Episode 95

Episode 95

Winter Weddings & Funerals – Part 2

JACK

This woman…

I shook my head and chuckled loudly as we tromped through the snow at a fast clip toward our family and friends. Summer gripped my hand tightly and kept pace with my longer legs. Adrenaline flooded my veins, warming my blood and filling me with a majestic energy that fueled my excitement.

Today I'd become a married man.

A family man.

I couldn't wait.

With every step we took, I got closer to the future I'd always desired. Sure, it looked quite different than what I'd envisioned over the years, but I had no complaints. Summer was it for me. She challenged me at every turn. Her thirst for life was unmatched. And the way she'd taken to TJ as if he was her own child… priceless . I'd honor her commitment and sacrifice until the day I died.

So when she came up with the idea to get married tonight, here, with everyone we loved present, even Troy and Ellen, I jumped at the chance to make her mine forever.

We climbed up a hill that was around ten meters, following the multitude of footprints in the packed snow. Once we crested the top, we both stopped and took in the view.

As far as the eye could see were purple, pink and green swathes of light, painted across the sky like God was using a brush against a midnight-colored canvas.

"It's breathtaking," Summer gasped.

I squeezed her hand and took in her profile. Her sun-soaked hair glowed against the white velvet of her cloak. Her skin seemed luminescent as the swirling colors moved through the night sky above us. I watched as a single tear slipped down the pearly skin of her cheek like a diamond falling from the heavens.

"It's so beautiful," she breathed, her voice trembling.

I looped my arm around her waist and nuzzled her cheek. "You're beautiful. The sky pales in comparison, Summer."

She smiled and turned her head. "And you're charming, husband-to-be."

I scanned the entire horizon and felt an enormous sense of belonging and peace.

"This is the place. This is where we lay Troy and Ellen's souls to rest. This is where we become a family."

Summer smiled, and it was as if the sun had come out at night, just for me.

She was my light. My sun. My solskinn .

"Family," she whispered. "I like the sound of that. I can't wait to be Mrs. Summer Larsen."

My eyebrow rose toward my hairline. "You're taking my name?" It was the one thing I had to give from my beginning on this Earth. The only thing my biological parents ever gave me.

Summer cupped my cheeks and kissed me softly. I could taste the wintery mint ChapStick she wore.

"Jack, I want every part of you," she whispered and kissed me again.

"Let's go tell the others," I gestured to our group who were down in a little valley not far from the bluff we'd stopped on.

A stream trickled along the entire plain, disappearing alongside the mountains in the distance, likely headed to the coast. The sky was beyond anything that could be captured by a photograph. It was perfect. The air seemed thick and filled with magic.

This was it.

I stretched out my hand and she placed her smaller one within.

Together we made our way toward our friends and family.

* * * *

I didn't hear a single word Summer had said to our group when she told them the plan. None of it mattered. My focus was on my bride-to-be as we stood under the Northen Lights and the full moon, with the people we loved most in the world in attendance. Summer and I thought it was important to include TJ in the ceremony so we both held one of his little hands. Surprisingly, he seemed content to listen and watch while swinging our arms.

Ann had suggested our group form a circle around us. Then she proceeded to remove items one at a time from the pocket of her navy cloak. She walked around us in the center of the circle while chanting something under her breath, then stopped abruptly when facing north.

"We honor the element Air. May your marriage move and glide with the wind, always adapting to life's challenges." She held up a bird's feather and let it go. The breeze instantly lifted it up and into the sky, taking it away, destination unknown.

"Ooohhhh," TJ said watching intently.

Ann lifted her arms as though hugging the sky as she walked to the east. Once again, she put her hand into her pocket and transferred what looked to be flower petals into both hands. Then she walked around us dropping the petals.

"We honor the element Earth. May your marriage and love be as stable as the mountains and as grounded as the earth beneath your feet," she said, dropping the petals. They looked like pink, red, and yellow confetti against the white snow.

" Blomst! " Flower. TJ giggled, the rest of us following his adorable lead.

Ann smiled and continued to circle us. She stopped in front of Autumn who was facing south.

"We honor the element Fire," Ann's voice rose as Autumn lifted her hand, holding a lighter. She flicked it, and the flame rose higher as if by magic. "May your marriage be filled with passion, long life, and boundless energy." Autumn entered the circle and walked around Summer, TJ, and myself, the flame never going out until she made it back to her spot where she closed her eyes, whispered something then blew out the flame.

My heart started beating wildly as Ann continued her walk, finally stopping at the west.

"We honor the element Water." She bent in half and picked up a handful of snow. "May your marriage adapt and evolve, melting like snow into the rivers, providing sustenance and growth to the family you've become."

Tears filled my eyes as the realization that through all of the heartache and sacrifice I'd suffered up to this point, I was finally getting everything I'd ever dreamed of and wanted.

My own family.

As I stared into Summer's soulful eyes and held the hand of the little boy I loved, I knew it had all been worth it.

"Hold up your hands," Ann instructed. "You too, grandson," Ann winked at TJ.

Summer sniffed, tears falling down her cheeks as the three of us held out our left hands while holding onto TJs much smaller one. I could hear gentle whimpers from each of the ladies around the circle, maybe even from my soul brother Erik too. I glanced at him, and sure enough, he was wiping his eyes and smiling, joy clear in his expression.

