“We ended up…doing something,” he adds.
“Doing something?” she asks, glancing back to her son.
“Yeah. We, uh…”
I can tell he’s struggling with how to put this, so I decide to help him out a bit. “We went and got completely schnockered, and then found this all-night wedding chapel place and got hitched.”
She looks surprised. Samuel looks shocked. I shovel a little more dip in my face.
“Freedom,” he sighs. “That’s not exactly how I was going to tell her.”
“Well, you seemed to be struggling finding the right words.”
“Wait, you’re married?” Mary Ann asks, bringing us back to the other issue at hand. The fact we just told his mom that we got married. A month ago. And didn’t tell her.
“We did,” Samuel answers, as he reaches over and grabs my hand.
She glances back and forth between the two of us, and I start to feel a little moisture in the pit area. Is she mad? Happy? Shocked speechless? Finally, her eyes water as a smile crosses her face. “You’re married,” she says again, as if trying it on for size.
“We are,” I confirm.
The scrape of her chair pushing back startles me. Mary Ann gets up, and panic starts to set in. She’s leaving?
But she doesn’t leave. Instead, she stops in front of me, throws her arms around my shoulders, and…cries. “I’m so happy for you two! I can’t believe you’re actually married,” she says, running a motherly hand across my cheek. “You have always been a part of my family, Freedom, and I’m so excited to make it official.”
My vision blurs with my own tears. “Really?”
“Oh, sweet girl, really. You have no idea how happy this makes me. I mean, I’m a little shocked, to be honest. If any of my kids were going to elope in Vegas, Samuel is the last one I’d suspect,” she says with a giggle.
Then, she goes over to her oldest son and hugs him tightly. She places her palm on his cheek as well, and grins up at him. “I’m so thrilled.”
“Well, if you think that’s exciting, just wait for the rest,” he says with a chuckle.
“There’s more?” she asks, her eyes wide with surprise. “Don’t make me wait.”
“Well, Freedom and I would like to renew our vows next month behind the house on the beach. We’d like to invite close family and friends only.”
“And we’d have the entire meal catered, so you don’t have to do a thing,” I add quickly. Even though Mary Ann and Marissa love to cook and bake, I could never expect them to prepare a meal for our wedding.
She holds up her hands. “What if I insist? Marissa and I would love to prepare the meal. I’m not the best baker when it comes to elaborate cakes, but we could whip up so many specialty desserts. I mean, if that’s what you want. You pick what you two want, but just know the offer stands,” Mary Ann says.
“Thanks, Mom. We’ll discuss it later and let you know?”
“Sounds good,” she says with a wide smile. “Wow, I can’t believe it. Married and getting remarried. What a great surprise,” she says, as she takes her seat again and places a little food on her small plate.
“Actually,” Samuel says, struggling to hide his excitement.
Mary Ann’s hand stops halfway to her mouth. “There’s more?”
Samuel glances my way, his eyes so full of love and joy. “You’re going to be a grandma again.”
Well, if I thought Mary Ann was excited with the wedding and renewal of vows part, the scream that fly lets me know this surprise is her favorite of all. She jumps up and throws her arms around her son. “Really?” she asks, glancing my way with more of those pesky tears in her eyes.
“Really,” I confirm with a nod, my hand automatically going to my abdomen.
She hugs me next, rocking us back and forth as she holds me in her arms. When she pulls back, her tears lay, unchecked, on her cheeks. “You, my dear, are glowing. I’ve never seen you look lovelier than you do right now. Thank you for making my son the happiest I’ve ever seen him.”
My throat is too thick to speak, so I just hug her in return. I want to tell her she has it wrong. That it’s the other way around. In fact, it’s her son who makes me the happiest I’ve ever been. But then I glance his way and see the look in his eyes, and I realize the happiness is a two-way street. We’re in this together, Samuel and me.
Mary Ann squeezes me one last time, but before she releases me whispers, “Thank you for loving my Samuel.”
Her blue eyes shine brightly as she smiles at me, her hand cupping my cheek in that tender way she does. I can’t speak, so I just nod.
Mary Ann nods before finally stepping back. We return to the table and start to snack on the appetizers Samuel made this afternoon. With a plate full of food and a smile on her face, she turns to me and says, “Now, let’s talk about this wedding.”
***
“Where are we going?” I ask as I slip into Harper’s car.
“It’s a surprise.” She gives me an ornery grin as she pulls out of the driveway.
To be honest, I’m a little surprised Samuel allowed my bestie to whisk me away for a few hours. He’s been completely overprotective, hovering almost, since we got home from the emergency room Friday night. Now, here we are on Sunday, and he practically pushed me out the door.
“I’m just happy to be free for a few hours,” I tell her with a smile. “What’s first on our list of debauchery?”
“Lunch!” Harper declares, as if she knew I’d be hungry.
My stomach growls, making us both giggle. “Perfect.”
She drives to our favorite Mexican restaurant. It’s not yet quite as busy as it will be, but there aren’t too many tables open. Sundays after church are a very
