“Thank me?” Rook asked.
“For marrying Winnie and giving me and Bishop a chance to see this shit through. I appreciate that more than you can ever know and uh, I know there’s no way to repay you but I want you to know I’ve got you for life and I plan on loving and taking care of your brother for as long as there’s breath in my body.”
“That’s all I could ever want for him,” Rook said. “And I mean, I love wifey. Shit worked out the way it was supposed to.”
“I believe that.”
Knocking sounded at the door again and we both looked as it opened slowly and a head peeked around. I stood up straighter when I saw it was Brandon.
“What’s up?” He walked further inside and hit Rook on the back. “Can I have the room, son?”
“Yeah, sure.” Rook smiled at me. “I’ll see you out there.”
“Yeah. Alright.” Brandon and I watched him leave then faced each other. “What’s up?”
“I just wanted to get in this last conversation with you,” Brandon admitted.
“Alright.” I nodded and swallowed nervously.
“Your parents aren’t out there,” he said carefully. “I’ve checked.”
“I figured.” I shrugged.
Brandon exhaled.
“I don’t know your situation with them and I’m not going to ask for specifics. All I know is that Bishop had me call and see if I could speak to him father to father and had me formally send an invitation with the rest of the guests. If he’s not here it’s not from lack of trying from you or him.”
“What did he say when you called?” I asked even though I was sure I knew the answer.
“I didn’t get him,” Brandon said softly. “I spoke to your mother who seems like a lovely woman and said she would work on it with him but,” he shrugged. “You have a family out there ready to support this union and whatever else you need us to support regardless and I know it’s not the same but I want you to know we’re here,” Brandon said quietly. “And uh, I don’t know what you and Bishop decided with the last name shit if you’re going to hyphenate or if he’s going to take your last name or whatever but ay, I’d love to have you be a Barron if that’s something you’re interested in.”
I felt like my chest tightened, like my rib cage was somehow too small to hold my heart. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected from Brandon but this wasn’t it and I blinked at him for several silent moments while my emotions, brain and mouth all tried to come to some sort of agreement.
“That would be amazing. I’m honored Brandon.”
“Well if you’re sure...” He dug into his suit jacket and pulled out a little box. “It’s just something Melanie and I got you.”
He handed me the box and I opened it carefully and grinned at the sight of some custom cufflinks with “AB” etched into it.
“This is tight.” I looked closely at them. “I’m going to wear them right now.”
I set the box down and Brandon grabbed one up before I could. I offered him my arm and he swapped my cufflinks out for me, one side then the other. Then, he stood up straight, took me in and adjusted my tie again.
So this was what it was like to have a hands on father who supported you.
The thought was both a refreshing on and a bitter one.
Bishop and I had spent countless hours worried about Brandon not accepting us and here he was making me feel more supported on my wedding than my own parents.
Both of our watches beeped at the same time and we collectively glanced at them.
“Five minutes,” he announced. “I’ll see you out there.”
“Alright.”
Brandon closed the cufflink box then hurried out of the room and I looked myself over one more time before making my way to the door. I cracked it open just a little bit and peeked out.
Even from where I was I could see that Melanie had done the fucking most. I didn’t see a singular blade of grass with all the white flowers she had littering the entire ground. The guests were arranged in a semi-circle instead of lined up in rows and there were live musicians gathered behind where I was sure Rook had to be standing.
