Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Barrett
The borrowed rings and wishful thinking worked.
Audrey worked her magic today and convinced the judge that Goldie had been kidnapped and was, therefore, in immediate danger and entitled to use whatever force necessary against her kidnapper.
The prosecutor dropped the additional charge of possession of a stolen firearm.
Goldie and I marry in the judge’s chambers barely an hour after that.
We place the gold bands on each other’s fingers and say the vows.
I lift her up and kiss my bride, marking a new beginning for both of us.
But the new beginning is bittersweet.
“I’m sorry this isn’t the big, fancy wedding you deserve,” I say, not ready to put her back down on her feet.
“Are you kidding me? Look around you. This is magical.”
I won’t take my eyes off my wife.
I just smile and feel the support of everyone around us.
She presses her lips to mine again as our friends, our new family, clap for us.
“One day, when we find your brother, we’ll do this again. With dancing and cake and everything.”
Tears well in her eyes, and she nods. “When we find him.”