Starting Point (35 page)

Another round of applause went up, with the loudest cheering from the FC crew.

It was such a bittersweet moment, and I picked Claude up, giving her a big squeezy hug. Matt smiled at me, then turned back to the crowd. He thanked everyone again and when he walked off stage, he came straight over to me and Claude and hugged us both.

With the formalities officially over, Claude wanted more turns on the carnival rides, so Mom and Dad took her. Tamara smiled warmly at Matt. “That’s great news about the scholarship, Matt,” she said.

“It is,” he agreed. “We knew we were getting some sponsorship money and weren’t real sure what to spend it on, and then at Ruby’s funeral, we decided,” he said, looking at me. “It just felt right.”

“It did,” I chimed in.

Tamara smiled like some inside joke was funny. “Oh, Matt.”

He looked at her, unsure. “Oh Matt what?”

“You really should be very proud of what you’ve achieved. It’s remarkable, and certainly something you, your family and kids can be very proud of.”

Matt barked out a laugh. “Well, I don’t think I have to worry about the kid part. I think it’s pretty clear that being a parent is not something we’ll be adding to the list too soon. One day, but I’m not in the right headspace yet…”

She smiled. “Matt, I’m going to tell you something, not as your doctor, but as a friend. You’re already a parent, and you’re doing a marvellous job.”

Matt looked at her like she’d lost her freakin’ mind. I’m sure it matched the look I was giving her.

“Matt, Kira,” she said, looking at us one at a time. “You don’t need titles for whatever it is you are to that little girl, be it a father, a big brother or an uncle. Up until now, and even as a joint effort with Sal and Yumi, you’ve both taken very good care of her and the thing is, boys, for all the horrible things she’s been through, she’s very lucky to have you.”

Matt ran his hand through his hair looking towards where Claude and my parents had disappeared to. “I don’t know about that…”

Tamara shook her head. “Matt, you’re better than you realise. You’re doing a fabulous job, and like a true father, you’ll doubt it every step of the way.”

She put a reassuring hand on his arm before she walked away, leaving Matt staring at me. “Well, that was weird,” he mumbled.

I laughed, and just then Anna and Mitch joined us. As always, I gave her a kiss on the cheek, and we ended up sitting at one of the picnic tables talking about life and our men.

“You look the best I think I’ve seen you,” she said. “Tell me, what’s been going on?”

I couldn’t help but grin. “Life’s good,” was all I said.

She smiled knowingly. “You mean, Matt’s good.”

“That too,” I said with a laugh. “Things between us are almost back to the way they were before. Actually, despite everything, I’d say they’re better. We’re better now.”

“Still talking it out like a
Dr Phil
episode?”

I snorted a laugh. “Something like that.”

“I’m really happy for you, Kira,” she said. “You deserve it.”

“And what about you?” I asked. She looked so good. “Looking a little bit amazing there. What’s your secret?”

Anna looked over to where Mitch and Matt were still talking and smiled. “We might be talking about babies.”

I nudged her with my shoulder. “Well, it’s about time. And, by the way, you do know Kira can be a boy name or a girl name.”

Anna laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Arizona and Lashona walked over to our table, and I introduced them to Anna. Anna was quick to take their little girl while a pregnant Lashona sat down.

Mom, Dad and Claude came back not long after, and it seemed everyone we knew was there, and it was particularly great to see Matt’s old police partners here. They’d come to support Matt, and it really meant a lot to him.

When the crowds had mostly dispersed, we were all at the picnic tables out on the street, and as the vendors packed up their stalls, Matt finally got a chance to take a break. He was chatting with everyone, catching up with each group of people as he went.

He looked…happy.

I looked around at everyone still sitting in the setting LA sun to see Arizona was talking to Mitch, and Lashona was fussing over babies with Anna, Rachel and Evie. Boss was there, talking to Tamara of all people and the way they laughed and chatted between themselves looked a little flirty, which was weird—and nice, I guess—but mostly weird. Ricky and Kurt were talking football with Cody and Amil.

It was a cool afternoon, the air was fresh, the light was soft and it certainly didn’t feel like we were sitting in the middle of a busy street. We only had a little while left before the street would be opened up again to traffic, so it was great to take the time to do it now.

