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Magnolia
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THE NOTES OF Here Comes The Bride sound in the beautiful Japanese gardens where a marquee laden with flowers has been erected.
Dad places his other hand on top of mine on the crook of his arm, patting it lightly. “Are you ready, baby girl?”
I beam at him and nod in confirmation that I’m ready to marry my three fiancés.
As we advance toward the arch of flowers that resemble the ones in my bouquet, walking toward a smiling Peaches, I look around at my colleagues and friends, the people that in my three years in Silver Springs have become my family. I smile at Iclyn, Max’s younger sister who just arrived back home from California last night, just in time for the wedding.
I smile at Carol and Lorenzo, my colleagues at Silver Springs memorial.
I have to fight to keep my tears of happiness at bay when I meet Jen and Gemma’s eyes in the second row of seats. They’ve obviously lost their battle and I see that their eyes are shiny with tears of joy.
I inhale deeply, determined not to ruin my make up when I see my mom and Debbie who are also dotting the corner of their own eyes with tissues.
On the other side of the makeshift aisle, I meet the gazes of Ned and Beverly McCall and the proud smile of Joanne Hunk, Blake’s mom.
This is really my family but it all began with the handsome, perfect men that are waiting for me at the altar.
Two more steps, I’m almost there, almost past the first row, when Frank twists his way out of my mother’s arms and charges toward me, adorable in a pale pink bow tie that matches the grooms’.
Mom scolds him as the puppy arrives at my feet “Frank, stop! You’re going to trip the bride!”
And you know what? Maybe two months ago, Mom would’ve been right, but since I’ve had this baby in me, I’ve got like super powers. Ok no, that’s dramatic, super powers as far as I’m concerned because I’m definitely steadier on my feet and I don’t trip. I bend to take Frank in my arms and walk the last few steps to stop in front of Peaches, by the side of the three most handsome men in the entire world.
“I think Frankie wanted to be right here with us, is that ok?”
The guys chuckle and Porter extends his arms to take him from me. “That’s absolutely right, he belongs right here with us. After all, he was here before we met you, he’s staking his claim.”
The ceremony begins without anymore hitches and it’s all pretty standard until we get to the vows.
Peaches announces, “I believe each of you has written their own vows, am I correct?”
We all confirm that we did.
“I know it’s highly unconventional but since there’s just one bride and three grooms, we’ll start with you Magnolia.”
I nod, looking at my three men and I feel my voice tremble with emotion.
“Before you guys, I don’t think I knew what love was. I’m not saying that I didn’t have love in my life but I didn’t recognize it. I didn’t see how much my parents love me for example. I knew that Jennie did, but it’s only recently I’ve appreciated the depth of our bond. Your love, your patience, your steady support, often physical support, have opened my eyes to the fact that I am loved. I’m the luckiest woman on earth. Because you three are a part of me, you make me stronger, invincible. Max, you’ve saved me more than once, especially from myself. You’ve always been there for me, handsome and loving, your arms are my refuge. Porter, you’re my rock. You support me and protect me and you make me feel safe. Blake, you’re my partner in crime—”
There are some chuckles from the crowd because Blake is a policeman but I promise I wasn’t going for a dorky pun.
I continue. “You make me dance on tables, you get me thrown out of libraries, you’re every kind of good trouble I need in my life but you also slay any dragon, you’re by my side, unwavering and strong when I need it most.”
I look into Max’s dark blue eyes, Porter’s hazel ones and Blake’s ice blue gaze and I see my feelings mirrored there, so I conclude my vows. “I promise to love you, take care of you the same way you take care of me, be by your side for better and for worse until my last heartbeat. Because my heart is yours, till death do us part.”
Peaches nods with a smile and instructs me to give each of them their rings. My fingers are trembling but I manage to do it without any major accidents. What did I say earlier? Super powers.
“Now let’s hear our grooms.”
Porter is the first one to take a step forward, taking my hand in his.
“Magnolia, from the very first time I saw you, you stole my heart. And you kind of stole my vows too. Because I was planning to say how you opened my eyes to the love that surrounds me. So now, I’ll have to find something else to say.”
Again, there’s laughter from our friends and families. Porter continues. “You taught me to own who I am without apology, to demand to be loved with every single one of my flaws. Because that’s how you love me every day. You’re beautiful, caring, perfect for me and I promise to always love you and protect you, to make you your favorite kale smoothies every morning and to keep teaching you yoga. And the clothing is absolutely optional. I love you, Magnolia and my heart is yours till death do us part.”
Porter takes a step back and passes my hand to Blake.
“Trouble, I promise to always challenge you, to relocate any spiders that dare invade your room out into the backyard and to sneak out to buy you a cronut whenever Porter makes you those horrible kale smoothies.”
I love the kale smoothies but I giggle with everyone else at the outraged expression on Porter’s face. “I can’t promise not to ever get us thrown out of any public places but that’s because when I’m near you, all I want is to get closer. To kiss you, to hold you ... yeah, you guys know where this is going. Especially your mom. I’ll always be by your side because that’s where I belong. I promise to be your partner in crime till death do us part. I love you, Magnolia.”
And finally, my blond giant, my Thor lookalike steps forward and takes my hand in his. “Magnolia, Baby. I had so many promises in my head but this is what always happens to me whenever I look at you. My heart takes over and my words elude me. So at the risk of ruining your makeup.” He cups my jaw with one of his big, gentle hands and brushes his lips against mine taking a tentative nibble on my lips in the exact same way he did the first time he kissed me on my doorstep, after bringing me home from the hospital the night of the deodorant cap incident. The kiss is warm, shallow and impossibly soft. It gives me butterflies today like it did a year ago.
“I promise to always be by your side, Baby. To love you and protect you and to get you out of any sticky situation now and always. I love you. Till death do us part, Magnolia.”
He takes a plain platinum band and slips it on my finger. Then we turn toward Peaches to sign the papers that will make this legal at least between the two of us and I’m surprised to see that Blake and Porter approach too. There are two more sheets of paper to sign and when I realize what’s happening, I understand what the guys meant earlier when they said that we are a family and this ceremony is as real as it gets.
Peaches announces it to our guests. “Family and friends, before I introduce you the bride and her grooms, I’d like to inform you that the grooms have decided to take the brides name. So without any further ado, I present you Mrs. and “Misters” Magnolia Kinsella. Gentlemen, you may now all kiss your bride.”
And that’s when the floodgates open. I can’t really keep my emotions in check any longer. And it isn’t the pregnancy hormones, you know me, I’m a giant sap. I can’t even watch cartoons without tearing up.
The guys surround me, three sets of hot lips touch mine, making my knees weak and causing my heart to beat so fast that I think it might burst for all the right reasons. Porter kisses me briefly but thoroughly, nipping my bottom lip at the end. Blake is immediately there to soothe and make my head spin with a deep, hot kiss.
Finally Max crushes his lips on mine, whispering, “I hope you like our surprise. See? We’re all the baby’s father and he or she is going to be a Kinsella.”
He then tips me backwards as if we were dancing a tango, kissing me harder and deeper and I almost, almost, lose my balance.
Max chuckles. “Shit, I almost tripped the bride!”