Seasoned writers say: “Never let a bad first draft keep you from getting your words down on paper.” Well, I was almost the exception to that rule. I was writing too late in the night after having a third (okay, maybe fourth) martini. At the time, I thought I was being clever - getting Ollie to take an unexpected left turn. But in the cold light of dawn, what I’d written was so horrible, so out of character, and so irrational that I blushed with a deep embarrassment. I immediately closed the document, slammed my laptop shut and walked away - for days…
After a couple weeks, I finally started to at least acknowledge that my laptop still existed. I’d carry it upstairs to my work area and let it sit quietly beside me through the day. As my trust slowly returned, I found the courage to read my broken paragraphs again. They still turned my cheeks red. But I eventually managed to sneak up on them - while no one was looking - and delete them. Leaving a blank space that could finally be repaired.
After 6 weeks, as it usually happens, a flood of words started making their way out of my fingertips. So many, that this section ballooned to 13,000 words. That’s over an hour of dedicated reading - a little too much commitment to ask from y’all. So, I decided to split it in two. Unfortunately, this section no longer has a love scene. But it still has a lot of Ollie Heart and a few surprises. I’ll post the second half of the section on Thursday.
Chapter 16: Gender Reveal
I was making the trip to DFW airport for the third time in my life, and on my own for the first. I can do this. I coaxed myself into believing. Dang, of all the things I had to be nervous about this week, finding my way to the baggage claim at Terminal B, Door 7 shouldn’t be one of them. And yet it totally was. I was meeting my mom for the first time since she divorced my father and started seriously going out with a guy named Jordan - who also happened to be her date for our wedding.
I was so very happy for her. After my confrontation with my father last year, I finally understood exactly how completely and horribly she’d been trapped under his control and prevented from enjoying anything close to a normal life. I still didn’t understand how she had allowed herself to get into that situation, but in the back of my mind, I also understood that I wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t - so I owed her that. You know, kinda like for my whole existence.
Before I could overthink my big deep thoughts for too long, I had entered the beast that is Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. An airport that gleefully required an 8-lane freeway to act as its driveway.
And all the exits from that 8-lane turnpike of confusion - to the airport’s many terminals - were obviously designed by a manic dog lover, because you had to circle around at least three times before you were ever allowed to set your furry butt down, er, I mean park your car. It was an airport literally the size of Manhattan. A manmade monstrosity that absolutely demanded your full attention.
Against the odds, or maybe just against my fears, I quickly found a parking spot practically directly across from the door to my destination. The stress of my solo journey quickly evaporated to be replaced by the excitement of seeing my grandparents and my mom again. As cliché as it may sound, there’s just no way you can really understand how much your family means to you until you lose them. I was just lucky enough to somehow have most of mine returned to me. I’ll never stop appreciating the incredible gift I’d been given.
I was early, which is kind of my usual thing. So, I walked through Door D7 into an empty hall with an unmoving baggage carousel. I checked the flight status board and discovered that my family’s flight was still 10 minutes away from landing. I took a seat along the window-wall and started scrolling through TikTok to pass the time and to try my best to keep my excitement as curbed as possible. Well, and to maybe find a few new recipes to impress Corey with.
My little wait evaporated way faster than I expected. Before I could decide if “Cowboy Crockpot Cube Steak” was an actual recipe or a cry for more views - and just before I could get too nervous about meeting Jordan - I looked up from my phone to see dozens of happy travelers starting to flood the once-deserted baggage claim. A literal sea of happy people washed in through the one-way exit from the gate side of the terminal. I stood up, doing my best not to look too obvious about trying to get the very first glimpse of my mom and her parents - and her new boyfriend. To my credit, at least I didn’t start jumping up above the crowd.
Thankfully, I didn’t have stand there being self-conscious for too long before a practically mandated goofy, loving grin spread across my face. I had finally caught sight of three very familiar faces. Fighting my way against the tide of disembarking bodies, I almost tackled all three of them as they came through the exit, way before any of their bags had the slightest chance of sliding down onto the now revolving carousel.
My mother, Susan, captured my attention first. “Dang mom! I swear I’ve never seen you look so happy and - well - so beautiful! Welcome to Texas!” I found myself in her arms and suddenly trying my best to hold back a flood of happy tears. Hey, come on, I didn’t want to have tears all over my cheeks the first time I got to meet that new boyfriend.
