All those fears I had about joining a family that had its shit together faded when I realized that I actually had won the family lottery, I didn't need to be scared of being enough. They accept me with open arms, just as I am.
Everyone in Lemon's family has their own problems, their own issues that they're working on. They're no different than me in that.
The only thing we are different in is that they've always known since the beginning that the people they loved most in the world had their back, and thankfully, most of them haven't had to suffer the same kind of loss I had as a little boy.
I say most of them because Plum and Reuben have experienced deep, heartbreaking loss, and it trickled through to everyone in the family in turn.
Reuben's wife Lou Anna was someone everyone loved and adored. Losing her when Plum was just two years old was a heartbreak this whole family was never prepared for. And I hope the family doesn't have to experience it again anytime soon.
Today, the wedding is here, and the sky is blue, it’s getting hot with the sun shining bright, and there is a bluegrass band on the lawn, getting everyone in the party spirit.
"How you doing?" Reuben asks, joining me in the kitchen of my lake house. The men are here getting ready for the ceremony that's going to start any minute. The ladies are over at the Rough house.
"I'm doing okay," I say. "A little nervous, but I think that's mostly because I don't like so much attention."
"Says the guy who was a reality TV star," Reuben says with a grin.
Reuben and I get along well. Lemon’s other brothers may like to tease her and joke about the fact she's uptight, but Reuben doesn't ever treat Lemon like that. He is more gentle, softer with her, and it endeared him to me right away.
Of course his little girl Plum made it easy, but she's not here right now. She's with the ladies getting ready, probably in her flower girl dress.
I’m dressed in my wedding clothes and am just waiting until it’s time for me to see my bride. Even though we're not wearing tuxedos, Lemon did say we had to have ironed khakis and polo shirts.
"When I got married," Reuben says, clearing his throat, taking a swig of his beer, "I wasn't nervous; I was excited. Lou Anna was pregnant with Plum and I know everyone thinks we got married just because we were going to have a baby, but I knew I was going to marry her even before that."
I nod, never having heard this from Reuben. His brothers are in the living room, joking around, laughing, passing around a bottle of whiskey per the family tradition. But Reuben and I have stepped aside and I can tell he's trying to give me some brotherly advice, which, to be honest, I appreciate more than he could know.
I don't have any brothers. I don't have any family here. The fact he gets that makes me grateful that he'll be my brother-in-law.
"Anyways," he says, "I fell hard for Lou the day we met, just like you fell for Lemon. Everyone thought we were crazy because we were so young. I mean, we were only 18. They thought it was probably reckless what we were doing. But now that she's gone," he says, running a hand over his beard, "I'm happier than ever that we took that leap of faith when we did, because I cherish the memories we have, you know? You never know how long you have on this earth. So when you have the chance to lean into love, I figure, hell, you got to go in, all in. Which is what you’re doing now, with Lem."
I squeeze his shoulder. "I appreciate that, Reuben. You lost Lou Anna, what? Three years ago?"
He nods, "About four now. Crazy right? Time passes quickly. It flies by and being a single dad to Plum has only made time fly faster."
"You okay being on your own?" I ask him, not knowing how to phrase,do you want to get married again, without coming off as insensitive.
He gives me a crooked grin. "Yeah. I'm not opposed to falling in love. I just haven't met the right girl. The rightwomanwho could be a mom to Plum."
I smile. "She'd have to be pretty special."
He nods. "Hell yeah. Plum’s my whole world."
"Maybe you'll find her this summer," I say.
Reuben chuckles, "I won't hold my breath. A woman that could make me risk the good thing I've got going with my little girl would have to come out of nowhere."
"I came out of nowhere for Lemon, and hell, she came out of nowhere for me."
"Fair enough," Reuben says, "Then you never know. Maybe this summer, love will find me too. But in the meantime," he says, his eyes on me, "you've got to go sayI do. I think everybody's waiting on you."
Just then, Red comes into my house through the back door. "You boys about ready to get the show on the road?"
Lemon’s brothers stand, smooth the fronts of their pants. Red shakes his head at them. "Hope you haven't been drinking too much, boys; this is your sister’s big day."
"Nah, we've been doing good, Dad. I promise," Bartlett says.
Mac laughs. "Lemon would wring our necks if we weren't walking the straight and narrow for her wedding day."