Lucas smiled big and gave my hand to Ryan, then he scampered off to go stand with Katie.
“We are gathered here today to honor the commitment that these five have made to love, honor, and cherish one another for all their days. Together they have built a love and a family that is envied by anyone that comes in contact with them. The commitment and care they have for one another is undeniable and incredible.”
“Each gentleman has prepared vows to share with Tinsley and then Tinsley will share her own vows of commitment. Thiago, if you’ll please begin,” Stephen said.
“Tinsley, my love, my life. You are the person I never knew I was looking for. You came into my world like a firework, unexpected and full of surprise. Luckily, unlike a firework, our flame of love has only grown. I know that I will spend the rest of my life fanning that flame and keeping the spark alive. I love you,” Thiago said.
Michael spoke next, “Tinsley, my heart was still part broken when you found me. You came into my life and you fixed the pieces of me I thought would never heal. You’ve resuscitated my heart and allowed me to be the best version of myself. A person that can love again. And I love you for that and for everything that you are.”
Next Kai, “Oh Tinsley, how did you do it? I was gonna out Clooney Clooney. I never had any intention of falling in love, having a girlfriend or ever committing to someone. Then you came along and renovated my life so that I can be me and still have space to be myself. I don't know many people who could do that. I love you.”
Then Ryan spoke up, and this is when I lost it, “Tinsley, I love you with everything I have. I am so grateful that our paths crossed all those years ago and so grateful that you were willing to take a chance on me, a guy who never deserved you in the first place. Without you and Lucas, my life was empty. With the two of you my life feels complete. I love you.”
And finally I spoke up, “Thiago, Michael, Kai, Ryan, you are the great loves of my life. Each of you adds a piece to me that I had been missing. I may have been happy before I met you, but I was never complete until we crossed paths. My family wasn’t complete before without you in it. You are the greatest gifts of my life and I’m eternally grateful for each and every one of you. I love you, semper familia.”
“Semper familia,” they all echoed.
Then Lucas, presented me with a beautiful band with four diamonds on it, one for each of my men. And I presented them with their own special rings. Each of our bands was engraved with our family motto, “semper familia.”
“You may kiss your bride,” said Stephen. Each man approached and gave me a slow and gentle kiss.
“Okay, help me congratulate these guys,” said Stephen to the crowd and the whole wedding erupted in cheers.
Ryan took one hand as Lucas took the other and we all walked down the aisle into the adoring smiles of our family and friends. The love between us and the love that surrounded us was just so powerful.
I felt tears welling in my eyes as I looked out over our friends and family. And I felt a twinge of excitement for what was coming next.
As the group made their way inside, our coordinator led us to a private room that I’d asked her to prepare for just those of us in the commitment party. There were snacks, champagne and bottles of water. The coordinator popped a bottle and poured glasses for everyone that wanted one.
“What’s that?” Lucas asked, pointing to the table’s centerpiece. There in the center of the table was a beautiful wrapped white box with a pearl ribbon. As everyone got settled, I asked everyone to gather around.
“I need your help with that in just a second,” I whispered to Lucas.
“I want to thank all of you for being here and being a part of our special day. You are the most important people in the world to me which is why I wanted to wait to have you all here in one place together for this. Lucas, will you open the box for us.” I asked.
Lucas’ eyes got as big as saucers. “Heck yes!” he said, tearing into the box.
As he opened the lid and tore off the tissue paper, I heard Katie gasp. Of course my best friend in the world would be the first to figure it out. Next Ryan caught on, looking at me with tears in his eyes. I nodded at him. Finally, the whole room figured it out as Lucas pulled the framed ultrasound picture out of the box.
“We’re expecting!” I exclaimed and the room filled with cheers and congratulations.
BONUS EPILOGUE
James
Happiness didn’t even begin to describe what I felt as I sat and watched my son commit to the mother of his child. Ryan was the unexpected light of my life. His mother and I hadn’t been planning on being parents and then the universe had other plans for us. We hadn’t done everything right, in fact we’d done a lot of things wrong, but I was so grateful to be his father.
His mom and I had been a wrong fit from the start. I wasn’t cut out to be a married man. She needed more from me than I was able to give and when we had Ryan unexpectedly, she was on birth control, things had imploded.
Now that I was older, I thought that maybe things could have been different if we’d just worked harder, you live and you learn but I hadn’t found anyone that special in quite a while.
I was envious of Ryan and the life he’d made. He had a chance to do things right both with his son Lucas and with Tinsley. Sure, their relationship was unconventional but hell, who was I to judge.
I made my way to the bar set up on Ryan’s back patio and ordered a beer. One of Tinsley’s bridesmaids made her way up to me and sat down. I was taken aback when I saw her, she could have been Ryan’s mom’s doppelganger when Janie had been younger. I wondered if Ryan noticed the resemblance when he looked at her.
“Hey there, I’m Alex,” she introduced casually. Wow, even her mannerisms reminded me of Janie, smooth, controlled and sexy. “Are you Ryan’s dad?”
Ugh here I was lusting after a girl that looked at me as someone’s father.“That’s right. I’m Jake Jacobs,” I replied, offering her my hand.