I tried my hardest to subtly scan the crowd for a guy I imagined my mom would date, but instead I found myself confronted with the faces of the two happiest grandparents in the airport. I left my mom’s arms only to immediately find myself blissfully wrapped in their embrace.
Grandma Laura was the first to deliver the inevitable, “Ollie! Texas has been very good to you! Your shoulders are huge my big grandson! And I swear you’re more handsome than ever.”
Grandpa Joe clapped my shoulder before squeezing my bicep and echoing his wife’s appraisal, “Ollie, you’re turning into Conan the Coder! Are all programmers in Texas this buff?”
I involuntarily gave them my best tanned Texan blush. “Well, Grampa, about that…” But before I could share my news, I pivoted when I finally understood that a very important member of our little party seemed to be missing. I felt an instinctive need to relieve my mother of any awkward confession. “Mom? Where’s Jordan? I mean, if he couldn’t make it, I understand. And if that’s the case, why don’t you just stay with us now? In our office? We can get a blow-up mattress and let you save some money on the hotel room.”
I barreled on, offering her as much positive energy as I could muster, “Plus, It’ll be really fun having everyone at our house.” I wasn’t sure exactly how I felt about Jordan suddenly leaving my mom solo at what had to have been the last minute, but I knew I wasn’t happy about it.
I was met with the kind of sincere, proud parent look that every overprotective son dreams of receiving from his mom. “No, you impossibly sweet boy, this is Jordan.” She beamed as she put her arm around the stunning brunette woman who I’d barely noticed standing beside her.
My jaw dropped, immediately in danger of being run over by the passengers dragging their rollaboards toward the hall’s exit. Mom continued, “I’m sorry for the big surprise, Ollie. I just didn’t want to stress you out any more before your wedding. So, I decided that ripping the band-aid off quickly would be for the best. Are you okay?”
I couldn’t control my sudden, very honest grin, “Mom! Like I said, I’ve never seen you look more beautiful and, well, so obviously happy. I’m thrilled!” Realizing my courtesy was also needed a foot or two to her right, I quickly refocused my attention on Jordan and offered her my hand.
Jordan’s smile was genuine and full of warmth, “Ollie, I’m so happy to finally meet you. Your mother and your grandparents think you’re the best son and grandson on the planet and I can already see why.” After allowing myself to be trapped by her smile, our polite handshake lasted all of two seconds before it turned into a more typical Ollie hug. I was truly happy to welcome my mom’s unexpected new girlfriend into my life.
We all piled into my Bronco and headed back into Fort Worth proper. Traffic was still light this early in the afternoon. I hoped I managed to impress everyone as I expertly exited onto Belknap and confidently headed straight into downtown. I swung around the Tarrant County Courthouse and deftly maneuvered beneath the two-block-spanning Worthington Renaissance Hotel as if I’d been Ubering passengers from DFW to this grand hotel my entire life.
Constructed during the oil-fueled building boom of the ’80s, the hotel had somehow kept its elegance and grace through multiple renovations and updates since then. My secret hope for Mom and Jordan having a wonderful time was instantly renewed as they exited my Bronco and collected their luggage. After a final round of hugs and smiles, I left them with all the information they needed to direct an actual Uber driver to Chris and Ted’s house for our family dinner tonight.
Chapter 17: Mom’s Wedding Gift
I just barely had time to prepare Chris, Ted, and Corey for mom’s big reveal before Susan and Jordan were already walking up to their front door. I got the distinct feeling that none of my three protectors - okay, four counting Riley - were all that thrilled about my mom’s wedding date choice. And I absolutely understood where they were coming from. Even though we’d learned that Mom had no part in kicking me out of my home, she still had some startling new accusations to answer for. It now seemed clear that she’d had more than a little context she could’ve used to convince my father to show even a shred of sympathy toward his son after my sexual orientation revelation.
Even our sweet Rilley could sense the tension crackling through his normally harmonious pack. Our pup was on high alert, whether he fully understood why or not. I could practically feel everyone’s nerves peak right as the doorbell rang. To his credit, our pup didn’t bark - he knows better - but I could tell he was ready to side with Chris, Ted, and Corey, if whatever had upset his alphas decided to escalate. Pack protects pack.
