Finding Myself - 19. Epilogue

March 16 2020

“You ready to go, Riv?” I asked, grabbing my wallet, and keys and putting them into the pocket of my khaki pants. I grabbed a winter coat and put it on over my dress shirt as I walked to the foyer. It might be Spring Break, but March is still winter around here.

“Yeah,” my younger brother bounded downstairs, also bundled up for the cold.

“We need to pick up Jake on the way,” I stepped outside and locked the front door before unlocking my truck. Jake’s parents had gotten me a truck for my 16th birthday back in January. A Ford F150 in a silver grey color. I started up the truck to get going to mom’s wedding out on Cape Cod, which was a 3 hour drive. I prayed the heavy snow would wait until after the wedding. “Hey, bro, get in the back. Jake’ll be sittin’ there,” I drawled. My truck had two rows of seats in the cab in addition to the bed in the rear. Steven and Catherine really spoiled me with this gift.

“Jake’s gonna have to throw me out of here,” River mumbled.

“Yer such a fuckin brat, you know that?” I turned my head to back out of the driveway. Jake was waiting on the porch when I pulled up. His parents went to the beach house the previous evening with my mom and John to prepare for the wedding, so I offered to take Jake with me. “Sorry, babe, my bro stole your seat.”

“It’s alright,” Jake smiled as he climbed into a back seat and set down his backpack and camera bag next to the overnight bags River and I packed. He looked cute in his winter coat and beanie.

The country music station I had on the radio was talking about the winter storm warning tonight between songs during our drive. The sky above was grey, making for a dull drive, but the roads were thankfully dry and ice free.

I parked on the street in front of the beach house. The gravel street was lined with cars here for the wedding. I saw some Tennessee plates, meaning some of my extended family had come up for the event.

I nudged my brother awake before getting out of the truck. The wedding was to begin in an hour. After greeting some family members, I went inside for lunch.

“Your relatives seem nice,” Jake grabbed a ham and cheese sub from the catering tray. “Do they know about...?”

“Nah,” I shook my head. “Folks down in East Tennessee ain’t like the people here. I’d just be an outcast to them if they knew you were my boyfriend.” I said quietly.

“Aedan! There you are!” Violet came up to me as I was eating. She was one of the bridesmaids for our mom. “You need to get the rings and learn your cues.”

“Wow, nice to see you too, sis...” I rolled my eyes. “I’m a ring bearer. It can’t be that hard to walk up and give John the rings.”

“Just come with me,” Violet dragged me to the master bedroom as Jake laughed.

John handed me the small box with the rings. “Just walk up when we’re saying our vows,” he said.

“Yessir...” I nodded.

“Enough of that sir stuff. I’m just John.”

“Aedan Liam Jackson.... You need to comb your hair!” Mom scolded me. “The wedding starts in 10 minutes!”

“Alright, mom,” I entered the bathroom and grabbed a brush and looked in the mirror. I haven’t gotten a haircut in a couple months, so my hair has become chin length and even a bit curly at the ends. A tiny bit of lighter facial hair was starting to grow in on my upper lip. I had a few pimples. A couple on my left cheek and one on my nose. Mom had me cover them up with some makeup.

The ceremony was held outside on the beach house deck overlooking the sandy beach and the ocean. Jake looked handsome in his clothes, with his tousled dirty blond hair flopping a bit in the cold wind. River and I walked forward when mom and John shared their vows. I had the rings while River held a magnificent bouquet Catherine had put together. Jake took some photos with his camera as the unofficial wedding photographer. Photography has become another new hobby of his.

After the ceremony ended, there was a party inside the beach house where it was warm. “Hey, man, can we talk?” Chase stepped up to me. I was hanging out on the side of the party while Jake got his pictures downloaded into his laptop.

“Sure,” I nodded. “I’m not much of a party person anyways.”

“Me neither,” Chase chuckled. I got my coat on and followed him out the back door.

Chase and I were walking along the beach. The sky above was still cold and grey and the wind was making it even colder, with the fading late afternoon light. A light snow was beginning to fall, so I’m thankful I had a jacket on. Chase was his dad’s best man, so he had been a big part in the ceremony.

“So, this is where you and Jake started being close?” Chase asked as we walked along the frosty beach. “He told me the other day during rehearsal.”

“Yup. Nearly 3 years ago, when we were 13, he invited me to come here for a summer trip,” I explained. “Back then mom and... Hank... were still together, and it was nice to get away from his abuse and the fighting. Now, I’m here as a 16-year-old, and my mom’s getting married to a much better guy.”

“Well, I’m glad you’ve got away from that toxic family situation. That’s pretty shitty to have to go through, bro,” Chase’s eyes glanced down at his boots. “And I’m glad you’re in my family now.”

“Dude, you’re gonna make me tear up!” I sniffled and playfully shoved Chase. We took a seat on a stray log of driftwood as small snowflakes began falling from the cold grey sky. “My life has gotten so much better, thanks to Jake... and you... and your dad of course.”

“That’s awesome,” Chase blushed with a smile.

“Do you think he’s cool with Jake and I…”

“Yeah, definitely. My dad isn’t a bigot. I’m surprised you haven’t told him about your orientation yet.”

“D-do you think John would mind i-if I start callin’ him dad from now on?”

“Of course not!” Chase exclaimed. “He’d love that,” he paused. “It’s so cold out here and it’s starting to snow. We should get back.” I agreed and followed him back to the beach house.

Jake handed me some hot cocoa at the door. The party was starting to wind down. I'd have to leave soon to get to the hotel before the snow gets too heavy. Jake and I would be sharing a hotel room and things would be getting intimate tonight for sure. “How was your walk with your new stepbrother?”

“It was cold,” I pulled off my winter jacket and hung it up, shaking off the snow from outside. “There’s something I wanna tell dad before we head out...”

“Your dad? He’s in prison...” Jake raised his eyebrows.

“John’s my new dad. He’s more of a father figure than my abusive sperm donor ever was.”

Chase went over to have his private bro talk with River next. Good luck talking to River while he’s trying to eat.

I walked over to where mom and stepdad were sitting with my hand holding Jake’s. “Hey, mom, dad, there’s something I need to say...”

THE END