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He pattedA man in love should be with the woman he loves, and I can tell you really love Tabitha”

“I do”

His brown eyes filled with affection, and a soft smile moved onto his lips He stared atbehind his eyes, thinking a s at once He didn’t always say what he felt, but the look on his face usually did that for him

My mom came next, Dex and Daisy with her Dex was about to turn fifteen and would start college in the fall He wasto the West Coast because he’d been accepted at his first pick university—Stanford Daisy was not quite eleven years old

Momy back as she embraced me “Just yesterday, you were five years old…and fifteen years have passed in the blink of an eye” She pulled away, her eyes soft and affectionate, her pal on my shoulders “So proud of you, sweetheart” She pressed a kiss to my cheek

My mother had all the qualities I lacked, the ability to coht ood book instead of the chemical science of the universe “Thanks, Mom”

Her eyes softened further before she released me

“I hope we’re as happy as you and Dad”

She gave entle pat “I’m sure you will be”

People started to settle down at the tables, and it was time for dinner, for my future wife andthey’d done to prepare for this wedding When I turned to look at the ht Neither was Kevin—irl I’ll join you in a second”

My family walked away and took their seats at the end of the table With all our friends and family combined, there were twenty-five of us, a celebration of two lives coether like the collision of two stars

I entered the building and moved toward the restroom, so I could press her into the wall and kiss her while I hiked her leg overmade me want to make her my wife now—not tomorrow

I leaned against the wall and waited outside the bathroom

But then I heard whispers

“Kevin, I’nize because it was so soft, so kind

Palpitations kicked in Blood pounded in one—and I had a feeling it wouldn’t co in front of an and descended all the way to the botto the railing as I looked down