Thankfully, after a few polite investigative sniffs as Susan and Jordan stepped into Chris and Ted’s entryway, Riley decided they were acceptable new pack members - going so far as to glance back at us as if assuring his mates that the new arrivals were friendly. It probably helped that Susan smelled faintly like me, and that Jordan immediately crouched down to scratch behind his ears, laughing softly when he leaned into her touch.
Still, I knew my mom had quickly picked up on the rest of my pack’s less-than-welcoming reactions.
After our polite greeting and hugs - before any of us had even thought about moving toward the dinner table - it was clear that Susan felt compelled to explain herself. As if she needed to clear the air before our past trauma could have any chance of tainting our evening - or our weekend. She began with an unexpected confidence, by politely stating everyone’s names.
“Chris, Ted, Corey…” She started while looking directly into the eyes of my three dedicated protectors.
She continued, insisting on delivering both an apology and an explanation that would sooth everyone’s concerns. “I know that me bringing Jordan here probably makes me look more than a little hypocritical, and I’m sorry about that. But if you’re willing to listen, I’ll try my best to explain.”
Riley nudged her hand - whether simply asking for another head pat or sincerely offering his support - only his furry brain would ever know for sure.
My dads and my soon-to-be husband gave her their full attention, and I could tell they were doing their level best to be as open and unjudgmental as they could. Susan pressed on, shifting her gaze to me. She met my eyes with a loving, steady look.
“Ollie, being your mother has been the best part of my life - even after your fa…” She caught herself, trying her hardest to honor the boundary that I’d declared last year. “Er, I mean even after Richard started sliding down into his pit of insanity, and doing his best to drag me along with him. You, my sweet son, were always my greatest accomplishment. Oliver… Please understand, I’m so sorry I almost lost you.”
She blinked back tears and looked across the room toward her parents for support. I was relieved to see their reassuring expressions give her the courage she needed to continue. “During my first semester of college, I had a horrible experience with my first-ever boyfriend. Right after his betrayal caused our messy breakup, my best friend Jennifer decided to come out to me. And I slowly realized that I’d maybe always loved her in more than a ‘just friends’ way.
So, while I never really officially came out like you did” - she gave me a sincerely proud smile that instantly made my eyes shimmer - “Jenn and I secretly started dating. And it was all wonderful and beautiful… until it suddenly wasn’t.”
I watched her expression change into something remorseful. “Day-to-day life was getting better for gay and lesbian students back then, but things still weren’t perfect. Jenn made the tiniest slip-up and was instantly outed by a sorority sister. And at our little Christian college, that really didn’t go over well. She was kicked out of our sorority, and she eventually even had to leave the school entirely. I’m sorry, Ollie… it hit me hard, and it terrified me to my core. I just wasn’t strong enough to handle something like that happening to me.”
She looked into my eyes again, this time with a tenderness that made my chest squeeze. “Ollie, you’ve proven over and over again that you’re so much stronger than I ever was. I don’t even have the words to express how much your courage last year gave me exactly what I needed. You - and everything you’ve overcome - along with your amazing new…” She stumbled, but then continued with a soft, grateful smile, “…family… have made me the happiest mother on the planet.”
Susan gave me the proudest motherly smile and gaze I’d ever been blessed with. “But back then - back in school - I didn’t have your bold courage to support and guide me the way I do now. When things fell apart, I completely shut down that part of my life. And when I met Richard… he was unfortunately perfect for what I thought I needed. I fell hard for him.” She took my hand. “Like you, he was big and beautiful and seemed to be completely in control of his life. He immediately - even magically - offered me everything I believed I needed after losing Jenn… And almost losing my own, well, at least it felt like - almost losing my life.”
She let out a strange, almost sarcastic laugh. “And for those first years, I swear he made me feel safe and cherished.” Her expression sobered again as Jordan slipped a supportive hand around her arm.
She blinked back a tear or two. “And I swear, after I had you, my life was wonderful. You were so beautiful and perfect, and you had a father who absolutely adored you. That was all I ever wanted. Please believe me - I’m never going to defend him again, but I do hope you have a few good memories of how loving he was… At least in the beginning.”
“Then, when you entered your teens, for some reason he decided we needed to become an even more devout family. At first, I honestly thought it would make him love you even more. But when you finally entered puberty, his religion began to warp him. It became an obsession, and I realized I was no longer under his protection; I was trapped in his insanity. At least… as long as I wanted to stay with my son.” She blinked apologetically at me.
