Georgie
When I woke up, Jameson was watching me eagerly, grinning like the Cheshire cat.
“What’s going on?” I grumbled.
“Do you know what today is?”
“No. What’s today?”
“It’s the happiest day of my life.”
“Good for you. Can I go back to sleep now?”
“Georgie. It’s the happiest day of life,” he said, looking at me expectantly, as if somehow those words were supposed to mean something to me, but they didn’t compute.
“What does that mean, Jameson?”
“It means that today, I’m going to marry you. We’re going to get married today.”
It had been months since my miscarriage in Finland and the moment he tried to marry me in the hospital. But I turned him down and told him it wasn’t the right time. Today, was apparently the right time.
“Jameson, it’s a Tuesday.”
“I know.”
“I don’t have anything planned. I don’t even have a dress.”
“You have an entire closet full of dresses. Pick one.”
“Your parents aren’t even here.”
“So? I’m beginning to think you don’t want to marry me, Georgie.”
“Jameson, I do. But today? On a random Tuesday?”
“Yes. That’s exactly what I want. Now, go get dressed. You have two hours, and then we’re heading to the Supreme Court. Justice Ormsby is expecting us.”
He was absolutely insane, but I did exactly as he asked. I rolled out of bed and into the massive room that was our closet. Dresses lined one entire wall, and I scrutinized each one until my eyes landed on a dress I hadn’t yet worn. It was a brilliant cobalt blue silk with a darker blue floral print. It was sleeveless, and the bodice was fitted with a full skirt. It was the perfect dress.
I took my time getting ready, performing each task with deliberation. I curled my hair in soft waves and applied my makeup with a light touch. The only stand out was the crimson lipstick that I applied. It was the perfect pop of color against the blue dress. I wore the emerald studs Jameson gave me when he proposed in my ears and the familiar antique ring that constantly remained on my left hand
When I stepped out into the bedroom, Jameson turned, and I sucked in a sharp breath, blown away by his handsomeness. His jet-black hair had been recently trimmed, and those glacial blue eyes that so often pierced my soul sparkled with excitement. His suit was perfect, right down to the red silk tie that matched my lipstick.
“You look amazing,” I breathed out.
“So do you.” He eyed me appreciatively and smiled. “I see you’re wearing your something blue.”
“And it’s new too.”
Jameson stepped forward and took my left hand in his, rubbing the pad of his thumb over the massive gemstone. “Something old,” he murmured, right before he brought my hand to his lips and kissed it. A thousand memories flooded my brain, and I blinked away the tears that started to form.
“I just need to borrow something, and then I’ll have my bases covered.”
“I’m sure we can think of something.”
A Secret Service agent passed by us as we headed for the portico, completely unaware of what was about to happen. I immediately took notice of his ebony tie clip studded with a diamond in the center and stopped him. “Pardon me,” I said, my hand shooting out to stop him. I pointed at his tie. “Can I borrow that?”
“Ma’am?” He was confused and looked down to where my finger was pointing.
“Your tie clip. Can I borrow it? I’ll make sure it’s returned to you, Agent …?”
“Veltry,” he finished for me.
“Agent Veltry, I’ll make sure it’s returned to you. I just need to borrow it for a few hours.”
Agent Veltry quickly slid the clip from his tie and held it out to me. I plucked it from his palm and slipped it on to the strap of my dress. I turned to face Jameson and smiled triumphantly.
“Now I’m all set,” I declared.
Jameson’s scrutinizing gaze scanned me before he said, “Not quite. We have a stop to make on our way to the Supreme Court.”
That stop was the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing. We literally pulled up to the curb, and Jameson rolled down his window, sticking his hand out. Someone handed him a small box, which he then handed to me.
“What’s this?” I asked, eyeing the box skeptically.
“A penny for your shoe. Or something like that.”
I opened the box, and resting on a piece of fluff was an ancient looking coin. I picked it up gingerly between my thumb and pointer finger and inspected it. “What kind of coin is this?”
“I have no clue. I just called and asked to borrow a rare coin. Just stick it in your shoe and don’t lose it. I might have money, but I’m not paying to replace that.”
