exact words to me. ‘Daddy, if I don’t lock him down now, then God knows who I could end up with.’ I’m thinking little Jimmy next door must have been glad we decided to move three days early.”
The crowd, again, let out a laugh, my mother beaming as my father continues, “As for her third marriage attempt, now this one will last. Elijah,” he says, raising his glass toward him. “I have never seen a man so in love, so taken with a woman as much as I have seen you with my little girl. You’re the light in her day, the contentment in her night. You have given her so much joy and happiness, and anyone who can make my little girl smile the way you do, well, that’s the only thing a father can wish for his daughter. So, to a lifetime of happiness. Please raise a toast to the newly-wedded couple.”
My mother, an absolute wreck, is sobbing into her pile of tissues. I have to admit, it was a pretty good speech. My father hugs my sister tightly before leaning over to give Elijah a quick man-hug.
Rising from my chair, I button up my jacket before walking toward the stage. I clear my throat, ignoring my sweaty palms. Why do I feel like I’m the giant elephant in the room, and the only person watching is Charlotte?
It is now or never.
I straighten my posture, it’s showtime.
“They say love is a noble act of self-giving, offering trust, faith, and loyalty. The more you love, the more you lose a part of yourself, yet you don’t become less of who you are, you end up being complete with your loved one. This couldn’t ring any truer as I tell you the story of how I watched their love for one another unfold…”
From my left side, I see Charlotte staring intently at me, never turning away.
“The first time I met Elijah was when I came home from college. Adriana had this habit of waiting for me on the porch steps every time I came home, something she had done from the moment she could walk. On this particular day, she hadn’t, something I thought she had outgrown, which saddened me somewhat. As I walked into the house, there was only one sound I could hear, the laughter of my sister. I made my way to where the sounds came from, and I saw Adriana with this scrawny-looking boy who reminded me of Beetlejuice with his scruffy hair. She was sitting there intently, listening to a story Elijah was telling her about his horses when he grew up. Now, for anyone who knows Adriana, sitting still and being quiet were skills she never displayed. In fact, it’s almost like she repelled them. However, she sat there, perfectly still, listening intently. I had never seen this side of her. After a quick cough on my end, she saw me. She wasn’t afraid, neither was Elijah. She simply introduced him as a very good friend of hers.
“From that day on, I did lose a small part of my sister for I saw that she was finally growing into this woman, and this so-called friend. Elijah, I knew he had everything to do with it. Not many people can say they held onto their first loves, not many people can say that it was only ever one person who has captured them. Elijah and Adriana, you have conquered love at first sight, remained true to one another after all these years. Your strength and unity as one never cease to amaze me. Your trust in each other, most importantly, has gotten you to this day, the day that if anyone deserves it, it’s the both of you.
“Today, you both become complete with one another and let this be a lesson to others. Place your trust in those you love and accept their trust with the greatest of appreciation. Love like there’s no tomorrow, live like today is the end, and have faith that tomorrow will come. Sometimes we are given the easy road, sometimes the most challenging, but if we can end up being as happy as both of you today, then any road taken is well worth the journey.”
CHARLIE
Lex stands and is handed the microphone. Standing in front of everyone, confident and demanding with his presence, all eyes fixate on him, including my own.
From the moment I laid eyes on him at the church, to our short walk down the aisle, then our