WE GOT TO THE CHURCH at noon with the wedding scheduled for one o’clock. Mom looked great in a strapless silver dress. Angie had called and told Dad that he didn’t need to give her away, her father had agreed to do it. I guess last night had been interesting. Her parents had tried to talk her out of marrying Greg. They finally relented when she told them that if they interfered, they would never see Kyle again.
Once they gave in to the inevitable, they started to rebuild their relationship. I wasn’t too sure I wanted to meet them. No one that would turn their back on their little girl in her time of need rated very high in my book. The best thing we ever did was have her and Kyle move in with us.
Mom had been irritated all week because her brother, Uncle Jim, had told her they couldn’t make it to Greg’s wedding. He had a work assignment come up. I was disappointed Aunt Tanya and the girls weren’t coming. Grandma Felton wasn’t feeling well and wouldn’t be coming, either. So no one from Mom’s side of the family would be there.
Greg and Angie had decided to keep the wedding small. Of our friends, only Cindy, who was the maid of honor, and of course Beth and her parents were there. Angie had invited several college friends. Mom had told me they had only invited forty people. Only Cindy and I were standing up with them.
When it was finally time, Greg and I were standing up front, waiting.
“There’s still time to run,” I offered Greg. “I’ll take one for the team, and you can make a clean break for it.”
“Jerk, you just want to marry my girl.”
“You got me. I think I love her and Kyle almost as much as you do. You’re a lucky man.”
He gave me a tight smile and then the music started. Cindy came walking down the aisle. She was a vision. Even the horrible bridesmaid dress couldn’t detract from her beauty. Both Greg and I glanced at each other and tried not to put too big a grin on our faces. Cindy looked at me and saw me wink at her. She bit her lower lip and tried not to look at me.
Then the music changed to the wedding march. Angie looked like an angel. Adrienne had gotten her a dress from one of her designers. She looked fabulous. My brother agreed because I heard Greg suck in his breath when he saw her.
I nudged him and whispered, “Breathe.”
“Who gives this woman away?” the Pastor asked.
“I, John Connor, give this woman away,” Angie’s dad said, and he pulled her veil back and kissed her on the cheek.
He held her hand and put it into Greg’s. Greg helped her up the steps. Kyle chose that moment to start crying. He could see his mom and dad. Without thinking, I went and took him from his Grandma Connor and told him to shush. He quieted right down, so I went back to my spot and gave his mom and dad a sheepish look. Angie just nodded that it was okay.
The ceremony was quick, and my brother was soon married. I had never seen him happier. Someday that would be me.
WE TOOK PICTURES IN the church’s garden. When we were done, Cindy gave me a ride to the country club. I was wondering what was going on when she pulled into an office complex. I figured it out when she undid her seatbelt and slid over to kiss me. What is it about weddings that makes women horny? Mind you, I wasn’t complaining. We then continued our journey to the reception.
The reception only had one incident. Mr. Connor had a couple too many and made some comment within earshot of my mom. She escorted him out into the hall. When they came back, Mr. Connor was red-faced and Mom had a satisfied look. I wish I’d been a fly on the wall for that one. Mr. Connor was much better behaved after that. I have found that having a talk with my mom will do that.
Chapter 5 – Guys’ Weekend
First Week of June
GREG AND ANGIE LEFT for Chicago and would be gone until Thursday. Kyle was staying with us for the week. He was my responsibility during the day.
Jim wasn’t happy when I put Kyle’s car seat in the back seat of his car. We met the guys at the health club to work out. The health club had daycare, so Kyle got plenty of attention. I’d talked Bill, Mike and Wolf into showing up so we could run passing drills. They had a big grassy area, so we had plenty of room. We’d progressed to running actual plays.
We modified the Wesleyan drill to add some defense. Since we had an extra guy, we had two defenders. We would switch it up and go from zone to man-to-man to max-man coverage where two guys would defend one. Wolf and Bill had to work hard to get open and Mike and I had to learn when and where to throw the ball.
Jim took us to Beth’s for lunch. After lunch, Kyle and I would swim with Beth. He loved the water. Mom had me go to the Andersons’ because she was worried about me being responsible for Kyle all day. Everyone was much more comfortable with Kyle in daycare and going to Mrs. A’s. Mrs. A would put him down for his nap after he swam for a little bit.
Mrs. A was his third grandma and took care of him for the rest of the day for me. Beth and I would relax in the hot tub and lie out, working on our tans. By Wednesday, word had gotten out, and Mona, Kim and Sammie were showing up to tan also. Tracy showed up on Thursday.
At four o’clock each day, we’d go back to my house and I would make a five-gallon container of Gatorade. I would use a half-gallon plastic ice-cream container to make a chunk of ice each night and throw it into the beverage cooler. By four-thirty, everyone would show up and Cassidy would put us through our paces. We consistently had over forty people working out.
Mom or Dad would pick up Kyle from Mrs. A’s on the way home.
By the time Angie and Greg came home, Kyle was a little red from getting too much sun, but overall he’d survived his week with his uncle.
Friday June 6
DAD WANTED US UP EARLY so we could go to Uncle John’s. Our ‘guys’ weekend’ was finally here. I came down from my apartment with my packed bag to find Angie cooking. Kyle saw me and wanted to be held. I picked him up and kissed Angie’s cheek.
I started to go for some bacon.
“Hold up there, buster. You have blood tests this morning. You can’t eat anything until afterward,” Angie chastised me.
Are you kidding me? I thought Dad and Uncle John were just teasing us. Were they really going to do blood work on us? I wondered what else was in store. I got a glass of water and started to get my supplements out, and heard Angie clicking her tongue. I guess I couldn’t have that either.
“Can you help me out today?” I asked.
“Sure, what do you need?”
“Cassidy will be here around four o’clock to set up for our afternoon workout. Can you help her make the Gatorade?”
I showed her where the mix was and how much to use. I was getting low and needed to get more mix. I would have to talk Mom into taking me to Sam’s Club. I then showed her the block of ice I made each day to help keep it cold. I made them use reusable water bottles for the Gatorade. Over the years, I’d collected several, and gave them out to the people who didn’t have one. I didn’t like cleaning up disposables and dealing with the trash.
Mom and Angie ate in front of us. Dad, Greg and I each had a big glass of water. Dad and Mom talked and Greg and Angie had their conversation. I got some Kyle-time. I had him all wound up by the time we had to leave. Angie took one look at her giggling mess of a son and gave me the evil eye. The good news was that he would need a nap soon.
WE MET UNCLE JOHN AT Dr. Chapin’s office. He was the doctor for the small community where Uncle John lived. I got to go first. He did a complete physical and pronounced me healthy as a horse. I was now six-three. That was another inch since August. He told me that I might grow another inch or two. The nurse came in and took four vials of blood. It seemed like a lot. I had to tell her all the supplements I took.