Thanks for sicking with it!
Chapter 26
"Your Dad is requesting more sauce!" Kerry shouted out to Kim as she made her way into the kitchen from the yard.
"Jesus, how much is he cooking?" Kim asked rhetorically as she fetched a huge basin of BBQ sauce from their refrigerator. "Ker, I must admit I thought you were ridiculous when you picked this monstrosity" refereeing to the huge stainless steel refrigerator, but it has been great housing all this food" Kerry beamed, secretly thrilled that her partner was finally getting on board with the many extravagant purchases made during the Kitchen remodel. "Thank you for saying so, and I have no idea about the amount of ribs and tri-tip that is cycling through but trust me there is no shortage of takers on the receiving end of your dads grill"
Henry and his Pop Pop were in fact, the stars of the party, the two were a well-oiled machine churning out delectable beef and pork offerings, beyond that, their counter space was covered in side dishes, traditional Macaroni salad, potato salad, hell, just about any other salad invented was being pick through as well as baked bean and corn bread and there was another table full of every kind of pie one could imagine
Abby now was yelling for more ice cream, but Kerry had already anticipated that request and was making her way over to her. She and Luka had officially ended their unofficial relationship by this time but seemed to be ok with the decision as well as each other. Plus, Kim and Kerry's home was large enough for guest to manage to avoid each other completely if one desired to do so.
The party was in full swing now, it had begun at Noon, and a steady stream of revelers had made their way through, Kerry wanted to be able to invite as many of her co-worked she was comfortable with and thought the afternoon start would allow those with later shift to enjoy a bit before going in to the hospital, while the others who worked the early shift would be able to enjoy the firework display later in the evening. The Legaspi family had arrived early with every intention of staying late, if there was one thing Kerry knew for sure about her new family, they loved a party.
The best part of this gathering for Kerry was the fact that it was the first time she had been able to blend the Lopez clan into the mix as well. Sandy's brother took to Kim's as if they were long lost kin reuniting after years of separation. Sandy's father was in a lengthy debate with Kim's on the validly of skirt steak verse tri-tip and the sturdiness of how stood-up to a good chimichurri sauce while her mother hovered over Henry making sure he wasn't on the wrong end of the carving knife.
"What are you thinking?" Kim whispered into Kerry's ear as she slinked her way up behind her lover and wrapped her arms around her petit waist. Kerry took a minute before answering "About how incredibly happy I am right now" Kerry turned to face Kim and raised her arms to loop around Kim's neck. "I'm not even exaggerating, I am so full of love, and happy, and joy, and every other soppy word I can think of right now, I look all around me and I see friends and family and traditions being birthed and I can't wait until next year's Fourth of July party and referring to it as the "Second annual Weaver/Legaspi...or Legaspi/Weaver 4th of July party, I honestly don't care what we call it, as long as we call it "The something Annual" for another 50 years."
Kim just smiled and squeeze her love "Boy, who knew you were such a Patriot" Kerry squeezed back, "That's not my point and you know it. I'm just so glad that this is my life now, I can actually say I have a big family. I guess I just fully realized I'm...not alone anymore...and I never will be again." Kim gave her a tender kiss before pulling back and looking at Kerry, reaching up she stroked her cheek, "Nope, and you never will be again. It's almost dark should we go get ready?" Kerry broke the embrace and wiped away the single tear she allowed to escape. "Yep, let me find Randi and let her know its show time."
Kerry had agreed to hire a band that her desk manager insisted was the 'bomb'
And it just so happened to be available on the Fourth of July, It turned out that said band was in fact Randi's band and another unknown talent revealed itself, the girl could really sing.
Kerry found Randi doing tequila shots with Kim's younger brother by the fire pit when she finally got her attention and gave her the thumbs up sign. Randi winked back and made her way to the makeshift stage on the far end of the wooden porch. There Randi took the mic, tapped it a few times to make sure it was on...
"Pop. Pop. Pop. Is this thing on? Can everyone hear me? Suddenly a loud screeching sound emitted from the mic, "We hear you!" Shouted Carter, "for the love of God move away from the speaker when you use that thing!"
Randi ignored him and continued, "Ok, everyone the fireworks are going to start pretty soon, why don't you make your way down to the lawn area around the Gazebo, we have laid out a ton of blankets for everyone. There should be plenty of room for you all to fit, there are some camp chairs available for you old people too, you know who you are! Now, the fireworks will be coming up over the hedges back by the fence but if you don't mind, I would like to suggest you keep your eyes of the Gazebo.
