Sidney got up early the next morning because she knew it was going to be a crazy one. The wedding was at one-thirty in the afternoon, and they had four adults and one toddler to get ready before they could head out the door.
She got her shower out of the way and put on clean pajamas to go out to the kitchen and make breakfast for everyone. By the time a small mountain of pancakes and bacon were done she heard Greer singing his happy song on the new baby monitor Bree and Adam had supplied.
She covered everything with aluminum foil and went into the nursery where she found Greer sitting up in his new bed and singing. He stopped and smiled when he saw her.
“Is your mommy here?” Sidney asked, watching him from the doorway.
Greer nodded and pointed to a spot beside the bed.
Sidney wasn’t at all sure how she felt about his response. Did she believe that this little boy was seeing his dead mother?
Did she believe that was even possible?
If anyone had asked her that question just two years ago, she might’ve said hell no. But Isaac was living proof that impossible things are sometimes very possible, wasn’t he? And what was it she had said to Ike the other night? That she couldn’t imagine how unsettled Cara Buckley’s spirit must be, worrying about what would happen to her baby boy now?
Sidney took a deep breath and walked into the room. Then she sat down on the bed beside Greer and she looked toward the direction he’d pointed in.
“My husband and I are going to take very good care of him, Cara. We’ll love him as if he’s our own. I promise. You can rest now.”
The soft scent of lilacs wafted boldly through the room, followed by a frosty chill to the air.
Then it was gone.
Sidney looked at Greer.
“Mommy blowed me a kiss.”
“Your mommy blew you a kiss?”
Greer nodded. “She went bye-bye.”
He looked so forlorn, and Sidney bit her bottom lip to try and stop herself from crying. She smiled at Greer.
“Are you ready for some pancakes?”
Another nod. Then, “You my mommy now?”
It was such an innocent question, but it made her stomach flip. And those tears she was fighting became impossible to hold back any longer. She smiled and wiped a few from her cheeks.
“Yes. I’ll be your mommy now. Is that okay?”
Greer seemed to think about that for a second, and she wondered if his little mind was fully grasping this conversation. Then he nodded again. He moved into her arms and Sidney hugged him tight.
She carried him into the master bathroom, where they’d decided to put the potty. When they came out of the bathroom Isaac was just sitting up and stretching.
“Hey, you two. What’s going on?”
Greer pointed to him and looked at Sidney. “Daddy?” The question was clear, and his expressive eyes were looking for clarification.
Sidney smiled at him and then looked at Isaac, who was sitting on the side of the bed with a shell-shocked expression on his handsome face.
“Greer wants to know if you’re going to be his daddy now.”
“Oh.” Ike’s gaze darted back and forth between her and the little boy. “Well… I, um. I mean, yes. If… if you want me to.” He got out of bed and stepped closer, taking the boy’s hand. “I would be happy to be your daddy.”
He looked at Sidney. “Does he even understand what I’m saying?”
“I believe so. I think essentially he’s asking what he should call us. He asked if I was his mommy now.” Sidney looked at Greer. “Greer, would it be okay if Isaac is your daddy now?”
Greer nodded and then reached for him.
Isaac took him from her and hugged him tight. To Sidney he quietly mouthed, “What brought this on?”
“Later,” she whispered. “Come on, BG. Let’s go get those pancakes.”
Three hours later, after everyone was fed and dressed, they dropped Greer off at Ike’s parents place, and Sidney felt ridiculous for being so worried. When they were back in the car and headed to the wedding, she glanced over at Ike.
“Do you think he’ll be okay?”
“Of course, Sidney. My mama raised four kids and she managed not to kill any of us.”
“I know that, smarty pants. I’m just worried because he doesn’t really know them yet. And he’s been through a lot in the last couple of weeks.”
“He met my parents that day everyone came over to change the office into a nursery and ended up staying for dinner. He and my mama hit it off that day, remember?”
