Chapter 5
“Michael John Jarrid, let me get this clear! You sacrificed our honeymoon for the job with the Dependent Engineers?” Her words were curt, the look on her face unbelieving, and she never, ever used my full name. Even so, I had a one-sided grin on my face at the way she mangled the company name, until she gave me a swift palm to the shoulder, and I snapped back to attention.
“Our honeymoon, Mike! Come on! I don’t even know what to say!” Her voice cracked. She turned her back to me. I used both hands to gather up her hair by her nape, then kissed her there. We’d shared the hope her mom would surprise us with a honeymoon gift, but nothing was set in stone.
“This is for our future, don’t you see? It’s my dream job, Annie! I’ll make it up to you, I swear.”
“And it’s my dream wedding—with a honeymoon! We’re only getting married once.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, knowing I’d let her down and feeling awful. Her shoulders shook. When I turned her around, she covered her mouth, laughing—hysterically.
“Oh my God, Annie! I don’t believe you!” I swiped at my eyes as my heart struggled to find its rhythm.
She threw her arms around my neck and kissed me. “I’m so frickin’ proud of you, Mike!” Still recovering from her prank, my mouth worked its way into a smile as my heart regained a normal beat.
“I can’t believe you did that to me!”
“Aw, honey, I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist.”
My forehead pressed against hers. I couldn’t stay mad if I wanted to. Those emerald eyes crinkled at the corners. She tilted her head a little and kissed me, harder this time. “You know it was the lavender shirt that sealed the deal.” She gave me a wink.
We went out to dinner that night to the Harbor Lights Bistro on the bay. We splurged on drinks, out-of-this-world entrees, topped off with desserts. Annie insisted I wear that lavender shirt, and I did, until we got home and she took it off of me.
~ ~ ~
The next day I headed right back to Madison. A grueling pace ensued until I received another summons from Dave Smythering. He requested I be present for some concept meeting taking place on Friday morning. The guy was killing me! Only two weeks of school remained. It was time to concentrate on studying for finals. Plus two papers I’d put off earlier urgently needed to be finished, or I’d receive an “incomplete” for a final grade and not receive my diploma. Sucking it up, I headed home Thursday.
Annie seemed extra tickled to see me. She’d prepared chicken and dumplings as an experiment. It turned out great. My stomach celebrated the real food, not university slop or PB and J sandwiches.
The meeting involved the team I’d be working with. A client requested a piece for a machine which dealt with welding circuits to a panel. Then the panel needed to be wired into an arm that would lift metal fittings, then hone them to exact measurements. It got pretty complicated. Our assignment was to design it, create it, and ensure that the finished product did what it needed to do. Dave anticipated it would take us at least a couple of months to do it and he wanted me there at the start. It actually sounded fun. I felt bad I wouldn’t be there for the designing phase, because I thought of an idea for it almost immediately. I kept it to myself, being the new kid and all.
The meeting ended just before noon. I texted Annie I planned to head back to Madison, and she begged me to stay and have dinner with her. My laptop traveled with me, so I knew I could work on one of those papers from our place. She arrived home from school smiling. She had gotten a text from the local bridal salon, informing her that the dress arrived. They arranged an appointment for a fitting later in the evening. We went out for pizza before I left to go back.
As we waited for the garlic bread, I said, “You know, I’ve been thinking. I’m not going to the commencement ceremony.”
Her head jerked up. “Oh, yes you are, mister.”
Grabbing hold of the table edge, I squared my shoulders to take her on. “Annie, there are literally thousands of graduates. It’s held outdoors in the stadium. It’ll be hot, it could be raining, and it will take forever. I don’t need the extra hassle.”
Her lips pulled off to the side in a pucker. I could tell she was thinking about her rebuttal. “I remember you telling me how your dad put it all on you, to be the one son that graduated from college. Mike, you did it! And your family is so proud of you. You’ve worked so hard. They deserve to see you get your diploma. And so do I, after all the crap I’ve put up with from you.” She flashed her teasing grin. “You’re not getting out of this one.”
“Geez, you sound like my mother!”
“Well sometimes you act like a selfish little brat. I’m just trying to help you do the right thing here.”
“Selfish little brat?” I repeated, trying to look really wounded, but she just winked at me.
“I’ve got a thing for brats, haven’t you figured that out yet?” The pizza came. End of discussion. Graduation here I come.
~ ~ ~
Somehow my mom coerced all of my brothers into making the trip down to Madison, so everyone was there to witness the finale of my college experience. Annie rode down with my parents to help me pack up my belongings and was duly disgusted, as I knew she would be, when she saw how I’d been living. She cried. I didn’t think it was that bad. Mom brought sub sandwiches to hold us over.
