Chapter 23: The Wedding Date
The Morning After Coming Home
Jay woke in their bed.
Their room.
Their home.
Sunlight streamed through the windows.
Keifer's arms were around her.
Warm.
Safe.
Perfect.
She stretched slowly.
Pressed closer to him.
Listened to his heartbeat.
Alive.
Free.
Hers.
He stirred.
Pulled her tighter.
Kissed her hair.
"Morning, miracle."
She smiled.
"Morning, love."
"How do you feel?"
She considered.
Honest.
"Perfect.
Absolutely perfect."
He opened his eyes.
Those storm-gray eyes soft.
Loving.
Hers.
"Good.
Because we have a whole life to live.
Starting today."
She kissed him.
Soft.
Sweet.
Full of forever.
"Then let's start."
---
Breakfast Chaos
They walked downstairs together.
Hand in hand.
Still not quite believing.
Still grateful for every moment.
The kitchen was chaos.
Normal chaos.
Beautiful chaos.
Keiran was already eating cereal.
Half on his face.
Half on the floor.
Telling a long story about dinosaurs.
Keigan was reading.
As always.
Ignoring his brother's mess.
Percy was stealing bacon from Aries's plate.
Aries was threatening him with a fork.
Mamma was refereeing.
Pappa was hiding behind his newspaper.
Everyone looked up when they entered.
Keiran waved his spoon.
"KUYA JAY!
KUYA KAI!
You're up!
You're here!
You're better!
Today is the best day!"
Jay laughed.
Ruffled his messy hair.
"Every day is the best day, little monster."
He considered this.
Nodded.
"You're right.
But today is EXTRA best."
---
The Question
They sat down to breakfast.
Jay between Keifer and Keiran.
Hands touching under the table.
Always connected.
Mamma looked at them.
Eyes soft.
Knowing.
"So.
Now that Jay is better...
Have you two talked about the wedding?"
Jay glanced at Keifer.
He smiled.
Took her hand.
"We've talked.
But not seriously.
Not about dates."
Percy leaned forward.
"Dates!
Yes!
When?
Where?
What color scheme?
I have opinions!"
Aries pulled him back.
"No one asked for your opinions."
Percy gasped.
"Opinions are free!
Everyone wants them!"
Keigan looked up from his book.
"Actually, studies show most people don't want unsolicited opinions.
Especially about weddings."
Percy stared at him.
"You're twelve.
Why are you like this?"
Keigan shrugged.
"Genetics."
---
The Discussion
Mamma cleared her throat.
"Perhaps we should let the bride and groom discuss this?
Without interruption?"
Percy raised his hand.
"I'll try.
No promises."
Mamma ignored him.
Looked at Jay.
"When are you thinking, darling?"
Jay took a breath.
Looked at Keifer.
Those storm-gray eyes so full of love.
"Soon.
I think.
As soon as possible."
Keifer squeezed her hand.
"Really?
You don't want to wait?
Plan something huge?"
She shook her head.
"I've waited long enough.
We've waited long enough.
Life is short.
We learned that the hard way."
He lifted her hand.
Kissed her knuckles.
"Then soon it is.
How soon?"
She thought.
Considered.
"A month?
Two months?
Enough time to plan.
But not too long to wait."
Mamma clapped her hands.
"Perfect!
A month gives us time.
Not too rushed.
Not too far."
Keiran raised his hand.
"What about me?
I'm the ring bearer!
I need time to practice!"
Keigan sighed.
"You don't practice being ring bearer.
You just walk and hold the rings."
Keiran waved a hand.
"Details.
I need to practice walking.
I trip sometimes."
Percy snorted.
"Sometimes?
You trip constantly.
Remember last week?
You fell into the cake."
Keiran gasped.
"That was ONE time!
And the cake was delicious anyway!"
Everyone laughed.
Joy filling the kitchen.
Hope filling their hearts.
---
The Date
Mamma pulled out a calendar.
Flipped through pages.
Nodded to herself.
"Okay.
A month from today?
That gives us four weeks.
Plenty of time."
Jay looked at Keifer.
He nodded.
"Works for me.
As long as you're my wife by the end of it."
She smiled.
"Then it's settled.
A month from today."
Pappa lowered his newspaper.
Looked at them over the rim.
"Where?
Here?
In the garden?"
Jay's eyes lit up.
"The garden.
Where Keifer proposed.
Where we spent so many quiet moments.
It's perfect."
Mamma nodded.
"Garden wedding.
Intimate.
Beautiful.
Perfect for spring."
Keiran jumped up.
"I'll decorate!
With Rex!
We'll make it dinosaur themed!
With volcanoes!"
Keigan shook his head.
"No.
No dinosaurs.
It's a wedding, not a museum."
Keiran crossed his arms.
"Dinosaurs are for EVERY occasion.
Weddings.
Birthdays.
Funerals.
Everything."
Percy laughed.
"He's not wrong.
Dinosaurs do make everything better."
Jay grinned.
"Maybe just one dinosaur.
For Keiran.
At the reception."
Keiran beamed.
"DEAL!
Rex will be the guest of honor!"
---
The Planning Begins
Breakfast turned into wedding planning.
The table covered in notebooks.
Magazines.
Color swatches.
Guest lists.
Mamma took charge.
Naturally.
"Okay.
Guest list first.
Immediate family only?
Or extended?"
Jay looked at Keifer.
"Immediate.
Just us.
Just the people who carried me through the darkness."
Keifer nodded.
"Agreed.
No business associates.
No distant relatives.
Just family."
Percy raised his hand.
