It's a nice day to start again

 Boone felt like the odd man out since his best men were all fathers with infants. 

"Now don't make that sound like a bad omen," his brother Alfie smoothed down the lapels of his dark suit as they got ready for the big moment.

"I'm not," Boone said. He was amazed Rafe showed up for the wedding, but there he was with Ruby and baby Colin. It was a full house at his adopted mother's home. Actually, his dad lived there now, but he'd been there since Alfie's wedding, which, according to his brother, was the longest record of some kind. Their dad didn't have lasting relationships until now.

And his real mother was here, along with an adopted brother that he was slowly getting used to. Or was it that Naoki was getting used to him and Alfie?

Boone was happy his old friend Phil was a best man too. They just didn't get to hang out like they used to. Yes, all this togetherness left him with a big smile. He knew Maddie was at ease, too. 

It was such a warm day. In fact, hot. And the lawn looked lovely. It was festive. Of course, Maddie was the main attraction. 

It wasn't long until there was music. Then food and dancing. Naturally, the toast came. Boone couldn't remember a thing, other than that he was happy. Very happy to be married to Maddie. 

Of course, when he danced with the mother who had raised him, she said, "I think you've changed."

"Changed?" Boone laughed, "What do you mean? I've changed."

"Oh, you've grown up. Maddie has let you grow up into a very fine young man," she smiled.

Boone could barely hold in a laugh. It felt as if this was just the start. It wasn't long until he danced with his real mother. Of course, she was sobbing. She told him she couldn't help to be so emotional. 

He wasn't sure how to console her. Boone kept smiling and said he was glad she was here. Finally, after dancing with Zoey, he found his way back to Maddie. They hugged each other close.

"Are you ready to go to Disney World?" He whispered in her ear.

She nodded with a smile. This was the first time they would be out of state together.

This is the day

 Clark would breeze into his daughter's life and be that sweet family commercial, and he'd go back to his life. Which wasn't nearly as exciting as anyone might think. Of course, Melody had guilt-tripped him into this and he didn't want to fuss with her, because she was in Hawaii now, and it was a shock just to hear from her. After all, she'd never counted on him for anything. 

She'd somehow survived being in the Air Force, he was just a one-night stand when she came back home before shipping off somewhere. Yes, they'd known each other in History class, although at the time she thought it was English. He worked part-time at a bookstore at the time and was taking a few college classes. He wasn't much better off than that kid in Arrested Development. He'd sputter around in awkwardness. Honestly, he was in a state of awkward shock when he found out about the baby. Of course, she didn't want him to be a part of her life. She didn't have time for that. 

Even so, he wished now his mother had known. Instead, he was a technical librarian. And for a while, he'd worked for a company that set up new systems for libraries, but after a while, he settled back in Harrisburg and worked as a cataloguer at a University. Yes, he'd lead a quiet life, living with his mother, taking care of his mother, and now he had a house that was falling apart. Maybe he was just too depressed to fix it, but when the call came like a demand. After all, she didn't have time for it. And naturally, she said, "He had never done a damn thing for his daughter."

Of course, Melody hit a nerve. He teared up, thinking it was a little too late. He could hardly fight back the tears, and he certainly couldn't say anything to the mother of his only child. Of course, she had been married twice since she had Maddie. 

He didn't even know why his daughter was in Nebraska, and he wouldn't dare ask why Maddie wasn't with her. He imagined she was tough. A lot tougher than he'd ever be.

But all of the past faded as soon as he saw her. He could pick her out of a crowd because Maddie made him think of his mother. Yes, she was a daddy's girl after all. 

She was crying as soon as she saw him, and he was shedding tears too. Of course, on the way back to her and her soon-to-be husband's place, where he'd stay, he found out she worked at a library. Clark was elated. "I work in a library too!"

Maddie's genuine smile was priceless. Clark was happy to meet her.

I wasn't there, but I know

 "I just don't get it?" Tammy winced. "Her father? Maddie's father is coming?" She shook her head and took another sip of Carol's truckstop coffee that might have been a little bitter, but it woke her up. She sat at Carol's dining table, where there were leftover muffins from the bakery. Muffins her own son Boone baked. She hated not eating and pulled at the oatmeal raisin, hoping she was staying healthy.

"Clearly, it will be interesting," Carol sighed. She looked tuckered to Tammy. The woman had been on her feet too much, but Carol cradled her coffee up in thought.

"I don't know why I'm so worried," Tammy fretted.

"Well, I don't think he's coming to stop the wedding?" Carol looked a bit surprised.

"I know. It's just. I hope she's OK. She-"

"What? She might need Zoloft by now?" Carol pondered.

"I don't even know if -" It made Tammy in a huff. They didn't need to go on about the state of mind of others. "A wedding takes a lot out of  you." Mainly, it was just money for Tammy. But Naoki had been watchful about it. He was always there to help her with money matters. Even if they weren't on the same page about a lot of things. Although he seemed to be happy with Tyra.

Tammy looked blankly and her future in-laws. Of course, neither were concerned about a marriage for Naoki and Tyra. She knew it was mutual. They were both concerned about how they could stay friends if those two split. But at the moment, it seemed to be working.

"Look, we'll get through it. Maddie and Boone are getting married. We'll do what we can for that father of hers. Did she even say his name?" Carol wanted to know.

"No." Not that Tammy recalled.

Giving us a yo-heave-ho

 Maddie had forgotten all about getting her flu shot. Of course, many on the library staff said it was too early, but someone caught Covid, and Maddie could just see her wedding being ruined so she got her Covid vaccine in spite of the drug store she generally went to didn't have it. 

"Don't be so worried," Boone told her. "We can only do so much."

"But your mothers have gone to so much trouble." 

She didn't want to tell him that it felt her family had done nothing. Her aunt helped decorate the wedding shower, and Junie had helped with serving punch. She knew it wasn't right. Wasn't the bride's family supposed to have the wedding?

"You know how much my mom loves weddings."  He was talking about the one who adopted him. They were to have the wedding in her backyard in Lincoln. If the weather was bad, they could move it inside.

Maddie sighed. It felt like an eternity waiting for this wedding day. But they had their license. And it was so well planned. What could go wrong?

Her phone rang.

"I hear you're getting married," Maddie was certain it was scam. She immediately hung up, but it rang back. The voice was not familiar to her at all.

"Do you still need someone to walk you down the aisle?"

Maddie winced.  Perhaps peeved. It was her father calling. Maddie thought she might faint. She didn't think he had her number.

"Well, I'll come in tomorrow. It's a Friday night affair, isn't it?"

"Um, yeah."

She wasn't sure if she even knew what he looked like anymore, but she said they would meet him at the airport. She supposed they'd have to have a sign with them to let him know who would be waiting for him.