As everyone began to make their way over to the grassy area to find blankets to sit on, the band started to play an instrumental of version of the old Etta James classic, 'I want a Sunday Kind of Love', everyone was settling in when the soft twinkling lights above them suddenly illuminated, eliciting gasps from the party guest. The little kids in the group clapped in excitement of the beautiful site unfolding before them, the Gazebo lit up as well and it was adorned with thousands of flower petals of every color leading up the steps to the center where Christy was standing holding a microphone.
"Hello everyone, for you who don't know me I'm Christy, I've been Kim's friend for going on a 100 years now." the crowd laughed at the joke, "Kim and Kerry recently asked me if I could help them out with a little project they have been working on, forgive me, perhaps project isn't the right word, corporate law is more my forte, I don't do a lot of this corny romantic stuff" murmurs in the crowd started to emerge as guest began to get the feeling something unusual was happening.
"Anyway, what I'm trying to say is. On behalf of Kim and Kerry, thank you for coming and thank you for being part of their wedding."
As Christy confirmed every ones suspicions a huge round of applause broke out with cheers and whooping and hollering from a particular rowdy group in the back." Ok, thanks for that in the back there, by the way I'm expecting a shot of whatever it is your drinking!" Christy placed the mic back in its holder "Where were we, oh right, let's get this show rolling!"
Apparently that was the cue because the band resumed playing and another eruption came from the crowd as Kim and Kerry emerged from behind the house escorted by Henry.
Kerry had changed into a simple white sleeveless, summer dress that ended right above her bare feet, the material was soft and flowing, not at all a traditional wedding dress but elegant just the same. Kerry had been letting her hair grow out and tonight she let it hang loose resting on her shoulders. The V neck cut drew just the right amount of attention to what was probably Kim's most favorite part of the Redheads many assets.
Kim had a slightly more bohemian look, draped in a floor length ivory silk chiffon dress with bell angle sleeves. She had left her hair relaxed, so her curls were more prominent then her usual business appropriate style she had adopted over the years and she was wearing a very simple floral crown, Kerry found she made a thoroughly breath taking hippy.
Henry also had changed and was dressed in white linen pants with a white button down shirt left untucked with his sleeves rolled up, much to the chagrin of his mother, but it turned out to be the perfect touch to this simple affair. He was standing between the two women holding each of their hands as they made their way through the crowd towards the gazebo, waving and blowing kisses to the their friends and family as they went by.
When they finally found their spots at the center of the Gazebo the band stopped and Kim's Mom retrieved Henry and brought him down to sit with her and Kim's father.
Christy made her way to the mic and began talking again, "As I may have mentioned I am not the overly emotional type who can pontificate great romantic notions. My role here is more of a facilitator, until this nation can pull its head out its ass and legally recognize the marriage between two people who are in love, regardless of their gender, I am here to at least make sure their union is in fact, binding. So, the ladies and I have agreed that all mushy, love related matters well be handled by them individually." The lawyers wit elicited snickers from the audience again, Christy then turned her attention back to the couple, "So, whose going first?" Kerry cleared her throat, "I will, is that ok?" Kerry asked Kim "Um, Yeah, of course, take it away." Kim rambled nervously.
"Ok" Kerry took a deep breath and looked down at her feet and took a minute to gather her thoughts, "Ok" she said again, looking up at Kim, "So, here's the thing. I have spent my entire adult life, no, my entire life as a whole, fixing things. I couldn't stand seeing broken things lying about, it could be as mundane as a chair missing a leg or as complex as compound fracture. I had somehow gotten it in my head that I was the only person capable of putting things back together again. I made it my life's purpose to learn everything I could to be able heal others.
And I think most would agree that I've done a pretty good job at doing that, even though I was a genuine pain in the ass to those around me in the attempt to achieve that goal." More giggles could be heard from the crowd, Kerry paused for a moment then began again.
"But in all that time trying to be the best fixer the world had ever seen, I never once noticed how broken I was."
This comment took Kim by surprise, she nervously bit her bottom lip and close her eyes for just a second as she absorbed the sadness of the statement. Kerry noticed her lover's mental shift immediately, causing her to reach out and grab her hand "Hey, look at me, its ok." Kim looked back up at Kerry and stared in her eyes "This story has a happy ending, ok?" Kim nodded her head. "Kim, I was so broken when you found me. I was like a dull knife, a useful tool that could get the job done but would be so much more effective If It had just been shown care and attention. You did that for me Kim. You showed me how much more I could be if I just allowed myself to be cared for. The minute I let you into my life, it got better. I can't thank you enough for seeing whatever it was you saw that made you want to take a chance on me because I will be forever grateful."
