Page 47 of Secret Hudson
She grins. “I left you in good hands, my friend. Tell me, how did Blaise handle it? Think he’d be down for being the groom at the next shindig we throw?”
“You do know this day is about me, right?”
“Uh-huh.” She stares straight ahead, and I follow her gaze down the aisle. All three of the guys are still standing exactly where I saw them last, except now, as I step up to take my own walk down the aisle, they’re all holding the pictures they showed me that night I proposed. Ava’s had them matted and framed, completely color coordinated with every other aspect of the decorations. Then she leans in toward me, squeezing my hand and whispers, “And this is from me.”
When she lets go and I glance down into my palm, I see a tiny platinum baby rattle there. It’s so small it looks like it could have been part of some weird new baby themed monopoly game. “What’s this?”
“My uterus. I’m not saying you should run out and make lots of babies tomorrow, but when the day comes, just know you’ve got an oven for your bun.” She smiles up at me, eyes glossy. “You’re going to have it all, Royce. Anything you want. Anything you dream up. From this day forward, I hope you never hesitate to reach for it ever again.”
I’m speechless. And I stay that way the entire walk down to the altar. Then, just as I think I’m regaining my composure, I look up to see Hudson coming toward me and all I can think is ‘my cup runneth over.’
HUDSON
“You look so handsome, baby,” my mother gushes.
“Thanks, Ma. You look beautiful as well. I’m so glad you’re here with me, to walk with me.” I take her arm in mine.
“Where else would I be?” She uses her free hand to wipe her eyes and I know it’ll be a tear free-for-all before we even make it down the aisle. “You know, for a long time I thought you’d never be able to experience this day. And now here we are. Laws have changed. Rights are being acknowledged. It’s a better world than it was ten years ago. Just think what else will change another ten years from today.”
She’s right. Ten years ago, Royce and I would not have been able to do what we’re doing today. It’s strange and heartbreaking to think of what that might have been like. Ten years ago, marriage wasn’t exactly on my radar. But now, the idea of being denied the freedom to stand up in front of the world and talk about how much I love this man, to make promises to him thatwill bind us for life, is enough to make me want to scream. The ideals of marriage, the fantasy of that happy ever after and the tradition of the ceremony, simply can’t be compared to any other event or exchange. No matter how much some people like to pretend that a commitment ceremony isn’t that different. It is.
So, as I begin the last part of my journey leading me to Royce, I send up a prayer of gratitude, that my world as I know it, is not deprived or limited in any way. That I am loved, not only by my mother, and friends who are more like family, but also, and most importantly, by a man who fought a war to be with me, when he’d never been to battle on his own behalf.
Royce Lemmi is in love with me. And there’s nothing secret about that.
The End.
