“Ooh, they just kicked,” I said, and everyone “awed”. “See? My boys are laughing at you already.” That’s right…boys. Liam and I had found out last week that we were having two boys, and to say he was thrilled was a huge understatement. I really don’t think he cared if we’d had one of each or two girls, but I really think he was excited to have two future Yankees players coming into the world.
“So, is Liam okay spending the night without you tonight?” Fiona asked.
I took another drink of my smoothie and smiled. “Not at all, but there isn’t a thing he can do about it. We’ve already faced the worst luck ever, so I don’t want to try and break tradition on this. No more bad luck for us,” I said. We sat in our chairs and chatted the afternoon away, and soon it was time to head out to dinner with our families. However, there was something I needed to do first. “Hey, Marissa,” I said to her as we walked out onto the chilly Manhattan streets, “is there any way you can ride to the restaurant with Samantha and I borrow your car for a bit?”
“Sure, Rory. Is everything okay?”
“Yes, of course. There is just someone I need to visit today, and it really can’t wait,” I said, smiling at her.
She had a knowing look on her face, and she smiled at me. Handing me her keys, and said, “Take your time. We’ll let them know you might be late.”
“It shouldn’t take long. Thanks Marissa,” I said, and I walked to her car and slid into the driver’s seat. I started the ignition and made my way across town to a cemetery that I had never visited. Once I got there, I went into the little office and got the directions I needed, and then I walked the short distance to a beautiful gravestone underneath a weeping willow tree. I ran my hand along my belly and stopped at the grave. I sighed and reached my hand out to trace over the beautifully etched words,
Mason Adam Callahan
Loving Son, Brother, and Friend
Fly To The Angels
January 20, 1983 – April 18, 2009
“Hey there handsome,” I said, a lump in my throat. I got down on my knees and placed my other hand that had been cradling my stomach on the ground above where Mason was lying in an eternal sleep. “I’m sorry it took me so long to get here. I just couldn’t come before because it was too hard. I know that’s not an excuse. I can practically hear you saying ‘Excuses are like assholes, everyone’s got ‘em’. You never could tell a joke to save your life, man,” I laughed, and tears started pouring from my eyes, making my face even colder. “I’m sure you know by now everything that’s happened. You were always so damn determined to see everything through to the end, and if I know you like I’m pretty sure I do, you are still floating around keeping an eye on me and making me act right. I hope you are happy and at peace wherever you are, because it’s taken me four years to finally be happy again myself. Believe me, I never ever thought I would be again after losing you, but life has a funny way of creeping up on you, huh?” I ran my fingers along his name and took a deep breath.
“His name is Liam, you know. He’s a cop, and he’s tattooed all over and the only way you’ll catch him in a suit is at a wedding, which reminds me,” I said, tears still falling, “you will probably see him in one tomorrow because we’re getting married,” I said, crying a little bit harder. “But, you probably already knew that too. He’s so different than you in so many ways, but in what matters you two are exactly the same. You are both warm, both loving, and both very protective of what’s important. Plus, you both love me, but how could you not? I’m pretty fucking awesome,” I said, laughing. I felt the chilly wind flow through my hair. “I’m just kidding. He’s a wonderful man, Mason, but you don’t need to worry about him taking your place in my heart, because believe me, you took up a permanent residence there a long time ago.” At that moment, I felt the babies kicking me, and I giggled. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure you know about these little guys in here too, don’t you?” I smiled, wiping my nose. “I’m having twins, can you believe it? They are growing so fast every day, and they are turning me into a hormonal mess. I hope I can be a good mother to them, because I love them already and would do anything for them.” The wind picked up and I started to shiver. My knees were getting numb from the cold ground, so I wobbled around and stood back up. “I have to go now, sweetie. I’m meeting our families for dinner and honestly, these little guys are telling me they’re hungry,” I softly laughed. I stopped and ran my hands along his name one last time, and I cried harder. “I love you, Mason Callahan, and I always will. I will carry you with me through everything because I know you will always be there. You have been with from the beginning. I can never begin to tell you how lucky I feel for the time that we shared and that I have one of the brightest angels on my side to watch over me. I will love you always, and I will see you soon, okay? I promise not to stay away so long next time,” I said, and leaning in to kiss his headstone, I whispered, “Goodbye.”
