This is love

SEVENTEEN

“What are you doing here?” 

I clench his hand tighter, the feeling of the cool piece of jewelry pressing between my fingers, and in a hope that his temper would remain calm and collected while his mood wasn’t ruined by the untimely and unannounced appearance. Thankfully, our guests started to busy themselves at cocktail hour, slipping away to the outside bars, champagne table and buffet opinion of light canapes we had arranged while we snuck away for our photos. 

Colin clears his throat nervously, hands stuck within the depths of his pockets. Riding the every day three-piece-suits, he opted for a lightweight linen two piece with a posy peaking from the top pocket. “I wanted to congratulate you.” 

“You weren’t invited.” 

Colin’s lips remained pressed into a thin line at his son’s bluntness of his presence. It was unsurprising. He had fled two weeks ago without any contact, missing his original invite and making Jason harshly score over his name with sharpie on our guest list. After mine and his revelation, he slipped into the unknown. Even Rachel wasn’t sure of his whereabouts, only knowing he was still alive with every day texts she received. That pained Jason more. He thought he wasn’t worthy of his attention again, just like when he was a child. 

“I know, and I’ll not stay.” He said. “I’ve been on the island, I just wanted to come by and congratulate you both. Frankie, you look beautiful.” 

I nod with a small smile. “Thank you.” 

We both could see his hesitance, and the way he shifted showed his uncomfortableness. He cleared his throat again. “I-uh-I just.. I just wanted to say how proud I am of you.” 

Jason tensed. 

“You’ve really turned into an incredible man and I’m so proud, because you’ve not become like me. Your mother did an incredible job, and it shows. Truly it does. And you-” He points at me with a gentle smile. “I can’t really thank you enough for what you do for him. The pair of you are just -” 

He trailed off with a saddened smile and shaked his head to the ground. My heart clenched and I squeezed Jason’s hand tighter although he retained tight lipped and tense. 

“Anyway.” Colin coughed. “Congratulations again and I wish you both nothing but health and happiness. Truly."

He doesn’t reach our eyes as he turns swiftly to make his exit, and just as my heart lurches at his bowed head, Jason surprisingly calls out. Colin almost stumbles to a stop, taking a moment to compose himself before turning towards us. 

I can feel his hesitancy and his worry, but I can feel his love and his desperation to finally get that father and son bond that was broken before he was born. His clammy hand shook within mine and his lips parted to speak. 

“Do you want a beer?” 

And just like that, the cut ropes and burnt bridges were slowly beginning to sew back together and patch back up. With glassy eyes, I could see the years of wrinkles smoothing from his forehead and pinching at the corner of his eyes instead with a breathless smile. 

"I'd like that." 

As Colin shifts himself awkwardly between the sea of guests, hesitating behind Rachel who spoke with Henry and Pamela, we watch as his parents greet each other like long-lost sweethearts. A moment of pause, a gentle smile and a brief cheek kiss. 

I turn to Jason, hooking my arms around his neck and bringing him in for a sweet kiss. "I'm so proud of you." I murmur against his lips. 

He nuzzles his nose against mine. "I had some wise words from someone important. They made me realise that the best thing to do for someone, is prove them wrong. I don't want to be like him. I want to be the best husband that I can possibly be, and an even better father."