Avery jumps up and down with excitement and asks, “When, Mommy?”
Mom looks at Tommy adoringly and replies, “As soon as possible.”
Tommy gets himself off the ground, puts the ring on her finger, and gives her another devious grin. “I was hoping you would say that.” Then he turns to everyone and announces, “Wedding in ten minutes.”
Mom’s in shock.
“I think we’ll need just a little more time than that,” I say.
“So this wasn’t really about the wine?” Millie asks.
Tommy grins and shakes his head. “That was just the excuse to get you all here but, trust me, there will be lots of celebrating.”
“Okay, so wedding in one hour,” I announce. “Everyone meet under the trees behind the barn. If you get ready early, there are cocktails waiting.”
Mom is still in shock.
“But I don’t have a dress!”
“Actually, you have a bunch to choose from,” Kym informs her. “Now, let’s go get you ready.”
We go into the house and head up to Mom’s bathroom, which I know has been transformed into a mini-salon.
Mom’s still gushing. “I can't believe he planned all this. The rocks were adorable and to have you girls in on it was so special. How did he come up with it?”
“We’ve been kicking around engagement ideas for the past month. You should hear some of the crazy ideas we came up with. He told me when I started school that he wanted to ask you. He was having rings designed. When he got sketches back, we picked one and, while they were making it, we starting brainstorming for ways to surprise you. I thought the idea of doing it all in the same day was smart. You remember what a mess planning Millie’s wedding was—all the speculation, the drama, the following her around. Tommy wanted this very private. But he had some good proposal ideas. We talked about doing shells on the beach, he thought about taking you skydiving, to the top of a mountain, in a helicopter, on a yacht. You name it. He’s really quite creative.”
Mom smiles dreamily.
“Have you had a chance to look closely at the ring?”
“No, but it’s dazzling.”
“Look closer. Around the big stone, there are seven smaller stones. One for each of us. Our family.”
Mom looks like she's gonna start crying again.
And . . . she does.
“That is so sweet.” She hugs me and whispers, “I have a secret.”
My eyes get big. The last time Mom had a secret she was pregnant with Gracie. “Really?!”
She grins big.
“Does Tommy know yet?”
“No. I just did the pregnancy test yesterday. About fell off the toilet when I watched it turn pink.”
“Pink is probably the right color with all of us girls. Tommy is a brave man.”
“Tommy is a good man. We got lucky, blessed, when he came into our lives.”
I get tears in my eyes too. “Yeah, we did.”
“Aiden seems like a good man.”
“He is.”
As we approach her room, Kym is waiting by the door. She says quietly, “The hair and makeup team believe they are preparing you for a party.”
Mom and I nod in understanding.
Once Mom’s hair is curled and braided into a pretty updo, Kym has James escort the hair and makeup crew out while we go into Kym’s room to choose her wedding dress.
She tries on four dresses. All of them are pretty, but not really what I pictured her wearing.
“I saved the best for last,” Kym says, sliding the perfect dress on her.
Words that fill my pages.
11pm
It’s late. The vows have been said, the toasts have been raised, the food has been eaten, the wine’s being drunk, and the little kids are tucked into bed. I’m sitting at a table with Tommy and Grandpa, watching mom dance in a circle with Millie and Kym.
They are being a little wild.
Aiden, who just finished dancing with his mom, kisses my cheek and sits down next to me.
Grandpa watches them dance, then leans toward me. “You're mom's a handful.” He nods at Tommy.
Tommy nods. “You’ve got that right. Of course, that might be what I like best about her.”
Grandpa motions toward me.
I put my hand up to my chest. “What? You think I’m a handful, too?”
Tommy and Aiden both laugh. They seem to think that’s quite funny.
Tommy says to me, “Uh, yeah.” Then he turns to Aiden. “You up for that?”
Aiden grins. “Yeah. I think I am.”
“On that note,” I say, getting up, “I think I’ll go dance with the other handfuls.”
Damian intercepts me. “Remember the song we worked on in St. Croix?”
“The sorta like fate one?”
“Yeah. I’m going up on stage to sing it for her.” He looks nervous. “Tell me I’m not nuts. Tell me it’s okay that I’m crazy in love with her when I’ve only known her a month.”
“You’re not nuts, Damian. You should trust your feelings.”