Joel’s and Walker’s parents still disapproved of their “sinful lifestyles,” which I suspected hurt more than they let on. While it was hard to strike the right tone about their families deciding that they wouldn’t be part of the wedding festivities, the extended families of the Lost Boys were intent on making sure that everyone felt like they belonged.
I’d been surprised when my mother had texted me to say she would attend tomorrow’s ceremony. Her religious beliefs still kept us apart more often than not, but this was apparently one ofher exceptions. I initially wasn’t sure how I felt about that, but in the end I’d decided it was a good thing.
We ended the night early, wanting to make sure that we were all fresh and ready for the big day.
As Ren and I walked arm in arm from Kiyana’s to our car, I was sure I was the luckiest person in the world.
Ren
“Jiji, why are you so nervous?” Ru asked, looking absolutely adorable in his tiny tuxedo.
The garden outside the Meeting House had a proliferation of peonies, so that was the boutonniere of choice. While the pink, fluffy flowers contrasted well with all of the men’s suits, the large bloom looked ridiculous on my grandson.
Ridiculous and perfect.
“I’m nervous because I’ll be walking my son down the aisle. Also, I have a bit of a surprise for him, and I’m a little apprehensive about his reaction.”
“Daddy doesn’t always like surprises, but if it’s from you, I’m sure he’ll love it,” Ru said, taking the flower basket from Atlas, who was serving as the wedding coordinator. He was dressed for the occasion, wearing one of his more festive bodysuit-and-shimmery-overdress outfits. He and Father Wainwright were the only ones in on our little secret, and he’d been an amazing help in coordinating everything.
“Honestly, I don’t know how you do it,” I told Atlas as he pinned the peony to my lapel. “How did you keep all these couples in line?”
“It helps that most of them were pretty chill to start off with, and that Hendrix has a handler.”
“True.” I smiled, fondly remembering the night of the housewarming.
“I did bring back up, just in case.” He slid a fifth of tequila from his bag, waggling the bottle at me.
I darted a look at Ru, who was fussing with the buttons on his suit, and sent Atlas a quick nod. Seconds later, a shot glass appeared in my hand, and I threw the fiery liquor down the hatch before anyone else was the wiser.
Returning the bottle to its hiding place, Atlas took my hands in his and looked into my eyes. “You have nothing to worry about, Ren. This is going to be an amazing day. And you’re an amazing dad and grandfather.”
He whipped out a tissue when a tear slipped down my cheek, sweetly wiping it away before shouting “Places, people!” at the top of his lungs.
We were waiting in the hall outside of the main meeting room. I’d forgotten how beautiful this place could be, with the floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the community gardens. The vaulted space and the bright skies outside gave me a sense of calm.
Atlas had us lined up beautifully. Hikaru led the procession, carrying a box Hendrix had made and filled with flowers. He was followed by Leo and Ginger, who both looked sharp.
Major had filled me in on the Leo–Love drama, but I was more worried for Ginger. Jules had arrived a few moments ago with her family, and she was stunning in her Audrey Hepburn–inspired outfit. When Ginger spotted her, she fled to the bathroom, only to return a few minutes later with red-rimmed eyes. God, I hoped they could work it out.
Just past Ginger and Leo, the couples and their families lined up: Tristan and his mom, then Joel and Tristan’s dad, Ozzie and his mom, Walker and Ozzie’s dad, Sawyer with his mom and dad, and Hendrix with his parents. Major took Beckett’s arm with a grin, and I stood at the back with Holden.
I was holding it together pretty admirably, if I did say so myself. Holden bent over and kissed the side of my head. “Look. Pops decided to join us.”
I jerked around, staring him in the eyes. Seeing my distress, he lifted his chin toward the window, where a cardinal sat on a nearby bush. He was peering inside, deeply intrigued by the proceedings.
My hand went to my chest as my throat constricted. “You always did have a sense of timing, Robert,” I said, the depth of my emotions lightened by my son’s laugh.
Now that Holden was a dad, he understood how a parent lives and dies with their child’s happiness. Just like that, his happy sound transported me from nearly sobbing to laughing along with him. We waved at the cardinal, who tilted his head at us, then took off.
“I swear,” I said, wiping away happy tears. “That man.”
Major and Beckett turned back, brows furrowed as they pondered us.
Holden waved them off. “Just Pops being Pops.”
Atlas shot us a blistering glare, and we all shut up and stood a little taller. Satisfied that no one was going to ruin his vision for the day, he opened the door with a flourish. “Time to get this show on the road.”
I took a deep breath, and we tightened our hold on each other as everyone marched at a steady tempo into the meeting space. The processional was played by Hendrix’s bandmates and was one of his new acoustic hits slowed to fit the occasion.
