Chapter 14 #2
“I assumed not. We can make the necessary arrangements with your minister to do this properly. I want to marry you in the eyes of God, not just the law, but for now, the law will have to do. You and Junior need my roof over your heads tonight. I’ll ask my mother to take you shopping so that you and Junior have something to wear.
Then we can go to city hall. Does that sound all right to you? ”
“Yes, all right,” she said dully.
While Ann went shopping with his mother, Bill kept himself busy to avoid the clamoring thoughts that plagued him. Was he doing the right thing? Would she ever love him like he loved her? Was she ready for this? Was he?
Shoving his thoughts away, he took his suit and her dress from the night before to the cleaners and paid triple to have them cleaned immediately. He needed them wearable again within a few hours.
Next, he went to a jeweler and bought simple gold bands. He had to guess at the size of Ann’s finger, but the jeweler assured him he could come back and exchange it if it didn’t fit.
Lastly, he went to the barber for a shave and haircut.
He wanted to look his best, despite the rushed circumstances.
A man only got married once, after all. And he was marrying the woman of his dreams, even if the feeling wasn’t mutual.
Yet. He had to hold out hope that she would come around in time.
The thought of living beside her every day without winning her love was too much to bear. He had to find a way.
As he returned to his parents’ house with the clean clothes and rings, he stopped in the shop to speak to his father about flowers. It warmed his heart to think of Ann clutching a bouquet assembled with love by his father.
“Don’t you worry about a thing, son. I’ve already picked out the most perfect of my roses for her bouquet.”
Good. She deserved all the beauty he could give her. “Thanks, Da.”
As he turned toward the door to his parents’ home, his father caught his arm. “How are you feeling, son? Are you ready for this?”
Da always saw the truth beneath the surface. Mum might have been the general who directed everything in their home, but Da was the beating heart of their household. His love for his family was a vibrant and tangible thing, and his keen perception in difficult moments never ceased to amaze Bill.
“I love her, Da. I want to be everything she needs. I want to soothe her pain and make it better. But I don’t know if she’ll ever feel the same about me.
She’s been through too much. What if she never loves me back the way that I love her?
What if she always resents me for not being the husband she lost? ”
It was difficult to admit his fears aloud, but if anyone would understand, Da would.
“You’re doing the right thing, son, and she’ll come around in time.
If you ask me, she’s already halfway there.
She just hasn’t admitted it to herself yet.
I know it isn’t easy to be patient, but you have to give her time. She’ll come around. Mark my words.”
Bill swallowed down a well of love for his father. He was a lucky man to have such a family. “Thanks, Da.”
Ann and his mother returned with bags and bags of purchases as he turned to go inside. Following them up the stairs, he tamped down the nervous excitement and worry that churned in his gut. The moment they were inside, Bill took their packages and set them on the dining table.
“Thank you, Mum. Just let me know what it cost, and I’ll reimburse you for everything.” He opened his wallet, but his mother waved him away.
“Nonsense. Consider it a wedding present.”
Ann sat silent with her eyes downcast, Junior in her lap, grabbing at the buttons of her shirtwaist.
“Ann, can I take Junior while you go upstairs to change?” he asked. “I’ve had your dress from last night cleaned in case you’d like to wear it again.”
She nodded and looked into his eyes. Her lip quivered for a moment, but she stiffened it and straightened her back.
There was the steel he admired so much in her.
He wished she didn’t need to brace herself for battle just to look at him, but he couldn’t help admiring her strength in such a difficult moment.
He watched every movement as she scooped up the dress and several of the packages and disappeared up the stairs.
“Poor girl,” his mother said as soon as Ann was gone. “She hasn’t recovered from the shock yet. It’s going to take some time, I think. Be gentle with her tonight. You may want to wait before pressing her about…wifely duties.”
Blood rushed to his face at his mother’s words. That was not a conversation he wanted to have with Mum. “I have no intention of pressing her. I only want to put a roof over her head.”
Junior began to cry, and Mrs. O’Donnell came rushing over. “As I thought,” she said, picking him up. “He needs his nappy changed. Why don’t you go get dressed while I take care of Junior?”
