#p. pascal

Their morning started before the sun even came up. Joel and Iris took Arya, their husky, on a walk. On their way home, they stopped at Starbucks. They shared a shower and some pancakes before Ellie came home from Riley’s. Sarah followed ten minutes later, kissing Iris and Joel on the cheeks. It wasn't often that they had both Miller girls under their roof simultaneously. They were on the road by nine thirty and in Providence just before noon.

When they arrived, Iris’s grandparents sat on their front porch with some great-grandchildren scattered throughout the front yard. Francine, Iris’s grandmother, got up from her swing and met them as they all piled out of the SUV. Ellie leaped into Francine’s arms, hugging her as they laughed. Ellie and Sarah followed Francine to help take the cookies out of the oven.

Eugene Iris’s grandfather greeted the couple, shaking Joel’s hand while pulling Iris into his side for a hug. It wasn’t long before they were spoiling their lunch over Francine’s cookies.

By the time supper time had arrived, there were about thirty people scattered throughout the yard to celebrate Francine’s 80th birthday. Ellie had sat with the little kids and busied herself making newspaper hats and telling them stories about Peter Pan.

Joel shared the swing bed with his eldest, Sarah, and Iris, with Arya at their feet. The atmosphere was winding down as the adults sipped their cocktails in various spots around the fire pit that Joel and Iris’s father, Dylan, had set up.

“Dad, don’t you have another gift, Grandma Francis?” Sarah looked at her dad with a big smile. Iris, too, looked at Joel, confused. They had given their gifts to Francine before supper—a spa gift card and a satin scarf they had seen at the farmers market.

Joel winked at Sarah as he climbed off the swing bed, letting Sarah take his place, and pulled Iris up. Arya stole Iris’s spot, making the latter huff. Turning her focus to Joel, she got even more confused as her family started to pull out their electronics, and Joel got down on one knee.

“Joel, stop. You're going to hurt your knee.” Iris tried pulling Joel back up to his feet, but he just laughed with Sarah and a few of her family members. The subtle sound of an acoustic guitar in the distance and the string lights in trees made the scene romantic.

“Iris, the first time we met, you sat across from me on the subway with your violin between your legs. You had on this pea soup colored scarf with a matching pea coat.” Joel stopped to lick his lips before he continued. “I remember thinking, ‘God, she's the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.’ Then our eyes met, and you gave me the perfect smile. I knew then that my life would never be the same.” Joel stood up to wipe Iris’s tears from her face.

“A month later, you met my girls, and I knew instantly when you girls ganged up on me, I found something unimaginable. Your love for them goes as deep as mine, and I couldn't ask for anything more.” Pausing, Joel wipes the tears from his eyes.

“You blessed our home when you brought home Arya as a puppy. You love my brother as if he were one of your own. You fill our house with stories when you play one of your many instruments.” Iris gazed lovingly into Joel’s eyes as she brushed his tears away.

“What I’m trying to get at is, I can’t imagine a future where you aren’t at my side. Where we go through whatever life throws our way, because with you at my side, I can get through anything.” Joel got back down on his, crackling and making many people laugh when he moaned. “Iris, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” Along the way, Joel got out the familiar ring that had sat on Lydia’s ring finger till she passed. Hands clasped over her mouth, Iris’s eyes glistened under the string lights.

“Iris, answer the poor man. My knee kills me; I'm just watching him kneel like that.” Dylan had joked to his daughter, having broken the silence.

“Please say yes, it took us weeks to pick a ring, only for Dad to realize your mother's ring was perfect.” Ellie had sat herself in Sarah’s lap during their dad’s proposal. “I also do not want to split holidays between you.” Sarah laughed at her sister's antics while she wrapped her arms around her waist. “On second thought, it would mean twice the presents.” Eugene barked a laugh at Ellie, while from a few feet away, Iris’s older brother Jax threw a pillow at her, making Arya bark.

“Joel, I cannot picture a better way to spend the rest of my life.” Iris pulled Joel to his feet, grabbing his hands in hers. “Kiss me before my family starts a riot, or we take a hit from Grandma’s cane.” Joel pulled Iris in for the requested kiss as everyone whooped and excitedly hollered.

