Ryder had a special surprise up his sleeve for Ollie on the very last day of our trip. He’d rented a car and we’d just dropped Lorena off at the airport. She had to get back a day early for a baby shower.
We were driving down the expressway when Ollie asked, “Why are we leaving the city, and why won’t you tell me where we’re going?”
I turned around from the passenger seat. “It’s a surprise.”
“I don’t like surprises.”
“I think you’ll like this one,” I said.
Ryder looked over at me and smiled. Oddly, the entire timing of our wedding and New York trip had been planned around this one last thing.
We finally arrived in Long Island. Ryder pulled into the parking lot of the comedy club and shut off the car.
As we entered the building, Ryder spilled the beans at the ticket counter.
“Three tickets for Gilbert Gottfried, please.”
Ollie jumped. “No way! What?”
The woman at the counter quickly put a damper on our excitement. “We can’t let him in. This is an eighteen-and-over club.”
Ryder took her aside. “Listen, my son is blind, and he loves listening to Gilbert more than anything. This was supposed to be a surprise for him. We know some of the stuff isn’t appropriate for his age, but we teach him right from wrong, and listening to Gilbert just gives him so much joy. I—”
“I’m so sorry, sir. But I can’t break that rule. I’ll lose my job. And I like having a roof over my head.”
Ryder nodded. I knew he was devastated for giving Ollie false hope.
Even though Ryder was silent, Ollie could sense he was upset.
“It’s okay, Ryder. I know you meant well.”
We were back in the middle of the parking lot, but Ryder refused to get in the car. My gut told me he had no intention of backing down.
“Stay here,” he said.
I knew he didn’t want to give up on this, but I had a feeling he was going to be sorely disappointed if he tried to go back in there and convince them again.
He was gone for several minutes before he came back and took Ollie by the hand. “Come on.”
The look of excitement on Ollie’s face was priceless. Ryder snuck us through a side door before handing a wad of cash to a mysterious man. We were somewhere behind the stage in a hallway.
The three of us sat down on the ground and huddled together as the show began. I was prepared to flee if necessary, but no one ever came around to kick us out.
The sound from where we sat was crystal clear, and Ryder and I watched Ollie’s face as he laughed at all of the jokes. The trespassing was well worth it. We couldn’t see Gilbert, but that was just fine. We experienced the show just as Ollie did.***As we headed back to the city that night, Ollie was on cloud nine. I let him sit in the front next to Ryder while I sat in the back.
“This was the best week of my life,” he said.
I had no doubt he meant that. This was his first big trip away from home. Not only did he get to hear his idol perform live, but he got to be part of Ryder and me solidifying our union, which in turn made us officially a family.
Ryder turned to him. “I’m glad, buddy. Pretty sure this is the latest you’ve ever stayed up, too.”
Ollie’s next statement came seemingly out of nowhere.
“I don’t want the surgery.”
Ryder slowed the car and looked over at him. “What made you think of that right now?”
“I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately—not just right now. I figured I’d tell you.”
Ryder looked back at me through the rearview mirror. “Okay…”
“I don’t want you to think I’m ungrateful.”
“Of course not, Ollie,” I said.
“It’s not that I don’t want to see you guys. But the doctors don’t even know if the surgery will work. I’m scared to make something worse when I’m happy the way I am.”
After a few seconds of quiet, Ryder reached over and placed his hand on Ollie’s leg. “That’s all the explanation you’ll ever need to give.”***Back at the hotel, Ollie was asleep in the suite off of our room when Ryder joined me in bed.
“Today was pretty freaking amazing,” he said.
“For so many reasons.”
“Yeah. I’m really proud of Ollie for his honesty. I’ve learned so much about life from him—and from you.”
Life was so strange. One little moment could change everything.
“Imagine if you hadn’t clicked on my violin photo. I wonder how different our lives would be.”
Ryder pulled me close. “I could never have imagined how much my life would change with one click of a button, that I could find this kind of love online.”
“Blue skies.” I grinned. “Like the song I was singing when you found me—it’s been nothing except blue skies since that day. I think I’m finally living those lyrics.”