Patrick Thirteen: Best Day

Music Track - Play when it shows up if you'd like to listen

~ Late Knight Simmer ~

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"Oh my god, Katya, you look beautiful."

I was in the bridal suite applying makeup when I heard a familiar, deep, throaty voice near me that filled my heart with love, a voice I hadn't heard in years. These past few months, I had been trying to find him, with the help of a private investigator, mainly because all the other contact information I had for him was obsolete. He had moved out of the house where he raised us, and along with the move, he had gotten a different phone number as well. It turns out he had moved to France. I didn't know why he hadn't called me at least, since out of all my sisters, I was the one who got along with him the most. I turned around to look at him, the first man who had ever been important in my life, my father, Jack Monroe.

He was wearing a black suit and shoes, a shiny blue shirt underneath, and a loose fitting necktie. His hair was still as blonde as I remember, some soft wisps of it falling across his forehead, while others graced the side of his face. He looked fit, and despite the fine lines on his face, he hadn't changed very much since I last saw him. I hurried towards him and threw my arms around his neck, feeling the roughness of the short stubble he had rub against my cheek. I remembered how I used to giggle as a little girl when he'd hug me because his face would always tickle mine.

"Daddy, I've missed you so much."

"So have I, Princess."

The familiarity of him calling me by my childhood nickname almost made me cry. I laid my head on his shoulder and hugged him tightly, hoping this wasn't just a dream, that he was really here, on my wedding day. Despite me being extremely happy that he was here, there was a little nagging part of me that wanted to know why he had disappeared so suddenly. Did he want to run away from his family? I mean, I know we were all grown, and living our own lives, leaving him free to live his own life, but why go so far away, and not keep in touch?

"Why didn't you tell me you were moving to France, Daddy?"

My father released his hold on me, took my hand, and led me to one of the couches in the suite. We sat down on it and he looked at me with his blue eyes, smiling at me. He looked sad underneath his smile, and I worried for him.

"After you moved out, I didn't know if you would want to hear from me. I hoped that you leaving and starting your own life would bring you happiness, so I let you be. I tried staying in that house where your mother and I divorced, that house where I tried raising the three of you to the best of my abilities, where Ephemera and I would get in nasty fights, where I slept alone in the bed your mom and I used to share. I know that sounds terrible, and I'm not saying you girls were bad memories, I'm saying I couldn't walk anywhere or look at anything in that house without thinking and worrying about your mother. Even though we split, I still love her, and I know I always will, but I couldn't live with her and let her be around you girls with the way she was behaving. She was destructive, and I did not want that example for you and your sisters. I had to choose between the woman I loved, and what was best for my children, and I picked my children. It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make. I stayed in the house for a year, trying to convince myself that time would heal everything, and it might have been true, had Sandra not shown up in the state she did."

My father looked away from me, and rubbed the bridge of his nose like he was trying not to cry. Sandra was my oldest sister, and she also took it hard when Mom and Dad divorced. She turned to drugs to cope, and she took all kinds, prescription, designer, the typical crack, meth, pretty much anything she could get her hands on. I don't know where she got the money to buy as much as she did, but it's possible she just stole things to pawn off, or simply just stole the drugs herself.

"Daddy, what happened to Sandra?"

"She showed up at the house one night, looking like hell, her eyes were bloodshot and she was stumbling everywhere, barely coherent. I went with her to the hospital and... no, Katya, I shouldn't be telling you this today, this is your happy day, I can tell you later, after you do the wedding stuff, I don't want to spoil anything, I've already screwed up so much as a father. I just can't mess it up again."

My heart broke for him as I heard the sadness in his voice. He held so much weight on his shoulders, and yet he was still thinking about me. I couldn't believe he thought he was a screwed up father, in my eyes, he had always been so strong and perfect, I knew he did the best he could, he just hadn't been dealt a good hand in life.

"No, Daddy, you've messed nothing up. Everything we did was our own choice. Growing up, I admired you so much. Raising children is difficult, I mean, I had some problems connecting with my own son, and I can't even imagine trying to raise three children all alone. The fact that you flew all the way back here to see me today means the world to me. A screwed up father wouldn't have lifted a finger to do that for his daughter. Daddy, it's okay."

