I have been running around so much it was making my head spin. The farthest I have traveled is Katy, which is about an hour away from where I live and guess what it was for? Shoes! Freaking shoes! That was a total waste of my time. We had a bunch of other things to do to add to that.

So, with a week left till the wedding we started preparing the house. We started with the backyard since that is where most of the ceremony is taking place. Besides Joshua we all are really allergic to grass, especially Victor apparently. What is really funny about the whole situation is that he is the only one who doesn't live in a house, ergo he doesn't have his own lawn, ergo he never really had to use a lawn mower. After about 15 minutes of playing with it, and almost chopping off his hand, we all toughened up, wore a bunch of personal protection equipment, and went outside to help.

With 6 days left we cleaned the rest of the house. So that meant that we had to basically move all the furniture around and dust, broom, vacuum, and mop everywhere. The living room was especially the toughest because there was a lot of stuff to move from there. We also cleaned out the fridge, because there will be some food that will end up there, and the cars. Let me say that the house has never been cleaner, and we have never been dirtier.

With 5 days left we started to do the fun parts! After a good shower, a bunch of Benadryl taken, and a morning's rest we were up and at it again. The tents and lights came at 2, the chairs came at 3, all the floral arrangements came at 4, the sound equipment came at 6 and the tables were right behind at 6:30. The sun was beating down on us really bad. We finished at least 4 cases of water and 8 bags of ice between all the workers and us. That's Texas heat for you. And might I add that we are about to wrap up January. Global warming is no joke now.

We picked up the clothes 4 days before the wedding. It was the only time I remember being excited for clothes. They were so beautiful and perfect and lovely and all the good adjectives from that 3rd grade textbook that I have no care for except right now. We all are matching in some sort of way, but each fit is so drastically different from the person next to us. I am not going to spoil anything, but we are all going to look bomb.

If anyone ever asked me advice for life, I would say this: Never wax, thread, cut, shave, or try out any new products the night before a big event. Give your skin time to heal so that you don't look horrendous in the pictures. That's why I am sitting here in the salon, 3 days before the wedding, screaming silently as the lady is waxing my arms. I don't know if I like bleeding or being mildly burned more.

2 days before the wedding was a disaster and a cool story to tell my kids. I forgot that if you are doing elaborate nails, you should have the courtesy of showing up early, especially if you are a walk-in. I am pretty sure I was cussed and cursed at for the rest of my life. Dani was by my side - the boys were in the barber shop next door- and by the looks of it ready to be in jail as well. Best friends- what do we do with ''em!

The day before the wedding I was immobile, handicapped, and exhausted. Not to mention humiliated. I had to put out those gift bags the other day, you know which ones, and all the old jokes re-sparked. I would have killed everyone but then all this hard work would go to waste.

At night it was really fun. We had dinner together and played some games, eventually ended up at a Walmart for 40 minutes, then watched a movie to finish off the night. Dad and Victor were doing their ridiculous flirting all the while, even took it to a different aisle in Walmart, and were just hanging onto each other. But this time when we were acting like a bunch of 5 year olds they took it to the room. I guess they needed to really talk.

But that doesn't mean we are still a bunch of 5 year olds.

"It's midnight!"

"Get out!"

"It's considered bad luck!"

"Real bad!"

We all were knocking and pounding on the door until one of them came out. When I accidentally jammed my fist into Victor's chest we stopped. We all tried to stifle out laughs as Victor stared at us.

"I want to talk to you," Victor said to me.

"Sure."

He walked me out to the deck and sat down. I looked up at the sky and thought that it was really excited for us. All the stars were out tonight shining so bright in the night. It was so beautiful to look at. Plus, with the silent noise I think I could stay out here forever. I think I could love the countryside if I tried it, but I am always going to be a city girl through and through.

"You see Andromeda?" Victor asked, pointing up.

"What?"

"Andromeda, the constellation." He pointed out the shape that it was making. It was kind of hard to make out. We did astrology in 8th grade science class, but I was scared to death. Space is a big fear of mine. I just don't like the idea of nothing. There is no end to space, no definitive end, but I do think it is beautiful- from the crust of Earth.

