In
2006 when HoneyBunch proposed marriage to me, I suggested we wait on making
wedding plans until we met each other’s grown kids. He argued that we didn’t need their
permission, but I insisted and he relented.
He
adores his sons, and I cannot breathe without mine, so if we were about to create
a new family (one that liked and loved and got along with each other), we had
to make sure we were all in agreement with our decision.
Seven
lives were at stake.
He
called his sons and asked them to come down for a visit. One was in college nearby; the other worked
in Dallas, but they came to meet me within the week. That get-together went well. They were happy
for their father and they liked me and I liked them.
Getting
my kids to cooperate was another story.
All
three knew I was dating HoneyBunch, but the marriage proposal came as a shocker. They couldn’t believe that someone actually
wanted to marry their Mama (and take her away from them).
I
lured them to a neutral location - a local restaurant where everyone would be
forced to be on their best behavior.
HoneyBunch
brought flowers and presents and charmed my daughter, daughter-in-law, and
grandson, but my two sons were not so easily bought. They eyed him like a thug in a line up.
The
girls giggled. The grandson sat in his
lap and looked up at him with big, blue eyes.
My sons waited for him to screw up.
He surprised them instead.
He
talked to the boys about his love for me and how seriously he believed in
marriage. He asked for their blessing because I would not marry him otherwise. They melted like big, soft marshmallows
and shook hands.
Seven
separate lives were about to become one family.
Rachel you did it again! You always make me smile and create a visual picture for me. I saw blue eyes and flowers. I saw your heart melt along with your sons'. Missed you!
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