“Yes, they did,” Sidney admitted with a smile. It had been nice watching Audrey effortlessly draw the little boy out that day. She’d had him laughing in no time.
“So they aren’t complete strangers to him,” Isaac continued. “And we told him that we would be back to get him in a few hours. Plus we do both have cellphones. We can call to check on him however many times we want to. And Isla will be there. I know they’re not exactly the same age, but kids like being around other kids, don’t they?”
“I suppose.” Sidney sighed and tried to imagine Greer having fun getting to know Ike’s parents and little Isla. “I’m being silly.”
“You are not being silly. You have been with that boy non-stop since we brought him home and this is the first time you’ll be away from him for longer than fifteen minutes. You’re acting like a normal mother leaving her child for the first time. And that’s not silly.”
Sidney reached over and put a hand on his leg. “I love you, Isaac. You always know exactly what to say to make me feel better.”
“I’m just calling it like I see it, darlin’. And I love you back.”
They got to the church in plenty of time to find their respective dressing rooms and get changed.
The dressing room for the women was mild chaos with Jada plus her maid-of-honor and three bridesmaids — Sidney, two cousins, and a fellow nurse from work. Not to mention the mother of the bride and a few Aunties milling about.
Jada had chosen purple and black for her colors, and each bridesmaid’s dress was a different shade — lavender, orchid, violet, and plum. Sidney’s was orchid, and since she would be paired with Ike when they walked down the aisle, his tie and cummerbund were the same shade.
All the dresses were identical one-shouldered, draped tulle, ankle-length gowns, and they matched Jada’s dress perfectly. A white, A-line, one-shouldered, draped tulle dream. Her cousin, the beautician, styled her long and luxurious hair into an elegant updo, and her makeup was subtle perfection.
“Oh, Jada, you look like a princess.”
“Thank you, Sidney. Hey.” She gestured to the side and Sidney followed. When they were out of earshot of the others, Jada took both of Sidney’s hands.
“What’s going on?” Sid asked.
“I just wanted to talk to you for a minute.”
“Sure. What’s up?”
“I want to thank you, Sidney.”
“Thank me? For what?”
“For seeking me out when you knew that I was struggling with Pete’s injury. For talking to me and helping me to see that I needed to move past the trauma of losing Carlos so that I could truly embrace loving Pete.”
“Jada—”
“I don’t know how you knew that I was still holding on to that old pain, but I’m so grateful that you did. Because if you hadn’t come to me, I probably would have talked myself out of the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love Pete so much. And I would’ve hurt so many people by that wrong decision. When I think that I almost cost Charlie a new father and brother and grandma…”
Jada paused and dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “Thank you, Sidney. You have truly been a great friend to me.”
“Oh, Jada.” She folded her friend into her arms, being careful not to get any makeup on the snow white dress. “All I did was encourage you to do what you already knew you needed to.”
“Well, I’m grateful. Thank you, Sidney.”
“You’re very welcome.”
“Now, listen… I can’t wait to meet this little boy I keep hearing so much about, so once we’re back from our honeymoon in Puerto Rico, Pete and I want to have you guys over for dinner again, okay?”
“It’s a date. Just tell us when. But right now, let’s go get you married.”
* * *
“You ready for this, man?” Isaac asked.
Pete looked at him and smiled. “You know something, Ike? If my father was still alive I would’ve had him be my best man.”
“Yeah?”
Pete nodded. “Yeah. He was definitely the best man I ever knew. And I’m going to be honest with you. I really did think about asking you to do the honors. But—”
Isaac held up a hand. “Pete you don’t need to say that, man. I’m happy being a groomsman.”
“No, I want you to know that I was this close to asking you.” Pete pinched his finger and thumb together. “I know we had a rough beginning, but I feel like we’ve truly become partners over the last year. You’re more than just my co-worker or my friend.”
Isaac nodded, trying not to smile. “I feel the same.”
