Micah's Mock Matrimony

by Liz Isaacson

  “You have so much more to see,” he said, stepping back and wiping her face. He smiled down at her gently. “Come on, I’ll take you on a tour.” He fixed his hand in hers and indicated the corner. “You’ll notice that the doorway is set back from the shop. I thought it would be a box, but it’s not really. This wall is only twenty feet, instead of thirty, but I wanted the windows.”

  “It’s amazing,” Simone said. “Look at all those shelves.”

  “Built-in,” Micah said. “Fifty feet of them.” He looked down the length of the wall. “Varying heights, according to your specifications. You can remove some of them to adjust them and fit in larger items.” He took her to the left. “Work tables here. Thirty feet of those, with a shelving unit underneath, and two of them have those mesh drawers for brushes, buttons, bobbles, you know. All that stuff you said you wanted.”

  Simone reached out and pulled open one of the mesh drawers, which contained segmented compartments of various sizes inside. “This is perfect. They really will hold buttons or pins or knobs.”

  “Yep.” He nodded straight ahead as they walked. “Your kiln is right there. A desk next to it so you can do your administrative stuff. That’s the wall by the house, so there’s electricity for your computer, the kiln, the fridge, and the microwave.”

  “Micah.” She froze, and he knew she’d seen the desk. Really seen it. She looked at him, pure shock in her eyes. “Is that—?”

  “Yes,” he said. “That’s your mother’s desk. I managed to whine enough to get it away from Callie. And really, it was Liam who made it happen. He said she got to have the whole ranch, the house, the wedding dress. You could have the desk. You’d take good care of it.” He beamed at her. “You’re impressed with my bargaining skills, aren’t you?”

  “I’m impressed with everything,” she said, giggling. “But that one hadn’t crossed my mind.”

  “Anyway, one of the drawers was broken, so I fixed it up, and it’s all yours now.”

  She stepped over to it and ran both hands along the top of the nearly black antique. “My mother used to sit here and write letters to my father while they were dating,” she said. “At least that’s what Daddy told me. She brought it with her when she came to Three Rivers to marry him. She brought this one piece of furniture and three suitcases. Nothing else.”

  “It must’ve been very special to her,” Micah said.

  “It was her grandmother’s.” Simone smiled as if she could look back through the generations and see her mother, her grandmother, and her great-grandmother. She took his hand again and said, “I’m going to eat so much popcorn out here while I work. That microwave is seriously the best part.”

  “The microwave?” Micah asked, shaking his head. He laughed, the sound flying up to the ceiling where it bounced around.

  “Well, and that wall of shelves,” she said. “Or that perfectly cute little table where I can take pictures of my vases and lamps.”

  “And this is your stock back here,” he said. “See how it’s around the corner so you can keep the more unsightly things away from the door?”

  “Or the really awesome things,” she said. “I don’t want anyone to see when they come to the door.”

  “Both, yes,” Micah said. “I just know you used to keep your unfinished or un-started stuff out of sight in the other shed.”

  Simone nodded at all the things she had in the she-shed. The barrels, the old wood, the frame of a chair that had a cushion with stuffing spilling out of the top and bottom of it. She could see beauty where he saw trash, and he loved that about her.

  “Merry Christmas,” he said. “And I’m counting this as a wedding gift too.”

  She turned toward him, her smile big and beautiful. “You still want to marry me?”

  “Simone,” he said, deadly serious. “I’ve wanted to marry you since nearly the day I met you.”

  Tears filled her eyes again, and she shook her head. “We’ve had quite the road, then, haven’t we?”

  It had been quite a wild year, with a lot going on. Micah felt more mature than he had twelve months ago. He felt more grounded in his faith. He wasn’t afraid of his emotions anymore.

  “Yeah,” he said. “And hopefully, a lot more to come.” He leaned down and kissed his wife, whom he would exchange real vows with tomorrow night. He couldn’t wait, and he hoped he’d always be as happy to be with her as he was in that moment.

  “Thank you, Micah,” she whispered.

  “Anything for you.”

