This story started as an idea from a friend. We all watched the wedding and saw many unfamiliar faces. Here, I am going to explore that. Each chapter will be from the perspective of a wedding guest and his/her history with Sharon/Andy. Enjoy!

Nicole

I can't believe I'm missing Dad's wedding. It's absolutely insane, all of this. I've been watching his relationship with Sharon for years, watching it go from adversaries to friends and finally now a unified couple. I heard Sharon's name come up in conversation well before I met her. The first mention of Sharon came in the form of "Captain Raydor," and usually that was followed by expletives I'd rather not repeat. Dad always seemed to get into some mess or another, and her name was the blame, always the one he blamed. Dad and I didn't see a lot of each other back then, but I learned to not ask a lot about work because I would usually get a "Raydor, ugh," comment from him. Things changed, though, when he told me she had become his boss. I cringed that day, thinking it might be the end for Dad. I know work is his life; he can't imagine doing anything other than being a detective. However, the day Sharon, or "Raydor" as Dad gruffly said, took over, I had a feeling his career might end. He stuck it out, and shortly after that, we started doing some family counseling. Some of that seemed to be aimed at his work, wanting to discuss his aggregations with a professional, but a lot was aimed to repair things with Nate and me.

I knew things with Sharon had really changed when, to my surprise, he showed up with her at my wedding. I was afraid he wouldn't even come to my wedding. I know it was hard to "share" me with my stepfather, but since both men had played such an important role in my life, I wanted both by my side. I tried to explain that to dad in counseling, but until the day of my wedding, I'm not sure he really understood it. I'm not sure what changed his mind. Correct that-back then, I was not sure what changed his mind, but I was just glad to have him at my wedding. Now, I clearly know it wasn't something, but SOMEONE who changed his mind. Sharon. I remember officially meeting her that day, "Nicole, this is my boss and friend, Captain Sharon Raydor." My jaw about hit the floor. This was Sharon? This beautiful, funny, charming woman was the thorn in my dad's side? It almost didn't seem possible. Then, I was just glad he'd come, shocked, but glad. He shocked me a lot that day, coming and bringing Sharon. I tried to just focus on my wedding, which is what he told me he wanted to do. After the wedding, I had Dad over to the house to look through wedding photos, and Sharon showed up in a few of them, candids mostly, but even the photographer caught a couple of Dad dancing with Sharon. I remember asking him about it, his response, "She's become a good friend." The change from the name he cursed under his breath to a good friend was astounding, but Dad didn't want to discuss it more. I didn't pry, at least right away, but a few months later, the change was evident.

Dad called to tell me he'd invited Sharon to the ballet, or rather, he'd first asked if it was possible for me to get him an extra ticket. At the time, I thought he was going to drag Provenza to the ballet. Provenza was always his go-to person, and I figured he wanted to balance the night with my mom and stepfather by bringing Provenza; he's done that before. The two have been best friends for decades, and I didn't give it a second thought; I got the ticket. When he called to tell me he was bringing Sharon, I remember just nodding and finally telling him, "I am looking forward to seeing her again." That night at the ballet, it was probably then I fell in love with Sharon as a person. She's amazing and just the person Dad needs in his life. She was just wonderful, and I know it's often hard for a daughter to see any other woman in her dad's life, but no, Dad and Sharon work-personally and professionally. He and Mom divorced when I was young, so I don't remember a happy home, but I can see that the two just weren't the perfect match. Dad and Sharon are. They barely took their eyes off each other the entire evening. Oh, they did, thought, when the boys were dancing. Sharon was wonderful. As a dance mom, she has taught me so much about ballet. I came into this art late to the game. Other moms have been watching their kids dance for years, and I marry Dean and instantly have to know all the terminology. No, Sharon took me under her wing and pointed out so much that night. She really was wonderful, and we formed a friendship instantly.

After that, I started asking Dad more about Sharon. I could tell something was off, but it wasn't until he told me that she was still married that it clicked for me. I respect him for not trying to push her for more. He was never "the guy," the guy trying to break up a marriage. He supported, encouraged, and was there for Sharon while she worked through all of her own mess.

As the spring progressed, I started hearing more and more about Dad and Sharon going out each week, and with that, I started to invite and include her in our family activities. She always accepted, whether it was a family dinner, another ballet recital, or even a day at the beach. Sharon became part of our family before she officially became part of Dad's life. By that next Christmas, it seemed like she and Dad needed a little nudging. In all this, we had all met Rusty too, as he was brought along on many of the family outings. Through Rusty, I'd been linked to Emily and Ricky too. We were all silently cheering for Dad and Sharon; well, Rusty just didn't want to see it in front of him. News of Sharon's divorce was proof that the two were working on things, and by Christmas, the kids-I mean myself, Rusty, Emily, Ricky, and even Nate were on board with trying to get the two on the same page. It was clear they had feelings for one another, but due to many factors, they seemed to be in an awkward limbo. Taking Sharon tickets to the ballet was a normal reaction, at least on my part. I did want her to come, and since she'd been to the boys' spring recital, I knew she would want to come to the winter one again too. Asking her about balancing romance at work and home, that was all Emily's idea, and it was a great one. She had mentioned her mom hated that topic. Emily had tried asking about Dad too, and she had said her mom always changed the subject and said it was complicated. So, it was fun messing with Dad and Sharon that night. Both were uncomfortable, but that didn't last long. By the time we arrived at the the recital, the two were back to their normal selves, sitting next to each other and walking around the theater arm in arm.

