Dad took me for a round of golf while Alice took Mom to the flower market. It let them bond while doing something Alice loves.
“Maybe when you come out and visit us next, you can do a flower class for my wine club.”
“I’d love to.”
“Welcome. I’m Daisy and I’ll be your server tonight. Can I get you anything to drink?” our waitress asks with a tablet in hand.
“Hi Daisy,” Mom starts. “We’re celebrating these two getting married, so we’ll take a bottle of the house red.”
“Four glasses?”
“Please,” I tell her.
She nods before leaving us to the menus. Mom hands Dad his glasses and he takes them without looking. I study the two of them as they peruse the offerings.
I don’t know if I’ve ever realized how in sync they are. Is this what marriage is like? You sense what the other person is going to be doing and when? Knowing someone better than you know yourself?
“Should we?—”
“We’ll get the beef pancake rolls,” I tell Alice, finishing her sentence.
“Good. Those sound delicious.”
I lean back and drape my arm across her chair. I hide my smile. I know we’re technically married—even if only for the next year—but there is no one in my life I know better than Alice. No one knows me better than she does.
“Alright, here we are.” The waitress appears with the bottle of wine and four glasses. “Would anyone like to do a taste test?”
“No. It will only slow her down.” Dad thumbs in Mom’s direction. “You can go ahead and pour.”
“Fantastic. Would you like to start with any shareables?”
“We’ll do an order of the crab rangoon, your green beans, and the beef pancake rolls,” I tell her.
“I’ll get that in right away and let you enjoy your wine and will be back soon for your orders.”
“She is so sweet,” Mom gushes. “You know, in the past, I would have tried to set you up with her, but I think those days are behind us.”
“Now, now, Kathleen.” Dad pats her hand. “Why don’t we toast the happy couple?”
“Yes, before you try and pawnmy husbandoff on our unsuspecting waitress.”
A feeling I’ve never felt rolls through me at hearing her call me her husband. I’ve had a few relationships here and there throughout the years, but none ever stuck. They hated my travel schedule, and I can’t blame them.
Even if this is temporary, I belong to someone. I’m Alice’s. I want to be hers.
She’s always been the most important person in my life. If anything happened, she was my first call.
First NHL goal? I called Alice.
When I got traded? I called Alice.
Wanting someone by my side when we won the Cup? Alice.
It’s always been her.
“Declan? Would you like some?” Alice nudges me in the side.
Somewhere between being lost in my thoughts and Alice nudging me, our appetizers came.
