Of Damsels & Dragons

by Nona Mae King

  ~*~

  Garret looked down at his Rolex with a slight smirk as he waited by the pastor at the end of the carpeted aisle in the backyard of the Burke home. He actually enjoyed the feelings of nervousness that mercilessly rolled his stomach into a knot. When was the last time I felt nervous? Definitely when he had awaited any type of good news regarding Amy’s accident more than two years before. Definitely when he had finally decided to reiterate his proposal last year. Definitely when he had decided to teach at Aspen Grove High more than six months ago. But previously? No. Not for many, many years.

  Garret checked his watch again, immediately feeling a firm nudge at his elbow. He looked to his left to intercept Adam’s grin. Garret reluctantly smiled, giving his soon-to-be brother-in-law a partial shrug. Adam chuckled, shaking his head as he moved his gaze to the grass at his feet.

  Garret had enjoyed the chance to get to know Amy’s family over the past nine or ten months. Garret had found Adam Burke to be a ‘trouble-maker’ who enjoyed practical jokes and roughhouse play. Much to the entire family’s surprise, Adam and Garret had instantly clicked. Adam had so reminded Garret of his own brothers, men that Garret hadn’t seen for years, that the instant connection with Amy’s brother had been an unexpected blessing.

  So had the connection to Amy’s father, Richard.

  Richard Burke was a no-nonsense Baptist who only respected a person when they earned it. Garret had fallen victim to many an intense, philosophical, and often religious discussions with the nearly sixty-year-old man. Garret, who had never backed down from a challenge in his life, had answered Richard Burke’s questions as succinctly and honestly as possible. Many of the conversations had become a little heated, as much as a Baptist on-fire for the Lord could get, but such a response only reminded Garret of his own roots in Catholicism. His mother had been as devout as Amy’s parents.

  The love Garret felt for Amy’s mother, Elizabeth, had been almost instantaneous upon his meeting of her nearly twelve months before.

  While completing the filming, Garret had personally taken Amy to any and all professionals, specialists, and therapists suggested. While many of their opinions had been negative, a great many of the others had eagerly taken up treatment, offering suggestions of stretching/strengthening exercises, surgeries, and other remedies that would help in the lowering of the inflammation/swelling/accumulation of scar tissue within the injury near Amy’s lower spine.

  Shortly after the movie was released to theaters, Amy received word of a physical therapist in her hometown who had expressed interest in her case. So Garret had organized Amy’s move back home, unable to accompanying her due to the demands on his time. Then, after Amy had received the Best Supporting Female Actor Oscar, Garret had traveled to Aspen Grove to not only present it to her, but to finally take the promised vacation Amy had suggested while still filming.

  Garret’s first impression of ‘Liz’ Burke encompassed welcome and compassion. Later, as Liz took him on tours of small Aspen Grove after hours, the two had talked of philosophy, ‘why’s, and the meanings of life. Garret hadn’t realized that grief and confusion had given rise to a carefully controlled rage until Liz had carefully peeled back the layers keeping it in check. Then she had encouraged him to voice the rage.

  Amy had obviously learned the art of communication from her mother.

  Vacation over, rage released, and newfound purpose discovered, Garret had promised to return in three months’ time to live in Aspen Grove on a more permanent basis. True to his word, he had even arrived a day earlier than expected--

  Nudge.

  Garret caught the tail end of the cue given to the pianist just as Adam nudged his arm. Garret straightened his tuxedo jacket as the processional began. Several of the students from his different classes caught his eye to give him the ‘thumbs-up’ or a wink or grin. He responded with a distracted smirk as his gaze continued to focus on the silk tent set up at the extreme end of the carpeted aisle, which was all of 10 meters long. One of Amy’s cousins as well as a student from Garret’s Drama class had been chosen to pull the tent flaps aside when Amy was ready to emerge. They received the signal from within and nodded to each other to pull the silk aside…

  …Amy emerged dressed in white satin, long flowing veil, and white roses in hand as she walked down the aisle supported by her father. Garret’s throat tightened as tears of relief and awe burned his eyes. He smiled and just barely kept himself from rushing forward to envelope her in a tight embrace.

  Amy and Garret as well as her parents had been diligent in performing her daily routine of strengthening exercises. The physical therapist and doctor had kept close eye on the swelling and scar tissue, giving encouragement whenever it was needed. Amy’s determination had inspired Garret’s hope that she would indeed accomplish what she wanted: to walk at their wedding.

  Now, although her gait was a trifle sluggish and uncertain, she walked those 10 meters to his side, beaming the entire way.

  “Who gives this woman to this man?” Pastor Gary asked.

  Richard Burke cleared his throat of the emotion Garret saw in his eyes. “I do. Her father. Richard Burke.”

  Then Amy was steadied as her hand transferred from her father’s arm to Garret’s. Garret covered it with his and smiled down at her. “You will never cease to amaze me, sweet muse,” he whispered.

  Amy looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, which also glistened on her cheeks. “Good,” she whispered in a choked voice. “Now let’s get married. We have those lists of suggestions to exchange, remember?”

  Garret withheld a laugh.

  The End