Punk Rock-A-Bye Baby(11)

“Hush.” She placed her hand on the left side of his chest. “You don’t have to say anything. A mother knows what goes on in her son’s heart.” She wrapped her arms around him. “It’s time to get married. Everyone is waiting.”

Butterflies crashed in Angel’s gut. “Already? I thought there was still time.”

Tommy slung his arm around Angel’s shoulder. “You’re not getting second thoughts on me now, are you?”

“Never, my prince.”

Tommy took his hand. “Then let’s get married.”



Angel stood in the center of the gazebo, now draped with snow white lilies. The light breeze blew their fragrance across the yard. He looked out at the ocean, and the rolling waves in the distance calmed his rampant heartbeat. There was no reason to be nervous, he told himself, but his fear laid in containing his emotions. The union   between himself, Tommy and Jessi was already established. There was no adjustment period or uncertainty for the future. It was the wedding that he never thought would materialize that had him teetering on the edge of losing control of his emotions. “I never thought we’d have this day,” he whispered to Tommy. “Thank you for making all of my dreams come true.”

“You’re the one who made my dreams come true, Angel.” The blue of Tommy’s eyes mimicked the sky, and they glistened.

In the background, the orchestra played Bach’s Prelude in C, followed by Shostakovich’s Romance. The moment had arrived. Jessi’s sister Maggie and Tommy’s brother Robert walked the white silk carpet, followed by Jessi’s other sister Ella and Angel’s brother Nesto. Maria, Angel’s sister, and her husband walked next. Damien and Alyssa followed, with Jimmy and Audra behind them. Lastly, little Mason stomped down the aisle holding the velvet pillow, just as he had done at Jimmy and Audra’s wedding a few weeks ago. Soft comments of “Adorable” and “How cute!” were heard from the guests. Mason flashed them a smile that looked more like Jimmy’s every day.

A silent pause stirred anticipation. Angel and Tommy clasped their fingers together and waited for Jessi.

Wagner’s Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin rose from the orchestra. Angel was the one who had insisted on a full orchestra, but the arrangement was Jessi’s choice. She wanted something other than the traditional Wedding March, and the piece brought the ceremony to a higher level of elegance.

Jessi was a vision of beauty. She glided toward the gazebo on her father’s arm in a sheath of ivory silk. Its understated simplicity was refined and chic. She held a small array of hand-tied roses which matched the color of her hair. A flash of hot pink peeked out from beneath her gown with each step. Her shoes, the flowers and her hair were the same shade.

When she reached Tommy and Angel, her father kissed her cheek and shook Tommy’s hand. Jessi’s father had never really embraced the three-way relationship, but he had learned to accept it. In the past, he had been cold to Angel, and his handshakes were lackluster and forced. But today, Jessi’s father pumped Angel’s hand with vigor and looked him in the eye. It was a welcoming gesture that didn’t go unnoticed by Jessi.

Tommy’s eyes dropped to Jessi’s feet and back up to her face. “I’ve never seen you look so beautiful. You’re even more beautiful than the first time we married.”

“You’re ravishing,” Angel whispered with his lips to Jessi’s ear.

Her smile broadened. “Thank you. You both look so handsome!” she whispered back.

Tommy and Angel both kissed Jessi’s cheek, and the three of them joined hands to form a triangle.

Angel was vaguely aware of the minister’s voice officiating the ceremony, and he wasn’t sure if Tommy or Jessi were paying attention either. The three had their eyes locked on one another. Silly smiles were plastered on their faces, and they gazed at one another like lovesick teenagers.

“I love you both,” Tommy whispered. He brought Angel and Jessi’s hands to his lips and kissed them at the same time.

Tears touched Jessi’s eyes, and she blinked them away. “I love you both so much.” She left a faint kiss on their hands, one at a time.

Angel was too choked up to speak. He smiled at Tommy and Jessi and whispered a barely audible, “I love you.”

They each exchanged an “I do” but basically just stared at one another with their love bouncing from one to the other, encased in their little circle.

“I now pronounce you husband, husband, and wife,” the minister announced. The orchestra erupted into a fast-paced rendition of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, and the guests applauded with gusto.