I would like to say it was a surprise it took them another six months to admit to us they were officially dating, but it wasn't a surprise to me. Dad and Sharon were dating; they just were nervous to acknowledge that. The kids, we, were all fine with it. The two were together and would define it when ready. Rusty is actually the one in the relationship who freaked, which is funny. We were worried Sharon would freak out when it really dawned on her she was dating Dad, but she did very well with it, which I think shows just how much she loves him. She is both really good and really bad at masking her emotions. She kept a lid on her feelings for Dad, at least to the rest of us, for a very long time, but it was like floodgates opening after she finally admitted it. Then, she couldn't keep her hands off him, her emotions to herself, or her giddy attitude out of sight. It was sweet; she was clearly in love. Rusty, on the other hand, was the one who freaked, but thankfully, he finally calmed down too.

Sadly, Dad's accidents are really what calmed Rusty. I am a firm believer in things happen for a reason, and if there was anything good to come out of Dad's health issues it is that he and Rusty grew closer. Rusty told me Dad is the only father he's known and asked if I was bothered by the two of them spending time together. I told Rusty that he's my brother; families are formed in many ways, and I'm glad Dad can be a parent to Rusty. We all know Rusty needs a family. What is crazy in all of this- Sharon's kids, Nate and me, Rusty-what is crazy in all this is that Rusty is the one who is going to end up with his parents married and together. Yes, I know they aren't his biological parents, but they have put in the work and effort to shape him into the man he's becoming. I grew up with a broken home; Emily and Ricky did too, and Rusty, he finally gets a loving family. Strange things happen. I'm happy for all of us. We are all one big family, messy and complicated, but it's our family, and I love it.

All of that is why I am so upset about today, the wedding. Here I am, standing in my dress, ready for this wedding, but I'm not going to be able to go. Instead, I'm in the ER with the boys. It's been a very rough couple days. Dean's grandmother passed away two days ago, and he flew up to Portland to deal with that. He hated missing the wedding, but we agreed it was the best thing to do. Dad and Sharon agreed; they both feel strongly about families sticking together. My mom and stepdad are en route as well to be there for the funeral, which is set to take place later today. I'm very grateful they could go and support Dean. It makes them even part of this giant, messy family. They saw we needed some help, and they are helping too. For me, it was impossible to be in two places at once, so we decided that Dean would go to the funeral, and I would stay with the boys for the wedding. The boys were to be the ring bearers. They've been so excited about Grandpa Andy and Grandma Sharon's wedding for weeks. They have been practicing with their rings and pillows. They even had tuxes to wear. Instead, we are in the ER. 'Tis the season for the flu, right? It appears one might have the flu while the other has a stomach bug. Neither of them told me just how badly they were feeling until this morning. Chris woke up not feeling well and started throwing up about an hour later, just after I finished getting ready for the wedding. Josh woke up with a fever, and he's had all the typical complaints and symptoms of the flu. I had even called our normal babysitter for Josh, just in case, but with both boys sick, we can't be at the wedding. With Sharon still sick and Dad's health an issue, I cannot let the boys participate in the wedding; I just can't do it. So, I'm here. I'm being a mom. I won't be a bridesmaid, standing up there with my new sister, Emily. I won't be walking out with my brother. Oh, speaking of him, he's on his way to help me because guess what-the doctor asked about me, and it turns out I have a fever too. I have been chalking up my tired streak and headache to the wedding stress, but apparently, I'm sick too. So, the boys and I might need to be quarantined. Nate didn't want to leave me alone; he's a good brother. He told Dad, and the two agreed it was the right thing to do. We can celebrate with Dad and Sharon later, as much as it pains me. Besides that, Nate spent the last two days with the boys, so there's a decent change he could be sick too, now or in the near future. No, we need to keep the flu and stomach bug away from the wedding. I hate doing this to Dad. We have all grown so close over the past few years, but Dad knows we love him. I hate not attending, but I know he and Sharon understand.

This is what a family does. They do their best. Do I want to miss the wedding? I am crying right now at the thought. Do I want to be away from my husband when he needs me? No, I hate that too. Families do their best. They show up when they can, but even when they can't, they do their best because they are a family. I love my dad. It's taken me a long time to repair things with him, but I love my dad. Even with his wedding about to start, he's been texting me, worried about me. He told me that he and Sharon would come by later, which I waved off, not wanting him worrying about me on his big day. I know, though, that he's a dad. He worries, just as I'm worried about my boys. Families are formed in many, many ways. Today, my dad and Sharon are taking the legal steps to form the family they've already created.

One day, we will look back on all this and laugh. We will shake our heads at the mantra of "When it rains, it pours." We will sit around and look at the wedding pictures. Dad and Sharon will tell us all about it, and life will go on for all of us. I'm so happy for my dad. I'm happy for Sharon. The two have had their share of problems in life, some in their control and some not. I'm so happy they have found their way to each other, and I wish them decades of happiness.