Page 36 of Daddy’s Little Secret

“But we need to crunch some numbers. Right now, it’s not full-time work, but I’d suggest networking with the locals this evening and maybe find some side work to set up too. When were you looking to move up here?” Chuck asked.

“Honestly, as soon as I graduate, but Sasha will be with me. Should we look to rent a place in town?”

“The hell you will,” Chuck said. “This is our family’s home, and this is where our family will be.”

Chuck had it going on. This was a fun battle to sit back and take in. I was game for it all the way around, but the show they were putting on was Oscar, he-he, worthy.

“Oscar and I will draw up plans for a place. I’m guessing two rooms? One for your bedroom and one for a playroom for Sasha?”

“Chuck.” Samian shook his head. “I’m at a loss for words. A job, a home, and you’re already including Sasha in the family.”

“That is how the Ashwood family rolls, dear brother-in-law.”

“Alright, you mushy fuckers, while this has been fun and all, we have a bigger event to get ready for. Welcome to the Ashwood family, Samian. Now, let’s get me married.”

After we hugged it out, everyone picked a room and got ready. Now, it was time to meet my husband-to-be at the altar.

15

“How do I look?” I stood in front of the floor-length mirror in Uncle Chuck and Tae’s bedroom, taking it all in. “I’m so glad we didn’t buy store-bought outfits and instead raided the bins at the thrift store in town.” We’d managed to find old suits with vests and top hats. It didn’t take much to muss them up and make them look really old, and we had fun doing it.

Everyone had a hand in getting me ready. From applying the ghostly make-up to my face, which looked wicked cool. They even added gray to my cheekbones to make them look sunken in and black around my eyes. Daddy was supposed to dress similarly, but without using the same make-up artists, there was no way our faces would be exactly the same.

“I gotta give it to you, Trey,” Grandma said. “You took a normally stuffy day and made it into something fun.” She for some reason thought dressing as Little Bo Peep, leading the sheep, AKA me, down the aisle was funny. But she was so dang cute in that dress.

“Okay, we are totes adorbs,” Sasha said. He wore a beautiful long, shimmery pink gown and a crown. His make-up was perfectly applied, and honestly, he was gorgeous. “Hopefully my heels don’t sink in the ground.”

“True,” Tae added. My bestie best man decided to go as Olaf from Frozen. He was so silly, but as Sasha said, totes adorbs. Now Momma, every time I saw her, I went into a crazy fit of giggles. She was the Mad Hatter, and she was decked out from head to toe, completely in character and talking in riddles.

“This is so much fun.”

“Time to get serious, boys,” only it was Momma who said it, so it was hard to do. “Esther, you have their rings, right?”

“Yes.” She held the familiar box up.

“The marriage license is by the cake. We can sign it right after the ceremony and cut the cake and sip some champagne,” Momma said.

“Or put a straw in the bottle and call it a night,” Grandma teased. Kinda…

“Alright, it’s time.” Momma, Tae, and Sasha blew kisses at me—we didn’t want to mess up our make-up—and left me and Grandma inside.

“Trey,” she began, and I knew I should’ve grabbed a tissue. “I wish your parents could be here today with us. Life can be cruel, but then again, it can be so full of love like our newfound family is. You fell in with a wonderful group, and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of it. I love you more than anyone in the world, and I’m glad you found your perfect forever Daddy.”

“Grandma, don’t make me cry.”

“Pfft!” She waved her hand around. “Y’all make me cry all the damn time with your kindness.”

“That’s because we love you and all your silliness.”

“I’ll silly you, boy.” She winked. “Now, let’s go get you hitched.”

As soon as we heard the opening to Ed Sheerin’s song “Perfect”, we stepped outside and into my version of forever. Daddy was the most handsome zombie ever, smiling wide at me as he stood beneath the trees we chose to get married beneath. Uncle Chuck, oh my god, I had to stop and gather myself when I saw he was dressed as the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. Even his face was painted. Goddess, how I loved these people.

Samian stood beside his beautiful princess dressed like the prince Sasha deserved. We already adored Sasha and hoped Samian held onto him. Grandma linked her arm through mine and walked me down the aisle to our awaiting family with Momma at the helm.

Grandma stopped beside Daddy and hugged me. “I love you, Trey.”

“I love you too, Grandma.” Then she went and stood with Samian and Sasha.