I was supposed to be hidden until the bridal march began, but I had to watch Joe walk our rings up, and take his place by his father, Nax winking at his Best Young Man.
Bennett griped about not being picked for the esteemed position — so like him to want to be the hero. That made Josh mess with Bennett’s head, explaining it would have been him, and not Benny, and that’s why Nax chose Joe. So there wouldn’t have been a rift in their friendship. Totally untrue, but they debated it for almost an hour — very fun to watch.
Christina, ready to pop but hopefully not today, whispers, “This is Tucking unbelievable, Zia. There’s a huge dinosaur skeleton watching over us,” and walks out first with Tempest in matching violet behind her, trying very hard not to laugh.
The music changes to my cue, and everyone stands up, facing me and the tears that slide down my happy cheeks.
My brother and I lock eyes and he mouths, “You look beautiful.”
Giving him a smile of thanks, I take a deep breath and walk toward my future, long silk train my wake on floors I’ve called my second home for years.
Nax’s easy smile grows as our eyes lock with love, minds on the promises we’re about to make, ones we will keep.
As I take my place at his side, my handsome man whispers, “Do we get to keep the Tucking dinosaur?”
Laughter breaks free from my heart and I can’t control the impulse to kiss him.
Evan shouts, “Hey! It’s not time for that yet!”
So Nax pulls me into his arms, “Here’s how it’s done!"
Cheers erupt from all sides as we kiss like crazy, flashing cameras capturing the moment that ends up on magazine covers, and will be framed to hang on our wall.
As Nax and I kiss, with everyone going wild, we don’t know it yet, but we have twins in our future, one boy and one girl, while I’m going back to school.
Joe will get another little brother, too, from Liz, born nearly at the same time. This coincidence will grow a friendship between us as we work as a team to offer the support all of our children will rely on.
Christmases will be spent together in New York City, our broken families mended and looking out for one another through thick and thin.
Because as tough as Liz is, she’ll catch the Tuck bug, soften up and realize what my family has known all along, that laughter is the gold of life.
You don’t have to find it.
You Tucking make it.
Every chance you Tucking get.
THE END.
Turn the page for who’s next!
Every Single Thing About You - 1st Chapter
TEMPEST:
I light the eleventh candle, blowing out a match. “Today we’re going to open up those hips.”
Over the sound of yoga mats unrolling behind me, students exhale. My class is about to begin, New Yorkers trickling in for a Yin Stretch practice to release stress from their bodies and their spirits — the battery that powers life itself.
Those who have been to my class before borrow blankets and yoga blocks from stacks on the south wall, carrying them to a space they’ll call their own for one delicious hour. Those who haven’t, watch and follow the example, but their hesitation betrays an unspoken status of newbie.
I notice, but don’t point it out.
If I shine a spotlight by directing newbies to the blocks and blankets myself, they travel inward and hide, energetically. Nobody likes to be singled out when they’ve joined a quiet group like this for the first time.
I pretend I don’t see the early-twenties computer-programmer-type dropping his blocks and scrambling to pick them back up, face flushing with embarrassment.
I pretend not to notice the delicate woman in her thirties tiptoeing to an open space, insecurity darting her eyes from this person to that in search of approval or judgment.
My mission is to help all students — new and experienced — shed self-consciousness.
Walking barefoot with toenails pale lavender, I cross to the stage, telling my class with a voice as calming as the spa playlist I chose for today’s practice, “As you settle in, shed the outside world. In this room your troubles do not exist. In this room I offer you a safe space to simply be and let it all go.”
Beside my violet mat are three lit candles held by spherical iron, two of the five elements represented in the studio. Third are wood floors that ground our energy. Fourth is water represented in a fountain on the east wall. And the fifth is air, our focused breath.
Through the window I glance to a fresh beam of sunlight that streams in as a cloud moves out of its way. It feels like a blessing — a good class ahead.
Next, to the clock where I see it’s time to begin. I sit down on my mat, crossing my legs with heels up on both thighs. “Let’s take a moment to check in with ourselves, in Lotus position as I am doing now. Listen to what your body needs. If you aren’t able to achieve this stretch yet, then rest your feet under your thighs. Good, now close your eyes and take a relaxed, deep breath in through your nose, then hold it, and release it through your mouth. As you breathe in, imagine white light filling you up. As you breathe out…” But something moves in my periphery, so I quickly glance to the door, shocked to discover Josh standing there with a yoga mat rolled under one muscular arm. “…picture dark clouds leaving. I mean, picture dark energy, the stress you carry, leaving your lungs.”
One of my regulars chuckles, “Dark clouds works, Tempest!”
Josh flips around. Disappears.
With a forced smile, I release my Lotus, rising to stop him from walking out. “Continue your breath work everyone. In
