Chapter Sixteen

The ceremony is about to start. Mom and Max and I are on the side porch, ready to make our entrance. Rose and Herman are at the front of the Grand Salon, surrounded by their instruments. Their music sounds even more beautiful than the night we heard it at their house.

I walk in first, then turn to watch Mom and Max. When we are all at the front of the room, Rose and Herman put down their instruments. Rose comes to stand in front of us.

Mom hands me her flowers and gives me a kiss. Then she takes Max’s hands.

Rose turns to the guests. “Sarah and Max have written their own vows.”

She nods at Mom.

Mom clears her throat and says, “I, Sarah, take you, Max, to be my husband, through up, through down, through good and bad, through things that change and things that stay the same.”

I start to cry. Mom told me she and Max were writing their own vows, but I hadn’t heard them until now.

Max repeats the words to Mom, except he says “I, Max” instead of “I, Sarah.”

When he is done, Rose smiles and says, “I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

Mom and Max kiss . . . . . it’s a humdinger. They look like they should be in a movie.

That’s when it hits me. Mom and Max are married.

Even so, I hope they’re not going to be kissing like this around the house all the time.

That would be gross.