  Simone drew in a long breath, her chest pressing against Micah’s. “All right. Let’s get back inside and get ready for one last practice. They’ll be here soon.”

  “I really think everyone’s got it,” Micah said, threading his fingers through his wife’s as they started back through her she-shed.

  “But it has to be perfect,” Simone said. “It’s for your mother, Micah. Don’t you want it to be perfect?”

  He kinda did, and he couldn’t deny it. So he said, “Yeah, Simone, I want it to be perfect.”

  “She’s going to love it,” Simone said, clearly excited. And Micah got excited about anything she did. He had to admit, what she’d planned for Momma was pretty awesome, and he couldn’t wait until tomorrow night to walk down the aisle with Simone and give her the wedding she’d always wanted.

  Walker Family Epilogue

  Momma drove down the highway, the night already starting to turn the day into twilight. She hummed as Gideon rode beside her, still fiddling with his bow tie. They’d spent a long time on their knees that morning, thanking the Lord for all of His blessings.

  Seven sons.

  Seven daughters-in-law, each of them perfectly suited for the son they’d chosen and married. Momma couldn’t tell a lie and for a while there, while the boys entered their teens, stayed for a bit, and then left, she wondered if she’d ever be able to marry them off.

  Who would want one of her boys? A loud, broad, stinky man who only wore cowboy boots and barely took off his cowboy hat? When she’d say such things to Gideon, he’d remind her that she’d wanted him, and Momma would laugh and say, “I guess that’s true.”

  “It’s been quite the year,” Gideon said, and Momma glanced over to him.

  “It sure has.” Babies being born. More coming. Death. Grief. Healing. Hope. They’d managed to get his parents to move out of their house, and while that had been painful for a few months as they had to purge so much of what they’d been holding onto for years, they’d done it.

  “Your parents are getting a ride with Tripp, right?” she asked. In her older age, she was forgetting more and more.

  “That’s what he said.”

  Momma nodded. She hadn’t forgotten to get them, because Tripp was picking them up. Ivory’s parents would be at the wedding too, along with Jerome and Belinda. Momma had cooked for them a couple of times, and she did like spending time with the Foster girls’ father and step-mother.

  She turned onto the road that led to the ranch, a sigh coming from her lips as she saw the Christmas lights. “This ranch is beautiful,” she said.

  “The boys sure do out-do themselves year after year,” Gideon said. “Look at the stars on the fence this year. They have the grandkids’ names on them.”

  Momma had seen them before, but she looked again anyway. Five girls. Seven boys, with two more on the way. Both Simone and Marcy were expecting baby boys very soon, and Momma couldn’t wait to hold them and whisper how much she loved them.

  There was no greater joy than that of being a grandparent, and she basked in the glow of the all-white lights on the huge oak tree between Skyler’s and Jeremiah’s homes. She was so glad four of her boys lived right here on this land, because she believed that they needed each other.

  She worried about Wyatt up in the hills alone, but he’d bounced back just fine after the incident with Jeremiah.

  “We’re goin’ to Micah’s,” Gideon said when Momma started to turn into the homestead.

  “Oops,
” she said, jerking the wheel the other way. “You’re right.” She parked in his driveway, beside a couple of other trucks, and she and Gideon got out.

  Music filtered into the air from the direction of the backyard, and she took her husband’s hand and they walked toward the corner of the garage where a bunch of white balloons fluttered in the evening breeze, illuminated by a beautiful white light atop a decorative pole. Another cluster of balloons sat at the next corner, and they made their way there.

  Turning the corner, Momma’s excitement grew. She paused to take in the wonder that existed back here. Simone had planned everything right down to the very last jar of fireflies sitting on the tables on the massive patio Micah had put in their backyard.

  The rows of chairs faced away from the house, and on the edge of the patio, an arch had been set up. The altar waited beneath it, and several more jars of buzzing fireflies sat there, waiting for the bride and groom.

  “Rhett’s here,” Gideon said. “I see Jeremiah. Tripp. Liam….”

