I HOLD ASHLEY’S hand as we walk along the boardwalk in Coeur d’Alene. Yep, we’re in Idaho and we didn’t come here for the potatoes. It’s a gorgeous early September day with a deep sapphire sky and water. Emerald pines line the shore.
When I asked her to marry me, she stared at me like I’d lost my ever-loving mind. In fact, I think those were the first words out of her mouth.
Then she said yes.
Now here we are, twenty-four hours later, Idaho marriage license in hand, ready to tie the knot.
“We should’ve done this when we were eighteen instead of listening to the adults who thought they knew better than us.” Lifting her hand, I kiss the back.
She squeezes her hand in mine. “Now we’re adults and realize no one has any idea what they’re doing. We’re all winging it, with no clue most of the time.”
“The only thing I know is I love you.” I spin her in front of me and dip down to kiss her, not caring we’re surrounded by people.
She smiles up at me. “I guess we missed our Romeo and Juliet moment.”
“Without the tragic ending.” I kiss her again before setting her on her feet again.
She pauses and a small crease appears between her eyebrows. “Are we crazy to run off and get married? Without telling anyone?”
“Yes, but nothing wrong with crazy.” I see the doubt in her face. “Who do you want to tell? Jonah? Your mom? We can FaceTime them.”
“Jonah will be cool either way. I think. You know how laid back he is. Mom’s a mess right now, so I’m not sure how she’ll take the news. What about your parents?” She shakes her head. “No, after everything, that would be too weird. Erik?”
Dad’s doing better. Going to meetings and staying sober. He and Mom still haven’t cashed the check from Ron.
I feel a slight pang in my chest about Erik not standing up as my best man and frown.
She reads my body language. “We could call him. Get him on a plane in Seattle. He’d be here in a couple of hours. Or we postpone until tomorrow and he can drive over.”
“Kind of ruins the spontaneity of an elopement if you invite people and then have to wait for them to show up. What if he can’t make it?” I don’t want something to ruin this moment for us. I know I’m being selfish and can’t seem to care.
Ashley grins at my sour expression. “You’re not asking him to prom. If he’s busy and isn’t able to get out of it, we’ll have a party on the island. No big deal.”
My mind agrees with her, but part of my heart knows I’ll always regret Erik not being a part of this moment in my life. Our lives. He was there at the beginning and through all the twists and turns and up and downs.
“I’m going to text him. If he can make it, great. If not, I’ll accept it. Today is about you and me.” I kiss her cheek before I remove my phone from my pocket.
“It’s about our family. The one we’re creating together.” She rises up on her toes to kiss my cheek. “Call him.”
“If I call Erik, Jonah needs to be here, too.”
Tears sparkle in her eyes. “Really?”
“Of course. I already asked his permission to marry you.”
“You did not.”
“Did. I called him early this morning. Woke him up. First he said he knows people who know people who can make a person disappear. Then he said he’d given up hope I’d ever remove my head from my own ass long enough to win you back and you’d stop being stubborn long enough to let me. After me promising my head is free and clear, he gave us his blessing.”
Tears slip down her cheeks. “That’s the sweetest thing ever.”
“You’re weird.” I catch her tears with my thumbs, sweeping them over her damp skin. “Never change.”
“You call your brother, I’ll call mine.”
“Deal.”
The Hitching Post is legendary as the go-to elopement destination of the Inland Empire. At least this is what the framed newspaper article in the foyer proclaims.
I’m relieved they agreed to open for us this morning.
Erik and Jonah drove over yesterday evening after we called. Neither fussed or asked for details. Just said they’d be here as soon as they could.
Now the four of us stand in the small space outside the chapel. Ashley looks stunning in her red dress with a modest neckline and full skirt. She’s a real life vintage pin-up girl come to life. I’m in jeans and a button down dark blue shirt. Both Jonah and Erik wear jeans and collared shirts.
On the other side of those doors is my future life. Beside me is my heart and soul. Ashley’s my forever. Erik’s my family and now Jonah will be family, too. Our layers of connections are deeper than the Grand Canyon. Our lives are linked, for better or worse.
Overcome with the tsunami of love and emotions, I feel my eyes sting with unfamiliar tears. I’m not a crier. Yet all it takes is putting me in a wedding chapel and I begin to lose it. We haven’t even stepped inside to meet the officiant and I’m about to be a blubbering mess. Mentally I check my feet for coldness. They’re fine. I’m all good.
I’m marrying my first, last, and only love.
“I love you.” I kiss her with all that I have and all that I am. “I really do.”
“Save something for the ceremony, big bro.” Erik grins.
“Excuse me,” Jonah says quietly and then wanders down the hall to the office.
“Where’s he going?”
“Bathroom, probably.”
A few moments later, Jonah returns. “They’ll be ready for us in about five minutes. Think you can wait that long?”
“That’s nothing.”
An older woman with fluffy white hair joins us in the foyer. “I think I can guess the bride, but which one of you is the lucky groom?”
I raise my hand. “I am.”
“We’re ready for you.” She gestures for us to follow. “Will one of you be walking the bride down the aisle?”
Jonah raises his hand.
“Okay, you two stay out here until you get the signal with the music change.”
I don’t want to part from Ashley for a minute, but I reluctantly allow Erik to drag me to the front of the cozy room.
A man in a suit shakes our hands and says words I don’t hear. I’m too focused on the closed door that blocks Ashley.
The speakers switch from generic classical piano music to the familiar notes of “Love Song” by The Cure.
Erik and I both duck our heads and smile at the sentimental Goth who added his own touch to this ceremony.
The doors open and my favorite person in the whole world begins walking toward me. Tears sparkle in her eyes as she stretches on her tiptoes to kiss Jonah’s cheek.
Jonah’s own eyes are a little watery when he steps away, leaving Ashley and I together in front of the Justice of the Peace.
He says some things about the great state of Idaho and asks if we prepared our own vows.
I raise my hand like a kid waiting to be called on in class.
Ashley’s eyes widen in surprise and I squeeze her hand to reassure her.
“I’ve spent a lifetime of not telling you things. I’ve made a list.” I find the folded paper in my front pocket and open it.
“I love your stubborn streak. Sometimes you scare me with your strength. I love how fierce you are. You’re smart and that can be intimidating, but in the best way. I’m a better man because of you. I don’t even really like coffee.” This one earns a group chuckle.
Smiling, I continue with the more serious part of my list. “I wanted to marry you when we kissed at Erik’s party. I declared a secret war to win you back. When we were sixteen, I swore to myself I’d never love anyone else and I kept that promise. I’ve only ever loved you and I plan to keep loving you as long as I’m breathing.”
“I do.” Ashley covers her mouth with her hand. Blushing and crying, she says, “Oops. I said it too soon.”
“I do, too.” I kiss her.
The officiant clears his throat. “Should I bother pronouncing you husband and wife? Or are you good?”
Ashley kisses me back and we laugh into each other’s mouths until we can’t keep our lips pressed together any longer.
“I think they’re all set.” Jonah volunteers, completely amused.
I’m pretty sure the man says a few more things about the power and vested and Idaho again, but all I hear is my wife’s laughter as I kiss her.