Then, as a gust of wind blew into the yard, the hiredguitarist began to play Van the Man’s “These Are the Days.” I clasped my handstogether tightly, straightened my back, and bit my lip with anticipation, andthen …
There she was, standing on the steps of her parents’ backporch, on the arm of her father. The warm wind jingled the chains of the swingsbehind me, and I watched with bated breath as she slowly walked toward me inthat dress fit for an angel, wrapped around the swell of a growing belly.Mysweet thing.
It took all my strength to not rip her from her father’sgrasp, as he brushed a strand of her brown hair off her face and kissed her onthe cheek. He pulled back, smiling warmly at his own little girl, and I feltlike I was three again, waiting for my turn, fighting the urge to bounce aroundwhere I stood.
Then, she turned to look at me. Her hair floated on thebreeze behind her, and I saw that little girl in herLittle House on thePrairiedress. She smiled at me in the sunlight, and I hoped someone wassnapping a picture from somewhere in that backyard, because, God, she wasbeautiful, and, God, I loved her.
Mr. McKenna outstretched his arms toward me, pulling meinto a hug that surprised me. At the rehearsal, we had planned to shake hands,but there he was, with his arms wrapped around my shoulders, and my armswrapped around his. There was nothing formal about it; he squeezed me the way afather would squeeze a son, and I squeezed back.
“I’d welcome you into the family, but you’ve always been apart of it,” he said close to my ear.
“I know, sir.” My voice was rough to my ears.
“I’m glad I’m here to finally see this happen.”
I unwrapped my arms, realizing all at once that had he nothad his brush with death, it might not have been happening at all. No divorce,no second chance, no second child, and I truly realized for the second time inmy life that the sweetest of things can come from the shittiest situations.
You know, silver linings and all that.
“So am I, sir.” Then, with a clearing of my throat, I feltthe need to add, “Thank you.”
He shook his head, clapping me on the shoulder, grippingwith gentle force. “Okay, enough with this ‘sir’ crap. Marry my daughter.”
And then, just like that, she was mine, taking that finalstep toward me.Allmine.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hi.”
“You’re beautiful.”
One of her hands came to rest over her belly. “Shut up. Ifeel like a beluga.”
“Prettiest whale I’ve ever seen.”
I stared at her and the flowers in her hair longer than maybeI should have, my smile stretching so wide, my cheeks hurt.
“Patrick,” Kate hissed, and I pulled my eyes away fromKinsey just long enough to glance at her.
“Yes?”
“Shut up, and take her hand!God…”
“Oh, thank you so much, Kate. What would I ever do withoutya?” And as a dull murmur of laughter came from the crowd,I did take her hand.
We listened to the minister, and recited our vows. Youknow, all the formalities of getting married that nobody really pays attentionto, because your insides are too busy jostling themselves around. But the nextpart …
Thatwasmy favorite.
“By the power vested in me by the state of Connecticut, Inow pronounce you husband and wife,” the minister said with an old wrinkledsmile.
I glanced over at him expectantly, and I guess myexpression must have said it all, because the little old guy laughed. “Yes,Patrick, you can go ahead, and kiss your bride.”
In a split second, my arms were around her waist, pulling heras close to me as her belly would allow, and her arms were around my neck. Witheyes closed, my lips pressed to hers, sealing the deal, embarking on anotherjourney of adventurous firsts and sweet things; this time, with a shared lastname.
“What did I tellya?” I said,pulling back long enough to gasp for air. “Kinsey Kinney.”
“He hasn’t said it ye—”
