Uniting the Souls

by Annabella Michaels

  The reality was a bit different, but some of it was the same. I had two men that loved me instead of one and I worked with them instead of Zane, but thanks to Hudson, I had hope that I might find my brother someday. I wasn’t sure if that would ever happen, but the fact that I had hope where there once was none, was enough to make me happy. And I was happy. Sharing my story with Hudson and Matt had released the hold my demons had on me, taking away their power and transferring it back to me. I still felt pain and anger from everything I’d gone through and all the years I’d been cheated out of with my brother, but with the help of my therapist and the support and love of my guys, I was learning how to cope with those feelings.

  I looked at my reflection in the mirror one last time and then turned with a smile to go find my men so we could get married. I walked down to the kitchen where we had said we would meet and looked out the window at all our guests. We’d decided to hold the ceremony at our house because we wanted to combine the happiest day of our lives to the place where we would build that life together.

  Our friends and family were sitting and talking with one another in the white chairs we had set up for the special occasion. Tables were set up under a tent for the reception afterward and caterers scurried about, making sure everything would be ready for our guests as soon as the ceremony ended. I smiled as I saw that many of the staff and even a few of the kids from the center had shown up, although most of the staff were busy watching over things there, their gift to us so we could enjoy our time together.

  Matt’s parents had also come. Hudson and I had been nervous meeting them, but they were as kind and gracious as their son and seemed relieved to see Matt so happy. The entire Greene family was there, even Carter and Ryan who had flown in along with Rylie and Lachlan, taking a break from the tour for the day so that they could celebrate with us.

  “Hey, beautiful!” I whipped around when I heard Hudson’s deep voice and my heart caught in my throat as I looked at him.

  His tuxedo was tailored to fit his broad shoulders perfectly and the crisp white shirt he had buttoned underneath showcasing his well-defined chest. I swallowed hard around the lump in my throat as Matt walked in behind him looking just as dashing. I couldn’t believe that these two amazing men wanted to spend the rest of their lives with me. I blinked, unable to see past my tears.

  Seeing that I was overwhelmed with emotions, they came forward, sheltering me with their bodies like they always did and took turns kissing me and whispering to me how much they loved me until I was able to calm down.

  “You both are the most handsome men I’ve ever seen,” I told them. Matt kissed the freckles on my nose and then leaned back and looked at each of us with a smile.

  “I can’t wait to marry the two of you. Can we hurry up and make that happen?” he pleaded. We all laughed and then I grabbed them each by the hand and walked towards the back door. Nicholas was there and he smiled when he saw his three uncles approach.

  “Is it time?” Nicholas asked.

  “Yeah, buddy. You do it just like we practiced, okay?” Hudson told him.

  Nicholas nodded and then straightened his little body proudly and began walking down the aisle, holding the silk pillow that had our three rings tied together by a ribbon. We’d had trouble deciding which rings to use since Hudson and Matt had both planned on proposing so we finally agreed that we should use one set as our engagement rings and one set as our wedding bands. I was proud of the fact that, so far, we’d always been able to reach a compromise that we all were happy with. I knew there would be bumps in the road along the way, just as there are in any relationship, but I had no doubts that we’d be able to work through them.

  As Nicholas reached the end of the aisle and took a seat beside his mother, everyone turned and faced us. In a world that often rejected or ignored that which was different, we were lucky enough to be surrounded by people who loved us and supported us and who wanted to celebrate the love we’d found, regardless of how many it included or the color of our skin. They were happy because we were happy. The people there that day were the definition of love, the definition of family.

  The ceremony was short, with each of us taking a turn to vow our love and devotion to each other. It was emotional and beautiful and we were each visibly moved by the time we got to the kiss. There was loud cheering around us from our family and friends as we were announced husbands, but I couldn’t take my eyes off my two men long enough to pay attention. Matt, who I’d loved for so long but never imagined could be mine, and Hudson, who had swept in and stolen my heart right out from under me; they were my husbands and I would spend every day of the rest of my life trying to give back all the love they’d given to me.

