“Syd, if you remember anything, remember this, when your gut and your heart agree––take action.”
And I had. I did. Best decision I ever made. Apart from marrying him the first time.
There was a lot of travel involved as I ran Blackstone Holdings and he managed the Lazy S. And it wasn’t easy. No question we were often tired and overworked, but in the end neither of us would have asked the other to give up the work we both loved. So back and forth we went.
And now the time had come for me to pass the torch. I’d been feeling the need to slow down. I’d accomplished what I’d set out to do.
Hastings had been the second surprise of my life. As my right hand, he’d spearheaded international acquisitions and handled most of the overseas traveling. It was time for him to take over. Blackstone Holdings would undoubtedly prosper with him at the helm. Frank always did have an eye for talent.
Ready? I signed at the handsomest man in the world as I came down the staircase. It was a slow process, but I was learning. Wearing a dark gray suit and smiling his million dollar smile, Drake looked up at me and placed a hand over his heart.
Run away with me, he signed back.
“And risk gettin’ your balls handed to you by Scott?” Laurel stepped between us. “Come on, Casanova, time to give the bride away.”
As we reached the threshold of the French doors that lead to the backyard, we all went to put our boots on; my shiny new purple Hunters waiting for me by the door.
We had an unexpected summer rain shower last night and the ground was still wet. I’d stepped in the brown stuff so many times I had no intention of repeating it on my wedding day.
The music started, Can’t Help Falling In Love by Kina Grannis, and Drake and I, arm in arm, stepped out of the house. All one hundred seated guests turned to watch us. All of them wearing Hunter boots and broad smiles.
My attention was elsewhere, however. It went straight to the man standing under the arch covered in white lilies holding a fussy one-year-old who wore a tiny gray suit that matched his dad’s, and a rainbow-colored tie. I still like rainbows. They still make me feel hopeful.
We didn’t plan for Jack Franklin Blackstone to come so soon, but you can’t exactly call it an accident when neither participant did anything to prevent it from happening.
If anyone ever tells you that you can’t have both, tell them to keep their opinions to themselves. Running a global company and dealing with the changes to my body and mind was hard, but we managed. Thanks in large part to a partner who supported my decision and helped.
Regardless, I didn’t have it any harder than any single mother having to make the money she earns at her two jobs stretch to the end of the week and find a way to buy school supplies for all three of her children. Or the divorced dad who struggles to pay rent, child support, and find the extra cash for new hockey equipment. They’ll never get the cover of Forbes or Time but they are every bit the CEOs that I am. Some of us run Fortune 500 companies. Some run a household.
Smiling at the beautiful man waiting for me, Drake and I made our way down the soggy aisle, my feet sinking a few inches with every step I took, the strange sounds of suction making me giggle.
Catching sight of me, my son started bouncing in his father’s arms, babbling, and throwing his arms up. With Scott’s attention focused entirely on the bride, it was only a matter of time that one of those animated little fists would eventually connect with his daddy’s eye.
Scott swore under his breath. The dogs started to bark. And laughing, Ryan took the little bruiser from him. Jack had taken his first steps the other day and to be completely honest we were bummed. He was already a handful when he could only crawl.
Reaching the gazebo, Drake handed me off to my one-eyed groom. He turned forty last month, and even maimed, he was still the handsomest man I’d ever had the pleasure of meeting. I stroked his face and kissed his eye while everyone watched us. Some laughing. Some clapping.
Because this was us––messy, ungraceful, full of good intentions, but winging it most of the time. Squinting, Scott started to laugh. Holding hands, we glanced over at ’70s Elvis. This dude was our good luck charm. The wedding ceremony wouldn’t have felt right without him.
“Y’all ready?” Elvis asked once the laughter died down.
“I was born ready for this,” Scott answered, beating me to it.
Elvis started his shtick while I stared into the eye of the one I loved, in awe at my good fortune. “Who are you?” I murmured.
“Your mate, your best friend, your ex-husband,” he smiled broadly, then it slowly melted, “the man madly in love with you, Mrs. Blackstone.”
A bark drew both our attentions down, to where Romeo stood a few feet away…covered in mud.
“No, Romeo. No!”