I laughed as another knock came on the door. Brent’s eyes went wide as Dare and Greer walked in. He burst out in uncontrollable laughter.
“Well Merry Christmas to you too, asshole,” Dare laughed, then pulled him into a hug.
“Why aren’t you two in San Diego?” He turned and pointed to the TV.
“It was a simple decision,” Greer said, “we wanted to be here.”
Before Brent could unravel that thought, another knock sounded from the door. I hurried to answer it.
“Hey Dad.” Laura walked into my open arms.
“Hey to you. I’m so glad you’re here,” I said, almost choked up.
She pulled back to look at me. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
“Come on,” I said, beaming at her. “Let me introduce you to the rest of the family.”
When everyone had settled in on the sofa with a glass of wine and something to eat, I got up and went to the tree. I pulled out the box wrapped in gold paper. Dare and Greer pulled the coffee table out of the way as I got down on one knee in front of my husband.
“John,” he said as I took his hand.
“Brent, we didn’t have a fairytale beginning. You don’t even remember what happened when Santa pronounced us husband and husband and we’ve never gotten around to buying rings. So I wanted to make it right. I want a memory we can tell our kids about being surrounded by the people we love the most.”
Pete reached into his bag he’d brought in and handed it to Brent.
“What’s this?”
He smiled at his nephew. “Something I thought you might like.”
Brent looked at me as if he didn’t know whether to open it now, or let me finish. He didn't know I’d orchestrated all of this. Not yet anyway. “Open it, sweetheart.”
Reaching into the bag, he pulled out an eight by ten photo frame that held a picture of the three of them. His brother, his father, and him.
Clutching it to his chest, he bent forward as tears filled his eyes. When he could speak, he looked up at his uncle. “Thank you, Uncle Pete.”
“If they were still with us, I know in my heart they’d be here for this,” he said, motioning back to me.
Brent looked into my eyes, then placed the frame on the table, making me smile.
“You were saying?”
I took his hand in mine. “Brent Trainor, love of my life, and my ride or die. Would you please do me the honor of remarrying me?”
His face split into the most beautiful smile, his eyelashes damp from tears. “I’d love to remarry you.”
I kissed him and handed him the box. “I think we need these to get things started.”
Like a kid at Christmas, he ripped the paper open and opened the ring box that held two gold wedding bands. When he went to pull them out, I stopped him.
“We’re going to do this right without Santa Claus this time.”
I looked over at Pete who already knew what I wanted. I’d planned this meticulously.
Taking him by the hand, I looked into his eyes. “We’re going to renew our vows tonight before we exchange those rings.”
Brent nodded as I got to my feet and pulled him up.
“Pete, would you do the honors? Laura, I need you by my side.”