“Are you sure?”
Jameson took the coin from my finger and then bent down toward my foot. “Lift,” he commanded. I slipped my foot from my shoe and he placed the coin inside. I replaced my foot and could feel the cool metal against my skin.
“We need all the luck we can possibly get,” he informed me.
I smiled appreciatively, but I didn’t feel like luck was necessary. There were moments throughout our relationship when Jameson and I lost our way, but we found our way back to each other. It wasn’t luck; it was determination and love.
The limousine arrived at the Supreme Court minutes later. Everything in DC was so close together, but with the frequent bumper-to-bumper traffic, getting around took a lot longer. When you’re the president, though, travel time is reduced to minutes, which didn’t leave me a whole lot of time to contemplate what exactly we were doing and if it was a mistake. But maybe that was for the best.
The limousine door swung open, beckoning me toward my future. I stepped out of the car, realizing we were at some sort of private entrance. Only building security and Secret Service witnessed our arrival. Jameson stood behind me, buttoned his suit jacket, and then placed a gentle hand on the small of my back. I looked back at him and smiled.
“Are you nervous?” he asked me quietly.
I thought for a moment, to see if butterflies were dancing around in my tummy, but there was nothing. I didn’t feel a single flutter of nervousness. All I felt was excitement. “No,” I answered confidently.
“Me neither,” he said with a wink.
We walked toward a set of heavy bronze doors and were ushered inside a marble foyer. Jameson held my hand as we walked down a set of steps to an elevator. The golden doors slid open, revealing the grin of the elevator operator.
“Hello, Johnnie,” Jameson greeted the man.
“Good morning, sir,” Johnnie replied.
Jameson led me into the car and introduced me to Johnnie Bacon, the Supreme Court’s lone elevator operator. I held out my hand toward him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine, ma’am,” he said, bringing my hand to his lips for a chaste kiss.
“Back off, Johnnie, she’s mine,” Jameson playfully growled, shooting a scowl in Johnnie’s direction. Jameson’s arm snaked around my waist, pulling me firmly against his side. He lightly kissed my temple and let his nose graze the shell of my ear. “Forever,” he whispered.
The elevator stopped, and Johnnie let us out. We walked down a brightly lit corridor to the chambers of Chief Justice Ormsby. The closer we got to her chamber door, the more I started to expect the nervous fluttering in my belly to begin, but it never came.
Justice Ormsby seemed to be expecting us because just as Jameson raised a hand to knock, the door flew open.
“You’re here,” she said, breathlessly. “I thought maybe you’d changed your mind.”
“Absolutely not,” Jameson replied.
“Good. Well, I thought we’d do this in one of the inner courtyards. My chambers are nice, but since no one is around, you might prefer the courtyard instead.”
“It doesn’t really matter,” I answered for us both. “But the courtyard sounds lovely.”
We followed Chief Justice Ormsby through a winding maze of corridors until we reached a set of doors that opened to a sunny courtyard with a large fountain ringed with flowers on one side. Large potted arrangements dotted the courtyard’s perimeter. It was perfect.
“This won’t take long, Jameson, so you can get back to world domination shortly,” Justice Ormsby commented once we were situated in front of the fountain. “And I’d only do this for you.”
“I appreciate it,” Jameson replied. He reached out and grasped my hands lightly in his and held them throughout the short ceremony.
Chief Justice Ormsby cleared her throat once and then began. “The wedding ring is a symbol of unity, a circle unbroken, without beginning or end. Today, Jameson and Georgina give and receive these rings as demonstrations of their love and commitment for each other, and of their vows to make their life one. These rings symbolize the commitment of Jameson and Georgina to work at all times to create a love that is whole and unbroken, and to love each other without end.”
There was a brief pause, and at that moment, tears started to trickle down my cheeks. This was it; I was finally going to marry Jameson. Relief surged through my body. I felt like I had been holding my breath, waiting for this day, and now I could take that first breath of our new life together. I inhaled sharply as Justice Ormsby held out two shining rings in the palm of her hand. I was ready for forever to begin.