  Momma saw them all too, and her lungs seized. Her heart scrunched against itself. Her boys. Her grown men, all wearing suits and ties and matching cowboy hats. They were so handsome, and each of them seemed to turn toward her at the same time.

  “Momma,” Rhett said, coming over with Austin in his arms. “I was just gonna call you.”

  “We’re not late, are we?” she asked, accepting his hug.

  “Nope. And not last either. Skyler lives across the street and isn’t here yet.”

  “Hey, Momma.” Liam hugged her, and she clung to him. Her dear Liam, who had a heart of gold.

  “How are the girls?”

  “Good,” he said, smiling. “We’re getting packed up. Excited for our new adventure.”

  “I want to hear all about it,” she said. “Every night.”

  “Momma,” Jeremiah said, stealing her attention from Liam. He held her tight, whispering, “Whitney’s going to have another baby.”

  “Oh,” Momma said, patting him on the back. Her smile seemed permanently etched on her face. “That’s great news.”

  “I’m not going to make an announcement, though,” he said with a smile.

  “Is Wyatt here?”

  “Yeah, he’s back with Micah. Skyler too.”

  “So Skyler’s not late.” Momma shot a glance at Rhett, who shrugged. The three younger boys had often banded together, and she was glad someone was in with Micah. She’d heard Simone’s dress was a showstopper, and Momma had half a mind to go inside and see it before the ceremony started.

  Before she could, Tripp came over and said, “Hey, Daddy. Hey, Momma.” He hugged her and added, “Can you sit by Joan and Will? I think they feel lost.”

  “Sure,” Momma said, stepping around him to see where Ivory’s parents were. “Oh, they’re by Jerome and Belinda.” She reached for Gideon’s hand. “Let’s go sit by them.”

  She made her way past the long dessert table, which had all the signs set up but none of the treats. Yet. Micah and Simone were feeding everyone too.

  “Gramma,” Conrad said coming toward her, and Momma scooped him right into her arms.

  “Hello, my boy,” she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “How are you?”

  “Good,” he said, sitting happily with her as she sat next to Joan.

  “It’s nice of you to come.” Momma smiled at Ivory’s mother.

  “This is wonderful,” Joan said, bouncing Isaac on her knee. “I can’t even imagine what it took to do this.” She gazed up at the tea lights hanging everywhere, and Momma had to agree. “It’s so beautiful. I’ve never thought of doing a night wedding.”

  “Simone is a creative woman,” Momma said with as much love as she had. She sensed something happening behind her, and she turned to see Skyler and Wyatt coming out of the house. Behind them came Evelyn and Callie, and Momma took a few seconds to get to her feet.

  She thought the other boys and their wives would come sit down, and then Micah would come out and stand at the altar, leaving Simone to parade to his side alone. Gideon had offered to walk her down the aisle, but she’d said she wasn’t going to have an escort. She was definitely unconventional, but Momma supposed that even having this ceremony wasn’t traditional.

  But the boys stayed by the steps, lining up in age order. The music that had been playing stopped, and a moment later, the wedding march began.

  Oliver sat with Rhett and Evelyn’s triplets. Denise sat next to Ginger. Whitney’s parents had Jeremiah’s two kids with them.

  Rhett took a step forward from his side of the aisle, and Evelyn from hers, the two of them meeting in the middle. They smiled at each other, leaned forward and kissed, and then linked arms.

  “I love you, Evvy,” Rhett said, beaming at her as if they were the couple getting married that night.

  “I love you too, Rhett Walker.” They turned and walked down the aisle.

  Momma’s soul lit up, watching them. Rhett and Evelyn. The perfect couple. They went all the way to the front row and down to where Oliver sat with their triplets.

  Jeremiah stepped to the middle and offered his arm to Whitney. She looked like she might not take it, then burst into a laugh, tipped up on her toes to kiss him, and said, “I’m so glad you asked me to marry you.”

  “Sometimes I still wonder how I got so lucky to have you.” He grinned at her, and they walked toward Momma too.

  She’d known she was going to cry, and she decided not to hold it back. She touched two fingers to her lips and threw the kiss to Jeremiah and Whitney. How well-suited they were for one another. They went down the row where her parents sat with their kids.