He nodded and slipped into his parents’ bedroom to change.
This was it—the big day. It wasn’t the big society affair Hank and Rory had, but in some ways, he preferred it this way.
All he wanted was his family and Ann. They didn’t need a big fancy party with hundreds of guests.
It might have been nice to invite his friends, but Hank was on his honeymoon, and Jack and Ernie were scheduled to fly.
And under the circumstances, he didn’t think he had the patience for their inevitable teasing and wisecracks.
No, it was better to keep things as small as possible.
Straightening his tie, he headed back into the dining room. Mary was chatting with Mum, and Adelaide and Connor were whizzing around the room, creating havoc. As soon as she saw him, Mary came running over and hugged him.
“I’m so happy for you, Bill. I know these aren’t ideal circumstances, but I just know you two will be very happy together. And, may I say, you look very dapper,” she said, stepping back to look at him.
At that moment, Ann came in wearing her dress from last night, her hair in a loose bun. She was every bit as achingly beautiful as she was last night, but today, there was a fragility to her beauty, a sadness behind her eyes that made her loveliness all the more affecting.
“Shall we all go together?” his mother asked. “I don’t think any of us want to miss it.”
“Absolutely,” said Mary.
Bill took Ann’s hand and folded it into the crook of his arm and led the way down the stairs and out of the house.
Mum followed with Junior in her arms, and Mary came last with her two little ones.
His father put a “Closed” sign on the shop and handed Ann a bouquet of his very finest pink and white roses.
That bouquet was a work of art, and for a moment, Ann’s steely gaze softened.
“Thank you.” She reached for the bouquet and raised it to smell the fragrant blooms. This might have been a rushed affair, but he hoped they could make it special for her.
They walked together in a solemn procession to City Hall and went to the desk of the City Clerk.
Bill filled out the necessary forms, only asking for Ann when her signature was needed.
Her hand shook a little as she signed, but her posture was unyielding.
Bill paid the fee, and then they stood together in front of the desk for the ceremony.
“Are you ready?” asked the clerk.
“Yes,” they said at the same time. Bill’s heart skipped a beat.
The clerk went to another room and came back with a judge, who stood beside the desk and began, “We are gathered here today to witness the joining in the legal state of matrimony of Bill O’Donnell and Ann Prince.”
Bill took her hand and squeezed as the judge continued to recite the ceremony in a monotone from a book.
She squeezed back and held on tightly as if she needed his support to remain standing.
He listened to the familiar words, hearing them in a new way now that they applied to him.
How different this must be from the last time she married, he thought to himself.
Whatever the circumstances, though, he was grateful she was his.
“Please face each other to say your vows,” said the judge.
They turned, and Bill took her other hand. Her eyes rose slowly to meet his. He smiled at her, and he watched her force a sad smile in return. Oh, how he ached for her! He wanted to fold her in his arms and never let her go.
“Repeat after me,” he said to Bill. “I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, Bill O’Donnell, do take you, Ann Prince, to be my lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part. ”
Bill said his vows in a clear voice, holding her gaze.
Before saying her vows, Ann took a deep breath and blinked back tears. Her voice shook as she spoke, but she didn’t hesitate or turn away.
Then it was time to exchange rings, and Bill watched as she turned red and discreetly moved Roger’s wedding ring to her other hand.
Oh God. Was he making a terrible mistake?
If ever there was a sign that she wasn’t ready, it was this.
But it was too late now. They’d both committed to this course.
He slipped his ring on her finger, pretending he hadn’t noticed, and fortunately, it fit.
“By the power vested in me by the City of Mineola, I do hereby declare you man and wife.”
It was done. Everyone looked on expectantly, waiting for a kiss.
Bill leaned in and touched his lips to hers.
Though she accepted his soft, gentle kiss, she barely moved her lips.
He folded her in his arms and cradled her head with his hand.
Slowly, she relaxed and melted against him, returning his embrace.
It was as much as he could reasonably hope for, and he said a silent prayer of thanks for his new wife.