This time, I was the one blinking back tears. “I’m so sorry, Mom. I’m sure I didn’t make it any easier for you when I told Richard I couldn’t accept his religion.”
Susan took my hand and squeezed it hard. “Ollie, at the time, I had never been more proud of you. It was the first time I was given the honor of watching you handle yourself like the man I see you’ve now become.
“Richard definitely wasn’t happy with your declaration, but he still wasn’t the insane horror he eventually turned into. So again, I decided my wisest choice was to stay dedicated to him - because that was the only way I knew that I could stay close to you. But that’s when the real mental control began, and I started losing contact with my whole world outside of him.”
She took a slow, steadying breath before continuing. “Ollie… the night you came out to us, I wasn’t upset with you. I was terrified for you. I knew what had happened to Jenn, and I didn’t want that to happen to my son. Richard had kept me so isolated from anyone who wasn’t in the church that I had no idea that the world had changed - that you could now live a full, loving, beautiful life without fear. I’m so sorry, baby. I truly had no idea you could ever be this happy, or this safe, or this supported.”
I wiped my eyes. “Mom, it’s okay. I was pretty isolated under Richard’s dominance too. Seriously, just ask Corey.” I glanced over at my gently smiling wolf. “The first time he hugged me in public, I’m pretty sure my face said I was expecting us to be stoned by the other diners at the little restaurant he’d taken me to.”
I turned back to her, looking into her eyes - my eyes. “Believe me, Mom… you and me finally being out from under his control. Both of us finally being allowed to be our real selves - without fear. That’s a paradise I never imagined us ever getting to share.
I felt a warmth rising in my chest, along with a need to make sure she truly understood. “Mom, you bringing Jordan to our wedding… that’s the best gift you could’ve given me.” I moved in and wrapped my arms around both of them. “And I hope you two have an incredible weekend in that really amazing hotel.”
Then I stepped back and let a full-on Rainer-family smirk take over my face. “I don’t need any details tomorrow, but I gotta tell y’all… there’s something magical about being a happy new couple in an upscale hotel room.”
The reaction in the room was immediate: two dads, two grandparents, one fiancé, and a mother with her new girlfriend - all turned redder than a Texas sunset. Riley, my poor pup, suddenly looked like he was wondering if he needed to leave the room before some unexpected daddy time broke out.
****
Once again, I wasn’t brave enough to join my family in sharing a few glasses of wine during our hearty Texan meal of grilled ribeye steaks, baked potatoes, and grilled asparagus. But I could definitely see its effect reflected in everyone’s mannerisms - my whole extended family was slowly letting themselves relax, heal, and bond after our tense start.
Everything felt absolutely perfect… right up until I caught a mischievous twinkle and spark in my beautiful mother’s newly guilt-relieved eyes.
Susan sweetly, yet I could tell - playfully, deceptively - looked straight into the unguarded eyes of my love and began, “Corey, I still can’t thank you enough for rescuing my son and for loving him… well, as much as I do.”
Then I saw it and couldn’t believe it. My mother just smirked. I had no idea she even had that ability. Lurd, what was about to happen?
“So,” she continued, her smile turning a bit uncharacteristically wicked, “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that my beautiful son ended up with an incredibly handsome medical professional for his husband.”
Absolutely all of this was new territory to me. I’m not exactly sure how I came to my conclusion, but I swear it somehow looked like mom was about to christen me as a fully grown adult - in the single most embarrassing way possible.
Holding Corey’s gaze, she gently delivered the death blow:
“Tell me, Corey… has my Ollie ever admitted what his typical reaction is during a doctor’s exam?”
My wolf’s eyes faired wide, and he barely managed to keep from snorting his latest sip of pinot noir out of his nose. Through all his shock, he somehow managed to choke out a polite, “Um, yes ma’am.”
Then he turned to me and gave me his most sincere, apologetic smile. But I saw it. He couldn’t keep it from me. That spark in his sky-blue eyes that gave away the expression he really wanted to show. I could see the smirk he was trying to suppress - right there, just beneath the surface.
I resigned myself to what was destined to play out and simply smiled back with all the love I could muster. I trust my pack and hey, this is their weekend too.