We packed the car to the point where I didn’t know if we’d be able to get the trunk closed, and there was still more stuff to go. You don’t even realize the amount of things you accumulate along the way. My parents collected my bike, the futon, and the rest of the odds and ends.
It was almost ten-thirty. I had to report to the stadium by eleven-thirty. Mom wanted to get there early to get a good seat, so she and dad went ahead to save a bunch of places. I directed my brothers to where they would find us from my cell. I joined them in the stands, and we chatted until it was time to find my School of Engineering classmates.
With my gown thrown over my arm and cap in hand, after hugs all around, I made my way to the meeting area. I purposely didn’t mention I would also be wearing an honor’s stole. Only Annie knew that secret.
About three hours later, it was all over—the speeches delivered and we had our diploma covers. The marching band played a crazy song, and we all danced in a controlled sort of frenzy. Then we funneled out to rejoin our proud and relieved families.
My dad pulled off his glasses to wipe his eyes a couple of times, beaming with pride. Mom gushed tears and laughter like a fountain. My brothers just gave me shit, but I knew they were proud, too. Just too proud to show it. Between the family and Annie, they must have taken a thousand pictures. I never stopped smiling.
We knew a great place to eat on the way out of town, avoiding the deluge of people that descended on the city for the big day. There was a lot of levity at our table, and the parents just sat back and enjoyed watching their sons banter back and forth. In the end, I confessed my gratitude for following through with the ceremony. It turned out to be one of the best days of my life so far.
~ ~ ~
One day. That was it. One freaking, solitary day before I would start the next phase of my life as a mechanical engineer.
To make the most of it, we lounged around in bed most of the morning. We fooled around a while, then Annie made French toast, sausage and this special cherry-vanilla flavored coffee from Door County that we both loved. In the afternoon, we went for a hike in the woods at one of the county parks, then devoured ice cream. We were invited to Pete and Julie Petrovich’s for a cookout in the evening.
Both of the Petroviches and Annie all seemed to have melded nicely into their adult roles as productive members of society, and I envisioned the same for me. Time would tell. It wasn’t like I had nothing else in the world to worry about with our wedding only three weeks away!
~ ~ ~
Dalton Strebach quickly became my lifeline at Independent Engineering. When I reported to work that first Monday morning, we introduced ourselves, and then Dalton showed me around the place. I received a folder of paperwork, some forms I had to fill out and turn in, others were various policies and mission statement type things for the company. So when our tour concluded, Dalton left me at a table in some sort of meeting room. He told me to look over the information, and he’d be back shortly.
He strolled in holding two Styrofoam cups of coffee. Smiling, he handed one to me, pulling out a chair and sitting across from me. “So I remember seeing you at the concept meeting.”
I nodded, I remembered him, too.
In my head, I labeled him as a nerd-type. His size dwarfed me; he was taller, and a lot bulkier. A little frumpy maybe, but almost always looking a bit amused, like he knew something the rest of us didn’t. I learned he was a couple years older than me and had been with the company four years, married, and they just had their first child, a little boy.
Dalton’s big round face lit up when he spoke about his family, and right off the bat, he mentioned me and Annie getting together with them once the wedding was behind us.
A second team also worked at Independent Engineering. I met them too, but we were working on totally unrelated projects, at least for now. They had a new member on their team too: Callista Warner, or Callie. She was also a new grad and very attractive, with a flirty smile and short, short skirts. Since we were both rookies, she seemed to gravitate to me when we took our breaks and lunch. For whatever reason, I always felt a little uncomfortable around her, secretly glad we weren’t on the same team.
Dalton and I worked side by side for the first two and a half weeks. Anything I didn’t understand, he patiently explained. But he’d let me do the work instead of doing it more efficiently by himself. I liked that, and I liked him.
~ ~ ~
The few days preceding the wedding took on a total party atmosphere. Family and friends arrived. We ran to the airport every day, sometimes more than once. Annie’s mom came in on Thursday. She had a rental car and a room at the Hilton Elite. Annie’s dad and stepfamily got there Friday, as well as her few friends from school and her cousins from New York. Paul and Em came from Minneapolis, and a smattering of my college friends came from all over the state.
After the rehearsal dinner, the younger crowd went out, hitting several establishments before finally parting for the night. Annie’s friends begged her to stay with them at the hotel. They had a big pre-wedding spa morning planned. I went back to our apartment and slept alone.
My brothers arranged for us to play golf in the morning, along with Dad, Pete, and a couple buddies. With me out of the apartment, Annie could get in to collect her dress and things without me seeing her.
