
Strapless ivory, floor length ballgown, sweetheart neckline, with fancy little jewels on the bust, hip, and tail bone, and a train that stretches a few feet behind me. Straight off the rack,andon sale. It’s beautiful, cheap, and fit me like a glove. Not a single alteration was needed. You know your wedding day is going to be good when you can try a gown on and it fits as though it was created just for you.
I tried it on, struck a pose, the girls oohed and ahh’d, and the sales lady complimented me while she prayed for a commission, then we bagged it up and brought it home. Easy as that.
Wedding bouquets: Not quite done yet.
In a moment of insanity, I thought it might be fun to try make our own using those fancy ‘real touch’ type flowers. My theory being, it’d be cool to say we did them, and we could keep them forever to look pretty in a vase and remind us of our – hopefully – amazing wedding day. That’s the theory anyway, and today, we’re going to put it to the test.
I ordered the flowers through a local florist, spent a week YouTubing tutorials, and now, the girls and I have plans for a night at Tink’s to see if we can fluke it and make something amazing.
And if all else fails, Jonah’s store carries bunches of flowers that we can pick up on the day.
I chose white lilies – because they remind me of my dad, and yellow roses – because they’re bright and sunny and beautiful – like Bobby.
According to the lady on the tutorials, we just have to start with three flowers, add another, then another, and another, and keep building around in circles. Each layer needs stretchy tape to keep them together, then we add another layer, and another, until voila, beautiful bouquet.
It’ll be fine.
We’ll be fine.
I drive into the Rollin gym parking lot and pull the handbrake up. All the usual cars are here; Jon’s truck. Jimmy’s Jeep. Bobby’s new Highlander, to replace the Rav. It’s our new ‘family’ car, the car he’s not so subtle about filling with baby car seats. My heart tumbles pleasantly at the reminder of my family. The family I could one day make with Bobby, and the family we already have.
I never imagined I’d have a whole slew of new brothers in my life just by meeting one man, but I do.
And on top of that, I have a whole gym of new family. This gym is a second home to Jack and me now. And it’s not a dreaded‘gross, I have to go to the gym’thing. It’s a‘I’ve gotta drop in and see Mike and ask about the baby.’Or‘I really want to see how that kid Patrick is doing with his kicks. He’s working on a spinning heel kick, and I want to know if he nailed it yet.’
It’s not a chore to come here, it’s simply another stop I make every day because I can’t not do it.
I climb out of the car and walk into the hot gym in search of Izzy. Meaty fists thud on skin and make the ‘thump-thump-thump’ noise I’m so used to now. Fighters grunt when they’re hit, and skin slides off sweaty skin as they roll around in the octagon.
It smells of men in here. Not particularly a bad smell. It’s deodorant, and sweat, and masculinity all wrapped up into one. Just like the smell of Tiger Balm makes some people scramble away and block their nose, the gym might have that same effect on some people. But then there’s this whole other breed of people, people like Bobby and his brothers, Jack, even me, who walk into the gym, take a deep breath, and smile like we just inhaled something less than legal.
It’s home to us, and I never want to leave.
I walk through the main room and stick to the edge so I don’t walk on the mats with my shoes. Fighters stop and smile as I pass. Some wave. Some blush. I look around for Iz in each space I walk through, but several minutes pass and I’ve yet to find her.
“Aww, the Kitten’s in the house.”
At my sort-of-name, I spin with a smile and look up at Mike. He’s for sure related to Hagrid, because he’s half giant, and oh so sweet. “Hey Mike. How are you?” I step into his all-enveloping hug and sigh with contentment. “How are your girls?”
“I’m good, the girls are great. Becky says hi. Every day I leave the house, she reminds me to tell you if I see you.” He releases me and steps back with a smile. “And the baby is amazing. She’s rolling over and sitting and smiling. She’s just the smartest, prettiest baby you ever saw.”