(BL)Alpha Made-Chapter 534: Family is family
Amir’s grandmother and grandfather spoke next. It wasn’t anything long, but it was sincere. They spoke of how they had known Maxwell for a long, long time. How he had always been a good brother to Amir, their precious grandson, and how Andrew had snuck up on all of them like a viper.
However, the poison wasn’t poison when he struck, and instead he made everyone fall in love with him. Andrew had quickly become another grandson that they had never expected to have, and how happy they were to see Amir’s family grow bigger and brighter. How excited they were to see what warmth and life Andrew would bring to the family going forward.
It was a sweet speech and Andrew and Maxwell gave them warm hugs when they were done.
Then, Kim and Jenny went up to speak. Andrew braced himself for things to get emotional. Kim started swinging.
"When Andrew’s Mom came to me, her closest in age cousin, and told me she was pregnant, the worst case scenario kept going through my head. She was young, she was driven, but she was also an omega in a branch family that would never accept this outcome. She didn’t want to marry into the family that had done this, and she was begging me for my help." Kim started. Kim sighed heavily. "Being the kind and gracious person that I was, I asked her what she needed. What she needed was an alibi, and a way to raise her child the way she wanted." Kim glanced towards Andrew.
"Even I didn’t know how things would end. I had my own worries at the time, but Dianna was never one to give up. If she was here now, I think she would get along very, very well with the man that Andrew has chosen as his partner. Both are cut from the same cloth, just different sides. Where Dianna weaponized how others viewed her as soft and sweet, Maxy fights against how others view him." Kim’s eyes sparkled as she chuckled. "I feel we have all echoed how strong Maxy is, and how wonderful that is, and I am just glad that Maxy has found someone like Andrew who is able to care for him in return. Andrew is lucky to have such a wonderful partner who will let him care for him." Kim said with a grin.
Jenny took over after that.
"We are so glad to see the young boy who we helped change diapers of, who grew up in the cramped offices that we could afford at the time without complaint, has found someone so lovely to be with. We’re also so glad that his family has welcomed Andrew in with open arms, protecting him as if he is their own long before they got married. We look forward to the vow renewals, boys." Jenny said with a grin, stepping back so that Maxwell’s parents could take center stage.
Luis and Thomas smiled at the boys, getting up and pulling out what appeared to be several pages of a speech from Thomas’ jacket pocket. Luis spoke first, ever the hostess.
"We first wanted to thank everyone for coming and joining us on this very special day. Our youngest, our only child that took after me, has finally tied the knot. If you had asked us only three years prior, we would have been ringing our hands with worry over something so simple." Luis turned and smiled at Andrew and Maxwell. "However, our worries have been put to the side by the simple way that Max and Andy are together. We will be the first to admit we...wanted the best for our sons. Still do." Luis said, clearing her throat. Her eyes sparkled. "But Andrew coming into our lives taught us something simple, something we hadn’t needed to know prior. Good things come to those who wait." Luis told the room.
"And boy, did we wait." Thomas said, rolling his eyes in exaggeration. Maxwell’s hand clenched Andrew’s under the table. "I joke. Max knew what he needed, we were the ones who were anxious. There was no reason for us to be so anxious, however. Max knew what he wanted, he was just being careful. He didn’t want to scare Andrew away with our crazy family." Thomas said, laughing. "Honestly though, what a pleasure it was to be introduced to Andrew. We were worried, of course. Parents always worry about their children. We were cold to him, but Andrew didn’t even flinch. He took our harshness as a right, and then we got to witness first hand how he treated our son and well...the rest is history." Thomas’ eyes were bright. Luis smiled.
"We are so thankful for the family that helped raise Andrew into the man that he is today, and that Andrew was willing to take in and love our stubborn, but sweet boy. Thank you everyone for attending today, and Max, you could have not brought a better man into the family." Luis told her son, smiling. Maxwell gave a soft breath, smiling before he got up and hugged his parents. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
May and Ford were next, and they looked pretty anxious. Ford in particular. Andrew wished them luck quietly while they left.
"Hello. I feel like most of you may know us, but we are May and Ford Gates, mother and father of Rose and Richard Gates, and the second set of parents to Andrew Beckett, formerly Andrew Knox." May started, sounding rather formal. "We are thankful for everyone’s warm wishes for our adoptive second son and his new groom. We honestly could not be more proud." May said, her voice steady.
"We’ve known Andy since he was just a little guy." Ford started. "When he would get into fights with Rose about who was bigger, and get tuckered out and fall asleep in Ricky’s room all snuggled up like a pile of puppies. They were cute days, and ones that are very near and dear to my heart." Ford told the crowd.