My mom pinned on my boutonniere, messed with my tie, straightened my vest, then stopped and got ahold of the lapels on my tux. I didn’t want to look at her, because I knew she was getting all emotional for the hundredth time over the last two days. Finally, I let my misty eyes meet the shiny blue set that perfectly matched my own, and I smiled.
“My baby’s all grown up.” She patted my chest with open hands. “I can’t believe you’re getting married! It seems like only yesterday we brought you home from the hospital. Your brothers were so relieved to have another boy—”
“Only because they knew they probably wouldn’t get away with beating up on a little sister,” I said wryly, knowing that a couple of them were within earshot and hoping someone would intervene and lighten it up. No one did.
“You look so handsome, honey. And so happy.”
I hugged her. “I am, Mom. I love you.” The photographer, ever lingering, snapped some sentimental pictures. Then we were asked to make our way to the front of the church. Dad came in looking for Mom. He gave me a squeeze and a wink, then led her out. Let the show begin.
Standing in front of the alter, I drew in a deep, calming breath. I was nervous, but not about getting married. I was so sure about Annie. I just wanted everything to go right, to be the perfect day for the perfect life we were signing up for.
The bridesmaids were all in place up front when the doors at the back opened, and light blinded me for a few seconds. All I could make out was a silhouette, but it must’ve been Annie and her dad. I almost lost it, and I couldn’t even see her. She was beautiful, I could feel it. With mildly tremulous fingers, I brushed away the moisture in the corner of my eyes and folded my hands in front of me as a grin took shape.
The closer she got to me, the more my smile grew, along with the size of my heart. I mouthed the word, “Wow!” She looked amazing, face, hair, dress! Her dad kissed her cheek, then placed her hand in mine, and our fingers intertwined.
The minster ran through the formalities. A couple Annie worked with at the high school sang a song, then it was our time to exchange the vows.
Going first, I turned to face her and picked up her other hand in mine. We created our own, and though we both had written them down, we decided to try to wing it. Pastor nodded, and I began.
“I, Michael John Jarrid choose you, Ann Elizabeth Brekke to be my wife.” It came out a little croaky, I had to clear my voice. “From the first day I met you on that ski hill, I knew there was something about you that was so real and honest, and I just had to pursue it. Of course you were beautiful, and I found that beauty goes all the way through to your soul. You came into my life at a time when I had lost my trust and belief in everyone, including myself. Patiently, you waited for me. You helped me find my heart again, my faith, and my family. You make me strong—a better man. I love you with every fiber in me, and I promise to keep loving you, and to care for you, and to grow old with you. I can’t wait to see what our future together will be, and to call you my partner, my equal, my wife. So . . . yeah, let’s do this!” Okay, that last part was not in the original plan, but it made her smile and drew a chuckle from our observers as well. My hands finally stopped shaking, and I squeezed hers as I gazed into to her eyes, smiling. She filled her lungs, preparing to speak her vows.
“I, Ann Elizabeth Brekke, choose you, Michael John Jarrid, to be my husband. You melted me with that smile the first day I met you, and to this day, I still melt. I hope that never changes.”
I kept on smiling, but man, on the inside I was losing it. I knew if she did, I would, too.
“You are such a good person, kind and honest. I know that I can count on you, and that together we can make it through anything.”
I nodded, and when her voice had a little hitch to it, I teared up and had to let go of her hand to swipe my face, blowing my breath out between pursed lips.
“I trust you with my whole heart and every part of me. I can’t believe I found you, and that this day is actually happening! It is my joy and my honor to be able to call you my husband. I love you, and I will care for you and spend the rest of my life at your side. So, yeah, let’s do this!”
Pastor Ken grinned and shook his head. “I guess they are in agreement. May I have the rings so we can ‘do this’?”
Everyone chuckled. We did the traditional exchange of the rings. Both of us were a little misty as we repeated the lines and committed our lives to each other. As soon as that ring was on my finger, I started to lean in for the kiss, and Pastor stepped in quietly, “Hold on, there—”
I blurted out, “Oh, come on!”
Everyone cracked up, and Annie’s face turned the prettiest shade of pink.
Pastor Ken paused, then said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
“I love you,” I whispered as our lips met, once, twice, three times. We didn’t want to stop, but we did and turning to face the congregation we were announced as Mr. and Mrs. Jarrid. It sounded so right.
At the dinner, the ping of a knife tapping the side of a goblet rang out several times, and Pete stood up. He raised his glass of champagne toward me and Annie.
