The Hard Way Read online

  “He’s something else,” Noah mumbled as he closed his eyes and slowed his breathing. Issac’s words drifted off into the air, and he tightened his grip on Noah’s middle in his sleep. Noah’s eyes were wide open as Issac’s snores started up. I need to figure this out. Between getting up with Wyatt and obsessing over the wedding, I’m never going to get any real sleep.

  **************************************

  A high-pitched wail bounced throughout Madeline’s house as Noah rocked Wyatt back and forth. He patted Wyatt’s back and told Madeline, “He’s so fussy, lately. I don’t even know what to do anymore.”

  Madeline sighed and lifted Wyatt away from Noah and rested him on her shoulder. She ran small circles along his back. Wyatt was cradled close to her chest as she relaxed the baby. The small fists that his little hands had formed began to fall apart, and Madeline said, “Some babies are fussier than others. If you’re looking for this to feel like it did when you had Jade, you’re in for a surprise.”

  Noah sighed as he reached into his diaper bag and pulled out a bottle; he found the formula that he had packed up earlier that day. As he prepped the formula to mix it with water, Noah said, “I was worried that I wouldn’t have a chance to see you before the wedding.”

  Madeline rocked back and forth with Wyatt as she said, “I’m glad that you stopped by. I’ve seen so little of you two lately. Are you guys not getting any rest because of the baby?”

  “Well… Issac gets up with the baby most of the time now. I haven’t been sleeping for a different reason. I’m worried about getting married,” Noah blurted.

  Madeline reclined on the couch and let her grandson rest on top of her chest. He was finally serene as he rested with Madeline. He did not stir. “Well, weddings are stressful. Try to break it down. What are you specifically worried about?”

  “I’m worried that I won’t be as happy as I thought I would be once this is said and done. I’m worried that I won’t know how to be a good husband,” Noah said.

  Madeline erupted into laughter. “You’re already a good husband!”

  “What?”

  “Well, you guys already live together, you have Wyatt and Jade, and you provide for everyone while Issac stays home with the kids most of the time. The only real difference will be that it’s been made official and the State will recognize Issac as your husband. Noah, it’s not your job to obsess over the little details. Enjoy your wedding and let someone else do that.”

  Noah reached over and toyed with the few hairs that Wyatt had sprouting out of his scalp. He sighed. “I guess that I just can’t believe that this is happening, no strings attached.”

  “I can. I’ve never seen two people that are more made for each other. Without Issac around, you would work yourself right into the grave. You’d probably still send statements from the grave.”

  Chapter 39

  Noah dragged the zipper down on the protective bag on his tuxedo. He ran his hands over the fine material that the tuxedo was made of, and looked outside of the bathroom window. Tristan, Gordon, and Charlene were putting chairs into their places. Each row had to be aligned with seven chairs, and a proper aisle had to be made. Jade ran by, collecting grass stains on her white shoes, her basket of flowers raining petals all over the grass.

  I asked the only person who couldn’t stay still to be the flowergirl, Noah thought with a shake of his head. He took his tux off of the hanger and pulled the pants over his knees. He couldn’t help but think that today was the beginning of forever as he slid into his undershirt and checked himself out in the mirror.

  “Not bad,” he commented as he turned around and checked out his butt. He pulled on the tuxedo jacket and looked out of the doorway. From below him, footsteps could be heard stomping in either direction, mumbled instructions floated up the staircase.

  Noah stepped into the hall and walked along the wood until he came upon Wyatt’s room. Wyatt was sleeping and Noah could only hope he didn’t scream during the ceremony. He stepped over a few misplaced toys and stood over his bassinet. “I love you, Wyatt,” he whispered as he scooped him up in his arms. Wyatt’s eyes remained closed and a small sigh escaped his lips as he adjusted to his father’s arms.

  I wouldn’t have any of this without you. Issac and I wouldn’t have found our way back to each other if you hadn’t been born. Now, Issac and his family seem to be working on whatever their issues are, and I didn’t think that it would ever happen. Noah smoothed his hair and said, “You’re like a little miracle, baby. You know that? You make everything better. That’s how I know you’re going to be a great ring bearer with Mom’s help.” Noah checked to make sure that Wyatt was secured in his arms and moved a few feet towards the window.

  Cars had begun to line up outside and Noah’s heart thumped hard against his chest. He was excited for the wedding but never saw himself as the kind of person to publicly declare his love for someone.

  Madeline got out of her car. She was dressed in a canary yellow dress with canary yellow sandals that matched. Her hair had been arranged into a classy updo that sat on top of her head, and she moved inside of the house upon checking her makeup in a compact mirror.

  Mom looks great, Noah noted as Wyatt burped himself awake. He giggled and felt a sense of elation surrounding him as Wyatt’s eyes fluttered open and he smiled.

  “You’re such a silly boy,” Noah told him as he lowered him back into his bassinet. “I’ll see you in a little bit,” he said. Noah stood over Wyatt’s bassinet and grinned. He ran his hand over the space on his tummy where he had carried Wyatt for months.

  Noah tore himself away from the crib and ran into Madeline in the hallway.

