You're Not Alone

Epilogue~ I'd Like To Make A Toast

Danny blew out a breath, looking at the small party. He looked over to the bride and groom, happy for Linda's crazy best friend. He looked to his wife, who was happily talking with Brie, the blushing bride. He then looked at his glass, and blew out another encouraging breath. He stood and clinked his glass; conversation stopped as all eyes fixated on him.
"Hi, Uh..... I don't usually do this, but.... I'd like to make a toast."
Linda raised her eyebrows, very surprised, but lifted her glass.
"I'm sorry, Brie and, uh...."
"Jake," Brie and her husband filled in.
"Jake, I don't mean to steal your thunder, but—"
"Oh, go ahead and burrow it," Brie dismissed his apology with a wave of her hand. "But not for long."
He had to chuckle. She reminded him so much of his wife. "Okay. As some of you- very few of you know.... about a year ago, I came home from a Marines tour. Ple—"
Everyone clapped their hands against their thighs, holding their drinks in the air.
"Okay, thanks. Anyway, I came home. And I was okay. For all of five weeks. Then I wasn't. I was mean towards the people I loved most. I yelled at my wife, ignored my four year old, secretly cursed at the baby. I was not a good husband, father, son, brother, or Uncle. In October 2003, I finally snapped. All the anger, rage, massive amounts of alcohol, fear.... all the feelings I had toppled over. The booze I had in me only amplified that. I...." Danny sighed, even saying what he had done broke his heart. "I hit my wife. Twice. I didn't even want to, it just.... happened. Then, to top that wonderful action, I drove drunk all the way to my brother's apartment. And my wife came after me. She didn't yell at me, she didn't call me an awful husband, she didn't call the police on me. Want to know what she did? Hm? She forgave me. Just like that," he snapped his fingers. "Without a second thought, she said she was going to forgive and forget..... in another brilliant move, I decided the best thing was to go away. Leave her, the toddler, and the baby. They didn't need someone who was broken, who couldn't function properly.... looking after them. That time, she did yell at me. And I deserved it. But still, she forgave me. Through all that crap I put her through, she still wanted me."
"Still do," Linda quietly said, intently watching her husband.
"So I just wanted to tell her.... thank you." Danny turned to Linda, "thank you for putting up with me. With my attitude and my excessive drinking. Thank you for standing your ground by not leaving, and standing by our vows. Thank you for showing me that, no matter the bad stuff that happened over there.. or the bad stuff that's happening in my mind.... that you would always love me. Thank you for going 'beyond the realm' of the definition of best wife. Linda, you're not the best wife. You're not a great wife..... You're the perfect wife. And I love you with all my heart." He raised his glass to her, and the crowed appropriately 'awed'.
"Oh..." Linda stood and clinked her glass with Danny's. "I love you," she wrapped her arms around him, giving him a passionate kiss. The kiss was probably a little too passionate for the setting, but no one seemed to care. "I love you so much."