“As best man, I’d like to make a little toast to my best friend in the world, Mikey, and his bride, Annie. Mike and I were friends since kindergarten, so I think I know him pretty well. I always considered myself the fifth brother—there were so many boys, what’s one more?”
I waited for it. I knew Pete was going to try to embarrass me; the opportunity was just too great. “This kid has got his shit together—oops, sorry, Ma Jarrid. He’s smart, ya think? Look who he married!”
Annie emitted a radiant smile.
“He didn’t let me corrupt him with alcohol or anything else that tempted us along the way, and trust me, I tried.” Laughter erupted. My head wagged back and forth, a grin on my face as I reminisced with him.
“He came to my rescue on more than one occasion when I needed a night off from work for a date with a hot chick.” He wiggled his eyebrows at Julie. “The guy has a stubborn streak for sure, but he also has a heart of gold. I’m so proud to call you my friend. I love you, man.”
I reached over to give him a knuckle bump, my eyes brimming. He stopped, fist in mid-air, just staring at me. His hand gestured toward me. “Are you crying, Jarrid?” And there it was.
Brushing away at my face, I smiled, shrugging at my inability to help myself. “Yeah, thanks for not pointing it out to anyone.”
Pete cocked his head, wearing a shit-eating grin. “Seriously, dude. You’re sitting at the head table with hundreds of eyes on you. Did you really think no one would notice?”
Shaking my head, grin still in place, I could feel the color change becoming complete as my face burned. “Are you done?” I asked. He wasn’t. He turned to Annie, who teared up when I did.
“You married a crier, you realize that?”
With a giggle, she answered, “I think we’re pretty well matched, don’t you?” Obviously, she enjoyed the sparring. Her arm came around my shoulder, and she kissed my cheek.
“I think you’re right,” Pete agreed. He again lifted his champagne. “I wish you all the happiness in the world, Bro and Mrs. Bro,” he finished. Annie and I clinked our glasses together, then with Pete and everyone else around us, and we drank. Pete made his way back to me for a hug.
The night proceeded exactly as we planned. No one drank too much. Well, a lot of us drank too much, but we all behaved appropriately. Annie and I danced and mingled. We did the grand march and the garter. She tossed the bouquet, and the D.J. kept coaxing us out with another slow love song.
Finally, I sank into a chair at a table with my friends, Annie rested on my lap. She leaned her head on my shoulder, looking exhausted. Her shoes had been abandoned long ago, probably around the same time I lost the jacket and tie.
“How long are we supposed to hang around?” I whispered.
Julie heard me, tapping my knee. “Pete and I left our dance not long after the grand march. I think you can go any time now. Just don’t forget to say good-bye to the families first.”
Nudging Annie, I said, “What do you think?”
Her arms circled my neck. “I’m so tired, but I don’t want this day to end, Mike. It was perfect! You’re perfect—I love you.”
I kissed her. Then with my hands around her waist, I slipped her off my lap as I stood up, taking her hand. Leading her slowly around the room, we found my brothers, her mom, cousins, her dad, my parents. We graciously thanked everyone, then we gathered our possessions and slipped out the door while a lively oldie blasted from the speakers.
Thankfully, we had a room right on the premises. I checked us in before the festivities began and carried the key card in my billfold. As we stood before the door, I scooped her up into my arms to carry her over the threshold.
Her hands held her shoes, her bouquet, and a bunch of other remembrances she’d collected. She started dropping things. I began laughing. Once I realized I should’ve opened the door before I picked her up, she started giggling, too. Both of us were giddy from too much champagne and the high of the day.
Still in my grasp, Annie dropped everything she’d been holding and decided to try to retrieve the key. As she maneuvered around, she groped my butt. I was still laughing as she started to slip out of my arms.
“Oh, geez, Annie, I’m losing you!” I chortled as she squealed. The next thing we knew, she was on the floor at my feet. “Oh my God! I’m so sorry!” I choked, over peals of laughter from us both.
“You dropped me!” she exclaimed, and I collapsed next to her, begging forgiveness. We both wilted against the door, tears from laughing so hard now drying. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my phone and snapped a picture of the two of us.
Putting my hand on the side of her face, I said, “Did I tell you today how totally, awesomely, beautiful you are?”
She couldn’t keep looking at me. She grinned and shook her head.
“Yes, my love. You’ve told me about a million times.”
“And I meant it every time, Annie.” I stood up and took both her hands in mine, helping her to her feet. “I love you, Mrs. Jarrid.” We kissed. I opened the door and carried her inside, over to the bed. Then I went back and cleaned up our mess in the hall and hung the “DO NOT DISTURB” sign on the door.