“Where are the kids, Ave? Go find them and bring the herd to the dance floor to watch.”
Our little girl was lucky she had a slew of honorary cousins. Between Layla, the Colton twins, and Asher’s older nieces, there was no shortage of family. I loved that for her. I loved that for me. When my parents died, I accepted that it was going to be just Tack and me, and honestly, that would’ve been enough. It was enough. But once loud holiday dinners and fun family vacations become your norm you couldn’t imagine life without it. Ash gave me that. He gave Tack that. He gave us the family we never knew we were missing.
Sierra knocked my elbow and pulled me from my thoughts. She sipped her margarita through a huge grin on her face. I was too curious not to ask, “What are you cheesing about?”
“The first time Asher pulled you out on the dance floor at the KimCore New Year’s party. I thought for sure he was gonna bang you right in front of everyone.”
“Sierra,” I snapped. “Shh.”
She was never quiet. Ever. And to this day I never knew what was going to fly out of her mouth. I’d come to expect the unexpected. And it was fabulous.
“What? You were humping his leg. Don’t even try and deny it. It was hotter than porn, seriously. Tell her, Lil.”
Lili walked up to us, rolling her eyes at her BFF. Some things never changed. “Aww, he was so in love with you even then.”
“Aww,” I cooed back. I couldn’t help it. Sierra was so right. “That was the night we decided we were done being just friends, god, that feels like yesterday.”
The music switched and I heard the first couple notes of our favorite Dave Matthews song. Traditional mother-son it wasn’t, but neither were we.
“Hate to break it to you, sweetie, but from everything that man ever told me, you were never just friends, not to him.” Lil took the Prosecco from my hand and swatted me away. “Now go. Go dance with your son so Sier and I can cry our eyes out and get it over with.”
“Okay.” I left the two best girlfriends in the history of all girlfriends, and slid through the guests congregating at the edge of the dance floor to join Tack in the center.
He looked so unbelievably handsome, my heart flipped. No longer small, no longer playing under tables. I could only pray he’d never stop dreaming. I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck and sang in his ear, Take these chances, as we sailed across the floor. My right leg never regained full strength, but you would never know the way my son half held my weight. He was a smooth and great dancer, just like Asher.
I laughed as he practiced his fancy moves on me. “Taught from the best,” he whispered. Asher loved to whirl me around any chance he could get. “Let’s get Ava up with us.” He finger curled for his sister and she practically ran across the floor to squeeze in between us. Her infectious smile was contagious as she stared up into her brother’s eyes. Unconditional … have I proved my point yet?
“Having fun, sweetie?” I asked.
“This is the best night ever. Tack, this is so awesome. I can’t wait to get married,” Ava giggled. Tack’s grey eyes went wide and when his brow creased, I had to laugh. Like father, like son. I loved when I thought that.
“You have time, baby. Lots of time.” He spun us both once more while the song came to its closing chord. Tack picked her up and kissed her forehead.
“Thanks, Tack-ers.” Ava skipped her patent leather mini heels off the dance floor. Yup, all Sierra.
Tack slung his arm over my shoulder and dipped his mouth to my ear. “Mom, you keep telling me this is our day, but will you please reconsider performing the song? It would really mean so much to Paige and me, everyone actually.”
“I don’t know, honey.”
“Not taking no for an answer.”
Ahh. Bossy and persistent, yet so full of love and compassion. The mixture of all of them, it was frightening. Tack walked away to mingle with his guests and I squeezed my eyes shut for a minute. How could I not sing it?
A warm hand slid into mine and I blinked open my eyes. “A beautiful evening for two beautiful people. Everything is just lovely, darling. You should be so proud.” I quietly returned Maggie’s loving squeeze because any other response was unnecessary. She was a mother; she knew exactly how I felt. “You know, people always say that a son’s wedding day is harder, because you lose part of him to his new wife. Don’t listen. It’s not true. The day Asher married you, we not only gained a daughter, but you put a light back in his eyes we hadn’t seen in years, thought was lost forever. Hope and promise … nothing hard about that day, nothing at all. We loved every second...”
It had been over a decade and she still spoke in plurals, we. I understood it now. God, did I.
“You look beautiful, Ma. Did you have anything to eat?” I changed the subject. I couldn’t engage her right now.
“Does it look like I’m wasting way? Molly made me a plate.”
I chuckled. Asher was the first to say Molly was his second mother.
Chase came around the other side and kissed Maggie’s cheek. “How’s my beautiful Mags?” She beamed at him, absolutely loving his endearment. “Tal, I need you for a minute, it’s time.”
“Go, dear. I’ll check on the girls.” With one last squeeze she released my hand and walked away.
“Not you too.” Chase had the same look as Tack. Who was I kidding? Chase never didn’t have this look.
“Come on, Tack wants us to go on now, before speeches. They just announced for everyone to take their seats for dinner.”
“I still haven’t decided,” I said that out loud, but my heart told me the opposite.
“Yes, you have.”
Ugh.
The band slipped off to the side, abandoning their instruments. Lili was at my side whispering words of encouragement, while I fought with the swarm of butterflies, maybe bees that took up camp in my stomach. I couldn’t believe I was about to do this. It was part Asher’s fault for making me sing at our wedding, and part Lil’s fault for insisting we try the ‘band’ thing one last time at her boys’ first birthday bash. Right, one last time.
I tried to take a deep breath, but it wouldn’t make it past the thick lump in my throat. Tack had already slid in behind the drums, and Chase was onstage tuning the guitar and plucking a couple notes. Lili handed me a cold glass of water and whispered, “It’s gonna be perfect, Tal. It is perfect.”
Perfect.
She had no idea just how perfect it was.
I took center stage and picked up the microphone. I knew if I spoke, if I introduced the song or its meaning, the first note would never make it out. So I just nodded at the guys. Tack tapped the rhythm on the drums and Chase strummed the opening chords. I closed my eyes and found that warm and cozy place I had grown to love.
Our world came crashing down
Only one of us walking away
Scared, only one of us running
Strong, only one of us fighting to stay
Only one of us believing ... yeah
I tossed aside your love
Numb to your power inside
Instead I cowered in the corner only to look above
Searching for the answers I knew I would never find
Now I’m done
I’m beautifully done
Your green sparkle wit and charm is all I need
All I’ll ever need
Now I’m done ... yeaaaah
I’m beautifully done