Party Hard – Zach Gill

Year 27

"Jackson, you can't just not talk to Erin. She didn't do it to hurt you." April promised to her husband who was angrily trying to fix the broken lawn mower in their garage. He had a wrench in his hand and he was furiously trying to untwist a bolt that held the engine on. The fact that it wasn't coming undone was making him even more of a fuming mess.

"April! My only daughter got married without us. Graycin did it and that was fine, I rather have been there, but he's always been like that. So I get it. But my little girl got married and I didn't get to walk her down the aisle." He shouted, raising his voice at her during one of the only times during their marriage. The sound of it made her flinch, but she wasn't taking in personally because she knew he was hurt. She was hurt too.

"I know. I'm not exactly happy about it either, Jackson." She complained, raising her hands up to signal that she was admitting defeat.

"Ever since she was a little girl, I thought I would get to walk her down the aisle. I'm supposed to do these things. I'm supposed to watch her crawl and walk for the first time, watch her ballet recitals and soccer games, singing solo for the first time. I got to see her graduate high school and then college. The next step was walking her down the aisle April. I was supposed to be there." He stopped playing with the lawn mower and slammed the dirty, old wrench to the ground. When he put his head in his hands so April couldn't see his face, she knew it was because he was really hurting.

He looked up at her and tears were filling his eyes, "She grew up without me."

It broke April's heart. She could really count the times on two hands that she had seen him cry. When each of their children were born, once when they finally took Graycin home and when his mother died.

April leaned down to where he sat on the floor of the garage and offered him her hands to pull him up. She led him into the house which was extra empty feeling today. They had an empty nest.

She walked toward their bedroom, dragging her rugged husband behind her. They got the news that Erin got married a couple of days ago but hadn't had time to talk about it or time to cool down at all. He looked rough with his unshaven face, old college t-shirt and basketball shorts on.

Once they were in their bedroom she stripped off her shirt and pulled her yoga pants down to the floor, stepping out of them. Her black bra and matching panties were the only thing left and they nearly made Jackson forget about all his problems.

His t-shirt was the next thing she peeled off, gently pulling it up and off of her husband. They'd been married for 27 years and were both pushing 60, but somehow he was still perfectly chiseled and fit. It made her swoon to this day.

She pushed him onto the bed and then straddled his waistline. Instead of using her hands to wipe the tears oh his face away, she kissed his tear stained cheeks. He looked so sad, it was breaking her heart.

His arms grazed up her sides, engulfing her tiny waist. Where his hands would normally move toward her breasts like they did so many times when they made love, he wrapped his arms around her tightly, pulling her close and holding her. The skin on skin alone was comforting him.

"Let's just focus on everything we have been there for, okay? We made a pretty amazing little girl, didn't we?" She asked him, smoothing out the lines in his face with her fingertips.

He nodded, thinking back to how little and cute she used to be. Now she was grown woman, and a married one. His little girl.

What Jackson didn't know what that April had talked Erin and Scott into having a small ceremony while everyone was home for Christmas. They were already married and had been for about four months, but this was for Jackson. He was the only one who didn't know it was happening.

Since it was so small they were able to plan it in their living room. They invited only their closest friends from the hospital and a few from church. April, Erin and Emily decorated the living room with flowers and red ribbons. It was Christmasy, especially with the large Christmas tree in the corner, but also elegant. The white Christmas lights add a romantic charm to the scene.

She wore a short, white dress that she had got cheap at a second hand shop. It was tight laced, with short sleeves. She threw on sparkly white ballet flats and one of her mother's diamond necklaces. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun and she looked perfect.

Jackson wasn't due home for almost another hour, so they all enjoyed cocktails while they waited. The environment was extremely relaxed since they were already married and the few guests that were there were friends of both hers and Scott's already. Also, brilliantly enough because it was Christmas, everyone was home for the holidays.

"Thanks for doing this." Erin smiled widely at her husband who was dressed in a light grey suit with a blue dress shirt beneath. He pulled her in for a kiss. "Of course. I get that your dad wanted to be at our wedding. Maybe he won't hate me now." Scott chuckled.

Erin bit her lip, she still felt bad. "I know. And I know it was my idea to elope, so I'm sorry that you've been getting the shaft from him lately."

He shrugged, "I know how you can make it up to me."

She played along, nodding and pulling him in for a few kisses. Her father walked in shortly after.

Jackson was home shortly after and everyone took their seats while he was walking in. "What is…?" He asked while looking around at everyone, completely baffled by all the people in his home. April led him upstairs toward their bedroom where she had laid out one of his more casual suits.

"Erin and Scott are having a small ceremony. Get dressed. You're in the wedding." She grinned, hoping he was pleased by their surprise. His face said otherwise.

"April…" Jackson sighed, rubbing his hand over his face and over the top of his shaved head. "You didn't have to do this."

She felt differently. "I know we didn't have to. But we both wanted to. You deserve the chance to walk her down the aisle. And she wants it too. She's the one who asked me if I would throw this for her."

He analyzed her expression, deciding if she meant it all or not. When he pulled off his sweater to change into his suit, she squealed in excitement.

It took him little to no time to change and get downstairs. Their closest friends and family were talking amongst themselves, waiting for the bride. Scott was standing upfront, anxiously awaiting to see his bride again.

She met Jackson upstairs. "Hi Dad."

It was the first time he really wanted to talk to her in months, even if that was terrible. He was just so hurt by her decision that he had nothing to say. "Erin…you look…so beautiful and grown up." He told her, taking in her bridal outfit.

She rolled her eyes, just like she always did. He loved it. "I know Dad, I'm not a little girl anymore." She laughed at him. He was being so sentimental about everything, it was unlike him.

She was surprised when he got real with her. "You'll always be my little girl. Do you understand me?"

Dress:

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