Ann reached out and grabbed a long red ribbon that her husband Bernie held aloft. I had no idea where or when she'd accumulated these items, but I surmised that my clever bride had made a plan for the evening in advance.

Ann lovingly wrapped the three of our hands, binding them together.

"Both of you repeat after me," she instructed.

We nodded, waiting for her to start.

"Heart bound to heart, and soul bound to soul, I am my own but also yours," she stated.

We repeated it.

"Our union grows of kindness and caring, of trust well-deserved and love unerring."

We spoke the phrase together, our words and cadence matching exactly.

"Heart bound to heart, and soul bound to soul, this love is a home of our own." Her voice wavered, emotion coating every syllable.

We stared into one another's eyes repeating every word, our voices harmonizing, caught in a moment of pure love.

"As your hands are joined, so are your lives forevermore." Ann leaned forward and kissed the top of each of our hands. "I bless this union."

Slowly she unbound our hands. "You are now husband and wife," Ann put her hands to her chest and bowed. "Blessed be."

Everyone cheered, and TJ jumped up and down.

"Wait!" I croaked, everyone coming down from their highs. "I'd like to add one more thing that's important to me and my faith."

"Anything," Ann whispered.

The two rings felt like a burning weight lying against my chest. Something inside my soul, or hell, I don't know, maybe it was the magic of the night, or my best friends blessing me from the beyond. Whatever it was, I moved into action, pulled out the chain I held and yanked it off my neck. The two gold bands fell into my palm.

"Summer, I love you. I will always do my best to put you and TJ first in all things. Our little family starts today, and like this perfect circle, it will last forever." I held up my hand and she placed hers within it. I gripped Ellen's ring and slid it on Summer's fourth finger. "I think us wearing Ellen and Troy's wedding rings while we raise their son and show him the love they didn't get to give would provide them both the peace they need."

Summer stifled a sob as she nodded, accepting Troy's ring to complete the gesture.

I held out my left hand.

"Jack, you and TJ are my home now. Where you are, I want to be. I love you. I will do everything within my power to be a good partner and loving mother to TJ. Like this perfect circle, my love and commitment is unending." She slid the ring on my finger. Shockingly, it too fit perfectly.

"Now, I bless this union." Ann chuckled. "Blessed be."

"Blessed be!" everyone hollered as I pulled Summer into my arms and kissed her.

Joy, love, and hope filled my entire being as I tasted my wife's lips.

"My wife," I whispered against her lips, awe lacing each word.

"My husband," she responded, eyes twinkling, her lips still glistening from my kiss.

* * * *

Congratulations were shared and pictures were taken against the backdrop of the moon and Northern Lights to capture the moment. Still, we had come here for a different reason, and it was time to set my friends' souls free.

Once we settled down, Erik reached for the bag that held two urns.

"It's time, brother," Erik clapped me on the shoulder and squeezed. Then he reached into the bag and pulled out a silver urn and passed it to me. "Ellen," he croaked, his voice raw and jagged like our emotions.

I held the urn like I would a newborn babe, with reverence and love.

Erik removed the copper urn. "Troy," he whispered as though his heart had been ravaged by even saying our brother's name.

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat.

Summer picked up TJ and held her hand out. Savannah passed a small, thimble-sized brass locket hanging from a silver necklace. She'd taken it upon herself to handle securing a small amount of ashes from both Troy and Ellen's urns and sealing them into a locket. This was so that TJ would always have a piece of his parents close. It was an incredible gesture and a gift I hoped the child would treasure.

Our group walked to the riverbank. The Northern Lights seemed even brighter here. The moon shed its light like a beacon of hope.

"Ellen, you were loved. By Troy, me, and Erik. We were the three musketeers from the day we met. I'll always mourn the loss of my brother and sister. You represented everything good and right in the world. I can already see that goodness in your son. TJ will know nothing but love because you and Troy showed us the way." I couldn't help the sob that tore from my body.

"Troy, our brother, our friend. You showed us what it meant to be a brotherhood. You showed us what true love looked like through your love for Ellen. We will miss you both for the rest of our lives but will remember you and honor you through the love we give to your son. We are grateful for the years we had." Erik let out a broken sigh.

"Please open the urns," Ann said, also instructing us on this process. "Spread the ashes as you set them free."

Erik and I did as we were told. Together, we tipped the urns and let the ashes fall into the stream. The group watched in silence as the ashes mingled and flowed along with the current.

"Now you are free to be together forever." I whispered as Summer sidled up to my side, TJ on her hip.

The three of us watched the river until our noses were red-tipped and our bare skin was bristling against the cold.

"They're gone." I gulped, staring at the dark water as the colorful sky and moon reflected off its inky surface.

"But never forgotten," Summer said, cuddling TJ who'd fallen asleep against her chest.

"Now we live for them." It was a statement and a vow.

Summer smiled as I reached out and cupped her chilly cheek. "I love you, Mrs. Larsen."

She grinned wide, her smile imprinting on my mind, body, and soul.

"I love you too, Mr. Larsen."

I kissed the side of her temple and then the top of TJ's head. "Come on, I need to get my family somewhere warm so we can celebrate."

"Lead the way," Summer encouraged and rested her cheek to my shoulder.

I held my family close as we followed our loved ones back home.