"Katya, how did you turn out so well? You're probably the most well-adjusted out of all your sisters."

"Like I said, it was my choice. I chose to figure it out. I still see that therapist that you sent me to after prom night, and he's made me realize I compartmentalize my life too much. I thought that I needed to do everything in order. But nothing about Patrick has happened in order. He had a work related injury, and he was in a coma for three months. While he was in a coma, I found out I was pregnant. We hadn't gotten engaged, we hadn't even said I love you to each other yet. I withdrew after that, Patrick's parents helped me so much during my pregnancy, but I was in my own head a lot. When Armand was born, I was still not there mentally, and I became fixated on trivial things, and it caused me to be distant from both him and Patrick. I had been postponing the wedding because of extra baby weight, and letting it hinder me. I also wanted you to be here and I didn't know where you were, so I kept pushing the date back. It was only when I decided to actively try to find you that I realized I needed to take charge of the things I wanted to change in my life instead of just sitting back and watching my own life pass me by."

I scooted closer to my father on the couch and grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly. He was silent for a moment, but then he looked at me again.

"You are so brave, Katya. You've been through so much. I love you and I am very proud of you. Now you have a man who loves you and a baby boy. You deserve happiness, Princess. I should let you get ready, though, wouldn't want to be late for your own wedding, huh?"

"Yeah. Aren't you going to tell me what happened to Sandra?"

"Another time, Princess. This is your day. We've got plenty more time after this. Now that I have found you again, I'm not letting go."

My father gave me another hug and went to leave the room. It was still early, around 9am, and the wedding was at three in the afternoon, so I had plenty of time. I was curious about what had happened to Sandra, but I tried not to let it consume my thoughts too much.

Dad left, and then I heard a pair of heels walk in. I looked over and saw that it was Ephemera. Ever since Patrick's accident, she and I had been getting along much better. I halfway expected her to stop being nice to me once he woke up, but to my pleasant surprise, she still continued to act like a decent human being.

"Hey, sis, good morning."

"Morning, Ephemera, thanks for coming so early."

"It's no problem. Um, Katya, I have something to tell you that I've wanted to tell you for a little while now."

My face fell, and I feared the worst when Ephemera said she needed to tell me something. My first thought was that she had been with Patrick while they were at work, and that's why she had been so nice to me, because she didn't want to make me suspicious. I had been distant from him for the better part of a year while I was stuck in my own head and ignoring my own life.

"Katya? Did you hear what I said? Why do you look so freaked out?"

"No. I mean, yes, I heard you needed to tell me something."

"Lighten up, sis, it's nothing bad."

Ephemera came over to the chair in front of the mirror where I was and stood there with a strange look in her eyes. I could have sworn I saw remorse? Ephemera hoisted herself up on the vanity, with one hand on her hip, ever the drama queen. She was always showing off her figure and sometimes I felt uncomfortable around her, like I wasn't as pretty as she was.

"Katya, I've been doing some thinking, ever since I came to your house and asked to move in with you. You accepted me when you could have easily thrown me out on the street because of my attitude. Now, you've moved in with Patrick and you let me stay at your house. So... I guess what I'm trying to say is..."

Ephemera took a deep breath and appeared a little flustered. I'd never seen her at a loss for words before in my life, she oozed confidence, all the time. Finally, she spoke again.

"Katya, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for the shitty way I treated you, both when we were growing up, and when I got back into town. You're always so kind, and you didn't deserve any of what I did to you. I don't know what my problem is, and why I'm such a bitch all the time. I think honestly, you were always the good girl, and somehow it pissed me off. I realize how stupid that is now. Can you ever forgive me?"

"Oh, Ephemera, of course I do. No matter how nasty you were, you were always my sister."

Ephemera breathed a sigh of relief and laughed, a gentle, 'weight has been lifted off my shoulders' kind of laugh.

"Oh my god, Katya, thanks so much! I should have known you would forgive me, that's just the kind of person you are. You're unbelievable, little sis. All right well, I'll get out of here and stop distracting you."