I walked back to Marissa’s car with a heavy heart. I reached her car and opened the driver’s side door but before I got in, I saw someone in the distance. There was a man facing me and holding his hand up in a wave. I squinted to see who it was, but he was too far away. I raised my hand to wave back, and what happened next knocked the breath out of me. The man placed his hand over his heart and then raised it to point up to the sky. Then, just like that, he disappeared behind a tree and was gone. I collapsed into Marissa’s car, completely shaken. Mason’s sign of affection for me…I sat there in her car for a few minutes, trying to regain my composure, and finally I slipped the keys into the ignition and started the engine. He’d seen me…and he let me know it was okay to move on. I knew it. With the weight of the world finally off my shoulders, I put the car in gear and drove to the restaurant, happier than I had ever been.
“Rise and shine, beautiful bride,” Marissa said, pulling the covers off me and yanking at my arm. “It’s time to get you ready for your wedding!”
I groaned and sat up, running a hand over my protruding belly. “All right, we’re up, we’re coming.”
“Good, because the girls are here and breakfast is ready and waiting for you,” she said, and she walked back out of the room. I stood up and pulled on a pair of yoga pants and my favorite tee shirt of Liam’s. I walked out of my room and yawned, and saw Marissa, Vivian, Samantha, Emily, Fiona, and Brian all sitting around the table eating and chatting.
“There’s the bride,” Vivian said, and stood from the table. She came over to me and hugged me. “Good morning, darling, you look beautiful.”
“I don’t, I just got out of bed. I look like a mess,” I said.
“I wish I looked like you when I got up in the morning,” she said, smiling. “How are my grandsons doing today?”
“Kicking all night long, they kept me up for a bit. They just can’t wait to see their daddy today. I know the feeling, guys,” I said, rubbing a hand across my stomach. One of them kicked me and I smiled.
“Well, come and sit down. You need to eat something before we head to the hotel to start getting ready,” she said, beaming. I walked over to the table and took a seat as Marissa sat a plate of delicious food in front of me.
Three hours later, we were at the hotel and I had just finished putting on my dress, which thankfully fit nice and comfortably around my belly. As I stepped out of my dressing room in my wedding gown, I heard several loud audible gasps. I usually didn’t like being the center of attention, but in that moment, I felt like a princess for the first time in my life, and for once it didn’t scare me. “Oh Rory,” Marissa said, “you look so, so beautiful!” I hoped I did…for Liam. My dress was a vintage style fitted white silk gown with wide straps that hugged my hips, accentuated my belly, and flared out at my thighs. It looked like it had been designed in the thirties, and the moment I saw it I fell in love with it, and I knew it would be the dress I wore when I married Liam. Since Liam loved when I would wear my hair down, I had decided to keep it simple and part it on the side and wear it in soft large curls that flowed ar
ound my shoulders and back, and instead of a veil I wore a large white silk flower in the side of my hair. I hoped Liam loved it, because all I wanted was to look beautiful for him.
I looked at the faces of the three beautiful ladies in the bridal suite and smiled. Marissa, Samantha, and Vivian. They all looked gorgeous in their gowns. They all smiled at me and looked like they were fighting back tears. “Thanks, ladies,” I said. “Thanks for being here with me today.”
Vivian held out her hands and walked toward me, taking my hands in hers. “We wouldn’t have missed this for anything, darling girl. Thank you for letting me be a part of your special day. I know I’m not your mother, but…”
“I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without you, Vivian. You have been more of a mother to me than I ever hoped for. Thank you for everything. I love you so much,” I said, trying to fight back tears. I knew when I walked down the aisle toward my future husband the tears would come, but I wanted to at least make it to that point before I was a blubbering mess.
