Born to Make You Smile

THIRTY-EIGHT

That Saturday, we made our way to Gavin’s parents’ house to celebrate his birthday. I bought a brand-new designer dress and strappy sandals for the occasion. Running my hand along my flared navy-blue skirt, I let out a nervous sigh. Gavin reached for my hand while my stomach tumbled. He wanted to announce our engagement tonight. His family wasn’t even aware we were together yet, and I wasn’t sure how they would react. They were nice people. I’d met them many times at various functions and parties, but Gavin warned me that it might take some time for them to accept our relationship.

His parents, Elizabeth and Alexander, lived north of the city in Aurora. Their home was very large and extravagant without being pretentious. The grand staircase and the floor-to-ceiling windows were striking, but the small details made it feel personal. The house had a whimsical uniqueness with its gray- and-white tiled floors, archways, and modern wallpaper. Each room had pops of random colors—reds, pink, and blues that came together in harmony. Gavin's family was definitely on the wealthy side. I believe his father used to own and manage several distribution companies before he retired.

Elizabeth, or Gran as everyone called her, was fashionable in a pink Chanel suit. She had curly white hair and always wore a stream of pearls.

Appetizers were served, and champagne was opened with a loud echoing pop. Everyone enjoyed a glass and cheered with birthday wishes for Gavin. Then he got everyone's attention with a fork chiming against his glass.

“Hello, everyone,” he started, his voice resonant. “I wanted to thank you for being here today to celebrate my forty-seventh year on this earth.”

“You miserable old git!” his brother, Jared, shouted.

“Ahh you’re not far behind, you dirty sod!” Gavin retorted.

Siblings . I snickered.

“But all joking aside, I’d like to make a very important announcement.”

He cleared his throat and reached for my hand. My heart trembled.

“I’d like to raise a toast. To Grace. My everything. My future wife. I cannot wait to marry you, love.”

My eyes moved around the room as the many stunned faces raised their glasses. After the cheers died down, Gavin’s mother came around to me.

“Congratulations, my dear. Let me see.” She took my hand and peered at my ring. “Oh, very nice. But I must admit, I’m a little surprised at the news. It seems very sudden. Are you sure you’re ready for this kind of responsibility at your age? To be a stepmum to my granddaughters?”

“Yes,” I said with a firm nod. “Absolutely. As you know, I’ve always been a part of Charlotte and Mackenzie’s lives. They’re very special to me, and I love them with all my heart.”

“Well,” she said with an inhale, “you clearly make my son and the girls very happy. Welcome to the family.”

She wrapped her frail arms around me.

It was comforting to know his mother approved of our union, at least she appeared to. Others came around to offer their well-wishes; however, I noticed his eldest sister, Lorraine, didn’t say much to us, offering a quick congratulations with a tight-lipped smile.

After a wonderful catered meal and dessert, Gavin guided me upstairs and gave me a tour of his childhood bedroom. His room was covered in blue-and-gold-patterned wallpaper, simplistic and tidy. It looked to be untouched since he’d last lived in it. His single bed was still there, complete with navy-blue quilt, white accent pillows, and a gray bunny on top.

“Oh, it's Bunnikins!” he said excitedly. He picked up the bunny, and it flopped in his hands, visibly missing most of its stuffing.

I giggled loudly. “Bunnikins?”

“I used to snuggle with him while my mother read me The Velveteen Rabbit back in England.”

I smiled, trying to imagine him as a little boy, snuggling in bed with Gran while she read to him. “That’s so sweet.”

There were several photos of him in wood frames on the dresser. One of him standing with his brother and sister by a large window. He looked young, four or five years old. A mop of wavy dark hair on his head. I picked it up to analyze it.

“That was in London. At our old house. The house where I was born.”

“Ahh.” I nodded. “When’s the last time you went back to London?”

He looked up, deep in thought. “I want to say before dental school. I went back after I graduated from McMaster. I used to go just about every summer when I was younger. I can’t wait to take you and the girls.”

“That’d be wonderful.”

With a smile, I fixed his tie. “I’ll meet you downstairs. I just have to use the bathroom.”

When I was done using the toilet, I walked past the primary bedroom. One of the white French doors was ajar. Voices drifted from inside. The low voices of Gavin and Lorraine. I hid myself as I listened to the conversation.

“What kind of bloody midlife crisis stunt is this, Gavin, my dear,” said Lorraine. “You can't be serious. She is far too young for you.”

“She’s almost twenty-four,” Gavin said.

“Come on now! She's Brenda’s age, for Christ’s sake. Can you imagine your niece with someone double her age?”

“I know it’s not conventional. We didn’t plan this, but it happened. We’re madly in love.”

“What could you possibly have in common?” she asked.

“Everything. We’re friends. We have fun together. We make each other laugh.”

She scoffed. “What ever happened to Michelle? She was so good for you. You had to go and give her up. Turn her in for a young tart.”

“She's not a tart, Lorraine,” Gavin said sternly. “Please, don’t call her that. My fiancée’s name is Grace. And I didn't love Michelle. I love Grace. I want Grace to be my wife. She’s my world. Not to mention, she loves the girls like her own, and they love her. Dearly.”

Lorraine let out a deep sigh. “You’ll see, I guess. When this all backfires and your little wifey runs off with half your hard-earned money.”

“Please,” Gavin said with a huff. “She’d never do such a thing.”

“How do you know? She's so young. Surely, she’ll wake up and change her mind one day. Remember. It’s not only your reputation on the line but our family’s as well.”