  “You look so handsome!” she said, beaming. “I just ran into Issac, and he looks great too!”

  “He does?” Noah asked. “I haven’t seen him. We wanted to go with the tradition of not seeing the bride before the wedding but since there are two grooms, we just decided to avoid each other altogether.”

  Madeline brought Noah close to her for a hug. “You’re going to be so happy,” she breathed into his shoulder. Noah wrapped his arms around Madeline and squeezed her; he practically towered over her petite frame. “I love you, Mom.” Noah separated from her and took a deep breath.

  “Okay, I’m getting married in an hour. I need to… make sure that all of the guests have arrived,” he said and excused himself downstairs. People moved throughout the house, half of them Noah didn’t recognize because they were a part of the catering team.

  Noah straightened his tie as Hugh and his wife, Helena, walked through the front door. “Good morning, Hugh! Thank you so much for coming to the ceremony.”

  Hugh grinned and thrust a wrapped gift box into Noah’s chest. “Here. I think that you’ll love our gift. This is my wife, Helena. Helena, this is one of my most promising lawyers at the firm. His husband-to-be used to work for us as well.”

  Helena broke into a wide, red-lipped smile. “That’s wonderful. It looks like the Law Offices of Hugh Walsh are where connections are made inside and outside of the courtroom every day!”

  Noah joined her in a laugh and then said to Hugh, “I need to get in my place. We’ll be walking down the aisle before we know it.” He excused himself and headed in the opposite direction, out of the back door and into the backyard.

  The setup for the ceremony could not have looked more perfect. Rows of white chairs lined both sides of an aisle throughout the backyard. Their wedding arch was covered in white lilies that were a huge contrast to the dark green grass on the ground. Feet moved throughout the grass and Noah turned around to catch Jade in mid sprint.

  She smiled and held up her basket to show Noah. “I’m going to be the best flower girl there ever was!” she said, and Noah kneeled down and picked her up.

  “I’m sure of it. Are you excited, Jade?”

  Jade’s eye widened as she cried out, “I’m so excited! I can’t wait. I’m going to drop the flowers, and then you and Issac will kiss—eww—and
I’ll have a third daddy.”

  Noah chuckled as he drifted over to the dessert table with Jade in his arms. “Look at this spread, Jade. And third daddy?”

  Jade nodded her head and said, “Issac will be my step dad, so he’ll be my third daddy. How many other girls get to have more than one daddy? I’m the luckiest.”

  Noah snuck a strawberry painted in white chocolate out of the treat assortment. It had been decorated with chocolate drizzle to resemble a tuxedo. He turned to Jade so that their noses were touching. “Don’t tell anyone,” he whispered as he took a bite out of the strawberry and handed the rest of it over to Jade.

  Jade devoured her piece of the strawberry, and Noah set her down onto the grass. “Now, run along. Go do whatever flower girls do before a wedding. Maybe you can refill your basket with all of the petals you dropped while running around.”

  Jade ran off, and a few yards from Noah, ran into another child her age. Noah vaguely recognized the child as one of Issac’s smaller cousins. Good, there will be something for her to do and hopefully she’ll stay out of the dirt while wearing that white dress.

  Charlene marched throughout the grass, stomping her heels as she went. She wore a long, peach dress that she couldn’t prevent from dragging the tail of across the grass. “Noah!” she exclaimed.

  Noah held his arms out to her and she embraced him. Noah pulled away and noticed that Charlene looked better than he had ever seen her. Her eyes looked rested for once, and her hair and skin seemed to have sprung back to life. I think Noah said the she stopped drinking. This woman was buried underneath all of that booze?

  “I just wanted to tell you congratulations, and thank you for making my son the happiest man on earth.” Noah grinned and waved her over to the treat table. He plucked two more chocolate-covered strawberries from the arrangement and handed one to Charlene. In between bites of a juicy strawberry, Noah said, “No, he’s making me the happiest. I didn’t think that anyone would ever wanna marry a guy that already had a kid.”

  Charlene delicately tapped him on the wrist. “If it were you every time, Noah, it wouldn’t have mattered if you had ten children. My son loves you deeply, and I’m so excited to welcome you into our family.”

  Noah snatched a napkin off of the treat table and hurriedly wiped at his fingers. “Thank you, Charlene. I hope that you enjoy the wedding and … all of the delicious treats that we’re going to be having,” he joked, and Charlene giggled as she nibbled on her chocolate-covered strawberry.

  As the time drew nearer for he and Issac to take their places, Noah walked into the living room, mumbling to himself, “I’m a good husband, I’ll be a great husband.” He flexed his sweaty palms as Gordon entered the living room with Issac following behind him. Gordon clapped his hands together upon seeing Noah. “It’s almost show time! I’m ecstatic to be giving the both of you away—has anyone seen my grandson?”

  Issac rolled his eyes and said, “Madeline said that she would make sure that he’s in a good mood while he’s ring bearer. She should have him.” Gordon flitted up the staircase, and Issac turned to Noah.

  “You look… great, Noah,” he said, his eyes running over every inch of Noah’s tuxedo.

