Epilogue 1 Luke

epilogue 1: luke

Three Months Later

I adjusted Lake’s tie, fighting back some tears. My boy was getting married.

“Dad, I think it’s okay.” I took a step back to take him in. Lake, Logan, and Ev were having their commitment ceremony at a botanical garden in Hoboken. I wouldn’t have necessarily picked that location for the guys, but it was beautiful.

I must have been staring for too long because Lake frowned at me. “Do I look alright?”

I cleared my throat. “You look great, Lake. Sorry, I was just getting up in my feelings.”

“Can that wait till after we say our vows, please? I’m trying not to get nervous.”

“You’ll do great. Just say what you feel. Anyone who looks at the three of you can tell how in love you are.”

Lake frowned. It probably wasn’t the best advice to give him. Lake wasn’t one to just wing anything. I knew he had his vows written down and likely memorized. Still, I’d been hoping to get him out of his head some so he could enjoy his big day.

The door to the dressing room opened, and River and Essie walked in. As the best man, River was wearing gray suit pants and a pale-blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. The gray vest matched the pants. Essie, as the maid of honor, had on a pale-blue dress that matched the guys’ shirts. It came to just above her knees and the straps met in the back.

Seeing the three of them together got me even more emotional. “Your mom would be so proud.”

I didn’t talk about her much. It wasn’t that I avoided it, and if any of the kids asked, I always answered. But whenever I did talk about her, especially like this, we always became blubbering messes.

“Oh Dad, don’t start,” Essie choked out, already wiping her eyes. “Zoe worked hard on my makeup.”

“I won’t, sweetheart. That’s all I’m gonna say. That Mom would be proud of all three of you.”

We all hugged, trying to keep it together. Once we broke apart, River looked at his brother. “Oh, we came in here to ask if you’re ready. Ev and Logan are waiting for you.”

Lake swallowed hard before straightening his shoulders. He looked stiff but determined, and if I didn’t know him so well, I’d think he was having doubts, but that was just Lake.

“Yes, tell them I’ll be right there.” We all hugged one more time before leaving Lake in the dressing room.

The guys had opted not to do the traditional walk down the aisle, since nothing was traditional about them. Instead, all three of them would be up front with the minister already. The grooms’ party, which consisted of River and Essie and Ev’s best friend, Lucy, would also all be standing up there. Their only nod to tradition would be Ev’s father, Eric, and me “giving the boys away.” Since Eric was the closet thing Logan had to a father, he was taking the role for both of them. Eric had been really emotional about the whole thing, and I thought they’d kept that in mostly for his sake.

I waited for Lake outside the dressing room, and the two of us made our way outside to where the garden was set up for the ceremony. I kissed his cheek before we went to the front where his men were waiting. “I love you, Lake.”

“Love you too, Dad.” He awkwardly patted my shoulder and then met Logan and Evander, who both immediately kissed him up front. While Eric and I took our places to start the ceremony, I searched the crowd, relaxing a bit when I saw Cameron and Joel sitting together in the second row, next to Cooper. Cameron waved and blew a kiss at me, and I blew one back. I was looking forward to the reception and getting to spend the night with my two men.

The ceremony was wonderful. Logan hadn’t prepared anything for his vows and just spoke whatever he was thinking. Evander had a note card but seemed to look mostly at his two husbands, while Lake read word for word off his printed-out vows. It didn’t take away from them at all, and I was just proud and amazed at how eloquently he got his feelings out there.

I scanned the cocktail hour, looking for Joel and Cameron. After the ceremony, I’d gotten whisked away for pictures, and I was so ready to meet up with them.

Sure enough, I found them by the mashed potato bar as Cameron loaded up his dish.

“And who are these two sexy men?” I asked playfully as I approached them. Cameron beamed at me and went on his tiptoes for a kiss.

“That was a gorgeous ceremony. I got a little teary-eyed when you gave Lake away.”

Really? That was the part that had gotten him teary-eyed? “You just looked so good up there in that vest with your rolled- up sleeves. I wanted to strip you down right then and there, but Daddy stopped me.”

I burst out laughing and wrapped my arms around him. “Don’t worry, baby boy. I’m sure Luke will let you do the honors later.”

Oh fuck. “Absolutely.”