Soft Boy

Tye And Leo's day

   "Leo!" Tye yells from the bedroom. I groan and pause my Netflix show. When I get to our room Tye is sitting on the bed. She has been a little down recently, she told her family about Kaya and they're definitely confused. I sit down next to her and wrap my arms around her. Tye's family is very traditional, if they had their way Tye would be married to a rich Hmong man and she would have many children. So far that's not how it's going.

   "So now they want me to marry you. Now that I told them I love you both, they support us," Tye chuckles between tears. I bring her close and let her cry until I'm sick of hearing it.

   "Let's go," I say standing up. Tye looks at me with a confused expression. I reach my hand out and she takes it.

   "I don't even need to know where, let's go," she says. So I tell her to dress nice and I do the same. I call Aaron and tell him and Aiden to meet us. My mom and Kaya are gonna be there too. Then we get in the car and drive. Tye is quiet most of the way there, but her hand never leaves mine. I wouldn't let it go if she tried.

   I park at the courthouse and everyone is there already. 

   "Leo, what are you doing?" she finally asks. I give her a quick kiss then get out of the car to open her door for her. 

   "We can have a big ceremony, reception, and honeymoon whenever. But I wanna marry you in this moment," I say. Tye starts to tear up again, but this time she's happy. She gets out of the car and we walk hand and hand into the courtroom with the people we love. If Aaron hadn't introduced us who knows where we'd be right now? And my mom took in Tye with open arms, she worked hard to make Tye realize she's accepted with us.

   Kaya

   Kaya wants us to be together just as much as everyone else. In fact the idea of eloping was hers. As we say our vows she gives me a thumbs up, silently encouraging us. Everyone tears up.

   "Tye Kajsiab Mua, you're my light in the dark, my strength, and my other half. I met you and my life has never been the same. As long as I have you I have a reason to keep going. And I promise to love you with my whole heart, I promise to cherish you for the rest of our lives," 

   "Leonardo Andres Donis, you have given me a whole new life along with a new purpose. You gave me new friends, a new community, a family. You've given me a sense of belonging when I didn't have one. You did that today. You accept me for who I am and take what comes with that. You trust me to never do you wrong and I promise I never will,"

   "Leonardo Andres Donis, do you take Tye Kajsiab Mua to be your wedded wife?  To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?" the solemniser asks me.

   "I do," I say without hesitation.

   "Tye Kajsiab Mua, do you take Leonardo Andres Donis to be your wedded husband? To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?" he asks Tye.

   "I do," she says even faster than I do.

   "Then I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Donis. You may kiss the bride."  And I do. And our selected loved ones cheer for us. 

                                                                         Tye

   And in that moment it's just us. Mrs. Donis and her husband. I can't imagine getting married any other way. And sure, we'll have a reception and honeymoon later. But this, this is exactly how I wanted to feel on our wedding day. 

   We walk out of the courthouse and go to Leo's mom's house. She tells us to sit down then runs into her kitchen to start cooking. Leo's mom never really cooks so this is a big deal. We pop a bottle of champagne and start talking.

   "So, Mr and Mrs. Donis. Where are you gonna go to honeymoon? I'm thinking somewhere in the caribbean, or maybe Italy?" Aaron says. I chuckle.

   "How about you get married then?" Leo says. Aaron smiles and cozies up to Aiden.

   "Yeah, how bout we get married then?" Aaron says. Aiden laughs.

   "Okay well then let's go to the courthouse," he says. Aaron gasps.

   "Um, excuse you! I want a big ceremony with all our family and cake and dancing and a party. Y'know, a real wedding. Unlike these two crazy lovebirds I have a plan," he says. 

   "And how much does this plan cost?" Kaya asks taking a sip of her champagne. Aiden looks at Aaron, we all know he has the same question.

   "See, but that's not the important part. It's about love and coming together!" he says curving the question.

   "Okay kids, come eat!" Mom yells from the kitchen. We're all adults. I'm a married woman and she still calls us kids. I love her to death and would never tell her otherwise.

   "Mom! You made Mole(mol-eh)!" Leo asks excitedly. Over the two years I've known Leo it's become one of my favorites too. It's a spicy sauce with chicken served over white rice. It would be spicier if there wasn't chocolate in the recipe to cancel it out. To be honest I can't even taste the chocolate.

   "I was actually going to invite you guys over for dinner tonight, so it worked out," she says sitting down. Leo's mom is catholic so she prays before every meal. And as this is her house we all respect it. She prays in spanish so I'm unsure of what she says.

   "And Lord I thank you for bringing us all together and blessing my baby with his amazing wife and lovely girlfriend. I trust you in guiding them through their new life together. I pray you protect them on all their coming journeys and keep them under your watch. Amen," she says. We all say amen and dig in. My family is still coming to terms with my life, but these people accept me for who I am and who I love. They are a part of my family and I couldn't have picked them better myself.