grinned at me. Somehow I
thought he was only half-joking.
“Not tomorrow,” I shook my head, laughing.
“I’m not a mirage. I won’t disappear if we take time to actually
look respectable.”
“Maybe I’m trying to be respectable,” he
shrugged innocently.
“Miss Neena, I’ve waited a long time for a
mommy. I don’t want to wait anymore.”
“Don’t tell me you can say no to that,”
Charlie looked at me imploringly.
“How about October?” I suggested on a whim.
“Mid-October. That’s three weeks away. Is that fair enough?”
“I like it. The fall leaves will be amazing,”
he nodded approvingly. “What do you say, baby girl?”
“Three whole weeks?” Cara seemed
skeptical.
“Three weeks will fly by,” I promised.
Mentally I added that every person in town would be watching my
mid-section for months, waiting for tell-tale signs of a shotgun
wedding as it was. It was crazy to marry a man I’d only known for
five months. Of course, it was also crazy to streak through the
woods in your skivvies and swim in a gator hole. Sometimes when a
girl had a chance at real life dangling in front of her, she just
might have to do something crazy to get it.
Setting a date made it seem real. Setting a
date three weeks away meant I had a lot to do in a very short time.
First thing after breakfast, we got around and headed to the
Torres’ vegetable stand. We’d hoped to tell them the good news, but
the rumor mill beat us there. We called Conrad, but he was
completely not surprised. I wished I could tell Mary, but she
thought I was gator food.
Even though we insisted on a simple outdoor
wedding, planning went into full throttle. It took a bit of
cajoling on Charlie’s part to get us the license since I had
paperwork but no actual corresponding records in the social
security office. Apparently the documents Conrad had supplied me
with were intended for fooling an I-9 form, not for applying for a
marriage license. Somehow Charlie’s charm and good standing in the
community got us the coveted piece of paper.
We had to canvass four towns for it, but
Anjelita and I found the perfect dress. It was a simple white dress
with long sleeves and a flared skirt that flowed prettily when I
moved. I intentionally chose something tailored at the bust and
waist to squelch rumors that I was having Charlie’s baby.
We decorated the house in full fall regalia.
Pumpkins and bales of straw complimented the brilliantly colored
trees all over Charlie’s property. Manny made us the most amazing
archway for the lawn that I’d ever seen. He must’ve worked around
the clock to finish it so quickly.
Charlie borrowed chairs from his church. Rita
organized a potluck reception. Everyone pitched in and offered
something. It felt like the entire town was invited, but I knew
that was an exaggeration. Still, when people who hadn’t been
invited starting showing up out of pure curiosity, it was hard not
to feel overwhelmed.
But then the moment came when I was standing
at one end of the lawn on my brother’s arm and Charlie was standing
at the other under the archway Manny had made for us. He was
looking at me like I was the most beautiful creature he’d ever
seen. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. He wore a new suit and
his hair was combed back. Even the lock of hair that often fell
across his forehead had been wrangled into submission.
He was perfect. He was mine. I loved him so
much my heart felt like someone was squeezing it.
As I walked the long path that led to his
side, I thought of my mama reading to me about the creation of man.
God created Eve and said that two shall become one flesh. I knew
now what that meant.
I vaguely recall Conrad handing me over to
Charlie. I kind of remember what the pastor said. The vows were a
little fuzzy. But then he kissed me in a way that promised endless
tomorrows together. I didn’t stop to think about how far my life
had come in six short months. I didn’t even care to dream
thought he was only half-joking.
“Not tomorrow,” I shook my head, laughing.
“I’m not a mirage. I won’t disappear if we take time to actually
look respectable.”
“Maybe I’m trying to be respectable,” he
shrugged innocently.
“Miss Neena, I’ve waited a long time for a
mommy. I don’t want to wait anymore.”
“Don’t tell me you can say no to that,”
Charlie looked at me imploringly.
“How about October?” I suggested on a whim.
“Mid-October. That’s three weeks away. Is that fair enough?”
“I like it. The fall leaves will be amazing,”
he nodded approvingly. “What do you say, baby girl?”
“Three whole weeks?” Cara seemed
skeptical.
“Three weeks will fly by,” I promised.
Mentally I added that every person in town would be watching my
mid-section for months, waiting for tell-tale signs of a shotgun
wedding as it was. It was crazy to marry a man I’d only known for
five months. Of course, it was also crazy to streak through the
woods in your skivvies and swim in a gator hole. Sometimes when a
girl had a chance at real life dangling in front of her, she just
might have to do something crazy to get it.
Setting a date made it seem real. Setting a
date three weeks away meant I had a lot to do in a very short time.
First thing after breakfast, we got around and headed to the
Torres’ vegetable stand. We’d hoped to tell them the good news, but
the rumor mill beat us there. We called Conrad, but he was
completely not surprised. I wished I could tell Mary, but she
thought I was gator food.
Even though we insisted on a simple outdoor
wedding, planning went into full throttle. It took a bit of
cajoling on Charlie’s part to get us the license since I had
paperwork but no actual corresponding records in the social
security office. Apparently the documents Conrad had supplied me
with were intended for fooling an I-9 form, not for applying for a
marriage license. Somehow Charlie’s charm and good standing in the
community got us the coveted piece of paper.
We had to canvass four towns for it, but
Anjelita and I found the perfect dress. It was a simple white dress
with long sleeves and a flared skirt that flowed prettily when I
moved. I intentionally chose something tailored at the bust and
waist to squelch rumors that I was having Charlie’s baby.
We decorated the house in full fall regalia.
Pumpkins and bales of straw complimented the brilliantly colored
trees all over Charlie’s property. Manny made us the most amazing
archway for the lawn that I’d ever seen. He must’ve worked around
the clock to finish it so quickly.
Charlie borrowed chairs from his church. Rita
organized a potluck reception. Everyone pitched in and offered
something. It felt like the entire town was invited, but I knew
that was an exaggeration. Still, when people who hadn’t been
invited starting showing up out of pure curiosity, it was hard not
to feel overwhelmed.
But then the moment came when I was standing
at one end of the lawn on my brother’s arm and Charlie was standing
at the other under the archway Manny had made for us. He was
looking at me like I was the most beautiful creature he’d ever
seen. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. He wore a new suit and
his hair was combed back. Even the lock of hair that often fell
across his forehead had been wrangled into submission.
He was perfect. He was mine. I loved him so
much my heart felt like someone was squeezing it.
As I walked the long path that led to his
side, I thought of my mama reading to me about the creation of man.
God created Eve and said that two shall become one flesh. I knew
now what that meant.
I vaguely recall Conrad handing me over to
Charlie. I kind of remember what the pastor said. The vows were a
little fuzzy. But then he kissed me in a way that promised endless
tomorrows together. I didn’t stop to think about how far my life
had come in six short months. I didn’t even care to dream
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