Page 10 of Shaded Amethysts
Deciding to share the idea that had been swirling around my brain, I said, “I know you’re planning a big wedding, but what would you think about having a quick, civil ceremony?”
Molly’s silence on the other end of the line made me wonder if she thought I’d lost my mind. Rushing to explain, I added, “You can always have a fancy, formal affair later, but an official marriage certificate would give you some parental rights with Scout that you don’t have as Grant’s fiancé. It would seal the two of you as a cohesive family unit for Scout that may give you an edge over his single birth mother, who abandoned him.”
“You are a genius!” Molly half-shouted, making me move the cell phone away from my ear. I was glad I had made the adjustment when she yelled, “Grant, we’re getting hitched tomorrow.”
The sound was muffled for a moment as she explained my suggestion to her fiancé. He proved that he wholeheartedly agreed with the idea when he whooped with excitement at a high enough volume that I could have practically heard it from across town without our phone connection.
With that decision made, Molly and I excitedly started making plans for her quickie wedding.
8
Avery
Molly and Grant’s wedding at the courthouse was small, intimate, and perfect in every way. Her brother, Max, stood by Grant’s side as his best man, while I took my place as Molly’s maid of honor. The two of us had been planning for this moment since we were kids. While the venue didn’t look quite as lavish as we had anticipated, the obvious love shared between the bride and groom couldn’t have been more perfect.
Max’s wife, Danica, our town’s doctor, focused on making sure all the details, from the flowers to the dress, were just right for the last-minute occasion. Molly’s parents stood side-by-side with their eyes shining with pride as they watched their delighted daughter marry the famous movie star.
Since I was the only adult in attendance without a date, I carried Scout and helped him with his duties as the official ring bearer. I had already agreed to babysit him until tomorrow, so the newlyweds could have some privacy.
Once the vows were pledged and the happy couple was pronounced husband and wife, Molly plopped down into Grant’s wheelchair. She bellowed with laughter as he enthusiastically wheeled her away. Scout’s pudgy hands clapped together and his eyes danced with glee as he watched his parents’ giddy departure.
How could anyone even consider taking this child away from the two of them?It simply didn’t make sense. I wished the judge could see this happy scene. It would prove that these three were a cohesive family that should remain together.
Once the newly-married couple left, the celebration quickly broke apart. I said my goodbyes and carried Scout out of the courthouse.
Looking down at him, I asked, “What should we do with the rest of our day, little man?”
I hadn’t really been expecting an answer, so when he started chanting the word “Park” over and over again, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Okay, then, I guess we’re heading to the park,” I said before whirling around to head in that direction.
I turned too fast and thought I ran into a solid brick wall, until I looked up and realized it was Gage.Of course.
“Oh, hi!” I blurted out with way too much enthusiasm.
He reached out to steady me as he answered, “Good, thanks. And you? Err…”
I smiled at the answer to a question I hadn’t asked, realizing that perhaps I made him a fraction as nervous as he made me.
After recovering from the flub, Gage looked down into Scout’s face to say, “You okay, little guy? We didn’t mean to squish you.”
Scout answered with a loud, “Park!”
Gage stood back up to his full height, grinned down at me, and said, “I guess you’re going to have to take your son to the park to make up for us nearly flattening him into a pancake.”
“Oh, he’s not my son… But I am taking him to the park… We just went to a wedding… I’m only watching him for the day… You can come with us if you like.” I revealed the random bits of information in quick succession.
Gage appeared bemused by my stammering and over-sharing as his eyes sparkled down at me. He didn’t take long to ponder my invitation before he answered, “It just so happens that I was looking for something to do on this bright, sunny day. The park sounds perfect.”
With that settled, he turned in the direction I had been heading when we slammed into each other. Despite his long legs, Gage walked at a pace that was easy for me to match. I found myself wishing that he would reach out to touch me in some way as we walked, but I sensed that he would consider that to be crossing an invisible boundary. Although it would probably be smart of me to erect that kind of emotional wall between us, I wasn’t sure I wanted to.
When we passed in front of the gaping hole that used to house Mimi’s Diner, Gage stopped to look at the leveled building before he turned and asked me, “What’s the story with this place?”
I filled him in about the fire that had obliterated one of our town’s favorite eateries. After deciding to give him the full scoop, I added, “Our town doctor, Danica, rented the apartment above the diner. She wasn’t home at the time of the fire, but her sweet little dog, Bruiser, was.”
Gage’s face morphed into a horrified expression, which I found to be utterly charming. Quickly rushing on, I assured him, “Bruiser’s okay. My best friend’s brother, Max, is a fireman. He went into the blazing building to save the dog and ultimately won Dani’s heart.”
The relieved expression on Gage’s face over the dog’s safety was undeniable just before he weighed in, “It sounds like he earned her love.”