Corey returned his attention to my mother and finally let himself grin. “It’s… well, something that’s kind of hard to miss,” he chuckled. “But in our sweet pup’s defense, he was noble enough to warn me about his little issue before we even started the early-morning medical test that brought us together. Honestly, his, er, Ollie-earnest admission was one of the sweetest and bravest things I’d ever seen - and it was a big part of why I instantly started falling in love with him.”
Jordan gently nudged Susan with her elbow and whispered, “Be nice to your boy, he’s suffered enough.” Then she gave a most likely tipsy giggle; glanced at Corey, and added, “But damn… he’s getting his reward now. Susan, your Ollie is marrying into one amazing family.”
Jordan’s teasing appraisal, paired with Corey’s sweet confession, made me squeeze my wolf’s hand tight. That’s when Mom let out a gentle little chuckle… right before her eyes softened again, slipping into something wistful.
And suddenly I understood: what had always been morbidly embarrassing to me for all my life, had been a treasured memory for her.
Susan focused all her attention on me, “It was somewhere around age twelve,” she said, “when going to the pediatrician finally started to really upset and embarrass you. I swear, I had no idea how much extra attention an uncircumcised little boy needed from his pediatrician. I just assumed Richard knew what he was doing when he insisted you not be circumcised at birth.”
She reached for my hand again, not as a mother comforting her child, but as someone trying to connect with me as an equal for the first time.
“But no. Richard made it perfectly clear that all of your doctor visits were my responsibility. And by the time puberty finally hit…” She gave me a teasing little wink as I groaned, “…you were far too mortified to let me anywhere near the exam room.”
My blush deepened, earning soft laugh from her. “But I was always right there in the hallway,” she continued warmly, “waiting to comfort you through your, um, bulging embarrassment - every single time. Even if I had to bite my tongue to keep from smiling at how dramatic you thought the whole ordeal was.”
My other parent at the table couldn’t keep himself from joining in. I mean, let’s be honest, Ted had been carrying his little gem in his back pocket for over a year. There was no way he was going to pass up the opportunity to toss his cherished little contribution into my already very embarrassing family dinner.
He was practically bursting at the seams when he finally blurted, “Hey Susan, it’s not just doctors. Believe me, our pup also likes to make big, tall, blanket forts in the mornings too. Usually right before a big Whataburger breakfast.”
Ted’s grin only widened as he caught my resigned, yet chagrined expression, and I could see the waves of pure fatherly joy radiating off him. This was the widest audience he could have ever wished for to share this particular dad joke with, and he was eating it up.
He’s lucky I love my big, beefy dad so much. I just blushed and smiled - soaking in his unconditional love through every awkward second.
I always suspected that my embarrassment would somehow be a major theme of this whole weekend… I just hoped we were burning through most of it tonight. That way, maybe Riley could shoulder some of it with me come Saturday.
As gracious as I’d managed to remain, it was finally my turn to add my voice to the laughter. “Mom… Ted… it’s been a wonderful evening of blushing for me.” I let my gaze travel around the table. “Chris, Grandpa, Grandma…” Then I turned a mock glare on my wolf. “Corey… If any of y’all need me, I’ll be spending the rest of the night sleeping in my Bronco in the zoo parking lot; then looking for a new wolf to marry on Saturday.”
That earned another round of laughter.
Ted gave me the most disarming fatherly look I’d ever received. “Pup, you need to understand something.” His voice softened in his way that always instantly comforted me. “You’ve given us all a wonderful year of getting to be with you - of getting to love you.”
His eyes held mine, like the father he’d instantly become when I’d first met him but hadn’t realized it yet. His look was caring enough to melt away even the deepest remnants of my embarrassment from the night as he gently continued. “But, Olliver Aaron Rainer… it is still way too soon for any homeless Ollie jokes.” He flashed a smile that felt like a hug embracing me from across the table. “Look at everything you’ve given to our lives, Sport. We’d never be the same without you, my son.”
Mom didn’t even blink at his sincere “my son” or his use of “Rainer.” She just gave a smile that was absolutely, unmistakably full of parental pride as well.
Chapter 18: Rehearsals
It felt absolutely miraculous that I had somehow survived the most embarrassing - yet somehow also the most endearing and loving family dinner ever, to once again be allowed to wake up the next morning wrapped in my favorite paradise: my wolf’s arms around me with Riley’s furry tummy rising and falling against mine.