“Oh, my sweet girl,” she said, pulling me into a hug, “I love you too.”
“Rory, you really do look amazing,” Samantha said. “I bet Liam will cry when he sees you.”
“That reminds me,” Vivian said, sniffing. “For you. It’s your something old,” she said, handing me a beautiful cream lace handkerchief. “This belonged to Liam’s great grandmother, and I had it on my wedding day to Grayson.”
I took it with shaking hands. “It’s beautiful, Vivian. Thank you.”
Samantha walked toward me holding a beautiful silver bracelet. “Here you go. You’re something borrowed.” I slipped it on my wrist and told her thanks.
“My turn,” Marissa said. She handed me a black velvet box. “This can count as your something blue.” I smiled at her and opened the box to find a gorgeous pair of aquamarine tear drop earrings. They were breathtaking and they looked expensive. I looked up at her, and she already could tell I was going to protest. “Don’t even try to refuse it, Rory. They are from me and Brody, and I know you can’t say no to him. We went with aquamarine since it will be the babies birthstones.”
I smiled and hugged her. “Thank you, Marissa. They are beautiful.”
“Okay, that just leaves your something new,” Samantha said. “and no, the babies don’t count this time,” she smiled.
Vivian handed me a large velvet box. “Your something new,” she smiled. I was going to protest, but she nodded at me. “Open it.” I smiled and lifted the lid. It was the most beautiful platinum diamond necklace I’d ever seen. The chain was so delicate that I thought I might break it just picking it up. The pendant was a large emerald cut pink diamond. There was a small note, and I picked it up and read it.
Something new for my gorgeous bride. Meet you at the alter, angel.
My eyes were stinging from the tears threatening to fall. There was no way I could possibly love this man any more than I did in that moment. I handed the box back to Vivian and said, “Can you help me put it on?”
“Of course I can,” she said. I pulled my hair to the side and she fastened the delicate chain around my neck. Once it was on, I touched it with my quivering fingers, and my heart swelled. I quickly put on the earrings from Marissa and Brody, and Samantha was checking to make sure we were all ready to go when there was a knock on the door. Janelle, the amazing wedding planner Vivian hired, came in and let us know it was time to begin. With a final round of hugs, we all walked out of the suite and I began to walk down the hallway to the grand ballroom of the hotel where my handsome husband-to-be was waiting for me.
Chapter 20
Liam
“Damn it,” I muttered, “you’d think after having to dress up in these damn monkey suits as a kid I’d have figured out how to tie my own bow tie.” I fumbled with the damn thing for a few moments before my dad walked over to me.
“Relax, son, you’re just nervous. Here, let me help you,” he said, and took the tie from my hands. I blew out a breath through my lips as he quickly twisted and shaped the tie into a perfect black bow. “There, all set.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I said, and he clapped his hands on my biceps. “And I’m not nervous, by the way. I am anxious, there’s a difference.”
Dad smiled at me. “Anxious, huh?”
“Of course I am. These last few hours have killed me. I just want to get the ceremony over with and be married already.” To be honest, I couldn’t wait to be standing at the altar to see my beautiful Rory in her wedding gown walking toward me, but more importantly, I couldn’t wait for the wedding night to be able to peel that dress off of her. This pregnancy had made her body even more gorgeous than before, and I was sporting a semi every time I was around her. The bigger her belly got, the more turned on I was knowing that she was carrying my baby boys in that beautiful belly.
“It’s almost time, son. You will be married to your girl soon enough. Just hang in there,” he said, still smiling.
“Oh, hey, did you give Mom the gift for Rory?”
“I made sure she had it in her hand when she went to bridal suite,” he said. Taking a deep breath he said, “I’m so happy for you, Liam. There was a time I thought I might not be here for this day.”
“Yeah, me neither,” I admitted, “but I’m glad you are.”
