Jeremy stood next to me with his hands in his pockets, but his face was white as he asked, “Where is mom going?”
I tilted my head and then mimicked his body stance though my back went tight. I never slouched, but I said, “To get a dress, her hair, and makeup. Do you want to go with her or come with me to do the guy stuff like getting our clothes and picking out the ring for her? You know her better, so I’d need your help and, if you come with me, you can help pick out your own clothes.”
“I like picking out my own clothes.” I stilled. I’d hoped we’d get a few minutes to ourselves to get to know him, but I held my breath until I heard the words, “Bye, Mom.”
Good. My chest poofed out a little that my son wanted to come with me. I’d ensure he had a good time. After she left, the wedding staff directed us toward a store and mentioned they’d taken Georgie to Nieman Marcus for a dress.
I insisted the charges were mine and the staff promised to take care of everything. I walked beside my boy and heard Jeremy as we walked into the suit shop, “Michael, thanks for letting me come. I’ve never been to a wedding.”
Near the tuxedo shop, I spotted an ice cream shop in the mall area, which would be fun to check out, if we had the time. “Glad you’re here. You’re my son. I’m hoping you and I get closer the more we spend time together.”
His face was red, but he nodded. “That sounds good. I’d like that.”
A few minutes later, we both came out wearing matching black suits with white tops. Two different tailors worked on us to keep the fitting on schedule, as Jeremy said, “I always wanted mom to marry.”
I stilled as I didn’t want my son to think weddings were twice or more and said, “She’s only marrying me, your father. So this is a one-time thing.”
He laughed like I’d just said a funny joke but then quieted down and said, “Good, because her and my aunts and uncles, all saying they don’t want to ever marry just made me sad.”
“Uncles?”
“I guess they are my mom’s cousins, but I call them my uncles. Mom said they are like her brothers because, at one point, they all lived together when they were little.”
Cousins and siblings would be nice. I’d never had any. Her parents’ deaths were clearly hurtful for her. Hopefully, in time, the wedding would be a dream for both of us and not just about the money for her. I knelt down despite the pins and said, “They said that, and you heard?”
The tailor tugged for me to stand, but I only moved when Jeremy started talking and staring like I’d just started a revolt. “Yeah. They said they’d never be like my grandma and die without living. I don’t want my mom to be sad and lonely when I go to college one day.”
College had been fun, where I’d finally signed for recruiting into a farm system. I'd finished my degree online during my rookie year, and that was why I’d gone to the Bahamas to celebrate. Then, I'd met Georgie, so it was part of the cycle. I tugged my ear and then the tailor tapped that he was done. I beamed with pride at how handsome Jeremy was when I said, “Thanks for sharing. She mentioned a little, but I hadn’t thought it ran that deep.”
Tuxedos were done and alterations had taken an hour. Hotel security guided us to a jewelry shop and mentioned Georgie was now in the spa.
I suspected she’d be on time.
The diamonds were big, but Georgie was my princess, so I went with one of them and a simple gold ring that I’d have to match.
I asked my son, “What do you think of this one?”
“It’s cool,” he said. “Mom said she loved my Aunt Stephanie’s ring and that was way smaller.”
That was all I’d get. I paid and we headed back when the wedding staff took us back to the store. Time was flying today. We only had ten minutes now. We rushed in the tux shop, where I said, “Then let’s get dressed. It’s time to meet your mom.”
We dressed and the staff helped us with our hair for two minutes. Mine was short, so there wasn’t much to comb. I went down to one knee and asked, “Do you want to cut those sides so you can see the ball better when you play?”
“I heard you talking to Mom at the game. You think my hair is why I can’t catch well?”
“Yeah.”
“Do it.” He nodded at me and stood like a soldier.
I took the clippers from the girl and shaved the edges myself and then handed it back for her to finish his cut.
As she finished, Jeremy stared up at me. I patted him on the back and said, “You’re even more handsome now.”
He beamed at me like I’d just given him the biggest gift out there.
Jeremy walked beside me and, again, I saw my father in his face. We made it to the bridge and saw the lineup for the gondolas. The wedding staff directed us to a side entrance, and toward a waiting boat with a minister.
“Is this a boat?” Jeremy asked as we jumped in.
He put his weight back and forth to shake the boat and then as I reached him, he put his head over the side and checked that there was water or something. He sat in his seat like he was fine a moment later.
I leaned forward. “Your mom said she wanted to get married on the gondola. She wanted privacy.”
He took his phone out of his pocket and asked, “Can I take a picture to send to my aunts and uncles?”
“Yeah,” I said. The wedding staff was moving. Finally, I’d have the only woman in my heart as mine for a
