Prompt: Four lines from Taylor Swift's song "Ours"
As I guided her across the dance floor, I looked down into the eyes of my beautiful wife. It wasn't that she was more beautiful than Kathleen, my first wife. They were both beautiful in a different way. Just like Carole hadn't taken Kathleen's place in my heart but had her own place.
I glanced again toward my son, Kurt, who was given me reminders on the dance steps. He reminded me so much of his mother. How could I ever forget Kathleen when he reminded me of her everyday? Still despite the condemnation of my in-laws or the whispered 'you're rushing things', I knew it was time to move on. To remind my son what a real family was once again. To continue living, just as I had promised Kathleen.
And then the music is ending and everyone is clapping. I couldn't be happier than I am at this moment. Carol and I head back to our table where our two sons are sitting.
"Did I do alright?" I asked Kurt as I took my seat. He assures me that I did as William Schuester introduces Finn for his speech.
I focus my attention on Finn. I've already had a roller coaster relationship with this kid. He resented me coming into his life but still I reached out - trying to be a friend. We bonded over sports, which led to some hurt feelings on Kurt's part. Then there had been the argument between him and Kurt resulting in me kicking him out of my house. Hard as that was I had to protect Kurt and somehow my relationship with Carole had survived that. Now we were here and Finn was including Kurt in his speech. The teen's words touched me. Glancing to my left, I see their effect on Kurt.
As Finn announces a song in Kurt's honor, I realize how far Finn had come since carelessly speaking that one offensive word in my house. Each action Finn made, moved me more. The choice of the song. Offering Kurt his hand to pull my son out on the dance floor. The two of them dancing together. As Finn pulled Kurt into a hug I looked at Carole. I saw my feelings echoed there and glanced back at my two sons embracing.
I knew then that Finn had accepted not just Kurt, but the idea of this union of four people into a family. This wasn't just about the love Carole and I had for one another, but the love that was forming between all of us. As I stepped around the table to join Kurt I realized that we might not be a typical family but we were going to be a family just the same. Sure, there were going to be rough spots and times when we would need to band together against those on the outside that might try to destroy what we had. But there was one thing I was sure of - this love was ours.