Page 14 of The Bride
Jake was standing in front of the judge’s desk.
Judge Michaels, who had made this all possible, was wearing jeans and a chambray shirt. He didn’t do the whole robe thing, which was a little anticlimactic. A looming judge in a black robe might have been more ominous.
Because that’s what this felt like. More like a sentencing than a wedding.
I ran through my options again.
Foster home.
Running away.
Or Jake.
Jake gave me a chin nod and I guessed that meant he was okay with everything. He was clearly my best option. If only we didn’t have to be married.
Finally I shuffled toward him and stood next him. He was actually way taller than I was. My head only came up to his shoulder. I guess I hadn’t realized that. Jake was the type of a guy a woman could wear high heels with if she had them. Which I didn’t.
“You okay?” he asked me.
I nodded, but the truth was I felt nauseous. That would make for some interesting wedding photos. Me puking on Jake’s cowboy boots.
He was wearing his suit that he’d worn to Dad’s funeral. Same suit he’d worn to his own father’s funeral. His only suit. What if he wore it to his next wedding? That would be too awful. I would have to tell him that.Do not marry Janet in the same suit you married me in. I knew instinctively Janet would not like that.
“Is everyone ready?” the judge asked us.
I nodded. I could see Jake nod out of my peripheral vision because I didn’t want to look at him directly. I didn’t want to watch him as he made this sacrifice and essentially gave away a year and four months of his life.
For me.
“You don’t have to do this,” I blurted out. I turned to him but kept my head down. “I’ll go to the foster home. It’s only a year and…”
His hand was under my chin, lifting my face, forcing me to look at him. Until I reached his eyes. Those eyes, which I had known for as long as I could remember, told me everything.
“We got this,” he said.
“You’re sure?”
“Yep.”
“I’m going to be your wife.” I know I made a face at the wordwife.
“You’re going to be my family. Legally. That means I can protect you. Legally. That’s all we’re doing today.”
“Right.”It was no big deal.
“We’re ready, Judge,” Jake said. Then he took my hand.
“Hookay,” I breathed out. “Let’s get hitched.”
It was short and simple.
Do you?
Yes.
Do you?
Yep.
