Wildflowers and Redneck Boyz (ON HOLD)

Chapter 33: God Gave Me You

DECEMBER 20, 2014

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

RYLAN'S POV

"Guys I have no idea what to get Wyatt," I sighed. I was with Destini, Em, Danielle, Reba, Betsy, Devo's wife, Devo's wife, Kate, Andy's wife, Mel, Brian's wife, Brittney, RaeLynn, mama, and Wyatt and Ethan's mom. It's pretty much five days before Christmas and I haven't figured out what to get him. I've got stuff for the girls, the guys in Hunter's band, Ethan, Wyatt's parents, my parents, Dann, Betsy, and even Gran. But nothing for Wyatt.

Crazy, right?

"Well do you know about anything he's wanted," my mom asked.

"Not a clue," I replied, "he never tells me. And I just want his gift to be perfect because all of his that he's given me have always been perfect, and I wanna make it up to him, you know?"

"I'm sure he'll love whatever you give him," Wyatt's mom replied, "But I do know something that he's been talking about wanting."

"You do?" I ask excitedly, "What is it!?!"

"You guys' wedding day to come sooner." At this we all laugh.

"That's so Wyatt," I laugh.

"Well, honey," my mom said sadly, "you might actually have to have your wedding sooner if you want your daddy to walk you down the aisle." Suddenly we all go silent.

"What do you mean mama?" I asked.

"Well, we aren't for sure, but we think your father is having some, well... tests done... to make sure he isn't developing Alzheimer's..."

"Daddy might have... He just can't..."

"Sweetie, it's hard on all of us. And it'll be hard on Hunter once we tell him."

"You guys haven't told Hunter yet?"

"No, but we plan on telling him today. But, if your father is developing Alzheimer's, I would recommend you and Wyatt having your wedding earlier than next summer. I know you want a summer wedding, but things can change. If your father is getting Alzheimer's, then we won't know how fast the progression will go. And if it goes fast enough, then... your father won't be able to walk you down the aisle. And he probably won't be at your wedding at all." I sigh, trying to keep everything in. How can I deal with this? I mean I've got a tour coming up in February, and now we've got to possibly plan our wedding before then? That only gives us a month for Pete's sake!

"Can we even plan a wedding in a month?" I ask.

"Not really no," Wyatt's mom replies, "but maybe you can hold off your tour until the start of next summer and have your wedding in April or May."

"We can't do that to our fans and I'm not doing that to the rest of the band and crew," I say raising my voice a bit.

"Honey," my mom sighs, "if you want your father to be a part of your big day, then-"

"I know what my choices are, okay?" I ask raising my voice, "Either make my wedding early and disappoint a bunch of fans that've already paid for those tickets or go on with the tour and possibly not have my father a part of my wedding! But what's a musician to do!?! It's hard to choose between my family and the fans that WARB has built up!"

"We understand, Rylan, but-"

"No, you don't! You're pressuring me into something I don't know how to deal with! Why couldn't you guys have told me back in June or July to make this easier, huh!?!"

"Rylan, listen-"

"No, you listen! I can't take this kind of pressure! I can't take having to decide between two things I love with the bottom of my heart! It's hard, especially with my PTSD and depression! I don't know which decision to take, and either way, I'm going to disappoint someone in the long run!" I immediately storm off into some stray part of the mall, leaving behind my mom, future mother-in-law, and friends. I really hate arguing with my mom about something like this, but who could blame me?