The wedding reception was in full swing, literally, as Drew and I stepped onto the dance floor to have the first dance. What started out as a slow song suddenly kicked into the classic, WE ARE FAMILY. Andrew rolled his eyes but I pulled him tighter towards me, more people joining us on the dance floor.

"Do you know how many times I've heard this song?" whispered Drew.

"You're not working this party, remember? You're at your wedding."

He smiled but I could still see the countless parties across his face when a tap hit my shoulder. It was my mother, motioning to dance with my husband.

"Hello, Mom."

"Eric, may I?"

I smiled at Drew and let her cut in as I stepped off the dance floor, watching her take control of Drew, moving him across the dance floor like some kind of wet mop.

"Great wedding, Eric." Said Fran behind me as her arms wrapped around my shoulders, her date Shirley beside her.

"Why aren't the two of you on the dance floor?"

"We're resting." Announced Shirley.

"Oh," I said, "I thought you were waiting for the bouquet toss." Suddenly, there was an uncomfortable pause between them. "Hey, that was a joke."

Fran laughed loudly, only confirming what I knew to be true--- they were an item. But Shirley? I mean, she sure didn't seem like Fran material. Very nice, but such a...well, how can I say this nicely? Such a dyke. Images of politically correct feminist bumper stickers suddenly filled the rear fender of her pick up truck in my mind.

"Are you throwing a bouquet?" asked Shirley.

"We talked about it," I confessed. "But ultimately, we realized it just wasn't us. So listen...can I ask you something?"

Fran looked at me like a deer in headlights, knowing exactly what I was about to say. "Sure."

"How long have the two of you been going out?"

"Are we that obvious?" Piped Shirley.

I simply nodded.

"Not long," responded Fran, suddenly a tad embarrassed. Shirley just looked at her, her face smiling, tugging at Fran's hand and motioning her to the coffee and dessert table.

"Excuse us, Eric." Said Fran, leading Shirley towards the other side of the room. I have to say, Shirley was a real departure for Fran but who knew the future? When I first met Andrew, I had no idea I would be his soul mate. You can't plan for people like this, you can only live your life and accept the road life gives you.

As I looked across the dance floor at my mother still dancing with Drew, I had to smile to myself. All those wishes of my mother to have a daughter-in-law, all those hopes and dreams--- and now she loved Drew as if he were in fact my wife. But he wasn't my wife or my bride or my woman. He was my life partner.

And while it may have seemed in the beginning to my parents and friends that Drew and I seemed like unlikely partners, here we were years later getting married. And just like Fran and Shirley, we beat the odds of what people thought.

Love perseveres. Always.