Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Ellis
I figured we’d be married in a boring office somewhere.
The clerk leads us into an empty courtroom that looks like something straight out of a movie.
The judge's staff has agreed to act as witnesses, apparently a thing they’re used to doing.
“This is so much better than I thought it would be,” Louisa says, beaming at the hand-carved wood accents, marble floor, art deco light fixtures, and stained glass.
I lean in and say, “Yeah. Don’t tell Wylie, but this is much nicer than his porch.”
“Yep.”
The judge instructs us to join hands, and the seriousness of what we’re doing finally sets in.
Still, I say what I need to say without hesitation, repeating after the judge.
“I, Ellis, take you, Louisa, to be my wife; to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; until death do us part.”
Louisa exhales a steadying breath, tears welling up in her eyes. I reach out and wipe one that falls to her cheek.
She says the words. Slower, more deliberately. But she says them.
“Do you have rings you would like to present to each other?”
“I almost forgot,” I say, digging for the small velvet bag from my pocket. I go first as the judge has me repeat after him.
“Louisa, I give you this ring as a token of my everlasting devotion.”
She places the matching ring on my finger and repeats the same.
“By the power vested in me by the state of Montana, I declare you husband and wife. You may now kiss!”
“Damn, I forgot to get flowers!” I exclaim.
“What? Shut up and kiss me, silly goose,” Louisa laughs.
She looks happy to be married to me, and I’m flooded with joy. A little too much joy, because I bring her in for a kiss and declare, “I friggin’ love you.”
I see the surprised look on her face before we kiss. When we part, Louisa’s cheeks are flushed pink.
“There. Now they can’t do a single thing to me,” she says.
“Damn straight,” I say, circling my arms around her waist and lifting her off the floor for another kiss.
“I don’t know who they are,” the judge says, “but I have traffic court in ten minutes, so you two will have to get a room.”