Waking up like this usually gave me a profound, even foundational, happiness that was beyond words. But this morning… it hit differently. This was the last day I would ever wake up as a single man. And because of some ancient wedding tradition, I wouldn’t get this same precious gift tomorrow morning.
Lurd! On the day I knew I’d need Corey’s strength the most, I’d be waking up with only Riley’s warm little tummy to hold onto. Seriously, who the heck decided that the wedding participants had to sleep apart before their wedding day?
Thankfully, at least for today, my Corey had taken the day off to keep me from spiraling into one of my notorious inner monologue writing marathons. He’d protectively decided to stay close by my side, ready to help me face every imagined hurdle and every real one. We were going to handle everything exactly as we’d learned to do this past year: together, as the strong, sometimes ridiculous, but always loving team we’d become.
I couldn’t stop replaying all of yesterday’s surprises and embarrassments. I really thought I had everything under control… Until life gently reminded me that even the best-laid plans can veer sideways in the blink of an eye. Thankfully, I had my wolf - with his steady, grounding presence - to help me face whatever else decided to take a sudden U-turn today.
****
After our typically hearty breakfast - that I discovered I couldn’t even finish - and a lunch I found I couldn’t eat at all, we were finally about to start the first big event of our weekend. Corey didn’t miss my uncharacteristic lack of appetite and decided to gently slip into his Nurse Mode, using his calmest, most gentle demeanor to reassure me that everything was going to be alright.
He wrapped his big arms around my waist and pulled me close. When I looked up and found myself suddenly floating in his sky-blue eyes, I could already feel my tension and worry start to ebb.
Corey sweetly murmured, “I still have you my Ollie. We’re still in this together. Never forget - both of us are always, absolutely in charge of our forever joy. There’s nothing to be nervous about anymore - we’ve got this! It’s Go Time!
He flashed his grin that always warmed me down to my soul, “Pup, I think it’s time to get psyched for our big game. We are going to run through our simple little wedding rehearsal like the strong, confident team we are. You, me and Riley are going to dominate the field. On a count of three, I want you to give me a big ‘Texas Wild Wedding!’”
I was almost myself again by the time he said “Two.”
****
We’d just pulled into the zoo’s parking lot and were double-checking that we’d brought everything we needed before stepping out of Corey’s Mach-E. I hadn’t even opened my door before a Mercedes SUV gave a couple cheerful honks as it pulled into the spot beside us.
I glanced over Corey’s shoulder to see two people in their early fifties waving excitedly in our direction. The beautiful woman in the passenger seat looked a lot more like my Corey than I could have ever imagined.
Corey grabbed my knee while a huge grin lit up his face, “This is it pup! You get to meet my mom and her husband Ben!”
My excitement and nerves came surging back all at once. Chanting Corey’s pep talk in my head, I calmed myself just long enough to slip Riley’s collar over his sweet face as we managed to climb out of the car.
Corey had already rushed over and was wrapped in his mother’s arms. I smiled when I realized my big strong wolf had just won the contest to shed the first happy tears of the weekend.
Riley and I walked around our car, heading toward the new arrivals. I heard the man who had to be Ben apologizing, “Corey, we’re so sorry. After twenty-five years, you’d think we’d know how to plan better for the never-ending construction on I-35. Traffic was worse than Google Maps promised. We were afraid we’d miss your rehearsal.”
Corey pulled away from his mother long enough to wrap Ben in a full bear hug. “We’re just so happy y’all made it. Dad said you texted him, but he didn’t tell me much. Apparently everyone thinks Ollie and I don’t need any more stress this weekend.”
I took that as my cue to join the reunion. And the moment I got my first look at Elizabeth, I didn’t have to fake my smile. I’d always assumed Corey had inherited most of his good looks from Chris - and he did - but his mother’s beauty had softened his father’s features in a way that made Corey the perfect, beautiful, union of their best traits.
And while he might have gotten his expressions and smirks from Chris, those kind, sky-blue eyes and the inviting smile I’d fallen in love with at first sight? Well, I now knew those came straight from his mother.
Before Corey could say anything to break the spell Elizabeth had me under, I found myself pulled into her embrace. I have no idea why, but a few tears decided to escape from my eyes as well. I guess all happy, proud mothers hold the same superpower over all their boys.