He smiled a smile that reached all the way to his eyes. “Me too, son. For you,” he said, handing me a small leather box.
“Dad, what is this? You didn’t have to get me anything,” I said.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t buy it. It’s a Tanner family tradition,” he said, and I opened the box to find two silver cufflinks with the initial “T” engraved in it. “They were your great grandfather’s, and I wore them on my wedding day to your mother, just like my father wore them on his. They will bring you good luck.”
I grinned and started taking them out of the box, ready to fasten them. “Thanks, Dad,” I said, and we shared a quick hug. Before things got too emotional, I heard a knock at the door of the suite and Nick came walking in with Brody and James, Rory’s dad, in tow. “Hey guys,” I said, fastening the cufflinks into place.
“Hey, man. We didn’t interrupt anything, did we?” Brody asked.
“Nah, it’s cool. We were just finishing tying this thing and putting on cufflinks,” I said. “Apparently it’s a two person job.”
Nick walked to me and handed me a shot glass, then handed one to my father. “Well, you look gorgeous, my man,” he said, smiling. He took out a bottle of Jack Daniels and began to pour some into my glass, and then passed the bottle around to everyone until every shot glass was full. James was the last one to fill his shot glass, and he placed the bottle on a small table behind him. “You ready to be shackled, bro?”
I chuckled at him. “To Rory? Hell yes, I am. Bring on that ball and chain,” I said, and everyone barked out a laugh.
“To Rory and Liam, and a lifetime of love,” James said, raising his glass.
“And a lifetime of fighting and great make up sex,” Brody added, and everyone laughed. Even James cracked a smile, but that didn’t stop him from lightly smacking Brody’s head. “Ow, Dad. What was that for?”
“I know Rory’s a grown woman and that’s she’s already pregnant, but she’s still my daughter. I don’t want to know that stuff,” he said, grinning.
My dad raised his shot glass. “To the happy couple, congratulations,” he said, and everyone raised their glasses before we downed our shots.
Just then, there was a light knock on the door, and Janelle popped her head in. “Guys, we’re ready to begin. Let’s get this show on the road.” She was impatiently pointing at her watch, and I couldn’t help but smile. I swear that woman could run the world just by batting her eyelashes and tapping her foot.
Everyone put their glasses down and began to walk out of the suite. My father walked out with Nick and Brody. James was about to exit as well before he stopped and turned to me. “Liam,” he said, “I just wanted to tell you that I am so
happy that my daughter has you, and I wanted to thank you for loving her. I know I don’t have the right to do that because I haven’t been there for her like I should have, but I let her mother cloud my judgment. It kept me away from watching my daughter grow into the extraordinary woman she is today. She is that woman because of your love, and a father couldn’t ask for more for his little girl. You’re a good man, Liam. Take care of her,” he said, emotion in his eyes.
“Wow, thank you James,” I said, taken aback by what he said. “I’ll protect her with my life.”
He patted me on the shoulder. “I know you will, son.” He took a deep breath and said, “Okay, let’s go get you married!”
The music began playing as I took my place at the altar waiting for the doors to open. When they did, I felt butterflies in my stomach, anticipation taking over me. My parents walked in first, smiling at our guests as they walked down the aisle and took their seats up front. Next was Brody walking with Samantha. Hurry up, hurry up, I thought. Then Nick came walking down with Marissa. As they finally reached the altar with me, I smiled and sighed contently. The doors to the room were closed for a moment to get ready for Rory’s entrance. Then, finally, the string quartet started to play the wedding march and the doors opened again. My heart almost burst out of my chest when my eyes finally landed on my beautiful bride walking toward me. She looked like a goddess in white in a beautiful old fashioned gown that curved around her gorgeous belly. I didn’t care if I looked like a wuss in that moment, because as I saw the woman of my dreams walking down to me on her father’s arm, the tears began to flow. When James and Rory reached me, I turned to him and he placed Rory’s hand in mine and gave me a nod.
“You look so beautiful,” I whispered to her, and she smiled at me.
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