Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 121210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 606(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 606(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
“I think the point is to say it as much as you can.”
I rest my forehead on hers. “You’re right, baby. I love you.”
A few kisses later, we’re on the way again, this time elbow in elbow. She smiles up at me with every slow step we take, and I cherish the time as something we’ll always have for just ourselves.
I hold the door to the judge’s offices open for her, and she steps through first, the receptionist with copper-red hair and a frilly blouse smiling at us as we do. The wood and gold nameplate on the counter in front of her reads “Debra Katchken.”
“Can I help you?”
I don’t bother with sounding controlled on Debra’s behalf. “Yes, ma’am. I need you to help me with the most important moment of my life and make this lady my wife.”
Josie rolls her eyes at me—forever the cheeseball—but nods in agreement too. Debra smiles, our happiness contagious as she opens the judge’s books and scrolls through them, her pointer finger skimming the page. Something I hadn’t considered is that he might not have the time in his schedule to actually marry us today.
But that’s okay. I’ll drive to town after town through the whole damn state of Vermont if I have to. I can’t sleep until I make her mine.
“You’re in luck. He’s actually finishing up his last meeting now, so he can take you in just one moment,” Debra updates. “Write down your names here for me, and I’ll take them back to him.” She sets the paper between us and sets two pens at its sides.
Both of us scribble quickly, and we step back as she snatches the paper off the counter and retreats through the door behind her.
“We’re getting married,” Josie says, turning to me with eagerness. Her face is open with expression, and her eyes are clear. I’m a crazy, spontaneous asshole, but she wants this just as badly as I do. I lean forward to kiss her, and she giggles when Debra returns and talks over us. “I’ll call you back in just a minute.”
I smash Josie to me in a hug so tight she starts to squeal. Her supple body and her intoxicating smell—there’s nothing that feels better to me. We stay like that until Debra returns.
“He’s ready for you.”
Pulling apart quickly, we hold hands and run into the judge’s chambers like a couple of kids at an amusement park. It’s not demure or composed or courthouse-appropriate in any shape or form. Luckily, the honorable Miller Faulks smiles as we approach the desk. “So, I hear you two want to get married?”
Josie and I glance at each other before turning back to the judge, two beaming faces full of teeth. “Yes, sir.”
He smiles. “Well, let’s do it, then. Shall we?”
I nod enthusiastically, and he dives right into the ceremony I’m sure he’s performed a hundred times in his tenure.
It might not be special to him anymore, but it’s sure as hell special to me. He bows his head to read from the paper on the desk in front of him, but I turn to Josie and take both her hands in mine.
“We’re here today to witness the union of Josie Ellis and Clay Harris in marriage. Today, you begin a new life together, founded in love, laughter, honesty, respect, and friendship.”
“And water towers,” I add, making the judge and Josie both laugh. He’s confused. She’s smitten. Pink colors her perfect cheeks, and I give her fingers a meaningful squeeze.
“And water towers. Why not?” The judge shrugs and continues. “The promises you make to each other today should not be taken lightly. A marriage is more than a ceremony. It is a lasting and lifelong commitment.”
Strangely, lifelong doesn’t even seem like enough.
“Do you, Josie, take Clay to be your spouse and to live together as partners, to treat them with love and respect, and to build a marriage that grows stronger and more loving as time passes?”
Her heart is in her eyes as she stares up at me. “I do.”
“And do you, Clay, take Josie to be your spouse and to live together as partners, to treat them with love and respect, and to build a marriage that grows stronger and more loving as time passes?”
“Yes, I do,” I vow. “I really, really do.”
The judge smiles. “If you have rings, take them out now.”
Josie’s eyes widen in panic as she realizes our oversight. “I don’t have a ring for you. I have my engagement ring, but Clay, we don’t have a ring for you.”
I shake my head. “Doesn’t matter, baby. We’ll get one later. For now, all I need is you.”
She nods, even if, in a perfect world, she’d have both.
“All right, then. By the virtue of the authority vested in me by the state of Vermont, I pronounce you married.”