I thought the idea of a phony wedding ceremony was crazy, but Max told me to go with it, that it would make our friends and family happy. “Relax, Liv. We’ll pull this off, Hollywood style,” he had said at one point.
It was a modest wedding, one that my parents and Max’s mother were very happy with. Max and I were simply placating our old-fashioned Midwestern parents.
Grace was my matron of honor, while Krystal, Monica and Loralei served as bridesmaids. Carl was Max’s best man, and his other two groomsmen were Anthony and, strange as it may sound, my father. It was a touching moment for me, having him walk me down the aisle, hand me off to Max, and then take his place.
Even though families usually sit on different sides of the aisle, ours broke from tradition and sat together. This was mostly so our moms could each hold Gabriel during the ceremony.
Our vows were toned down from our real ceremony. Max and I decided that they were the most meaningful part of our actual wedding, and they were too important to include in the fake one.
The kiss, however, was as real as the one at our actual ceremony. When the kiss was over, Max whispered into my ear, “I’d marry you every day of my life if I could.”
Later, at the reception in a small ballroom at a hotel not far from the park, Max pointed out something interesting: “You know, this is the only part of the whole thing that’s genuine.”
We were having our first dance as husband and wife.
“True,” I said. “But the whole thing is genuine to everyone else here.”
“Yeah, almost everyone.”
He was referring to Carl, Anthony, Monica and Loralei, who were standing beside each other as everyone watched us dance.
Carl had a smirk on his face, and Anthony was shaking his head. Loralei and Monica were alternating between laughing between them and tearing up when they looked at us.
I knew them well enough by now to know that they weren’t being critical — they were marveling at this stunt we’d just pulled off. A major production. All written and directed by Max.
. . . . .
Later that night we were on the plane, alone.
My parents were keeping Gabriel for two weeks, and Max’s mother was staying at their house to help out. I made sure Paula had the silver spoon to feed him with.
I was uncertain about the idea at first, but the few days we’d been in Ohio had been so great, I figured it would be good for the in-laws to bond together with their new grandson.
Also, to say I was looking forward to some alone time with Max, with no work to be done, would be an understatement of criminal proportions.
Max, true to his word, had surprised me with an amazing honeymoon. The itinerary included London, Madrid, and Rome.
While I was looking forward to all of it, I did feel the first pangs of…something…I’m not sure what it was. Not guilt. Maybe just concern. As a new mother, I figured I’d have to get used to that feeling as well. Leaving a baby for two weeks wasn’t going to be easy. But I trusted my parents and Paula, of course. And Grace, as well, since I knew she’d probably be over there quite a bit.
I was turning those thoughts over and over in my mind as the flight leveled off at cruising altitude. I knew I needed to let it go. Just enjoy all of this. So I climbed onto Max’s lap.
“I’ll need to see your Mile High membership card, ma’am,” he said.
I leaned into him and kissed him as I laughed.
“I just thought of something,” I said. “Two weddings… Does this mean we’ll need two divorces as well?”
Max knew I was joking, but his answer was as serious as anything he’d ever said to me: “Don’t even think about getting away from me. I’d follow you to the edge of the universe, Liv.”