by Sandy James
We both made promises that I knew we would keep—to honor, to respect and to treasure each other. Scott had purchased beautiful gold bands for us, which came as a surprise because I’d totally forgotten that little detail. When he slid it on my finger, the metal felt warm from being held in Eli’s hand. Scott’s looked perfect on his tanned hand, and I hoped he’d feel as bound to me by that small ring of gold as I did to him. There would never be a time I looked at it and didn’t think of how much I loved Scott Brady.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the judge said, shutting his book and grinning like he’d just won a blue ribbon at the county fair. “You may kiss the bride.”
“I do believe I will.” Scott wrapped his arms around me and planted a soft kiss on my lips. “Congratulations, Mrs. Brady.”
“Mrs. Brady,” I repeated in a whisper. “I like the sound of that.”
* * *
My mother can work miracles. How she was able to call enough friends and relatives to fill the Knights of Columbus reception hall in one night was simply beyond me. When we arrived, I heard the buzz of the crowd and thought there was a mid-week bingo game. Nope. No bingo. Just aunts, uncles, cousins and old friends. A three-tiered cake with pink flowers sat on a small table next to a long table covered with red-and-white checkered tablecloths and piled high with Indiana picnic food—fried chicken, coleslaw, potato salad, chips.
I turned to hug my mother. “Thank you, Mommy,” I whispered.
Her smile was so loving. “You’re welcome, Madalyn.”
The crowd must have noticed us because everyone started applauding. A teenager with a microphone and a squeaky voice announced above the noise, “Here they are, everyone. Mr. and Mrs. Scott Brady.” Then he popped a CD in his system and the mellow sounds of Frank Sinatra filled the air. Daddy had obviously picked the music.
People gathered around us, pulling us into bear hugs and slapping our backs until I figured Scott and I would both be black-and-blue. But to be congratulated by so many people I hadn’t seen in years made this special day even more special.
Eli plopped down next to us when Scott and I finally found the time to grab a plate of food. As he ate, he watched us as if he had something to ask but was afraid. I broke the uncomfortable silence, fearing I knew what was bothering him. He thought I was abandoning him. Again. “We’ll be back for the holidays.”
He stopped eating and nodded.
“And I’ll be on webcam and emailing you all the time about our project.”
Another curt nod.
“What’s wrong, Eli?” I finally asked, hoping I was wrong. God help me, I felt so guilty, as if I really was abandoning him.
He shrugged.
“You’re afraid she won’t have time for you now,” Scott said.
“Why wouldn’t I have time for him now?”
“Because you’ve got a husband,” Eli said, just loud enough to be heard above the Perry Como song.
“But Scott was already a part of my life.”
Eli bowed his head. “But he wasn’t your husband. You guys’ll probably have babies now. You won’t need your old kid.”
I reached out to put my hand on my son’s shoulder. “I could have a million babies and it wouldn’t change the fact that you were my first or that I love you.” When he glanced up, I saw the vulnerability in his eyes. “Eli, you’re my son. I’m so glad you found me. Until you did, I hadn’t realized there was a big hole in my heart. Meeting you, getting to know you and the kind of person you are filled it. I’ve always loved you and I always will.”
Turning back to Scott, I offered him a hesitant smile.
He leaned in and kissed me. “A million babies? Wow. That’ll take some time. And lots of practice.”
“And you’ll probably land a reality show,” Eli added with a smirk. “So when I come to visit, will I be coming to your place or Scott’s?”
“Mine,” both Scott and I replied.
I turned to gape at him. His expression was just as incredulous. “But I’m in Manhattan. I’m a Manhattan girl. Your house is in—” I shuddered for effect, “—Long Island.”
“Your place is so small,” he countered. “I just figured we’d need more room.”
Great. Barely married a few hours, and we were having our first fight. “Long Island is so far out of the city.”
“Tell you what. Let’s keep both places for now. I have lots of court appearances downtown, especially in Manhattan. Why don’t we stay at the condo during the week and escape to the house on the weekends and holidays?”
“You’ll come back here for holidays.” Mom sat down at our table with a piece of cake.
“Shouldn’t we have cut that?” I nodded at her plate. “I thought the bride and groom always cut the cake.”
“Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes. “There isn’t a traditional bone in your body, Madalyn.” After taking a big bite of cake, she closed her eyes. Mom always loved cake, savoring it like fine wine.
“We need to go, angel,” Scott said after he glanced at his watch. “Flight’s in two hours, and we’ll be pushing it to get through security if we don’t go soon.”
For one of the first times in my life, I was reluctant to leave Pottsville. At that moment, things seemed too perfect, and I feared returning to the Big Apple would break whatever spell had been woven around me.
Pushing back his chair, he pulled me to stand. “Ready to say our goodbyes?”
When we walked out of that reception hall, we’d be stepping into our new lives as husband and wife. Nothing would ever really be the same again.
And I was thrilled with change for the first time in my life. “Ready.”
Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that allowing myself to be Kathryn West would have led to this day, to this man and to this new life. I never dreamed that I’d turn into the kind of girl who believed in Happily Ever After.
But now, I believed.
* * * * *
About the Author
Sandy lives in a quiet suburb of Indianapolis with her husband of thirty years. She’s a high school social studies teacher who especially loves psychology and United States history. Since she and her husband own a small stable of harness racehorses, they often spend time together at the two Indiana racetracks.
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ISBN: 9781426893568
Copyright © 2012 by Sandy James
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