Chapter Thirty-Seven

Lily

 

Once everyone had eaten dinner, Tom, Megan’s father, stood and the chatter went quiet. “What a lovely gathering. My thanks to the organisers for inviting us, and for all the work they’ve clearly put into tonight. When a couple establishes a relationship, there’s usually a family meeting, and sometimes two families meet. This is a complicated web of relationships. It’s not my party to do a speech at…”

Frank, Scott’s father, interrupted, “And yet he’s going to anyway.”

Tom continued, as if Frank hadn’t spoken. “It’s not my party to do a speech at, but I do want to express my happiness that our girl, Lily, has found someone who makes her happy enough that, for the first time, she’s wanted us all to meet. To Lily!” Everyone raised their glasses and toasted Lily. Tears instantly appeared in her eyes, and motivated by Tom’s words, Lily got up to talk.

“I’m not usually a public speaker,” she confessed. “And thirty people is public enough! But I want to thank you all for coming. The people around these tables are meaningful to us all. I don’t know what else to say, except thank you to you all. For everything.” The smiles around the table motivated her to continue. “I didn’t want to date. Megan had my heart. What I’ve realised in meeting Parker is that meeting someone else doesn’t erase everything that we had. It’s a new future, but I know Megan would be happy. I’m delighted to get to know Nathan and Parker’s families a little tonight, and I look forward to a happy future all together. One big crazy family. So let’s raise our glasses and toast, ‘To everyone!’”

“To everyone!” they all cried in unison.

“But there is one special person I wanted to acknowledge,” Lily said. As people looked toward Parker and toward Bodhi, she figured they all assumed it was one of them, but it wasn’t. “To Scott. I couldn’t do this parenting thing without you, and Megan and I were so lucky to have you in our lives, and Bodhi and I have been so lucky to keep you in our lives. And now…you’re part of my life with Parker. I couldn’t be any more grateful for everything we have. To my best friend, Scott!”

“To Scott!” everyone cheered and grinned. Scott raced around to Lily and gave her a kiss and a cuddle, and then spoke up, “I want you all eating and drinking, and chatting, so I won’t do a speech, but thanks for coming, and I look forward to talking.” Scott was never a man of many words.

The evening ended late. Bodhi had a ball with his cousins and new extended family members. As everyone was retreating to the bedrooms, they all agreed it had been an amazing night. “Megan’s family are great,” Parker said. “And your parents seemed lovely too.” She directed that last comment to Lily.

“They’re all great. We all lucked out in the family department, didn’t we?” Scott said.

“I know,” Lily said, nodding. “Pretty great, really.”