23. Thalen
THALEN
It had been hard keeping a secret from Evan and our kits.
When Kaelor commed me, I was positive Evan suspected I was up to something and was going to press me until I caved in and gave him the details.
He hadn’t, and now, as I parked the flitter, I worried that he was going to be angry with me for surprising him in front of all these people.
“I’m glad we got all duded up for this. Everyone seems to be wearing their best clothes,” he said, glancing around.
“They sure are,” I agreed.
Doran waved to us, doing a bad impression of being sneaky and patting his pocket so I knew he had what he was supposed to bring.
“I wonder what is under those big tarps,” Jason said, eyeing the shrouded shapes off to one side of the small stage.
He laughed. “Are they planning on pinning the sheriff and deputy stars on their chests under Jesse and Johree’s old wedding arch?
” he asked, spying the two lawmen whose public swearing in ceremony was today. “Or are they also getting married?”
“You and Pata should get married,” Jason said. “Then you’d be husbands and mates, just like Johree and Jesse.”
Vrann nodded emphatically, agreeing with everything Jason said, just as he always did. He had a serious case of hero worship for his new older brother. Jason adored him in turn. They had an unbreakable sibling bond that was beautiful to see.
“Hi, boys,” Jesse said. “I bet you guys can’t wait to go play on those swings!”
“I wanna go on the monkey bars!” Jason informed him, “And then the swings!”
Jesse laughed. “You should go on up front so they can see better,” Jesse said.
I appreciated his casual subterfuge. Doran really could afford to take some lessons from him in case he needed to keep another big secret.
“Thanks, Jesse, I think we will,” Evan replied, leading the way as Jesse turned to greet someone else.
People gave way, surrendering a spot just next to the stage steps up front. Evan was so busy admiring the bunting and floral displays and seeing who he recognized in the crowd that he didn’t even notice how suspicious that was.
“Oh! I bet the sheriff and deputy are getting married!” he whispered excitedly to me as they stood a few paces before the arch.
“Do you really think so?” Doran asked mischievously as he joined us.
Then Johree and Jesse took the stage, about a foot in front of the arch, looking out over the crowd. Johree called for everyone’s attention, and the crowd quieted down.
Jesse smiled. “Thank you all for coming.” The conversations finished dying away. “I know we've had a lot happening lately. New people arriving, new buildings going up, new jobs being created, and more changes than most of us could have imagined when we first came to New Haven.”
A ripple of laughter moved through the crowd.
“You can say that again!” someone called out. A ripple of laughter followed.
“But that's exactly what today is about. Building something together,” he continued when it died down once more.
He glanced toward the schoolhouse, on the other side of the playground from the main park.
“And speaking of things we've built, I'm very pleased to announce that our new schoolhouse will officially open its doors on Tuesday morning.”
The adults applauded enthusiastically.
Several children groaned.
Jesse laughed. “I see we have some students who aren't quite as excited about that announcement as their parents.”
The children groaned louder.
Jesse held up his hands placatingly. “But before you all start plotting ways to avoid lessons, I'd like you to meet the person who'll be responsible for making sure you actually learn something.” He gestured toward the side of the stage. “Please welcome our new schoolteacher, Mr. Nick Carter.”
Nick stepped forward to enthusiastic applause.
“Nick, welcome to New Haven. Your role will see many fine, young minds help shape the very future of our colony. For that, we thank you for choosing to come here.”
“Thank you.”
Nick stepped back, hastily leaving the stage via the second set of stairs on the side to rejoin his mate and their kits.
Jesse waited for the applause to fade. “Our sheriff and deputy have already begun their official duties, but we haven't yet had the opportunity to give them their badges.”
The crowd murmured approvingly.
“Since the badges were designed to reflect the traditions of old Earth law enforcement, we thought it only fitting that the official pinning be done by someone who understands the importance of tradition and who more than anyone, has dominion over the colony.” Jesse looked at Johree.
“My mate, and our governor and prince, Johree.”
Thunderous applause sounded as Johree inclined his head in acknowledgement. Once he could be heard, he gestured for the two males in question to come up. “Sheriff,” he called as he did so.
The sheriff stepped onto the stage.
“Deputy.”
The deputy followed close on their heels. Evan’s grin grew wider, thinking more was about to happen with the mated pair than was at first apparent.
Johree indicated that they should stand before him and they did so, side by side.