  “Thank you. You clean up pretty nice too,” he said, and Issac never failed to disappoint when he dressed for formal occasions. He wore a black tuxedo as well, with his blonde hair styled into a comb over. The shape and cut of the tuxedo complimented his tall and lean form, and the sunlight bounced off of Issac’s eyes in a way that made him look angelic.

  A screech reverberated throughout the sound system and Noah covered his ears. What the hell? he thought as the music changed and the wedding march began to play.

  Issac took Noah’s hands in his and planted a kiss on each one. “I love you. Thanks for putting up with me.”

  “Any time,” Noah replied as Gordon came hustling across the living room towards them.

  “Everyone is taking their seats. We’ll be walking down the aisle in just a moment now,” Gordon said as the wedding march began to play again, and everyone on either side of the aisle twisted their necks to see if either man was strolling down the aisle yet.

  Madeline joined them at the back door, holding Wyatt in her arms. “Alright, guys, time to shine.” Jade ran throughout the living room and ran into Madeline’s knees as she stood by the doorway. Madeline steadied her and held her head high as she walked out of the back door and strode down the aisle. Wyatt was completely awake, giggling and gurgling as she moved down the aisle. She adjusted herself so that she could easily grab the ring box from Wyatt’s chubby fingers. She nodded to the priest that waited for the complete wedding party to assemble.

  At the back door, Gordon turned to Noah and Issac and said, “Alright, now Jade with the flowers!”

  Jade held her flower basket up high as she walked down the aisle. She peppered it with pink and white petals. The crowd collectively awwed upon realizing that Noah’s daughter had just laid the petals down.

  Noah took a deep breath and linked his fingers with Issac’s. Issac gave him a reassuring squeeze as Gordon walked out before them. They followed behind Gordon and the sound of a photo being snapped could be heard from every cell phone in the yard. Noah couldn’t fight back his smile as they got closer and closer to the priest. Gordon split off from them and stood on the opposite side of the priest.

  Issac and Noah stood before the priest as he said, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to unite two souls that always find their way back to each other.”

  Madeline dabbed at her eye, and Jade awkwardly patted her on the leg.

  “Issac Fitzgerald and Noah Wilson are from two drastically different worlds, but the world that these two make when they come together,” he gestured at Wyatt and Jade, “is one that everyone in their lives wants to have even the smallest part of. I’ll get right to it, ladies and gentlemen.” The priest smiled, his silver moustache wiggling as he did so. “Issac Fitzgerald, do you take Noah Wilson to be your lawfully wedded husband in sickness and health, as long as you both shall live?”

  Issac gazed at Noah and said, “I do.”

  “Wonderful,” the priest said. “May we have the rings?”

  Madeline leaned forward with the ring boxes and picked up Wyatt’s arm and waved it for him. “Here are the rings, Father,” she said.

  Issac and Noah slid the rings onto each other’s fingers. Noah’s hands were unsteady as the cool metal of the band slid up the length of his ring finger. The priest looked between them in satisfaction and moved forward with the ceremony.

  The priest turned to Noah. “Noah Wilson, do you take Issac Fitzgerald to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and health, as long as you both shall live?”

  “I do,” Noah said and noticed the way that his hands no longer trembled and his muscles didn’t feel tight. He squeezed Issac’s hand as the priest said, “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you married! Congratulations, Issac and Noah!”

  The crowd erupted into applause, the remaining flowers from Jade’s basket went sailing through the air and fell between seats and along the walkway. Issac and Noah kissed long enough to make the crowd start whooping, and Noah pulled away with a beet red face.

  Issac turned around to their wedding guests and shouted, “Thank you so much for coming, everyone! Please help yourself to cake and food!”

  Noah took Wyatt in his arms and held him out in front of himself and Issac as the photographer came around, snapping photos.

  The wedding reception had been perfectly planned by Charlene. A row of tables had been set up near the kitchen and living room and furniture had been pushed to the side. Issac smeared a piece of icing onto Noah’s cheeks as they ate the first few bites of their wedding cake.

  Jade bounced throughout all of the tables and Noah’s eyes followed her. He raised an arm and pointed her out to Issac. “Look at her. She’s bouncing all over the place.”

  Issac chuckled and said, “T
o be fair, I feel like bouncing around and jumping too. It just looks weird if a twenty-five-year-old man does it!”

  Noah held up a piece of cake to Issac’s mouth and he took a bite out of it. “I think that is a boring opinion,” he said.

  Issac flicked icing onto Noah’s tuxedo and snickered. “Well, you have volunteered to hear my boring opinions for the rest of your life, so sit tight,” he paused and sweetly kissed Noah’s lips, “because I have a lot of them.”

  Issac wrapped his arms around his new husband and held him as the band played on and on.

  Epilogue

  The air had gotten stiff in the room as Noah hadn’t left it since earlier that afternoon. He sat up straight and rubbed his shoulders. When did it get so dark? he thought as he pulled the cord that would light up the room. A row of three tall, oak bookshelves were revealed, along with a small loveseat with burgundy-colored cushions.