A nice surprise to the end of the day was Berkman turning up. When I’d spoken to him earlier, he hadn’t been sure if he could make it, but said he’d do his best. Matt’s old boss, Ross Berkman, walked over, interrupted Matt and Father Michael and congratulated Matt on a successful day. He clapped him on the shoulder then sat himself at the table with the rest of the boys and swiped Kurt’s beer, taking a mouthful before he could protest.

The way everyone joked and laughed made me smile.

It actually felt kind of surreal, peaceful. Our friends and family were all there, and every single one of them was smiling.

I looked at Matt as he was talking to Michael, and when he laughed at something the pastor had said, I had an overwhelming urge, an absolute certainty of what I wanted to do.

I stood up, kissed Anna on the cheek then walked over to Matt and Father Michael.

“Hey,” Matt said, smiling as soon as he saw me.

“Hey,” I said, putting my hand on his lower back. “Father Michael, can I ask you to do one more thing for us today?”

The kind man smiled cautiously. “Sure.”

“Marry us.”

I looked at Matt, never more certain of anything in my entire life. He blinked then blinked again. “What?”

“Now,” I said. “Let’s get married. Right now.”

Matt’s mouth opened and shut, twice. “Um.”

“Unless you don’t want to,” I added.

“I want to,” he said quickly. “But we’re not ready, we don’t have anything…”

I pulled the leather necklace out from under my shirt so the ring sat on the outside. “You, me, two rings and a pastor,” I said. “And everyone we know.”

Matt was still staring at me with his mouth open, but Father Michael said, “It’s not quite that easy. There’s paperwork, and registration forms and licenses. Those take time.”

“It
is
that easy,” I said. “It’s really very easy. We have that signed marriage licence that Mom made us practice on, we can bring that around tomorrow and finalize all the legal stuff then. Let’s just do the ceremony part right now.” I looked around at our friends and family. “Everyone’s here.”

Matt looked at me, for a long, serious moment, then he looked at Michael. “Will you do it? Now?”

“I can go through a ceremony with you,” Michael answered, unsure. But it won’t be official, or legal.”

Matt waved his hand dismissively. “We can work out details later,” he said, undoing the leather strand that held the ring around his neck.

I did the same, and when Matt and I were both standing in front of him with rings in our hands, grinning like idiots, I don’t think he had the heart to say no.

Michael mumbled something that sounded like “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” then cleared his throat. “If I can have your attention, ladies and gentlemen.”

It took a moment for everyone to stop talking, but eventually they were all quiet, looking at us.

“Matt and Kira have asked me to do something for them,” Father Michael said. “Well, kind of. But while they are surrounded by family and friends here today, they’ve asked me to marry them.”

There was two full heartbeats of silence. Then Yumi stood up. “They what?”

“Mom,” I started.

She put her hand up as if stopping traffic. “I have all those plans. Colour schemes and seating arrangements! Why you do this now?”

“Because I don’t want to wait,” I answered. “Not another day.”

“Because I can’t wait to be a part of your family,” Matt said.

Mom softened with Matt’s words, then my dad tapped her arm, asking what was said. He must have missed what Father Michael had said.

“They’re getting married,” Mom signed to him.

“Now?” he signed, clearly surprised.

“Yes, now,” Mom signed and spoke at the same time.

Dad exhaled, relieved. “Oh, thank God,” he signed, looking at me and Matt. “Does this mean I get my dining table back?”

Matt and I both snorted, and Father Michael said, “Do I want to know what he said?”

I shook my head, and Matt laughed and said, “He’d like it very much if we were married today.”

Mom sat back down in a huff. Dad grinned and pulled Claude onto his lap so she could see better and Father Michael told us to take each other’s hands.

Then he started, “We are gathered here today to celebrate the love between Matthew and Kira, as they become united in the house of God.”

I couldn’t stop smiling. I wasn’t nervous at all—I was completely, with every fibre in my body, certain of this.

“Do you have any vows? Anything you’d like to say to one another? Matthew?” Michael asked.

“I do,” Matt blurted out, making everyone laugh. He bit his lip and laughed, blushing a dozen shades of embarrassed. I cupped his face with one hand and pulled his face against my neck, laughing with him.

