“To the next generation of Miles’s.”
Hayden
We sit out in the garden under a canopy of fairy lights, music is playing and we are all relaxing and on the wind-down for the big day tomorrow, the dinner has been perfect. Great food, great company, wonderful families coming together.
Unsurprisingly, the boys were tipsier than they’d promised to be, hilarious as usual, I swear when these four get together they grow another brain. Sarcasm and wit is their only language.
Dessert has been served and I walk around and collect some plates.
Laughter is loud as all the kids chatter and talk between themselves.
Eddie is quiet and standing back, I’m not sure if something has happened to upset him, but he’s not acting like himself.
He helps me collect some plates and my father does too and we walk them up to the catering staff in the kitchen.
Harry is in the kitchen getting a drink.
“Hello, boy,” my dad says.
Harry looks at my father deadpan. “Don’t call me that.”
Eddie’s back straightens.
“You’re very entitled for a kid,” my dad growls.
Oh fuck.
“Outside, everybody.” I fake a smile. Please don’t poke the bear, Harry.
The night has been perfect, don’t ruin it.
“I am not entitled,” Harry spits angrily. “And I don’t appreciate your tone, Harvey.”
Oh crap.
“Who’s got the tone, boy?” my father sneers.
“I said don’t call me that,” he fires back. “Are you deaf?”
Jeez, this kid. He’s so headstrong, they really do have their hands full with him.
Eddie steps in front of my father, “Don’t speak to him like that.” He pokes Harrison in the chest. “Apologize.” He pokes him again. “Now.”
Harry pokes him back. “No. I did nothing wrong. I don’t want to be called that, so I won’t be.”
“You disrespect him and you disrespect me. Apologize. Now.” Eddie pushes Harrison on the chest and he stumbles back.
Shit.
“Stop it, boys,” I snap, I turn to Patrick. “Go get your father and Christopher.”
Patrick looks at me wide eyed, unsure what to do.
“Now,”
Harry pushes Eddie again and Patrick runs outside in search of backup.
“Cut it out, you two,” my father growls.
Eddie grabs Harrison by the shirt. “You apologize to Harvey now…or you’re going to get it.”
“What are you going to do about it, wimp,” Harrison fires back. “You can’t fight for shit.”
My dad throws his head back and laughs out loud, he thinks this is hilarious.
“Stop it,” I cry. “Dad, this isn’t funny.”
The boys grab each other in a headlock and begin to wrestle.
“Argh, what are you doing?” I whisper angrily as I try to pull them apart. “Stop it.”
Eddie pushes Harrison toward the front door. “Get out the front, I’m kicking your ass.”
“Bring it, pretty boy,” Harrison spits. “I’m kicking your fucking ass.”
They push each other to the front door as I run to the back door. “Christopher,” I call.
Fuck, where is he?
Claire sees my face and instantly stands.
Everyone looks up from their tables to see what the commotion is about.
“What’s happening?” Claire whispers.
“Harrison and Eddie are fighting.”
“What?” Her eyes widen. “Where?”
“Out the front.”
We both go running through the house and burst out the front door to see Eddie and Harrison rolling around on the ground fighting in the dark.
“Ahh, Harry,” Claire cries. “Stop it.”
Eddie has Harry’s face munched into the ground. “Apologize,” he yells.
“Go to hell,” Harry spits as he tastes the dirt.
Tristan and Christopher come running around the side of the house. “What the fuck is going on?” Tristan yells, he pulls Eddie off Harrison and throws him backward.
“He started it,” Harrison yells.
“Apologize, you coward,” Eddie yells. “You apologize right this minute or I’m kicking your ass again.”
Christopher’s and my eyes are wide, we’ve never seen this side of Eddie.
“What happened?” Tristan glares at Harrison, “What do you need to apologize for?”
Harrison shrugs. “I don’t want to be called boy. I’m not taking that shit.”
A loud laugh sounds from behind us and we turn to see a very tipsy Jameson thinking this is the funniest thing he’s ever seen. “Fight, fight, fight,” he chants as he shadow-punches the air.
Tristan breaks into a broad smile when he sees him. “Fuck off, idiot.”
“Apologize to Harvey, right now,” Eddie demands.
Harry narrows his eyes as he glares at Eddie. “Sorry.”
“Sorry for what?” Eddie barks.
Harrison exhales heavily. “Sorry for being rude, Harvey.”
As if his work is done, Eddie dusts his hands and his shirt off and walks inside, Harrison follows and Tristan takes off after them, not trusting that the fight is actually over.
Claire, Christopher and I stand shell shocked, “I have never seen Eddie like that.” I murmur. “I’m so sorry, he was out of line. It’s not his place to pull up Harry.”
“Harry is a little piece of work. He probably deserved it,” Claire whispers. “It’s me who is sorry.” She takes off into the house and my father smiles and then chuckles. “This is great,” he laughs.
“This is not great, Dad?” I gasp. “I’ve never seen that side of him.”
“How do you think Eddie survived on his own for so long?” he asks.
Christopher and I stare at him, lost for words.
“He doesn’t take shit from anyone, and finally, he’s bringing that over to his new life. It’s about time he demanded their respect.”
Christopher drags his hands through his hair. “Fuck.”
We walk inside to see a very sheepish Harrison and Eddie sitting on the couch with Tristan in between them.
Jameson and Elliot are fake punching each other as they put on a show for the living room. Everyone is acting serious but the two drunken idiots are actually quite amusing.
Eddie’s eyes rise to meet Christopher’s and Christopher winks at him, Eddie’s shoulders relax a little, knowing it’s going to be okay.
I inwardly smile, I think Dad might be right.
Eddie demanded their respect tonight; he’s finally broken through the barrier in his new life of asking for what he knows he deserves.
I can’t be angry for that.
How could I be?
Go, baby.
“This is it, baby girl.” Dad smiles down at me. “You look absolutely breathtaking.”
We stand at the end of the flower-strung aisle, the wedding march playing, in front of our friends and family, my veil firmly in place.
My fitted lace dress is the perfect finale to my fairy tale.
Marrying my dream man in my dream dress.
Christopher and Eddie are waiting for me at the other end. Black dinner suits and beaming happy smiles.
With every step we take down the aisle a little more of my destiny clicks into place. My heart free-falling from my chest.