  The reception was next and everyone seemed to have a great time. We made our way around after dinner, visiting with everyone and accepting their congratulations. Caleb and Giovanni were there with their daughter, Sarah, who quickly became friends with Nicholas and the two took off to play with the toys we kept on hand for when Nicholas spent the night with us.

  There was a lot of laughter and dancing and when we cut the cake and Matt shoved his piece in my face, he leaned down and whispered in my ear that he would lick it off me later. My face immediately turned red, much to the amusement of our guests who’d been watching the whole thing. Hudson leaned in and swiped his tongue over Matt’s bottom lip and Matt shivered, making everyone laugh again.

  “Don’t worry, I’ve got your back,” he said, giving me a wink.

  “Hey! Are you two teaming up against me?” Matt whispered in mock outrage.

  “Only in the way you like,” I replied saucily. Hudson laughed while Matt growled in my ear.

  “Yeah, I do like that,” he admitted then he grabbed both of our hands and led us out to the dance floor for our first dance.

  It should’ve been awkward to try to dance with three people, but as with everything else in our relationship, we found a way to make it happen. Or arms locked around each other, with Hudson pressed against my back and I laid my head on Matt’s chest, his heartbeat keeping time with the music. Everything else around us disappeared until it seemed like we were the only three people there.

  “I have never been happier in my entire life,” I said with a sigh.

  “Me either,” Hudson added. “I am the luckiest man in the world.”

  “No, that would be me because I get to be with the two of you,” Matt said.

  “Okay, I guess we’re all pretty lucky,” I said with a laugh and they conceded. “Thank you both for showing me what love is,” I said, growing serious once again.

  “Thank you for sharing your lives with me and for giving me more than I ever dreamed possible,” Hudson said in return.

  “Thank you for not giving up on me and for showing me that it was okay to love again,” Matt said solemnly.

  I leaned up and pressed my lips to his and then Hudson did the same. Soon we were locked in an embrace that included all three of us, just how we liked it, exactly as it should be. I knew that we wouldn’t always feel the love and support that we felt that day. Some people wouldn’t be able to understand how three individuals can fall in love with each other, caring for and supporting one another and building a life together. I felt sorry for those people. I couldn’t speak for other triad relationships because I only knew what worked for mine, but as far as my relationship with my partners, it was beautiful, it was real and it was ours.

  Strong hands landed on my waist and I felt Rick lean in and nuzzle his lips against my neck. I giggled because it tickled, but goose bumps raced over my skin for very different reasons. After all these years, the man could still send chills down my spine with just a look or a brush of his hand. I tilted my head so I could give him a kiss and he hummed contentedly.

  “Is there anything you need me to do?” he asked.

  I looked around the large dining room table at the places that were set. Soon all our children would be there, including their friends who we claimed as our own.
With everyone working and having children, or out of the country on tour, it had been awhile since I’d had all my kids under one roof and I was thrilled that they were all able to be at our house for Thanksgiving.

  “I think we have everything we need,” I answered.

  “Good, then we have time for this.” Rick spun me around in his arms and dipped me low, making me gasp in surprise before he gave me a long, passionate kiss. I wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders and let myself get lost in the feel of his body pressed against mine.

  “Oh my God! They’re at it again,” I heard Michelle complain.

  “You guys, not over the food!” Caleb scolded.

  Rick chuckled against my lips and then stood me upright. We turned and faced our children who were wearing smirks on their faces. They liked to pretend that we horrified them, but I knew that seeing their parents so in love made them happy.

  “Happy Thanksgiving!” I called out, going to them with my arms open.

  I hugged them around the food in their hands, planting kisses on their cheeks and then helped them carry everything into the kitchen. Michelle’s husband walked in then, carrying even more food and set it on the island counter. He gave me a hug before telling his wife that he was going to run out and get the last load from the car.

