EPILOGUE — Nearly two years later . . .
Richard
..
..
Smack!
I jerk my now stinging hand back and frown at Christine. "What? It's Christmas. Why make bacon wrapped anything if I can't have it?"
She scoots around me and places the appetizers on the tray. "You can have it. Just not right now. Patience, young man."
I grin at her calling me young because we both know I'm not. I move behind her and wrap my arms around her waist. And for a moment, she stops stressing about the meal and relaxes against my chest. Not long after coming to live with my daughter, I became smitten with Christine. She was the first woman I cared to look at in years. My heart always belonged to Vicky and I refused to even look at other women long after she passed. Not only in respect for Lalisa, but in respect for her mom.
But one Sunday afternoon, a few months after we got Jennie back from Georgia, I found myself in the kitchen with Christine and I couldn't take my eyes off her. Her dark hair, showing streaks of grey that indicated her age, was down and her pretty blue eyes were shining with happiness. We'd just learned the sex of the baby after lunch and she was as proud as Lisa's mother would have been if her life had ever gotten to that point. The love that shone from Christine, like a million rays of sunshine, is what ultimately made me fall in love with her.
I don't love often but when I do, I give it my everything.
It took some convincing for her to date me but one evening I surprised her by cooking dinner. Lisa and Jen had gone shopping for the baby. Bams and Dubois were at their own homes. And that night, Christine and I talked over a romantic candlelit dinner as if we were young again. Later, I took her to bed and showed her an old man still had a few tricks. She soon caved into my affections and we married before the baby was born.
"I love you, Chris."
She chuckles and pats my arm. "I love you too, honey. Now get your tushie in there and set the table. Jennie's family will be here soon and I don't want them thinking we're a bunch of rednecks."
I laugh and reluctantly pull away from her, not before I steal a kiss that makes her blush first. Then, I stroll toward the dining room that Lisa already installed the leaf in to extend it for the extra guests. I almost step on my favorite little person in the whole world.
"Papa!"
"Little Bear!"
He squeals when I pick him up and toss him in the air a few times. Leo started walking a couple of months ago and loves exploring this massive house of his Lili's. Jennie has the patience of a saint and follows him everywhere making sure he doesn't get into anything that might hurt him. So I'm surprised not to see her around. When I peek around the corner, I see my daughter with her wife pressed against the wall sharing a passionate kiss. I beam with pride that I was able to pluck her from her old, terrible life and help mold this one for her. Her mother would have been so proud to see the gentlewoman she's grown to be.
I know I am.
..
..
"Who's your favorite uncle? Say Sehun," Jennie's brother coos to his nephew. Leo whops him upside the head with his stuffed bear Christine and I'd bought him for Christmas.
"Doob-wa," Leo babbles in response.
Sehun huffs in faux frustration and I wink at Dubois who's grinning like the cat that ate the canary. Poor Sehun only sees my grandson every few months when he makes it out this way or when Lisa and Jen visit her family in Georgia. But Dubois? That man adores that kid as if he were his own. The stiff, best friend of my daughter melts like butter any time Leo is near. And it doesn't hurt that his first word was his favorite uncle's name.
"No, it's Bambam," Bams pouts from beside Dubois on the couch. I don't miss their proximity. I've noticed the looks they sneak at one another when everyone else is too busy with their dramatics. They've never come out with anything, but something's there. "Bam. Bam. Yay. Bambam."
Leo scrunches his nose up and shakes his head. "Doob-wa."
We all laugh, even the grumpy other grandpa. Jennie's dad isn't an easy one to warm up to but he's trying. Jennie'd told me he cried, something she'd never seen him do, when she told where her life had gone since leaving Mark. Her mother is a gentle soul, much like Sehun, and I like them both immensely.
"Thank you all for coming," Lisa says, grinning from ear to ear. "Jen and I are so happy to have our family in one place. Oh, and we have a surprise for you."
She leans in and kisses her wife on the lips before crawling on the floor to where Leo sits, chewing on wrapping paper. "Open this one, buddy."
With the help of his Lili, Leo opens the shirt box and Lisa holds it up for us to see. Christine and Jennie's mother both start to cry. I wink at my daughter and nod my head. Good job, girl, I mouth.
Big Brother.
Everyone congratulates them and takes turns gushing over Leo—how he'll have a sibling soon.
"What will you name the new baby?" Sehun questions.
Jennie beams at him. "Victor for a boy or Victoria for a girl after Lisa's mom."
My daughter flashes her a thankful smile. That girl has always blamed her mother but it wasn't until her wife came along that she began the process of forgiving her mom. It wasn't easy but she is dealing with it and I know she would have been be overwhelmed with the strength of our girl.
Jennie glances at me and I wink at her. She's a unique woman and I couldn't have scoured the earth to find anyone better for Lisa. Apparently scouring the earth was Lisa's thing and I'm glad she found her.
Jennie was able to find the girl I claimed as my own when she was just a young teen and pull her from inside the gruff, powerful stony woman that she is today. And while she may still have her moments, with Jennie she smiles more, laughs more, and enjoys life more.
Amidst the chaos, I notice Bambam frowning at Dubois. The poor man has tears in his eyes and he desperately blinks them away. Dubois' jaw is clenched tight and his arms are folded across his chest in defiance.
But in one passing moment later, I watch the rigid man's features change from being stubborn and protective, to decisive. He's made his mind up about something, and as if on cue, he stands.
"I have an announcement too. This may come as a shock to you all, but I'm in love. I have been for some time—I've just been too stupid to speak of it to anyone besides Bambam here."
The room grows silent. It's quite shocking to them all for Dubois to admit to having any real emotions. But they don't watch him like I do. I watch his every move—all of their moves—because they're my family and as the patriarch of this family, it's my duty to make sure all of my kids are doing okay. Even the ones that aren't blood.
My eyes flicker to Bambam's and his pretty face is contorted into something ugly and beautiful all at once as his emotions take over. He's been hiding this for the man beside him. Because he loves him too and respects him. I'm glad to see Dubois stepping up to mirror that love.
"Bambam is my boyfriend. We've been together for a long time, not officially and certainly not openly. But, I'm tired of hiding. He deserves to freely show his love as all of you do." He holds his hand to Bambam who blushes with equal parts embarrassment and pride. The man stands beside him, clearly unsure where he's going with this proclamation. In a very gentlemanly like way, Dubois drops to a knee in front of him and slips a silver band over the handsome man's finger. "Please marry me."
Bambam tugs him back to his feet and the two men embrace. Dubois then kisses him boldly in front of their now cheering family. I find Dubois' brown teary eyes and mouth, Good job, son.
The rest of the evening is hugs and a joyous celebration. As I hold my beautiful wife's hand and my sleeping grandson in the other, I nearly weep at how full my heart is. As Bambam chatters to Jennie and they make extravagant, way over the top wedding plans, I smile at the large and unconventional family I've gained. And as my daughter grips Dubois' shoulder firmly, showing her unending support for her friend as they quietly discuss whatever it is those two talk about, I don't think there's anything more I could ever ask for.
I look up briefly to the ceiling and silently ask Vicky to put in a good word for me to the man upstairs. I'm not asking for much.
I just want to pause this moment forever.
..
..
THE END
..
..
..