There was a long pause, then Lorraine added, “What would Judy think of this?”

She kept pushing and pushing. I didn’t doubt Gavin’s love for me, but all the things his sister was saying. To bring up Judy. If I were in Gavin’s place, it would be difficult not to have second thoughts.

“Judy isn't here anymore. My life has changed,” he stated firmly. “I know you’re concerned, but you must trust me. Trust that I know what I’m doing here. Grace and I share something extraordinary. We not only connect in every single way, but her late mother and Judy were best friends, and there’s a unifying bond between us. A true understanding of the soul. She’s the only one who truly gets what I’ve been through.”

Tears brewed in my eyes at his touching words. We did share something extraordinary. I was so thankful for Gavin in my life.

“All right,” Lorraine said, sounding defeated. “Clearly, you are set in your thinking. What else can I say?”

“I don’t need you to say anything. I just want you to support me and my decision to marry this wonderful woman.”

She released a hum. “Fine. You’re a grown man. I can’t stop you. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“You’ll see. In time,” Gavin said softly. “You'll see how incredible Grace is for our family. How much our love will prevail.”

“Let’s pray to God you’re right,” Lorraine said.

Upon hearing the clicking of heels coming closer, I quickly darted into the bedroom next door. I waited until Lorraine descended the stairs, then I emerged to see Gavin seated on the bed, looking at the floor, his hands braced on his legs.

“Hey,” I said from the doorway. “You okay?”

“Grace, love. Where did you come from?”

“I was outside the door.” I walked in, taking a seat next to him on the bed.

“The whole time? Please don’t tell me you heard me and my sister.”

“Yes. But I’m so glad I did. You really stuck up for me there. For us.”

“Of course I did.” He wrapped his arms around me, then kissed the top of my head. “I don’t have one single doubt in my mind about us. And I don’t want you to worry about Lorraine. She’ll come around. Hopefully. But even if she never does, we know who we are and what we have together.”

He squeezed my body tighter, and I released a blissful sigh. Then he pulled back and gazed into my eyes.

“She doesn’t realize how much of an impact you’ve had on us over the years,” he said with a warm grin. “How much you’ve helped. Sure, I had my family to lean on after Judy’s passing, but for the most part, I was on my own. I doubted myself. My ability to parent as a single father. And it’s been painfully difficult. But with you around, the weight of the world is lifted. I feel whole in a way I’ve never felt before. You mean everything to me, Grace. I truly believe that you’re my soulmate. And while we were brought together in love by unfortunate circumstances, we managed to push through, and heal. We were able to find true happiness in each other’s arms.”

***

About a month later, I watched from the backyard as the excavator demolished my mother’s house.

“Grace,” Gavin said, his hand on my shoulder. “We don’t have to watch this. Just come inside.”

“I need to see it.”

“You’re sure?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

Many tears were shed as I watched the roof and walls come down, but I knew it had to be done. Several hours later, the workers took a break for the day before getting to the basement level. Gavin was in the garden, and the girls were hanging out, playing on the hammock I’d set up between the trees.

I went to the front, and I noticed an Asian family, a man, woman and their daughter, standing on the sidewalk, a safe distance from the demolition. I wondered if they were the new owners. The couple looked to be in their midthirties, their daughter around Mackenzie’s age. And when the woman turned, I noticed a significant bump filling out her pink sundress. She had to be at least six months along.

“Hello,” said the woman, waving at me excitedly. “I’m Kim!”

“Hi,” I said, waving back. “I’m Grace.”

“You live here?” She pointed at Gavin’s house. Our house.

“Yes. With my fiancé and his two daughters.”

“Great! We’re the Kwaks. We bought the place next door. Well, what’s left of it.”

I smiled politely, deciding not to share the details of my history quite yet. I didn’t want to make them feel bad. Or God forbid, start to cry.

Kim introduced me to her husband, Ben, and their ten-year-old daughter, Violet.

She caressed her belly. “And this little guy is due in two months.”

“Congratulations!” I cheered.

“Thanks!” She motioned a thumb to Ben. “We’re living with his parents until the house is done.” Then she leaned into my ear. “Let me tell you. Never again. ”

I chuckled. “Come. Let me introduce you to my family.”

It felt so good to finally say that.

The Kwaks followed me to the backyard, and I introduced them to Gavin, Charlotte, and Mackenzie. The three girls ran off to the hammock, and soon, I overheard them chatting and giggling.

“Seems like they’re already getting along,” Kim said with a pleased smile. “I’m so happy. Violet was really nervous about moving and making new friends.”

My heart warmed.

“We can let them play and hang out. In the meantime, did you want to come in for a coffee or tea or lemonade?” I asked, gesturing to the patio door. “I made a fresh jug this morning.”

“Oh. Um.” She glanced at her husband with a frown. “We’re supposed to be heading back to his parents’, but we can stay for a bit, right, Ben? For lemonade? Let the girls play outside?”

She nodded encouragingly, and her husband agreed.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “God, do I need a break. I can’t go back there just yet.”

We continued to talk as we sipped lemonade. Kim was a lawyer, and Ben was an orthopedic surgeon who worked nearby at Sunnybrook Hospital. They were very excited to build their dream home, but said that if they could do it all again, they wouldn’t have moved while Kim was pregnant, claiming it was one huge headache.

A new home would be built for this wonderful and sweet family. A safe home. While it was painful to see my mother’s house demolished, and mourn all the memories we shared there, I felt a sense of peace. I was finally ready to move on. Ready for the future.

New neighbors. New friends. New beginnings.