And that hit them all hard. Chris would likely die first, and there wasn’t a day that went by where they weren’t cognizant of it.
Now, there was only one person left, and Gene picked up the final bracelet.
Taking it out of the box, he opened it, and held it out for Elizabeth. It was the smallest of them all, and inside, it said one word.
‘Wife.’
That said it all, and was exactly how Gene felt about her. She’d given him this whole world, and the least that he could do was make her his.
And he was.
“With this bracelet, I want you to know that you’re also mine in every single way that you’re Ethan’s. To me, there are no walls once you take this. I want to be part of you, and have you be part of me.”
She stared into his eyes.
“Make sure you’re positive you want that, Gene. We can have walls. I’m fine with it.”
He wasn’t.
Before, he married just Ethan, but if they were going to have an open marriage, then it would be completely open. No one would feel like they were less than anyone else.
PERIOD.
“I want this whole family—not pieces of it. I want the drama, and the messiness. I want the joy and the happiness. I want all of it, including the parts that give Ethan everything he needs. We’re a family, so let’s be one. With this bracelet, I call you wife, confidant, and family.”
She held out her wrist, and Gene snapped the bracelet closed and held her arm as the jeweler locked it in place.
It was done.
Their family was complete.
As soon as they were all in bracelets, Ethan took over. It was time to make sure the world knew who they were.
“It’s my pleasure to introduce my husband to all of you,” Ethan said, speaking loudly. “This is Gene Cantrell Blackhawk, and he’s part of our world—until death do us part.”
The whole place began clapping, and Ethan found his husband’s mouth with his, and they kissed.
As they did, all the kids came running from their seats, and bum rushed them.
It made Gene laugh, and in that moment, his heart felt so light and happy. There was nothing better than this moment.
“We love you, Dad,” EJ and CJ said together.
He’d been wrong.
That was the best moment.
“I love you both too, Sons,” he said, trying it out, and it had a nice ring to it. It also brought tears to his eyes. Gene literally had everything in the world he’d ever wanted.
A family.
His brothers back.
A good man.
And now, he even had a wife.
Today was the best day of his existence, and he’d never forget it for as long as he lived.