She let me go and took a step back, her eyes showing a love as if she’d known me all my life. “Ollie! I’m so happy to finally get to meet you in person. You’ve made my son the happiest man on the planet. And I can see why. You two make a beautiful couple.”
Riley chose that exact moment to offer a polite little whine to remind everyone that introductions were a pack-wide requirement. Elizabeth immediately crouched down to scratch behind his ears. “I’m sorry, Riley. I meant the three of you good boys make a beautiful family.”
Corey finally got to make at least one formal introduction. With his arm proudly wrapped around my shoulders, we turned toward his stepfather as he announced, “Ben, this is my fiancé, Oliver Carson - soon to be Rainer.” Then he glanced at me with a loving smile, “Ollie, this is my stepfather, Ben Clark.”
I shook Ben’s hand, marveling at finally meeting Corey’s other parents. The four of us easily made small talk - about freeway construction, the folly of our wedding venue, and the fact that we needed to visit San Antonio - as we made our way toward the zoo entrance and then onward to our wedding venue.
****
The rest of our group was waiting just outside the arched entrance to the Texas Wild! area of the zoo, where twin iron arches supported a weathered wooden state of Texas. Elizabeth and Ben immediately started hugging the faces they knew and being introduced to the ones they didn’t. Most importantly, I got to see my mom hug Corey’s. I wasn’t entirely sure why, but watching that moment made my heart flutter and our wedding feel truly complete.
The path to our venue was shaded by so many trees that shady umbrellas weren’t necessary. It was beautiful. The plaza itself was charming in a way that felt rustic but still curated. Strings of bare light bulbs hung overhead, the only barrier between us and the slowly darkening Texas sky. Mature live oaks dotted the plaza, bordered on one side by old-west storefront facades and on the other by Spanish-style event buildings. Down another shaded path - on the far side of where our wedding platform stood - we could glimpse some of the zoo’s inhabitants.
As we stepped fully into the plaza that would soon host our Wild Texas wedding, we were immediately greeted by a very animated, very enthusiastic middle-aged man - waving us over as if we were already late for curtain call. Y’all know me, I’m never late for anything.
“Gentlemen!” he called out, striding forward radiating the energy of someone who lived for events like ours. “Welcome to your wedding arena. I’m LG Swift - your coordinator, problem-solver, cheerleader, and - most importantly - chaos-preventer.”
Chris chuckled under his breath. “Told y’all he was perfect.”
Corey handed him a neatly printed, multi-page timetable in a rather impressive binder - one of the most impressive Rainer Master Schedules ever created. “LG, here’s the plan Chris and I put together. Well… plans. Plural. You might say that not all plans are known by all participants - yet.”
LG flashed us a quizzical look as he took the binder, flipped through it, and let out a delighted gasp. “Oh, you guys are good! I love a minute-by-minute breakdown. Nothing makes my heart sing like precision.” Then he shot Corey a smirk. “You boys do not plan small.”
I couldn’t stop myself from beaming. Seeing someone else appreciate the Rainer-level planning made my nerves drop down to a 2 on Corey’s infamous 1 to 10 scale.
“And,” Corey added proudly, “we also have a furry little surprise planned.” He nodded toward Riley, who sat politely by my leg.
LG raised an eyebrow. “Y’all are using a canine component?”
I nodded, suddenly back up to a 5 - creeping up to a 6. “Um… yeah. Riley has a job in the ceremony. But don’t worry, he’s gotten used to our venue and has already had several special rehearsals.”
LG stared at our perfectly behaved pup for a long moment… and then sighed deeply. “You know, I’ve seen weddings derailed by toddlers, Texas winds, a wayward peacock… and once, an escaped prairie dog.” He grinned. “But I’ve never had a well-trained dog ruin anything. Steal the show - yes. Ruin - no! So consider me cautiously optimistic.”
I swear I caught a glimmer of sympathy, as if he’d watched this exact plan both succeed and explode spectacularly several times before.
We walked deeper into the plaza as LG gestured to the open-air seating area. “Now - logistics. In the mild months we can host around three hundred guests out here.” He waved a hand toward the sky. “But since it’s June, even with the blessedly mild weather we’re having, the zoo caps it at a little over a hundred. Keeps everyone under the shade of the tents and umbrellas. Sun safety and all that.”
Corey nodded. “Exactly what Dad and I planned for.”
