Chapter 67
Tyler laughed as everyone started laughing, egging her on. She held up the cake to Kevin’s mouth and as he took a bite, she shoved the whole thing into his face.
Kevin laughed with cake all over his face, "You’re asking for it, Tyler."
Tyler was laughing so hard that she missed Kevin reaching for a handful of cake but Sonja didn’t. "Tyler! Look out!"
Tyler looked up at Kevin just in time to get a face full of cake. She couldn’t stop laughing and tried to get some of the cake off Kevin’s face. She kissed him, licking some of the icing. "Oh, this is so good."
Kevin did the same to her, "Oh, yeah! Sweet."
Denise handed the two towels and they helped each other clean off the cake. When they were done, they picked up the glasses of champagne and Brian joined them.
"I’m not going to make this long," said Brian. "Congratulations to Kevin and Tyler. Here’s to a long life filled with love and happiness."
After the toast, Kevin said, "Tyler and I want anyone who wants to stick around. We’re going to go change into some more comfortable clothes so we can come back and party with you."
"What about the garter and the bouquet?" asked Fiona.
"We’ll do that before we go change," said Tyler.
Kevin said, "Give us about ten minutes."
Kevin took Tyler’s hand and led her though the crowd. He had noticed that his mother was missing from the crowd when they had cut the cake and toasted.
Anne was sitting by herself at the table set up for Kevin and Tyler. Kevin knelt beside his mother and Tyler sat on the other side. She took each of their hands in hers as Kevin gave her a kiss.
"Mama, are you okay?"
"I’m fine, son. I was just thinking about your father and our wedding day."
Kevin squeezed her hand as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Tyler spotted a gift on the table and asked, "Is this it, Mom?"
"Yes," said Anne as she handed it to Tyler.
Tyler took it and gave it to Kevin. "’Boo’, this is your wedding present. I hope you like it."
Kevin opened the gift to find a picture frame. There was one big picture in the middle surrounded by several smaller pictures. All of the pictures were of Kevin and his dad throughout Kevin’s life; one when Kevin was just born, one of all three of the boys and their father at the cabin, Kevin in his football uniform, and one from his high school graduation. It was the middle picture though that brought tears to Kevin’s eyes. It was a picture of Tyler and his dad with him at the very first Backstreet appearance in Orlando before they ever went to Europe.
Kevin looked at Tyler in disbelief. "How?"
"Your mom helped me find all the pictures but the one in the middle is one of the most special to me too. It was the only time I ever met your father and it was just before he died. You had introduced us that day."
Kevin stared at the pictures as Anne said, "While I was looking for those pictures, it brought up a lot of memories of your father. Kevin, your father would be extremely proud of the man you have become."
Kevin had Tyler’s hand in his and he gave it a squeeze as he said, "Thank you, Mama. You know, it was so hard today not having him here."
"He was here, son," said Anne as he brushed Kevin’s hair back in that motherly way. Then she looked at Tyler. "Tyler, Jerald would have welcomed you with open arms and would have been proud to call you his daughter. You have definitely stolen Kevin’s heart and I can understand why."
Softly, Tyler said, "Thank you."
Kevin gave his mother a hug and then moved around to Tyler. He was still kneeling as he took both of her hands in his. "I’m proud to call you my wife. Every day, I find a new reason to love you."
Tears were rolling down Kevin’s cheeks as Tyler said softly, "I’m proud to be your wife, Kevin, and proud to call you my husband."
Tyler was crying now too and Kevin asked, "You’re thinking about your parents too, aren’t you?" Tyler nodded her head ‘yes’. Kevin wiped the tears and said, "Howie told me about the wreck that killed your parents. I wish I could change things for you."
"Just like I wish I could change things and have your father here. Kevin, your mother is right. All three of them are here, watching out for us."
Kevin put his hands on the sides of Tyler’s face and leaned in to kiss her. "You’re right, baby. I love you."
"I love you too."
As the couple kissed, Brian interrupted them. "Kevin.... it’s been more than ten minutes and there are some guests that want to leave."
Without looking away from Tyler, Kevin said, "Okay, we’re coming."
Tyler and Kevin both gave his mother a kiss and then headed to where everyone was gathered for the bouquet and garter. AJ, Nick, and Howie were front and center and by this time, AJ was fairly toasted.
AJ said, "Hey...hurry up with the garter."
"The bouquet first," said Tyler. "Okay, all you single women. Who’s next?"
Tyler turned her back to everyone and looked at Kevin. He whispered, "Sonja is over your left shoulder. You’ll have to throw it hard. She’s behind everyone."
With all she had, Tyler tossed the bouquet over her shoulder in the direction Kevin had said. She turned around in time to see Sonja catch it.
AJ said, "Come on, Kevin! Let’s see those legs."
Kevin started to pull up his pants legs when Nick said, "NOT YOURS!!"
"Be patient," said Tyler. "It’s not like you haven’t seen them before."
Jerald set a chair beside Tyler so she could sit down but instead, she set her foot on Kevin’s knee as he knelt in front of her. As she lifted her dress, AJ and Nick started with the ‘cat calls’ and all Lex and Fiona did was roll their eyes. Kryss and Sonja had to laugh at them.
Kevin slipped the black and blue garter off Tyler’s leg. Then he stood and turned his back to toss it over his shoulder. AJ, Howie, and Nick were positioned to push Brian to the front and he caught the garter.
Putting his arm around Tyler, Kevin said, "Tyler and I are going to change and we’re coming back to party."
AJ said, "Are you coming STRAIGHT back or are you going to take a while?"
"Wouldn’t you like to know?" teased Tyler.
Kevin motioned for Howie and Brian to join him. They stepped off from the others so they could talk. Kevin said, "I want all the families to come out here for breakfast around eight in the morning. We really should let everyone know what’s going on with Tiffany and get them to help us out."
Brian said, "Sure. I’ll let everyone know."
"Howie, we need you to take the letter and the legal document to the police for us tomorrow."
"No problem, Kev."
With that taken care of, Kevin and Tyler found Jerald and Stephanie and asked if Tiffany could stay several days with them since she was going to stay in Kentucky with them. Both agreed that they would love to have Tiffany with them and Kevin promised to explain everything to them in the morning.
Kevin and Tyler said goodnight to Tiffany, Courtney, and Annie along with the other guests that were leaving before heading to their room to change clothes.