"Andromeda, in Greek mythology that is, is the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, and the wife of Perseus. Her mother, Cassiopeia, used to boast all the time to the Nereids that Andromeda was much more beautiful than them. This used to upset the Nereids, so Poseidon sent Cetus, a sea monster, to devastate Cepheus's kingdom. A lot of things went down as a result.  But when Andromeda passed away the gods put her in the heavens for all of mankind to see her. She was that beautiful."

"Wow." (Can you tell he read Percy Jackson as a kid?)

We sat there looking at the sky. Victor had wrapped my shoulder and I curled into a ball next to him.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Promise me something."

"Yeah."

"Remember that you can always come to me. I will always be there for you."

"Thanks- dad."

He looked at me with such shock which turned into happiness. I still haven't called him that. First time for everything. I smiled and hugged him back.

"You know this whole thing won't work, right."

"What thing won't work?" he immediately went into stressed mode. I just want to have a little fun.

"This whole parent-name thing. Dad is Dad, so should I call you Dad too or not? Because you see it's confusing cause what if I yell 'Dad, can you come here?' Which person am I really calling? It's a flawed system, you see."

"Good one, boss," he said in relief.

We got up and gave the stars one last, endearing look.

"Oh! I have something for you"

He pulled out a small, long box from his pocket. He handed it to me, and I opened it. Inside was a beautiful pearl necklace. It was really simple with just a single pearl encased. The case holding the pearl was covered with small diamonds.

"Victor, it's beautiful."

"Do you like it?" He was rocking back and forth on his feet, his fists jammed in his pockets.

"Yes, but I can't take them."

"Why not?"

"Because you already gave me that bracelet. This is too much." I tried shoving them back into his hands but he wouldn't take them.

"You must. I would love for you to wear, and I know Greyson would too." His smile was a bit too knowingly. "You know, an early birthday present."

I looked at the necklace and something in my heart shifted. And it was a heavy shift, something that you physically feel. I don't know what it was. It was like something inside of me was pushing this feeling to come out and they finally succeeded.

"Everything is going to change tomorrow, isn't it?" I asked a bit teary eyed. 

It was a weird feeling. Like I was scared all of a sudden but at the same time I have never been happier.

"Yes." He simply said. He didn't seem scared or excited or anything that indicated that he was showing any feelings or that he is getting married tomorrow. It was just plain honesty. 

I think we both knew that nothing else could be said for this.

I looked back at the necklace, which I am glad that it would go well with my dress. It made me think of something really stupid. "You know it is bad luck for the bride to wear a pearl at her wedding. It symbolizes a tear which means that her marriage won't last, and she will be sad."

"Well be glad you are not the bride right now or I may have accidentally cursed you into oblivion. But when you do get married, I will personally beat the tar out of anyone who tries to give you one."

We headed inside, arm in arm, and put on a smile again.

"Victor! Let's go! The car's been started!"

Everyone is taking Groom number 2 out to celebrate his last night as a bachelor. Though Dad made a very strict rule list that ran for a half mile. So they are going to Top Golf and getting some ice cream. I was staying at home as I was feeling a bit tired. 

"Hey Daisy," Victor said as he was pulling on his jacket. "Do you mind talking to Clay?"

"Why? Is he okay?"

"Just nerves. I think he just needs some company. Someone to talk to, you know."

"Okay. Wish me luck."

I turned around and knocked on Dad's door. I didn't hear anything, so I just entered. He was walking out of the restroom, turning off the light.

"Hey, Groom-zilla," I said as I got into bed.

"I have not been-"

"Don't start now!"

I gave him the death stare which just made him laugh. If you have ever helped plan out a wedding, or were really close to the couple, you know how much of a headache the bride could be. I'm not saying all of you were, or are, but there is just something that ignites in a girl before she says, 'I do'. But imagine this: make that girl a guy and ten times worse, plus the everyday struggles of being a medical professional, and you the spitting image of Dad and what we have been dealing with these last couple of months.

He settled on the bed next to me and I hugged him really tight. I haven't done this since I was about 6 or 7 years old. Time flies.

"I'm nervous," he said. He was about to start biting his fingernails, something he only does when he is really stressed, but caught himself.

"Need me to drive the car?"

"With your driving we would be lucky to not be caught."

"Hey, I've gotten better."

"Your buddies say that loud and clear."

I forgot to mention that I got pulled over for speeding. I didn't get a ticket or anything, thank God, but I was pulled over, nonetheless. I am walking on a very, very thin line with Dad. But what can I say, I am impatient when I am hungry.

