“Hey, everyone,” says Tanner softly, getting their attention.
Even with as quietly as he spoke, the conversation stops instantly. Everyone’s eyes are upon me and Tanner, expecting a very important announcement, the mood shifted at once.
Our parents wait to have their hearts broken.
I meet my ma’s eyes.
It’s almost too much to just stand here. I squeeze Tanner’s hand, just like he told me to. Tanner responds with a squeeze right back, misunderstanding, gripping my hand even tighter. “I love you guys. I really, really do. And I love my Billy,” he says to them. “We will … We will always love each other. Forever.” His voice falters. He peers down suddenly, swallowing hard.
Another memory leaps forward. I’m having so many of them suddenly. The hardened look in his eyes, it’s the same one he had when he asked me out on our very first date.
Wow. I recognize it immediately. The same breath-held, tight-throated look.
It causes me to smile.
I must look so demented right now, smiling while Tanner is on the verge of tears.
It’s so interesting to me, that in this moment, words my ma told me keep repeating in my mind. It’s something my dad said to her when they almost broke up thirty-odd years ago. According to her, my pa knelt in front of her, took her hands, and said: “I forgot how to be your husband. But I sure still remember how to be your friend. Can we just … start from there?”
That was the line that did it.
He’d won her back with that.
Tanner finally finds his courage. “What I’m trying to tell you all is that Billy and I are plannin’ to—”
“—move our vow renewal ceremony to the beach!” I cut him off in a burst of cheery energy.