Archer and Opal Attend a Vow Renewal

One Year Later

“Precious, you gotta wake up.” I nudge her gently, wondering if I really should. Opal was at Diana’s house late into the night talking her through false labor. I can’t imagine that was very calm or pleasant. But dang it, tonight is important.

“Unggghh,” she moans. “Ten more minutes.”

I grin and plunk Oscar on the bed next to her. He yowls and spins around, churning up the sheets while he makes a little nest for himself. “I’ll turn on the shower for you awhile,” I tell her. In the past year, we’ve redecorated my place together. Each room is a compromise, a blend of her taste and mine. I smile while I throw back the new shower curtain, remembering how we picked it out along with the new towels.

When we got it home and Opal stretched on the edge of the tub to hang the curtain, I got so turned on that I dragged her away and it took us a few days to get it hung properly. Opal slides past me to step in the shower and I consider climbing in there with her. I look at the clock and sigh. We really do have to get going.

She pokes her head out of the shower curtain. “Were we supposed to bring anything?”

I shake my head and grin. “Everything is catered, babe. We’re good.” My siblings and I hired half the services in Oak Creek to cater, decorate, and plan my parents’ 35th anniversary party. When she finally comes downstairs, I help Opal get bundled up, pausing to sniff the rose-scented shampoo that hangs around her long hair.

We hold hands as we walk through town, through the small park, and into the clearing of trees along the banks of the creek. My parents got married on the solstice, which I always thought was strange, but I can see the magic in that choice now that we’re surrounded by a crackling fire and picnic tables.

The trees are hung with twinkle lights and some of the art students from the college made ice sculptures. “It looks like Narnia,” Opal whispers, squeezing against my body as a chilly wind rustles the dried leaves on the ground. My mother looks amazing, like a winter queen, in a white puffy coat, her hair piled on her head and her eyes dancing in the low light. Dad can’t keep his hands off her, and it should gross me out but it doesn’t. They’re still madly in love, passionate, and so excited to be celebrating a lifetime spent married to each other.

Diana stomps into the woods, her maternity coat barely fitting around her pregnant body, with Asa chasing after her, urging her to slow down and take a break if she feels out of breath. I catch her eyeing a sharp point on one of the ice sculptures, and I rush over to hug her before she impales the father of her unborn child.

“Hey, sis.” I punch her playfully in the shoulder and bite my tongue, because Opal says I’m not supposed to say Still pregnant? Or anything similar.

Diana is about a week past her due date and not excited about it. She inhales, and I can see her gearing up for a tirade, but just then Hunter bangs a metal serving spoon against a tea kettle to get everyone’s attention.

My father climbs up on a tree stump and reaches down for my mother’s hand. She hops up beside him and he plants a kiss on her cheek. “I can’t tell you how happy we are that you all could join us for this,” he says, his arms tight around my mom. “Rose and I have enjoyed every one of our 35 years together in this town, and you all are a huge part of what’s made us happy.”

There’s a spatter of applause and a few whistles. My father gestures for people to knock it off and he continues. “I’m especially grateful that our four children are all here with us.” He looks around at each of us, standing in the firelight with the people we love. “It has been an absolute joy to watch these four grow, to spend my days with the other Acorns trading secrets, sharing our joys, and helping with the hard times. Hell, you all supported us when Rose and I decided I was going to stay home with the kids while she took the reins at the college. This was way before men did such things on a regular basis. I couldn’t have done all this without you. Raised these amazing people.” Another round of whistles.

Opal dabs at her eyes. She always gets emotional when she sees men being good and dedicated fathers. Which means she’s spent a lot of time feeling emotional this past year, between Hunter and Fletcher and my dad rocking the paternal world.

My dad wraps up his speech by dipping my mom and kissing her until Hunter starts to pretend retch. Fletcher and his wife, Thistle, guide Teresa McMurray over to the buffet so she can get her plate before the line gets rowdy.

Fletcher’s wife.

Those two words still feel so strange put together. Rose sees that Teresa is settled and then puts her thumb and finger together, letting out the loud whistle she always saved to wrangle us together at amusement parks. “Now the part we’re really excited about,” she says, her loud and presidential voice echoing through the trees. “Let’s eat!”

Mary Pat beckons for Opal and me to follow her over to the heart-shaped ice sculpture set back from the fire pit. “We need to get this family photo before Diana’s water breaks,” she says.

Hunter’s got Louie strapped to his back in a fleece sling thing and frowns. “Let’s make this fast. Louie is due for his nap. It’s very important for young toddlers to get adequate rest for brain development.”

Abigail rubs his arm and says it’s fine, but Diana cuts her off. “I’m staying at this party for exactly three more minutes. You want a picture with me in it, you better line up right now.”

Dad gathers my brothers on either side of him and suggests the women line up in front of us, which sets Diana off yelling that Asa shouldn’t get to stand next to her siblings while she has to squat up with the spouses.

My mother whistles again. “Enough! I don’t care how pregnant you are, Diana Crawford Wexler. You will stand where your father suggests, in front of this gorgeous ice sculpture, and you will smile and that’s the end of it. Mary Pat! Take it now.”

I stand behind Opal, my arms around her waist. I lean in and kiss her on the cheek just as the shutter clicks. “This is so nice,” she says, leaning back against me while my family scatters and bickers. Across the glen, someone releases 35 paper lanterns and my father dips my mother again, this time drawing wolf whistles from the Acorns. Opal smiles and kisses me on the cheek. “I love being here with your family,” she says. “I love being included.”

I swallow, a nervous lump forming in my throat as a thought takes shape. “What if it was your family, too,” I say.

She looks up at me, puzzled, so I kiss her again. “This past year with you…I already feel like you’re my family. Opal Whittaker, I love you. You love me. Oscar loves me.” Opal’s eyes dance in the light and her mouth works up and down, like she’s trying to find something to say.

I spin her around and drop to my knees on the forest floor. The creek bubbles behind us as the sky lights up with the flaming lanterns. “Will you marry me?” I squeeze her hands in mine and watch as her breath comes faster in little white puffs in the cold winter air. A smile breaks out across her face, one that reaches all the way to her green eyes. “Marry me and stay with me in this crazy town. Marry me and be my everything, Precious.”

“Oh, Archer,” she whispers, biting her lip. “Yes.” She starts crying what I can only hope are happy tears as I stand up from the pine needles. I scoop her into my arms and twirl her around as she laughs. When I finally set her on the ground, it’s my turn to start a kiss that makes my family blush.

This time, when I kiss Opal, my mouth makes a promise that my whole being intends to keep. Mine, it says. Us. Together. Always.

Continue the series with Fletcher and Thistle’s story in The Planner and the Player.