And I can’t take one more person abandoning me.
That would just be too much for me to bear.
Kaya
I squishmy toes into the sand beneath me as my brother stands underneath a wedding arch covered in a lavender spray of flowers, looking the happiest I’ve ever seen him.
It suddenly hits me, as we wait for his bride to enter, that this is the first step for him walking away from being the head of our little nuclear family and starting a new family of his own.
It never occurred to me the pressure Kyle must have been under for so long, carrying the weight of helping both my mother and me move on from the brutal death of our father. Just like it never dawned on me the scars of his own he may have and had to ignore to help us heal.
It’s no wonder in this moment that he looks about five years younger than his real age. He’s so freakin’ happy that it brings tears to my eyes.
The string trio plays an eloquent version of the wedding march as Dena walks down the aisle in a gorgeous strapless dress with a mid-length train waving behind her through the ocean breeze.
“Hi,” Kyle says to her when she arrives at the front with the rest of us.
“Hi,” she smiles back.
I nervously try focusing on the joy of the audience so that I can avoid looking at Brick. He’s but a mere few feet away from me, towering over everyone in the ceremony, his shoulders broad and well-defined, his eyes shifting between brown and green based on where the sunlight hits them.
He’s ridiculously sexy, standing with his feet spread apart, dressed in his custom tux with his hands casually clenched by his side, betraying his tension. I notice the way his lips twitch and a muscle in his cheek flexes. I’m not sure why, but something about this day is making him uncomfortable. It only confirms my reservations about him. He could never be serious about a woman, especially me. These few days on the island are as far as we go, and I need to make peace with that.
The sun is setting over the horizon in the perfect way that it does on this island. The bright orange and yellow hues reflect off the rippling waves of the ocean as the seabirds fly gracefully above us all.
Kyle and Dena are standing side by side, facing each other on the beach, staring at each other like they’re the only two people left in the world.
The ceremony begins with Kyle and Dena exchanging vows they’ve written themselves. The words aren’t exactly poetic, but both of them look into each other’s eyes and speak from the heart.
“Dena, I promise to be your best friend, your partner in life, and your lover. I vow to always have your best interests at heart, to encourage you to follow your dreams, and to be there when times get tough. I love you more than I ever thought possible, and I am so excited to start the next chapter of our lives together.”
Our mother wails in the background as Dena takes a deep breath before responding. “Kyle, I promise to honor and cherish you for the rest of my life. I vow to always be honest with you, to support you in your endeavors and to stand by your side no matter where that leads us. I love you more than words can express, and I’m so excited to start this journey as husband and wife.”
The officiant then speaks about the importance of marriage, about always putting the other person first and cherishing one another. He then speaks about the commitment they are making to each other, and the lifelong journey they are embarking on.
At this point in the ceremony, I notice that Mr. Solomon has his arm around my mother in a protective way and her head rests on his shoulder. It just may be possible that Kyle’s wedding has finally moved them to “out” themselves as a couple.
Felicia and I hand Dena and Kyle their rings, which they exchange in record time, and finally the officiant declares them husband and wife. We all cheer and clap as the newlyweds kiss and embrace.
They share a passionate kiss before walking away from the altar hand in hand, and I feel an immense sense of accomplishment and relief that these two are finally signed, sealed and delivered. That was almost a close call.
It’s time for photos and the photographer asks Brick and I stand together for a “best man” shot.
“You two look great,” he says. “I love the matching tuxes. Okay, if you could stand on the platform and pose.” He takes a few photos and then brings over Kyle. “Let’s get a few with the groom.”
“I’m a married man!” he exclaims to both of us as he yolks me around the neck.
“Thanks to me,” I say jokingly.
“No, thanks tous,” Brick adds firmly.
There’s an awkward moment as Kyle gives the both of us a brief but questionable once over, then we go back to posing for another picture.
“Brick, I still feel some kind of way about you taking care of the bill,” Kyle says.
Brick taps his heart with the palm of his hand. “It’s my wedding gift to you and Dee Dee. Please, you have to accept it.”
Kyle shakes his head and looks at me. “Can you believe this guy?”