  “You better not be referring to my grandbaby as a load,” I teased.

  Jason laughed. “No, Dad already snatched little Ricky out of the car seat. He said he needed to get some snuggles in before Gram got her hands on him and hogged him for the rest of the day.”

  “He’s a smart man,” I admitted. There was no use denying it, since it was the truth. Whenever my grandbabies were around, I made sure to soak up as much time with them as I could. “And where’s my sweet Sarah?” I asked, turning to Caleb.

  “Right here,” I heard Giovanni say from the doorway. I smiled brightly when I saw the little girl in his arms.

  “Gram!” Sarah exclaimed when she saw me. She wiggled in her father’s arms as she reached for me and Giovanni laughed as he set her down. She ran towards me and I knelt down and held my arms open, pulling her in for a big hug.

  “There’s my girl,” I cooed at her. “Look at what a beautiful dress you have on,” I told her and she smiled as she twirled around to show off her dress. Rick walked in then, with his namesake and pride and joy, Ricky, in his arms, smiling smugly and I narrowed my eyes at him.

  “You’ve got about two minutes while I talk to Sarah and then you’ve got to give him up,” I informed him, pointing a finger his way.

  Rick laughed and then retreated into the living room, telling Ricky that if Gram couldn’t find them then she couldn’t take him away. Everyone laughed at that, including me, and then I asked Sarah if she wanted to help me put the name cards on the table.

  “Yes!” she answered happily, running to the drawer where she remembered I had put them.

  The weekend before she’d come to my house and the two of us made handprint turkeys that we could use as name cards for each person in our family. Sarah had done a fine job of telling me each person that would be at Thanksgiving while I wrote them on the cards. I followed her into the dining room and handed her the cards as she decided where each person should sit.

  “Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!” I heard my oldest son say. I looked up and saw Landon and Micah in the doorway and my heart warmed at the sight of them. They were both so handsome and the looks on their faces showed how happy they were.

  “Hey, Mom!” Landon called out as he walked into the dining room.

  He set the platter of food he was holding down on the table and then gave me a kiss before kneeling down to talk to Sarah, praising her on the beautiful turkeys she’d made. He’s going to make such an amazing father someday. I looked up at Micah who was staring down at his husband and I could tell by the soft look in his eyes that he was having similar thoughts to mine. He caught me staring and grinned at me sheepishly.

  “Happy Thanksgiving, Mom,” he said softly as he bent down to kiss my cheek.

  “I’m so glad you’re here,” I told him, wrapping my arm around his waist. He put his arm around my shoulders and smiled down at me.

  Micah had been the most withdrawn of my sons-in-law. He’d been through so much in his lifetime and had only had a brief glimpse of what a loving family behaved like when he’d lived with Giovanni and his parents in high school, so it took him longer to get used to the constant affection our family showed each other. I knew Micah loved us and he showed how much he cared by being protective of all of us, but the fact that he was beginning to hug or kiss us on his own, made me unbelievably happy and I had to fight back my tears so I wouldn’t embarrass him.

  Carter and Ryan showed up next, looking tired, but happy. They’d been in Europe with the band, but had flown home with Rylie and Lachlan on Lachlan’s company jet in order to spend Thanksgiving with us. The tour would be ending soon and I couldn’t wait to have my baby back home for longer than a few days.

  “Hi, boys! I’ve missed you both so much,” I cried as I hugged them both.

  “It’s good to be home. I missed you too, Mom,” Carter said.

  They squeezed me back and then I let them go so everyone else could have a turn. My eyes were watery as I watched Carter and Caleb hug. We were a very tight-knit family, but there was a special bond between the twins that the rest of us didn’t share and I knew it had been particularly hard for them to be apart from each other.

  My nephew, Morgan, and his husband, Akio, were the next to arrive, followed closely by the newlyweds, Hudson, Matt, and Isaac. They thanked us for inviting them, but I brushed it off, reminding them that they were family now too.