Kerry bottom lip began to quiver as she tried to hold back the flood of emotions she felt.
"Everything in my life that I love, I got because you took a chance on me." Kerry swallowed deeply and continued "Everyone here knows our story, and they know how we each had to follow different paths to find our way back to each other. But you must know, my capacity to love and be loved only exists because you nurtured it. It led me to Sandy who blessed me with Henry. It allowed me to forgive and ask for forgiveness and it allowed me to be ok with the hardships I've faced in my life because I know that everything that's happen in my past has prepared me for this moment in my life, this chapter of this never ending story. I love you Kim, and I will for the rest of my life. I'm so proud to be able to call you my wife from this day forward."
Kim looked at Kerry with the most intense expression she had ever seen on the woman.
"Shit Ker, How am I supposed to follow that?" Kerry let out a chuckle before saying, "Guess you shouldn't have let me go first after all" much to everyone's amusement.
"Kerry, you are such a...a...enigma." Kerry raised an eyebrow, not sure where this was going. Kim, noticing the look of confusion went onto explain, "That's not a bad thing Hon, in fact it's the thing that most attracted me to you when we first met, well, that and your boobs" suddenly realizing that she had said that last part out loud, Kim looked over at her parents sitting on the lawn, "Sorry Mom" "That's fine dear, just get to your point please" Carolyn shouted back up to the girls.
Kim switched her attention back to Kerry, "Anyway, as I was saying, I would often observe how tough you were on your staff, ruling with an iron fist and all, but then I would see you with a patient and I was so profoundly touched by your ability to put them at ease and how natural it was for you to comfort them in what, for many, was probably the worst day of their life." Kerry looked slightly embarrassed by the compliment.
"You really are so complex, on the one hand you can be strong minded and exasperating, perhaps some would even say unyielding" more snickers from the guest, "but you also are so very vulnerable, graceful and compassionate with others feelings. What I think I love most about you is your innate ability to make people in pain believe everything will be alright, no matter how bad the situation is. I guess that's what I mean by enigma."
Kim reached up to move Kerry's bangs out of her eyes. "I'm was completely addicted to you Ker. I wanted to know every inch of your mind. I wanted more than anything to understand how it worked." Kim laughed at her own comment,
"Yes, I know it's a cliché, the head doctor wants to know how your head works, but it's the truth. I've never wanted to know another human being more strongly than I've wanted to know you. And, somehow, one day, all the stars, planets and moons aligned themselves perfectly to allowed you to let down your guard long enough to let me in, and thank God you did Kerry, because I believe with all my heart that you and I were meant to make this" Kim made a gesture pointing to both of them, "work" I promise Kerry, that I will always put the time in, and never stop working on us, as a couple and as a family. I promise to love you and Henry for the rest of my days."
That last sentences got Christy's attention, "Well, ladies. With that said let's move on and make some promises, exchange some rings and get to the kissing part!"
Kim and Kerry both laughed and shifted their attention back to their friend as she proceeded on with the ceremony...Christy finished the ceremony cracking jokes along the way. She brought Henry up when she asked for the rings, he had them buried in his pocket and made quite a spectacle fishing them out. And then it was done...
"So, it is with great honor that I pronounce you, loving wives from this day forward, ladies, you may kiss your bride."
As the two leaned in connecting their lips for their first ever kiss as a married couple a loud high pitch whistle caught every ones attention, seconds later the first explosion erupted over them. The crowd jumped to their feet and applauded and turned their eyes to the fireworks display that had started over them lighting up the evening's sky.
Unbeknownst to the rest of their guests, some very stealthy caterers had transformed the yard from its previously decorated Fourth of July Picnic into an elegant wedding reception. Complete with champagne fountain and trays of mouthwatering finger foods.
The fire pit had been converted to a dance floor and the band began playing everything from Motown to Beastie Boys. The party went late into the evening and straight into the early hours of July 5th.
While their guest danced the night away, Kerry and Kim slipped away with a conked out Henry and carried him to his bedroom, they worked together getting him out of his clothes and into his pajamas and tucked him in. They both watched him as he restlessly shifted under the covers before finally giving in to the exhaustion of the day.
"So, what did you think, was it a success?" Kerry asked her new bride "One thousand percent" Kim said as she rested on the end of the little boy's bed, pulling Kerry down to sit next to her, "What did you think?" Kerry leaned her head on Kim shoulder, "I think, that...as days go, this one will probably go down in history and the very, very, best day of my life...so far, that is."