The Guncle Abroad

Later that day, after Livia and Greg return from their boat ride, Patrick and the rest of the family are summoned to their room. Emory joins Patrick and soon introduces himself to Livia’s family. Greg is happy to see Emory and presumes that Patrick finally took his own advice and won Emory back. Greg and Livia finally sit everyone down and announce that they will wait to get married. Patrick looks at Maisie to see her devastated instead of relieved. Patrick interrupts the silence that follows this announcement by calling out Greg and Livia, saying that they are making a mistake. He pleads with Maisie to see that they genuinely love each other and that just because Livia is joining the family, that does not mean that Sara will be forgotten. Grant steps in to reassure Maisie that everything will be alright, and Livia tells Maisie that she genuinely wants to learn how to be Maisie’s mother, while also respecting Sara. She admits that she and Greg should have included Maisie and Grant more in the process of getting married. She asks if Maisie would like it if they married in Connecticut, and Maisie admits that she would.

When Livia’s mom suggests that at least someone should be married since everything is ready, Maisie suggests that Patrick marry Emory. Patrick resists, but Maisie uses all of his arguments about accepting Livia and finding love against him, saying that they are meant for each other. Patrick pauses and considers how he finally feels happy, sure that he wants to marry Emory because he is confident in himself for the first time in a long time. He asks Emory to marry him in front of his family.

Emory says yes to Patrick, and they go through with the wedding, all of the preparations for Greg and Livia’s ceremony now focused on them. Patrick feels nervous about the rushed wedding and asks Emory if he is sure that he wants to go through with it. Emory tells Patrick that he does not care where and when their wedding happens. He does not care if it is not even meant to be their wedding, he only cares if Patrick is there. The ceremony occurs at sunset on the terrazza, and Greg is Patrick’s best man. In the rush, Patrick is forced to accept Palmina as a stand-in on Emory’s side. Clara acts as the officiant, though they will need to be married again in the US, as Italy does not yet have marriage equality.

Patrick and Emory say their vows. Emory speaks of the challenges of building up Patrick’s life again and creating a new world for the two of them, but he asserts that his heart belongs to Patrick, no matter the challenge. In his vows, Patrick references the dark time in his life after Joe died, and speaks about how Emory helped him to heal and move forward with a new life. When the grooms realize that they do not have rings to finish the ceremony, Palmina steps forward. She uses her scarf, patterned with tigers, to bind their wrists together to demonstrate their union. The grooms kiss, and the family prepares to celebrate.

During the celebrations, Patrick looks around and realizes how happy he is to be surrounded by so many people he loves. Patrick speaks with Greg, curious to know if his brother wishes that the wedding had actually been his. Greg tells Patrick that he was actually thinking of Sara, and he asks Patrick if he thinks that both of them moving on is dishonoring the memories of Sara and Joe. Patrick tells Greg that he thinks their new partnerships actually honor their late loved ones. Next, Patrick speaks with Maisie and Grant, telling them how proud he is of them for how strong they are after losing Sara. He acknowledges how hard it is but tells them that he wants them to be happy going forward in life. Patrick tells them that Sara wants them to be happy and that though he cannot force them to be happy, he can do his best to show them how to be.

Though the music is over, the party still has the space for an hour and Patrick demands a speaker so that they can continue the dancing. When Maisie asks him why he hates Palmina, Patrick denies hating her and compares their relationship to that of siblings who bicker. Patrick explains that lesbians are heroes, particularly for how they cared for gay men during the AIDS crisis. He thinks of gay men and lesbians as family, though they often fight and get on each other’s nerves. When Grant suddenly panics that he and Maisie did not get Patrick and Emory anything as a gift, Patrick assures them that they gave him everything, referencing the wedding and party happening around them.

The party finally ends in the early morning, and Grant asks for hot chocolate. Livia agrees with Grant and offers to join them. He tells Livia that they’ve had the best hot chocolate in the world, in Paris, but Livia asserts that Italian hot chocolate is different, as they put cornstarch in it to thicken the drink. Livia tells Grant that she will have the kitchen make some. Grant spits in his hand and offers to shake, as a deal, and Livia returns the handshake, spit and all. Patrick lauds her commitment, seeing the beginning of a strong relationship.

On the flight back to the US, Patrick and Emory discuss their new future. Both are excited to make their marriage legal back home, and though Patrick jokes about a prenup, Emory takes it seriously. Emory wants to assure Patrick that they can make their relationship work no matter what. Grant interrupts their conversation to let Patrick know that Maisie wants to speak with him. Maisie shows Patrick a letter that Sara wrote and left with Greg for him to give to the woman he married after her death. Greg gave the letter to Maisie, and she lets Patrick read it. In it, Sara asks that Greg’s new wife be patient with Grant and Maisie and tells her that if Greg loves her, so will Maisie, even if it takes time. Patrick is moved by the letter, and Maisie admits that she thinks that she was not brave enough to spend more time with her mother before she died. Patrick assures her that she was brave, and when she asks him to get Livia, he is surprised.

Livia is surprised as well. Patrick takes her seat while she visits Maisie, and he and Greg chat. When Clara comes to speak with them, they make fun of her fling with Gustavo, making her flee back to her seat. Patrick and Greg assure each other that Sara would be proud of both of them before Patrick finally saves Emory from Grant. Emory once again asserts to Patrick that he does not want any of his money but just wants him. Patrick revels in the love that he feels.

The novel skips ahead in time; Patrick has accepted the part in Grease. He is behind stage after his show and one of the stage managers hands him an envelope. He puts it in his bag and walks out of the theater, surprised to see his entire family, and Palmina, there to wish him a happy birthday. Greg and Livia took Maisie and Grant out of school to come and watch Patrick in the show and spend the night in the city. Patrick’s family says goodbye, and as Patrick walks away, Emory calls him. Emory asks if he got his birthday present. Patrick remembers it, takes it out of his bag, and opens it to find a key. Emory tells him that he did not know what to get him for his birthday, so he bought him a house in Palm Springs. Patrick is excited to have a place to bring his family together.