"But are you excited?" I asked.

"I am... feeling a lot of things right now if I am being honest."

"Well, do you feel like getting married tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I am," he said with a big smile.

"Then what are you scared of?"

"I guess everything is changing again."

Is this what deja vu is supposed to be?

"What do you mean again?"

He sighed and looked at the ceiling. "Dad: The Story of Struggles" was playing across his eyes, each scene doing something to him. 

"11 years ago, I got divorced, everything changed. 12 years ago, I got married, everything changed. 18 years ago, I had a kid, everything changed. Now tomorrow, just one more day, I am getting married again. Everything is going to change again. You see, change and I are old friends, but he still scares me to death every time we meet. I hope that when he comes around the outcome will be good."

It's true. Dad is only 33 years old, still pretty young, but he has been through a lot in his life. Some people would look at his situation with a different result each time. Some will say that it was his fault in the first place and that he has no one to blame but himself. Others say that he should look on the bright side and see that other people have it worse than him and that he should be grateful. But he knows that. He knows all that and more, but that still doesn't mean all that he has been through was a pleasant walk in the park.

"What am I going to do?" he said.

"Well, when you meet his parents you better start kissing up, because you are kissing their son. You know, you should actually be talking to Greyson right now; he is an expert in this. Then when you meet his sister, talk about how annoying he is and talk all the crap you want to talk about because that might be your only chance."

He laughed at my solution to his problem. I'm still getting used to his smile and laugh. It makes him look dazed and it is so childlike. And the sound that escapes from his mouth makes me think of a young Matt Dillon.

"I'm being serious," he said as his laugh was dying out. "What am I going to do?" He stared at the ceiling as though it could give a better answer than me. I was being kind of serious.

"What do you have to do? Just be happy and fall in love and live your life. Smile when you can, laugh when you can, cry when you need to, apologize when you need to do it, and just don't stop loving each other. Marriage isn't fabulous all the time. Besides, why are you worrying? Why are you letting the greys come to you early?" I plucked out a not-so dark colored strand. "They aren't that attractive."

He messed up my hair and said, "Hey, be glad you have hair while you have it. In my family you lose it by 35."

"I still have time," I said as I pushed it out of my face.  

We laughed at his antics. My Dad will always be my dad. No matter what he will always be my goofy, funny, weird, loving dad. 

He actually reminded me of something I have been wanting to ask him.

"So did they respond?" I asked as we started to calm down a bit. 

"No."

Even before Greyson was my boyfriend, he and Dad were really close. (It was only in the beginning of our romantic relationship that their friendship was almost severed) They understood each other really well.

"Don't sweat about it," I said. I knew it was lingering in the back of his mind. "You are getting married tomorrow to the man of your dreams, and I will make sure nothing ruins your special day."

"Thank you, princess," he kissed my head and rested his head on top of mine. I felt each breath of his come in and out of his body. Even his breathing was telling me something. It was something that was moving inside of him. 

"Dad?"

"Yes?"

"You're happy now, aren't you?"

"I have always been happy."

"Don't lie. You were never happy before, but you are now."

He smiled and said "Whatever puts you to sleep. But just know this: Being happy all the time sucks."

"Amen!"

I got closer to him and wrapped my arms around my giant teddy bear. He kept on stroking my hair and giving me kisses on my head. I just snuggled deeper the blankets, feeling very comfortable. 

"Dad, can I ask you something."

"Sure." He shifted around, preparing himself for the curveball I may potentially throw at him again. 

"Was it easy for you to say yes when Victor proposed?"

He didn't look surprised this time. I guess he has time to think this over. 

"Yes, it was, actually," he confessed.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"How so?"

"Everyone has been so supportive of me that I haven't felt awkward about this whole thing. I do feel nervous about being in a relationship, but I don't feel nervous about my partner. When he asked me if I wanted to get married with him, I was definitely shocked but saying yes was as easy as breathing."

My smile was so happy as he finished. I have never heard him say that before. He was really in love. We both kept on talking for a while. It was nice. I don't remember the last time Dad was so happy and excited. It is so refreshing to see it. I am just happy he is finally with someone who finally makes him happy. Someone who will love him like no other person will. It was kind of hard to digest the fact that I have to share Dad with someone, but I know how happy it makes him. And whatever puts a real smile on his face puts a real smile on mine.

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