“I was looking forward to twice the gifts, but now all I have to look forward to is using noise-canceling headphones,” Ellie grumbled as Joel nestled the ring onto Iris’s left hand. Joel stuck his hand in the middle of his back, giving his daughter the middle finger, earning a laugh from his oldest.

“I didn't think life could get any better, yet you always have ways of surprising me.” Iris cupped Joel’s face, gazing into his eyes, and pulled him in for another kiss, as their pinkies intertwined.

Joel closed the door behind Tommy and Maria after they said their goodbyes. Almost everyone had gone home from his shared condo with Iris. Tess lingered, whom he could hear whispering, and Iris’ soft laughter. Letting his bare feet guide him, he found Tess and Iris sitting towards each other, matching smiles. Joel was pretty sure they were sharing the final slice of Tiramisu that Tess had made for his birthday celebration.

His best friend and soulmate looked beautiful in the low glow of potted light. Clearing his throat, Joel went into the kitchen to the old-school coffee machine, pouring the remnants into his “Contractor’s Rock!” mug.

Tess winks at Joel as she peels herself from the stool.

“I'd best be off before Sam and Henry think you guys kidnapped me, still have to get them cold medicine before I get home.” Tess kisses Iris on the cheek as Joel sets his mug down and grabs the Tupperware Tess had used to transport her famous caprese salad. The caprese salad complemented the Italian chicken cutlets that Iris made.

After exchanging hugs and her mug for her Tupperware, Joel follows Tess to the front door, while Iris busies herself with the dishes.

“Thank you, Tess, for making my birthday a good one. The food was great, the people were decent, and you got Iris to laugh and smile.” Joel smiles at his best friend, who returned the smile as she grabs his forearm.

“It's what family does, and family takes care of each other. You, the annoying brother, I never asked for, and the girls are my family, Joel,” giving his forearm a light squeeze. “Now, why don't you enjoy your birthday, and take care of our Iris?” Tess took her purse off the hook by the door, yelling her goodbyes to Iris and Arya, the husky, slipping out as Joel said his goodbyes.

Joel strolls into the living room to the hub of the condo’s sound system that he installed as a gift to himself for his last birthday. He connects his phone through Bluetooth and hits shuffle on their shared Spotify playlist.

Iris comes in behind Joel, hooking her arms around his waist and resting her head on his back. Joel held her hands to him as he began to sway to Tom Petty’s voice.

“You gave me yet another amazing birthday and helped me forget that I’m another year closer to 50,” Joel smiles and kisses the top of Iris's head. His gaze falls on the same picture she’s been looking at. In the photo, Joel stands between Ellie, his adopted daughter, and Iris, with Sarah at the end taking the picture. “You have a way of making me forget the things I fear, because of that, I’ve never been so grateful that I saw you that day on the subway.” Turning around in Iris’ arms, Joel rests his forehead against hers, kissing the tip of her nose.

The song transitions into one by Phil Collins as Joel finds himself pulling Iris right hand into his left where he interlaces their fingers, as Iris left arm rests where Joel’s neck meets shoulders. Joel’s right arm rests on her waist as she gently strokes the back of his head. They find themselves beginning to sway around the room avoiding the glass coffee table as they go. This feels like paradise to Joel, just them, and Arya too, listening to music.

Joel hums along with the song, as Iris places her head over his beating heart.

“I’m so lucky to have the girls and you. I know for a fact you ladies bring out the best in me. I get up every morning thankful that you are at my side. I don’t know what I did to become the luckiest son-of-a-bitch alive, to have your love.” Iris laughs through her tears, as Joel smiles down at her. Her arms now circling his neck, her fingers still brushing through his hair, staring into each other's eyes.

“Joel,” Iris swallows down the lump in her throat. “You’re so very wrong, I’m the lucky one. You love me for me, including all my quirks and dark thoughts in all. While I love you for your compassionate heart, devotion to your girls, and the talent your hands behold. You warm me in the darkest of my days. It’s you who makes me strong. It’s my deepest hope that you know I love you with all my heart.” Iris pulls Joel to her and kisses him with such compassion as the song comes to an end.