“And don’t worry,” LG added. “Unless Texas decides to give us a heat wave from the underworld, y’all will be perfectly fine. Tomorrow’s high is only supposed to be 82.”
Potential sunburn aside, this was exactly what we’d wanted: to be out in the open, under our big Texas sky, committing our lives to each other with our families and friends watching - along with a few of our wilder Texan neighbors watching from their zoo home just beyond our podium.
LG motioned toward the shaded path leading to the zoo’s residents on the far side of the ceremony space. “Speaking of a canine component,” he said with a showman’s grin, “I’m guessing that you boys know you’ll be in the company of wolves tomorrow.”
My heart warmed instantly.
Our wonderful zoo was currently hosting a little pack of Mexican red wolves - a species that once roamed Texas. Their presence here felt more than symbolic. It felt like our spirit animal was giving us its blessing.
Like I’ve said before: when my wolf-pack alphas plan, they plan big.
****
I’ll admit it. Sure, this may be my first time at getting married, but I think our rehearsal went perfectly. Well, at least it went way faster than I’d ever imagined. Then again, I’d never really understood - or had any reason to even think - that wedding rehearsals were mostly for the people in charge. So that they could get the timing down.
I realized something else too. The rehearsal definitely wasn’t about making sure our loved ones - the people who mattered most - were prepared to say the right things tomorrow. It wasn’t about ensuring they were successful in adding their magic to our special event. It was mostly about giving the coordinator one last chance to make sure the whole thing didn’t fly off the rails.
Speaking of flying off the rails, the one part we were strongly encouraged to rehearse - several times - was Riley’s big job of being our ring bearer. We’d practiced with him two weeks earlier, but that had just been the three of us in an empty venue. This time, there were actual people sitting in chairs.
After he confidently completed his first trip down the aisle, LG clapped his hands like a proud coach, “Alright Sir Riley! Let’s see that runway walk one more time - for the people in the back.”
I knew my pup and I trusted him completely. To everyone’s applause, Riley calmly made his trip down the aisle three more times. Exactly like I knew he would. Each time, he kept his bright-eyed focus on me and Corey while politely ignoring all the people in the seats, even as they gently tried to distract him.
Standing beside me, Corey leaned in to my shoulder with a soft laugh, “You taught him well pup. Our boy could deliver our rings through a Stockyards cattle drive.”
After Riley repeatedly proved that he understood his part in our impending big event, I felt a deep comfort settle in - a new understanding of what a wedding rehearsal was really for. In a fragile but sweet way, I realized that all the yet-to-be-said speeches, all the important pledges and lifelong commitments still waiting to be spoken… none of those should ever be rehearsed. Otherwise, their sincerity might somehow be diminished. Now I knew: the most important parts of tomorrow had to be delivered with the same spontaneity as the final words our Justice of the Peace would pronounce.
Oh, and our Justice was none other than Captain Alex Williams’ husband, the Honorable Simon Stevens. I glanced down at Alex, currently seated in the front row. He caught my eye, smiled, and gave a tiny salute. “Don’t worry, Ollie,” he said. “Simon’s been practicing his ‘By the power vested in me’ all week.”
My goofy grin shined again. I couldn’t keep from thinking about how Captain Alex had helped me last year after my father reported my Bronco stolen and Officer Kevin Barrett had nearly arrested me. Alex was also Chris’s first serious boyfriend after his divorce from Corey’s mother. Lurd… Even with all our efforts to keep things simple, it seemed we were about to have a very complicated wedding.
A desperately deranged thought forced itself into my inner monologue… Why couldn’t our Justice of the Peace just say those important final words right now? We already had a good-sized crowd of our most important people. If we just got it over with this evening, I swear we’d still treat everyone to a big party at Chris and Ted’s tomorrow.
Bonus: if we said those sacred words tonight, we could all just relax and enjoy our big dinner at Joe T Garcia’s - myself included.
Lurd, I’m going to be so upset if my appetite decides to fail me at Joe’s.
I snuck a quick glance at my wolf, only to find him staring back at me with an intensity that almost made me jump. He still does our family smirk better than I do.
“Ollie, We’ve been together for over a year now, and you still have a terrible poker face. Don’t even think about it, pup,” he murmured. “You’re not getting out of walking down that aisle tomorrow. I love you, Olliver Aaron.”
My wicked thought evaporated, “I love you too, Corey Allen.”
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