  Emma and Mark showed up a few minutes later with my other grandbaby and my namesake, Katherine. I scooped her up in my arms quickly and began kissing her face as Mark helped me tug her heavy coat off. I nuzzled my face into Katherine’s neck, breathing in the sweet smell of little girl and making her laugh in the process.

  “Rylie and Lachlan will be a little late. They said they had something they needed to do before they could come here,” Carter told us.

  “I wonder what was up with them. They were acting strangely on the plane, like they were nervous or excited about something,” Ryan said.

  “Yeah, I know what you mean. If it was just Rylie I would’ve just chalked it up to the fact that he’s always strange,” Carter joked. “But Lachlan was acting weird too. Any idea what’s going on?” he asked, directing his question to Micah who was close friends with Lachlan.

  Micah shrugged his shoulders. “Lachlan told me he had some good news he couldn’t wait to tell me, but he refused to say what it was. Said I’d find out when he got home.”

  “Come to think of it, Rylie was acting very secretive the last time he and I Skyped,” Hudson added. “He seemed happy though, so I wasn’t concerned. I figured he’d tell me whatever it was when he was ready.”

  “Well, I’m definitely intrigued now,” Rick said. He still had Ricky in his arms and we shared a grin, each of us thrilled to get to spend the day with our children and grandchildren.

  “That must be them now,” Carter said when the doorbell rang. All eyes were trained on him as he hurried to the door and opened it.

  Rylie walked in first. I’d known him for many years and I’d witnessed the struggles he’d gone through. I’d worried about him just like a mother would, and prayed that he’d find his way eventually. I’d been so happy when those prayers had been answered. Rylie had turned his life around after he fell in love with Lachlan and he’d been much happier ever since. Still, I’d never seen him smile as widely as he was when he walked through my door that day.

  I stared in surprise as Dylan and Max, the two young brothers I’d gotten to know and love at Agape House, walked in behind him, followed quickly by Lachlan who was wearing a grin that matched his husband’s.

  “What’s going on?” Isaac asked and I saw the hopeful look he gave Rylie.

  “We kno
w everyone here has met these two guys, but Lachlan and I would like to formally introduce our sons, Dylan and Max. Lachlan was able to pull some strings despite the holiday and we just came from the courthouse, the adoption became official about an hour ago,” Rylie said, his voice cracking at the end.

  Everyone was quiet in the room and then Isaac spoke up and his voice sounded shaky as tears swam in his eyes. “You mean they get to stay with you? They get to stay together?”

  “They’re ours,” Lachlan confirmed, smiling down at the two boys who gazed up at him like he’d hung the moon. “They’ll be raised together in a loving home from now on.” Matt put an arm around Isaac and kissed the side of his head, whispering something in his ear. Isaac nodded his head and smiled up at him.

  Everyone moved at once then, hugging, kissing, and congratulating the new family. I swallowed around the lump in my throat, but couldn’t stop the tears that were streaming down my face. I couldn’t have picked a better couple to raise those boys.

  “So, this…” Hudson said as he approached Rylie. Rylie nodded his head.

  “Yeah. The other things I have to live for,” he answered. Hudson pulled him in for a tight hug and whispered something to him about how beautifully he’d painted his portrait. I didn’t understand what that meant, but I heard the fierce pride in Hudson’s voice and saw the happy tears in Rylie’s eyes.

  “It seems that we have even more to be thankful for than we’d realized. Welcome to our family, boys,” Rick said. Max and Dylan looked around at all of us with wide eyes, but they were grinning all the same. I knew we were a lot to take in all at once, but in time, they’d get used to us.

  “Who’s ready to eat?” I asked and everyone shouted at once.

  Laughing, I led them into the dining room where the food covered every available inch of space on the table. No one would leave hungry, that was for sure. Rick and I grudgingly handed the children back to their parents who promised to give them back as soon as they were finished eating.