“I meant vows,” Pastor Michael amended patiently, waiting for our audience to stop chuckling. “Do you have vows you’d like to tell Kira?”

He nodded. “Um…” He straightened up and ran his fingers through his hair. “Um, Kira, you…” He took my hand again and squeezed so hard he cracked my knuckles. He swallowed hard. Then he found his words. “Kira, for every wrong, for every mistake—and God knows I’ve made a few—you made me right. For every scar, for every wound, you have healed me. You are exactly the other half of me, the half that makes me whole. You make me strong, you have given me more than I could have ever asked for.” Matt took a deep breath then exhaled shakily. “You are my everything, and I promise to you honesty, love and faithfulness for the rest of my life.”

I blinked back tears, the emotion of his words, the sincerity in his eyes, overwhelmed me.

“Kira?” Pastor Michael prompted me.

I gave him a nod, trying to get the words right in my head. “Matt, I knew the second I saw you that you would change my life. And every time you say to me ‘I don’t know why you still love me’ or ‘I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you’ well, I wanna tell you something. You have so much heart, and so much love. You don’t see yourself as anything special, you never have, but you’re an amazing man, and I will spend my life trying to get you to see you the way I do.”

His eyes welled with tears, and I moved my hands to hold his face, wiping my thumbs under his eyes.

Our foreheads were touching, and I spoke just to him, “This is why I love you. No one sees you like I do. It’s a gift, and one I’ll be forever grateful for.”

Matt closed his eyes, as if basking in my words, and without any conscious effort, I kissed him. I just had to. I lifted his face and pressed my lips to his for a soft, slow kiss.

It wasn’t until the pastor beside us cleared his throat, that I remembered where we were.

I pulled back, leaving Matt looking a little kiss-drunk. Then I heard the muted coughs and laughter from our friends and family.

Matt blushed again, laughing through his embarrassment while I looked at Michael. “Sorry.”

“We’re not up to that part yet,” he said, trying not to smile. He held out the rings we’d given him. “Rings first.”

“Oh,” Matt said, taking the ring and handing it to me.

I took his left hand and slipped the metal band over his ring finger, then he did the same to me. Matt was teary again, but he was grinning now. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and asked Pastor Michael, “Can I kiss him now?”

Michael nodded, and Matt held my face and kissed me. Our friends and family were now standing and clapping, and even other strangers who had stopped to watch while Pastor Michael spoke about the power of California and announcing us as husband and husband.

And right there, in the middle of the street on a cool afternoon, surrounded by our loved ones, and strangers and vendors and trucks moving equipment, we were married.

Matt buried his face in my neck, but we were soon pulled apart my mom, who was pulling us down so she could hug us. She was crying, but they were happy tears. Dad carried over Claude and handed her over to Matt, who hugged her as my Dad hugged me. Then Claude wanted to hug me, so Mom hugged Matt, fiercely.

When my parents were done, we were hugged and congratulated by everyone else. It was surreal. And wonderful. I didn’t need some fancy wedding, with colour schemes and flower arrangements. I just needed him.

It wasn’t even technically official, and wouldn’t be until tomorrow, but it didn’t matter. It was real to me. And after everyone had wished us well, Matt found his way back to me. Without a word, he simply slid his arms around me and again buried his face into my neck.

He breathed me in, and while everyone was abuzz around us, he was absolutely still. I could feel the rise and fall of his chest, how his hands pressed on my back, and how his warm breath ghosted over my skin at my neck.

He was completely centred, completely at peace.

Running my hand up his side, over his neck and to his jaw, I pulled back slightly so I could kiss him again. Deeper this time, it was an emotional need. People around us heckled us, but I didn’t care.

Mom tapped our shoulders. “Boys. Time for that later.”

* * * *

The next morning, we didn’t take Oscar for a run. We slept in a little, after we’d made love almost all night, we were both tired.

And ridiculously happy.

After breakfast and showers, we were dressed and ready to go see Father Michael, but we needed to do something first. I’d arranged something for Matt, and for me too, and I was nervous. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Matt, I want to take you somewhere.”