AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I reach for her hand in her lap and she entwines our fingers together.
“I’m fine,” she says, unprompted.
My lips twitch. “I didn’t ask.”
She exhales. “I’m still not used to it,” she says.
I bring her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles. “Maybe you never will,” I say. “Our home never really stops being home. No matter how much it changes without us.”
“No, I mean…” She eyes the empty driver’s seat. “That.”
I look forward and laugh as the wheel spins to the right and we pull into the church parking lot. I’ve taken her to nearly every corner of the world in this car and she still regards it with great distrust.
Just another reason to love her.
I step outside and button my jacket before extending a hand to her. She takes it and I help her out with eyes locked on her as the sunlight shines over her beautiful face. It’s not a view I can always catch where we come from. There’s just something about real, natural sunlight on Earth that brings out her most perfect features.
“There she is!”
Tannis’ head instantly snaps toward the familiar voice. “Dad! Mom!” she gasps.
Moira and Owen stand on the sidewalk just outside of the entrance, him with a cautionary cane balanced beneath his left arm. They each carry far more wrinkles on their faces than they did when we first met but they’ve aged better than others.
Tannis drops my hand and rushes toward them. I don’t take it personally. There are only so many more precious moments left between my queen and her parents and I hang back to give them the time they deserve.
I dread the day when I’ll have to escort them to the void and break the news to her.
I push the thoughts away. Today is a day of celebration.
Tannis eases down her enthusiasm before throwing her arms around their elderly shoulders. They shower her with compliments and fake-spot a few age lines on her eternally-porcelain face. She laughs with them while I comfort a man on a hospital bed, surrounded by no one.
“Ari.”
I look forward and Moira gestures me closer.
“Now you get over here and hug me, young man,” she says.
I walk over, happy to oblige. “It’s nice to see you, too, Moira.”
She embraces me, giving my back a few hard slaps before pulling away. “How are you?” she asks with a wink. “Same as always?”
I glance at Tannis. “And yet, more exciting every day.”
She smiles, pleased with my answer.
Owen extends his hand to me and I shake it lightly as I bow my head in respect. He does the same, our silent tradition of showing appreciation for one another. To him, for bringing me Tannis. To me, for giving him the same.
Tannis wraps an arm around mine and we continue on into the church together. Before the usher can escort us to our seats, a woman lets out a shriek from the front rows and shoots up out of her pew.
“Tannis!”she cries out.
Tannis gives her a wave. “Hi, Dina!”
Dina rushes at us. I quickly detach from Tannis in order to avoid getting trampled as they throw their arms around each other and laugh like school girls.
A man slowly eases up behind them. He gives me a smile and bobs his silver-speckled head. “Hey, Ari,” he says. “Thanks for coming.”
“We’re happy to be here, Riley,” I say. “Congratulations. This church is beautiful.”
