Swift as a Coursing River (LGBT+) | ✓

39. River delta

Sandra's wedding takes place on a Saturday halfway through June. It's been a long time coming: two years of engagement, about equally as long in planning, a lot of stress, and the collaboration of both sets of parents. But the day is here and whatever happens now, this will be a day they should enjoy because there is only one of it.

Sandra looks radiant. She and Luis opted for traditional outfits, so she's wearing a white wedding dress, complete with veil and tiara for her princess dreams, and Luis wears a classic dark blue suit with an off-white dress shirt. A hairdresser does both of their hair and while they hired a professional photographer, Edwin can't help but sneak a picture on his phone when they are looking at each other, a quiet joy and awe on their face.

Ellen nudges him and looks pointedly at his phone. "I know," he mutters.

"It makes it feel more real," Luis's mother Sofía says, snapping a picture of her own.

"Exactly," Edwin agrees, relieved.

It is unreal, that his oldest daughter is marrying. She was already an adult with a house and a job of her own, with a steady relationship. A marriage license won't change any of that, except they are spending a lot of money on a single day and will be wearing rings — though knowing Sandra, she might lose hers or she'll stop wearing it in fear of losing it.

Still, it feels like an end and a beginning. A momentous occasion, eliciting a multitude of emotions that Edwin can't fully grasp or name. Pride, love, melancholy, joy. It reminds him of his own marriage to Ellen, 32 years ago. It reminds him of the divorce, too, but only a little because Ellen is standing right next to him and she's still the most important person in his life. He wishes Sandra and Luis the same steadiness and trust, the same deep knowledge that you can lean on this other person, no matter what life throws at you.

The official wedding ceremony is in the town hall, with only the closest family and friends. Ellen and Sofía are witnesses and Ellen holds a short speech. Edwin's parents sit on the other side of the isle, but Edwin has intently avoided them, sticking close to Vincent and Ellen and his daughters. It would have been impolite not to invite them to the ceremony, when they are still Sandra's grandparents and she has reasons to love them (and so does he), but he doesn't want to deal with their comments anywhere near Sandra and Luis. They deserve a day free of drama, and comments there will be, because Edwin has not even warned them he would bring a date, that he has a steady relationship with a man now.

Maybe not the wisest decision, but he couldn't bring himself to bring it up and deal with it, so it will be a trial by fire. The upside is that he has Vincent at his side, that they can't ignore his sexuality when Vincent is right there and undeniably gay. So for now, he pointedly looks ahead at his daughter, his beautiful daughter and her now-husband and his ex-wife, and he squeezes back when Vincent squeezes his hand in support.

They leave the town hall in procession: first the guests, who wait outside to cheer and throw flower petals, then the parents, and finally the bride and groom. Vincent leaves arm in arm with Tamara, while Edwin walks with Ellen. Sandra is smiling wide, and Luis looks dazed. They are swept up in a wave of congratulations and Edwin seeks out Vincent. He will need to do the rounds, too, but he wants one more moment of respite.

Vincent is watching the bridal couple and he asks: "Would you ever want to marry again?"

"I don't know," Edwin says, slowly. "I think I'm old enough now that I don't need that validation. It's just an expectation. Do you want to?"

"Not particularly. For all those same reasons. Marriage is a patriarchal institution and all that jazz." He shoots Edwin a lopsided smile and Edwin shakes his head, amused.