  Liam, the oldest of the twins, stepped forward and took Callie into his arms, dipping her back and kissing her while the other boys whooped. They came up laughing, the two of them, but Momma couldn’t stop weeping.

  “Love you, sweetheart,” Liam said, grinning at her.

  “Love you too, Mister Walker.”

  As they walked past Momma, she felt sure she was looking at angels. They went down the row and sat beside their girls, Callie putting her arm around Denise, and Liam settling Ginger on his lap.

  Tripp met Ivory at the bottom of the steps, and it was in that moment that Momma finally realized all the women were wearing a version of the same dress. It was white and long, dragging slightly on the ground. The fabric flowed around them, and seemed to be made of gauze.

  It was a wedding dress.

  That Simone sure was a clever woman, and downright amazing too.

  Ivory wasn’t as much for show as some of the other women, but she kissed Tripp while she held his face in both of her hands.

  “I’ve been so happy since I met you,” Tripp said.

  “You’re my whole world,” Ivory replied.

  They walked to the spot next to Momma, and she could only smile at them, despite her tears.

  Wyatt stepped forward and cocked his elbow for Marcy to take. Marcy carried Warren, sported her baby bump, and wore a cowboy hat. One of Wyatt’s for sure.

  They both took off their hats and waved to the crowd, and everyone already in their seats—and those who hadn’t made it there yet—took theirs off and waved back.

  Beside her, Gideon sniffled, and she was glad the old, tough cowboy still had the ability to cry.

  “I love you,” they said in tandem, and Wyatt kissed Marcy as if he’d forgotten they weren’t alone, They walked toward a couple of empty seats in the front row, but Wyatt had to stop to engulf Momma in a tight hug before he made it to his seat.

  Skyler extended his hand to Mal, who also carried their baby in her arms. She put her hand in his and twirled into his side, both of them laughing. He kissed her, and Momma saw the joy on both of their faces. Skyler reseated his cowboy hat and walked toward them, saying, “I love you, Mal.”

  “And I love you, Sky.”

  He nodded to Momma, like, There you go, Momma.

  She knew this entire show was for her.

  She�
�d missed a lot of the weddings. In fact, she’d only been to Wyatt’s wedding, and that had been fake.

  Nothing she’d just seen had been fake. Her sons loved their wives. Their wives loved her sons. And Momma’s love for Simone doubled and then tripled. She knew Momma had wanted to be there for all of her sons’ weddings, and she’d planned this just for her.

  Her tears flowed faster now, and Momma wiped at her eyes furiously so she didn’t miss her youngest son’s promises to his wife.

  Micah came outside, his smile absolutely blinding. He waited at the bottom of the steps, finally turning around and extending his hand toward the gorgeous bride that emerged from the house like a butterfly breaking free of her cocoon.

  They held hands and looked at one another before walking forward. No kiss, Momma noticed. Neither of them spoke, but Micah stopped in front of Momma and reached for her.

  “I love you, Momma,” he whispered, and his joy seeped from him and into her. She could tell and taste how much he loved Simone, even if he had wanted to “try the marriage thing.”

  She released him so he could step over to Daddy, and Momma immediately took Simone into her arms. “You precious woman,” she said. She pulled back and looked into Simone’s eyes. “I sure do love you.”

  “Are you surprised?” Simone asked, her eyes twinkling. They seemed a bit shinier too, and Momma supposed they should be. After all, it was Simone’s wedding day.

  “So surprised,” Momma said. “And I love it. You got everyone to go along.”

  “I fed them a bunch of times,” Simone said with a laugh. She too stepped over to Daddy and hugged him, and then Micah led her to the next row, and they hugged Jerome and Belinda too.

  Simone took several long seconds with her father, and she did swipe at her eyes just once before securing her hand in Micah’s and going back to the aisle with him.

  They continued to the altar, where Skyler joined them, and Momma was glad she wasn’t the only one weeping.

  The music stopped, and Skyler invited everyone to sit down. After several seconds where everyone got settled, he looked out at everyone.