"Are you kidding, Ephemera? Stay. Keep me company. I didn't make you my maid of honor just because we're related, I did it because I love you, no matter what you've done."

Ephemera helped me with the bobby pins in my hair, after I had curled it. I went into the bathroom to change into my dress, and when I came out, Ephemera had a look of shock on her face.

"Good, I hope?"

"Wow. Katya. You are gorgeous! You look amazing! Oh, why the tears?"

"You've never said anything like that to me before, it's... it's like, I don't know, it's touching, all I wanted was for my big sister to like me, and now she does."

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"Lift me up, Daddy! Lift me up!"

"Okay, are you ready? One, two, three!"

"Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!"

Armand had discovered the feeling of flying lately, so he was constantly asking me to pick him up while he grabbed onto my arm. I'd swing him back and forth a little bit, and he would giggle and laugh. It was his favorite thing in the world right now. I thought it was pretty amusing myself because Armand was like my own little weight lifting apparatus.

"Patrick! Hey! Katya's on her way down, so I think you'd best get into the sanctuary now."

After Ephemera gave me the cue that the wedding was going to be starting, I scooped up Armand and opened the large double doors, where my parents were sitting. I handed Armand off to Dad and took my place at the front next to the altar. Shortly after that, Ephemera and Emmanuel joined me up at the front.

The wedding march started playing, and I felt myself getting nervous. The double doors opened, and when I saw her, my breath caught in my throat. She was still very far down the aisle, but she was glowing. She looked like an angel in her beautiful ball gown style wedding dress. As Katya got closer and closer to me, I felt the world around me slowly fading until all I could see was the outline of her face, her shiny red lips, and her sapphire blue eyes. She looked amazing, and I thought she had never looked as gorgeous as she did today. Katya hugged her father when she arrived at the altar, and he sat down.

The minister took his place and told us to repeat after him, one at a time.

"I, Katya Eliza Monroe, take you, Patrick, to be my lawfully wedded husband, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part."

"I, Patrick Damien Hunt, take you, Katya, to be my lawfully wedded wife, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part."

"By the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

"Ladies and gentleman, for the first time ever, I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick and Katya Hunt!"

Cheers from everyone erupted through the sanctuary, and I had never felt anything like this before. I looked over at Armand and he had his mouth open and his hand up as if he was trying to mimic the adults who were surrounding him.

Katya had planned for the reception to be at the bar where I performed. I thought it was sweet of her to think of me. Our reception was going to be just dessert, drinks, and dancing. When we arrived, everything was beautifully set up, and my boss had even let Katya decorate some of the chairs in turquoise. We cut the wedding cake and served pieces to each other, followed by our first dance as a married couple.

Katya had chosen the song "A Moment Like This" by Kelly Clarkson because she said she had waited for a long time to find a guy she could trust, who was worth waiting for, and she had finally found it in me.

What if I told you it was all meant to be
Would you believe me, would you agree
It's almost that feeling that we've met before
So tell me that you don't think I'm crazy
When I tell you love has come here and now

A moment like this 
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this
Some people search forever for that one special kiss
Oh, I can't believe it's happening to me
Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this

Everything changes, but beauty remains

Something so tender, I can't explain

Well I may be dreaming, but till I awake

Can we make this dream last forever

And I'll cherish all the love we share

Could this be the greatest love of all

I want to know that you will catch me when I fall

So let me tell you this

Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this

After our dance, Jack came up to me with a smile on his face. Katya was dancing with Ephemera and my mother, having the time of her life.

"Patrick, I wanted to thank you for showing Katya what happiness is. I've never seen her like this before. I'd also like to give you this, my wedding gift to you."

I opened the envelope and found two plane tickets to Paris, along with $1,000. My eyes got big and I was rendered speechless, being able to do nothing but stare stupidly at Jack.

"Th- thank you, so much. This is more than I could have ever asked for."

"Don't mention it, Patrick. You're part of my family now, and I'll love you like a son."

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I will be posting Patrick and Katya's wedding photos tomorrow. Keep an eye out for them.

~ Late Knight Simmer ~