“The only reason I didn’t tap you as best man is because I’ve literally known Steven Sanchez my whole life. We grew up three houses away from each other, been tight all through school. It’s probably not a mystery that we both went into the field of justice, you know? Me a cop and him a lawyer.”
“I get it, Pete. You don’t need to explain.”
“I’m not trying to explain, I just…” Pete paused again and Isaac got the feeling he was trying to organize his thoughts. “I guess I just wanted to let you know that even though we started out rocky, I feel like we truly have developed a bond.”
Pete looked into his eyes, and Isaac could suddenly feel his partner’s earnestness. And his nervousness.
“I’m trying to say that I’m glad that I was partnered with you a year ago, Ike. I’ve learned so much from you about being a good detective. But also just about life; about people. And I… I admire you, man. The truth is that I couldn’t have asked for a better detective to be partnered with. And I just wanted you to know how I feel.”
Isaac stared at him. It was nice to know that the soft spot he’d developed for Pete over the last year was mutual. “Thank you, Pete. I appreciate you saying that. For the record, I’m also glad we’re partners.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes.”
“So if I give you an extra task for the ceremony, you’ll do it?”
Isaac laughed out loud. “Is that what this was about? Buttering me up?”
Pete grinned. “No seriously. I meant every word. But I do need someone to hold onto this.” He handed Isaac a small square box.
“What is it?”
“Something for the ceremony. Steven has the rings. But this is something else. Something just as special. You’ll know when to hand it over.”
“Okay.” Isaac frowned, but he slipped the box into his pocket.
The knock on the door got everyone’s attention and an older woman stuck her head in. “It’s time to line up, gentlemen.”
Isaac took his place in line and straightened the jacket of his tux. As they all filed out of the dressing room he couldn’t help but think about the things Pete had said, and what a crazy year it had been. But he could honestly say that Pete Vega was the best partner he’d ever had.
At the doors outside the sanctuary of the church, the groomsmen met their female counterparts. Isaac held his arm out and winked at Sidney when she linked her arm with his.
They walked down the aisle together, and Isaac smiled at his family members that were seated in the pews — each of his siblings and their significant others — all of the people they spent time with during family game nights.
At the end of the aisle, he and Sidney parted ways and went to their respective sides of the flowered arch, and Isaac took his place beside the best man.
When Jada floated down the aisle Isaac thought Pete might faint or something. His partner looked like he was in a trance.
The ceremony was simple and reverent, and parts of it were performed in Spanish. The vows were traditional, and afterwards they exchanged matching polished platinum rings. But Isaac kept his ears pealed for his cue.
“Jada and Pedro,” the minister said, “today you are promising your love and devotion to one another. But you are also pledging your love and devotion to your two boys as well. Committing to them and to each other to create a family together. Will both boys please come forward?”
Pete glanced at Isaac.
Isaac carefully handed over the small square box, and then watched as Mateo and Charlie got up from the first pew, noting how nice they both looked in their matching tuxes. They joined Jada and Pete in front of the arch, looking somewhat awkward.
“Mateo and Charlie.” The minister looked them both in the eyes and spoke directly to them. “Your parents would like to present this gift to each of you as a symbol of their commitment, their trust, and their love.”
Pete and Jada each pulled what looked like a bracelet from the box. Jada fastened hers around Mateo’s left wrist while Pete fastened his around Charlie’s.
“The bracelets are gold nameplates,” the minister said for the crowd. “They are set on black leather cords. And each nameplate has been engraved with the names Vega Lopez, in accordance with Latinx naming custom that sees the children of a union take on both of their parents surnames. The father’s surname comes first, and the mother’s surname comes second,” the minister explained. “And I understand that once Mateo’s and Charlie’s adoptions are finalized, their legal names will then change to reflect their bracelets.”
A small wave of ‘Aww’ could be heard whispering around the congregation, and once the bracelets were securely in place and the boys had taken their seats, the minister finally pronounced Pete and Jada man and wife.