“Please raise your right hands.” He paused, letting them do so before he continued. “Do you swear that you will faithfully uphold the laws of New Haven, protect those placed in your care, serve every citizen fairly, and carry out the duties entrusted to you with honor?”
“I swear,” the sheriff said.
“I swear,” the deputy echoed.
“Do you swear that you will use the authority given to you not for personal gain, vengeance, or favor, but for the safety and welfare of this colony?”
“I swear.”
“I do so swear.”
“Then by the authority entrusted to me by the Dragonii Empire and the good citizens of New Haven, I recognize you both as officers of New Haven.”
Johree took the first silver star from the table. He pinned it carefully to the sheriff's chest. Then he turned to the deputy and did the same with the second one.
Applause broke out.
The sheriff and deputy turned to wave to the crowd before they stepped to one side of the stage, proudly displaying their new stars.
Jesse waited until the applause died down. A huge grin broke out across his face as he looked directly at us.
“And now I'd like to ask Thalen, Evan, Vrann, and Jason to join us,” he said.
Evan froze. I felt his fingers tighten around mine as his head swiveled to look at me.
“Why are we going up there?”
I simply smiled, hoping that I hadn't miscalculated in how he’d take my surprise. “Come on,” I finally got out, both of my hearts lodged in my throat.
“Thalen.”
“Trust me.”
His eyes narrowed.
“You have been acting strangely for the past few days. What is going on?”
I couldn't stop smiling.
“It is quite likely that I have acted out of sorts recently.”
“And you wouldn't tell me why.”
“That is also true.”
“Thalen —”
I tugged gently on his hand.
“Come on.”
He followed me, still looking suspicious.
Vrann and Jason followed on our heels, although they were much less confused than Evan from their expressions. They were giggling, nudging each other. We reached the stage. Jesse stepped back as Johree moved forward.
“Evan,” he said warmly.
Evan looked from Johree to me.
Then to the arch.
His eyes widened as he realized that during his questioning, Johree and Jesse had repositioned themselves so that when we came to a stop, we were beneath the arch.
“No.”
I smiled.
“Yes.”
“You're —”
His gaze came back to mine.
“You're marrying me?”
“Yes.”
He stared at me for another heartbeat.
“It’s not them getting married. It’s us,” I confirmed.
Soft laughter from the crowd and the other males on the stage with us had him blushing as he glanced around, remembering them after apparently having forgotten for a moment as he tried to parse what was happening.
“You're —” His gaze came back to mine, and he swallowed. “You're marrying me?”
“Yes.”
He stared at me for another heartbeat.
Then he laughed, and tears immediately filled his eyes.
“You absolute bastard.”
“I was hoping to surprise you.”
“You did.”
He threw his arms around me. I held him tightly back.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“I love you too,” he sniffled.
The applause around us was almost deafening.
When we finally separated, Doran stepped up beside me.
Evan stared at him.
“Doran?”
“Best man.”
“You knew?”
“Of course I knew.”
“And nobody told me?”
Doran shrugged.
“It wouldn't have been much of a surprise if we had.”
Evan shook his head, laughing through his tears.
Jesse stepped forward. “Well, since everyone is here, we might as well make this official.”
A cheer broke out. Jesse reached into his pocket and pulled out the two rings I’d ordered, plain gold bands that Jesse had assured me were a traditional style, if a little old fashioned.
That sounded like exactly the sort of traditional thing my Evan would adore, so the choice was made. Johree smiled.
“Thalen, you have waited a long time for this moment.”
“I have.”
“And Evan, you have crossed more than one world to find your way here.”
“I did.”
Johree smiled.
“Then let us begin.”
I turned toward Evan, licking my lips nervously.
“Evan, I spent years believing I knew exactly what my life would look like.”
His eyes stayed fixed on mine.
“Then you arrived.” I smiled. ”And I discovered something rather important.”
“What?”
“You had absolutely no idea how to farm.”
The crowd erupted in laughter.
Evan covered his face with his hands.
“I knew how to grow things,” he insisted.
“You knew how to buy vegetables and what farmers on Earth more or less generally do from watching vids.”
More laughter.
“Okay, yeah, that’s true,” he conceded.
“It is indeed,” I said as I reached for his hands. “And strangely, despite you not matching my dream’s expectations, I wasn't disappointed.”
His smile softened.
“I was delighted.” I squeezed his fingers. “Because every new thing you had to learn gave me another reason to be beside you. Another morning to show you how to do something. Another excuse to put my hands over yours and help.”
His eyes grew bright.“”