Page 81 of Stronger Than Blood
Brenda and Joann also brought items over that they said they’d inherited from their parents. Some of Joann’s things had even beein in our home at one time. That included an amazing wind-up clock, which Joann called a “kitchen” clock.
Brenda brought a beautiful buffet and table that belonged to her side of the family. She said she wanted it to be her and Elias’ house warming for our new property. “They supposedly bought these from Paris and had them shipped over,” Brenda told us as soon as they were put in pride of place in the room.
I knew having his cousins contribute to our new home helped Mick feel even happier about our move.
***
The wedding took place the following October—one year after losing Mrs. Ida. We hadn’t planned it to be the anniversary of her death, but that’s how things worked out.
Dupris agreed to be our officiant, which, of course, we were beyond honored about. Kalinda and Elias stood next to me, and Brenda and Joann stood next to Mick.
“Would you like to share your vows?” Dupris asked me.
I nodded and turned to Mick. “A short time ago, I believed I would spend my life on this earth alone. Then I met you and your wonderful, crazy, and beautiful great-grandmother. She forced me to till her garden, shell peas, and pick beans, but through all that, not only did the garden grow, but so did my heart. I knew I loved you within weeks of meeting you. I also knew I wouldn’tbe spending many more days wandering through life alone; at least, I hoped you would feel the same way I did and allow me to be a part of your life. You are the love of my life, Mick, and nothing, no bad men, ghosts, or negative entities, will ever take that away.”
Dupris turned toward Mick, who was smiling through silent tears.
“I, too, thought I would be living life alone. Who would be crazy enough to move to the backside of nowhere, after all?”
The audience laughed, as did I since I could have argued that anyone who said I’d settle here in Piston Creek was nuts.
Mick’s face grew serious. “When I met you, I was on the verge of losing everything. My job, my family… everything that meant anything to me. Then you came stumbling into my world, bringing the elegant Madam Bellamy with you. You and Kalinda stepped up and helped me keep my sweet Granny at home for well over a year before she transitioned. I wouldn’t have been able to do that without you.”
He glanced over my shoulder and winked, I suspected toward her.
“Then, when I wasn’t expecting it,” he said, looking back at me, “you both swept my heart up into your lives. No longer was I jobless or facing a life without family. You embraced me and saved me in more ways than one. I have no words to express how much I love you, Rory, nor how happy I am that I get to spend my life with you. Thanks for all you’ve brought to my life.”
I wiped a tear from my cheek, Mick’s words hitting me squarely in all the feels.
“Then, by the power vested in me by the beauty of the Universe, I now pronounce you husbands. May you live a life of happiness and abundance.”
Dupris had no more finished her blessing than Mick was in my arms, taking my lips with his. There were whistles from thecrowd, but neither of us cared. At that moment, the only thing that mattered was him and me and the future we were beginning together.
Chapter fifty-two
Epilogue - Mick
“I’m just saying you should keep that room available,” Dupris said. Kalinda stood behind her, nodding.
“What is it you’re seeing?” I asked, and Dupris turned toward her aunt, who shook her head.
“Ugh, you two are so frustrating. If Rory can’t use this room as his office, you should at least give me a clue why.”
Kalinda came farther into the room and, taking my elbow, drew me over to the bed. “Listen, some things you shouldn’t know about until it’s time, but you’re about to spend a lot of money to retrofit a room both Madam Baptiste and I believe will be needed for something else. Can you trust us?” she asked, and I sighed but nodded.
“Okay, can you help me set up the front room for Rory’s office then? I mean, it won’t be as easily accessed, nor will it have its own bathroom.”
“Sure, we’ll help,” Dupris said, interrupting me. I’m not sure why I was being so argumentative. When they both glommed onto something, it would be pure ignorance to ignore them.
Rory was at a microdistillery conference with Bev for the week, so I only had a few days to set up his office, and I wanted it to be perfect, which was why I was being a bit of a perfectionist about the room. It’s not like we didn’t have a bunch of rooms to choose from, but I loved the idea of him being able to get out of bed and work without having to go into town. Just like I could do a lot of prep work in my commercial and recently Health Department-approved kitchen.
When Rory came home, he told me he loved the office, despite it not being exactly where I had wanted it to be located. Two weeks later, the reason why Dupris and Kalinda didn’t want me to put Rory in the bedroom next to ours became clear.
The Methodist pastor had stopped by the house to visit, mostly to check on our progress, but she also brought some life-altering news.
“They are kids, too young to raise a baby on their own, but… the young lady was one of the people we gave your Granny Ida’s furniture to. She recognized your name and said you stopped once while they were stuck on the side of the road and helped them out.”
I turned to Rory, who shrugged. Neither of us knew where the conversation was going. “I-I have helped a few people, but Pastor James, that’s what folks do around here.”