"It’s safe to say that Andy didn’t get his cooking abilities from his Mom, however. He got those from me, so, you’re welcome on the decent casserole Maxy." May told him and got a few chuckles from the crowd. "Poor Dianna could burn water. It was a damn miracle that the apartment never burnt down." May said, shaking her head. Andrew grinned at the reminder. It was a miracle.
"However, it was because we lived next door to each other for Andrew’s earlier years that we got to know the kind, sweet, and I think everyone is forgetting to mention, stubborn young man that Andrew is today. He only looks sweet and loveable to hide that once Andrew is convinced of something, he won’t give up. He won’t let go. He will hold on until the bitter end." Ford said, his voice shaking slightly. "Max will not find a better partner in Andrew. He cares so deeply for those around him, and for Max himself. Kim said it earlier, but I just know that if Dianna was here, she would adore Max." Ford had to cut off, emotional.
He had been the one closer to Andrew’s Mom, after all.
May reached out to her husband, wrapping her arm around his shoulder, protecting him. Hugging him. Ford took a moment to compose himself.
"We wanted to thank you all for being here and celebrating with our family, both blood and the ones we’ve chosen, and also speak a bit about the person who couldn’t be here, but should have been. The one who truly helped shape the man that Andrew became, and who was a dear, dear friend to not just Ford and I, but several other people in this room. Who taught Andrew to leave his trace everywhere. Who gave him the endless kindness that he has, and the vindictive aura that hopefully, none of you have ever experienced." May said, smiling as her eyes were wet.
"Dianna," Ford began, his voice cracking, "was a friend I truly never expected to make. Her and I shared a soft spoken voice, a love for plants, and a devotion to our children that I only found in my lovely wife." Ford said, his voice dripping with sadness. "Every day I miss picking up the phone and being able to speak to her, hear her words of comfort, and have a thoughtful ear listening to any complaints I have. Whether it’s about soil quality or how the kids are fighting, it was always nice to hear from her." Ford said. He was choking up, struggling to get the words out, but he wasn’t going to stop.
"When we heard that Dianna was sick, it was like all of our worlds stopped. We had no idea what to do, what we could do. We wanted to rally the troops, get her help, but when we heard it was already too late for help. Then we had to watch our sweet, kind Andy shrivel each and every day. Dianna knew, knew how this diagnosis would hurt her son, and so she tried her best to hide it from him until she couldn’t. She let us know years in advance, once she trusted us, what would happen." It was a jolt to hear it. Andrew hadn’t known that, and it seemed that May and Ford had planned to keep it that way.
May gave Andrew an apologetic look over her shoulder while Maxwell squeezed his hand.
"Dianna had a big heart, you see. A really, really big heart. She’d started her life as a florist, similar to what I did for work, and turned into a multi-million, several business wielding boss woman because someone dared to play with her heart." Ford said, the old steel of anger making his voice sound more stable and less wobbly. "We never knew about how big her businesses were, just that they were big enough that they were causing problems for the people who doubted her and that she was making sure Andrew was well taken care of when she was gone." Ford let out a pained laugh.
"The one thing she forgot to account for was how much Andy is just like her." May said with a chuckle. "Andrew was filled with so much rage right after her passing that while we were grieving, we had to talk him out of murder." May said, glancing at Andrew with a fond look. "I knew that he wouldn’t get away with it in his current state, so I had to talk him down. Little did I know he was going to flee the country for several years and cut all ties with everyone." It was the first time it had been brought up. Andrew felt his face warm.
Everyone else had been dancing around it.
Ford gave a soft chuckle.
"He even missed Rose’s wedding to Jordan because he was so lost in his anger." Ford told the crowd. "I truly believe that without Max coming into his life, we might never have seen Andrew again. I wouldn’t have known what to say to Dianna when I got to the afterlife if that had been the case." Ford smiled fondly at Andrew and Maxwell.
"You two compliment each other." May said. "So much so that it’s almost eerie sometimes. It’s like you two found the missing pieces each of you needed, and I know that Dianna is looking down on you, proud of the man that you have become, because I am." May said, sniffing. "I am so proud that you are so strong and resilient and you deserve so much happiness, Andy. I am glad that Max is capable and willing to give that to you. We want to wish the new couple love, laughter, and a home that never loses your sparkles." It was hard watching May get emotional. It only made it harder for Andrew.
He sniffed, wanting to get to his feet since he thought that their speech was over. However, May shook her head slightly and Andrew grew confused. He watched as Ford composed himself further while May stepped back slightly. Nearby, but not at the podium anymore.
What was going on?