"I'm family, right?
I'm definitely family."
Aries patted his head.
"Yes, Perce.
You're family.
Unfortunately."
Percy grinned.
"Unfortunately nothing.
I'm the best family.
I bring the chaos."
Mamma continued.
"Colors?
Theme?
Flowers?"
Jay thought.
"White.
Simple.
Elegant.
Like the hope I found in the darkness."
Keifer squeezed her hand.
"Perfect.
Like you."
She blushed.
"Cheesy."
"Honest."
---
Keiran's Contributions
Keiran was determined to help.
He drew pictures.
Lots of pictures.
Dinosaurs in tuxedos.
Volcanoes with flowers.
Rex as the ring bearer.
He presented them proudly.
"For the wedding!
Inspiration!"
Jay studied each drawing seriously.
"These are beautiful, Keiran.
I think Rex as ring bearer is a brilliant idea."
Keiran nodded.
"I know.
I'm full of brilliant ideas."
Keigan muttered.
"Full of something."
Keiran stuck out his tongue.
"Jealous because you didn't think of it."
Keigan raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't want to think of it.
There's a difference."
Jay laughed.
Pulled them both into a hug.
"I love you both.
So much."
Keiran hugged back.
"I love you too, Kuya Jay.
Even if Kuya Koya is mean."
Keigan sighed.
"I'm not mean.
I'm realistic."
Keiran stuck out his tongue again.
"Same thing."
---
Percy's Ideas
Percy had ideas too.
Lots of ideas.
Most of them terrible.
"Okay, hear me out.
What if the groomsmen wear superhero costumes?
And the bridesmaids wear matching capes?"
Aries stared at him.
"No."
Percy continued.
"Okay, okay.
What if we release doves?
But not regular doves.
Glow-in-the-dark doves?"
Aries rubbed his temples.
"No."
Percy wasn't done.
"What about a flash mob?
During the ceremony?
I could choreograph something amazing."
Keifer spoke.
"Percy.
I love you like a brother.
But absolutely not."
Percy sighed.
"Fine.
You're all boring.
But my ideas are amazing."
Mamma patted his cheek.
"They are, dear.
Amazingly inappropriate for a wedding."
Percy grinned.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
---
The Garden
After breakfast, Jay and Keifer walked to the garden.
Their garden.
Where he'd proposed.
Where they'd spent so many quiet moments.
Spring flowers were blooming.
Color everywhere.
Life everywhere.
Jay breathed deep.
"This is where we'll say our vows.
Under that tree.
With everyone watching."
Keifer held her hand.
"It's perfect.
You're perfect."
She looked at him.
Those storm-gray eyes so full of love.
"A month from today.
I'll be your wife."
He kissed her forehead.
"A month from today.
I'll be your husband."
She smiled.
"Mrs. Watson.
I like the sound of that."
He grinned.
"Jasper Jean Watson.
Beautiful."
She laughed.
"Jay Watson.
Even better."
He pulled her close.
"My Jay.
My wife.
My forever."
She kissed him.
Soft.
Sweet.
Full of promise.
---
The Return
They walked back to the house.
Hand in hand.
Planning their future.
Dreaming together.
The family was still in the kitchen.
Still planning.
Still laughing.
Still loving.
Keiran ran to them.
"KUYA JAY!
KUYA KAI!
We picked the cake!
Chocolate!
With dinosaur sprinkles!"
Keigan sighed.
"Mamma said no dinosaur sprinkles.
We're getting flowers."
Keiran pouted.
"But dinosaurs are better."
Jay knelt down.
"How about this?
Flowers on the cake.
But dinosaur cookies on the side.
Just for you."
Keiran's face lit up.
"REALLY?
Dinosaur cookies?
All for me?"
Jay nodded.
"All for you.
Because you're the best ring bearer ever."
Keiran hugged her.
"Best day EVER!
Well, wedding day will be best day.
But this day is also good."
Everyone laughed.
Joy filling the kitchen.
Love filling their hearts.
---
Evening
That night, Jay and Keifer sat on the patio.
Stars overhead.
City lights in the distance.
Quiet at last.
She leaned against him.
His arm around her.
Her head on his shoulder.
"A month," she whispered.
"A month and we're married."
He kissed her hair.
"A month and you're mine.
Officially.
Forever."
She smiled.
"Legally yours.
Already yours in every way that matters."
He held her tighter.
"Always have been.
From the moment you walked into my office.
You were mine."
She looked up at him.
Those storm-gray eyes soft.
Loving.
Hers.
"I love you, Mark Keifer Watson."
He kissed her.
Slow.
Sweet.
Full of forever.
"I love you too, Jasper Jean Mariano.
Soon to be Watson.
My wife.
My life.
My everything."
She pressed closer.
"A month.
We can wait a month."
He grinned.
"Barely.
But for you?
I'd wait forever."
She laughed.
"Cheesy."
"Honest."
---
The Decision
They sat together.
Watching the stars.
Dreaming together.
"Keifer?"
"Yeah, love?"
"Thank you.
For asking me to marry you.
For loving me through the darkness.
For never leaving."
He kissed her forehead.
"Thank you for saying yes.
For fighting.
For staying."
She smiled.
"Together.
Always together."
He held her close.
"Together.
Forever."
A month.
Just a month.
Then she'd be his wife.
Then forever would officially begin.
But really?
Forever had already started.
The moment she walked into his office.
The moment he caught her when she fell.
The moment they chose love over fear.
Forever had already begun.
The wedding was just the celebration.
---
End of Chapter 23