Part 2 Prologue #3: The Big 2-0
It’s the day of my and Chantal’s birthday party and our dads are helping us set up. We kept it small, just family and close friends. Of course, Paul is coming, too; we’re not super close, but he does live here so it’s only fair to invite him. Plus with Lucy here he won’t feel too out of place.
Pops takes a look around the grounds. “I’ve got to say, I really enjoy it out here. It’s so peaceful. What do you say, David? Can’t you picture us living off the land?”
“Oh yeah, scooping up goat shit is what I’ve always dreamed of.” Dad smirks.
“Dad wouldn’t last a day here!” Chantal laughs.
“I guess we’ll stick to visiting, then,” Pops concedes. “Ah, here come Cece and Ben!”
“Happy birthday!” Cece calls out and she gives us both hugs. “How does it feel to be 20?”
“It’s awesome! I finally feel like a real adult!” Chantal replies. Even though we’re twins, sometimes I feel like Chantal is my older sister–technically she is, I guess, by a couple of minutes. She’s always been more put together, more mature, more goal-oriented.
Even though I’ve been doing a lot more planning for my future, a lot of the time I still feel like a kid cosplaying as a grownup. I keep waiting for the day everyone realizes I don’t actually know what I’m doing.
“Not me,” I say. “I still feel like I have a lot of growing up to do.”
“I don’t mean it like that,” he laughs. “You don’t suddenly become an adult one day and have it all figured out.”
“You’ll learn and grow, and make mistakes, and learn some more,” Pops adds. “Just like we all will.”
“Well, at least I know I’m not the only one,” I say.
“So, Cece, have you and Ben picked a wedding date yet?” Chantal asks.
Cece groans. “Ugh, not yet. I don’t even know when I’ll have the time to plan anything. We’re going to be traveling so much with the band this year. I don’t want to be engaged forever, but we might have to wait until things slow down.”
“Well, I’ll help out however I can,” Chantal offers. “You know how much I love planning things.”
“Paul’s sister-in-law is an event planner,” I chime in. “Maybe you can hire her, or she can give you some information on vendors and stuff.”
“Thanks, guys,” Cece says. “I need all the help I can get. It’s just so overwhelming.”
“I told you, we don’t have to do anything big,” Ben tells her, rubbing her shoulder. “I don’t think you’d want that, anyway. As long as I get to be your husband, I’m cool with whatever.”
“I know, but I want to do something. Maybe we could have a small ceremony before we leave so we don’t have to put it off.”
“Sounds good to me!” Ben agrees.
“What are you planning on doing about your last name?” Dad asks her. “You’re already double-barreled, so I’m assuming you won’t be taking on a third.”
“Well, I was planning on leaving it as it is. Ben doesn’t care if I take his and we won’t be having kids, so no need to worry about that.”
“That’s a good plan.” Dad sighs. “You know I support your decision to remain childfree, but it is a shame to think that my family name won’t be passed on.”
“I’m sorry, David,” Pops tells him. “I’m not really attached to my surname, but I know how important your heritage and your family are to you.”
“It’s okay. I have 3 beautiful children, a soon-to-be son-in-law, and a loving husband. I’m blessed no matter what their names are.”
I think about my own name. Like my Pops, I’ve never really felt attached to my last name. I was so young when my mom got married that I barely remember her being an Ayers. Besides, now that I'm no longer speaking to her, I feel even less connected to her side of the family.
Destiny and Trinity were both given their fathers’ surnames, and Chantal plans to change hers whenever she gets married. I guess I can pass the Ayers name down to my kids, but do I even want that? I guess that’s not something I have to think about quite yet.
Right now, the most pressing issue on my mind is when we're going to cut the cake.
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