Chapter 8: Two Happy Days
A dizzying month passed before graduation. Uncle Ken and Melissa (she didn’t like being called aunt) took our sister back to their home, raising her as their own. They didn’t have any kids yet themselves when they took on the task of parenting, but somewhere along the way, Melissa did get pregnant in only two months. With the money we now had and the house all to ourselves, Rene and I threw ourselves, with what time we had between school and after school activities, our jobs, and hanging out with friends, into redecorating much of the house. We took our parents bedroom, cleaning it out and moving in the water bed. Dad might have gotten it for me, but Rene loved it more than I did. We fixed up the nursery Kaitlyn had occupied, went through the stuff our parents had collected, and generally made it our home. A lot of our parents still filled the house, but interspersed among it all was us, things we got together.
We had to explain to a lot of people the “actual” relationship between Rene and me and the “truth” of Rene’s origins, even having the school records fixed with the oversight. Some of the older teachers still felt we shouldn’t have romantic feelings for one another, but most of the younger ones, seeing how happy we were even with our parents’ passing, did accept it. Word got out around school and suddenly I found myself the envy of every guy. To this day, I’m not sure how it got out, but once word spread I’d managed the feat so many had tried, it only made them more envious. With the school and then most of the town knowing of the truth, we informed the college, telling them about our plans to marry and about the pregnancy. They agreed to let us live outside the dorm on our own, waiving the usual requirement.
As graduation neared, the final arrangements on our parents estate were settled, only waiting for the probate to finish up. Since mom’s car was totaled, and the accident had undeniably been caused by the other driver, we received a substantial check. In the end, most of the money wound up in a bank, knowing we might need it in the future. I still had my car, only a couple years old, which Rene adored, and I started driving dad’s Explorer. But, thankfully, all of the wedding arrangements at the time fell into other hands. The invitations, rings, stuff we’d personally want to at least help with, waited for us until after graduation.
Graduation, it was for us a big day, a day we celebrated with our friends. Even Ben came home on leave to watch Ally’s day. Throughout the ceremony, Rene’s hand held mine as the speakers spoke. The morning sun shone down on all of us, and with the diplomas handed out and the speakers finished, the class gave a big shout, finally finished with high school.
That night, when every graduate was celebrating, Rene insisted on having the biggest party at our house. Somehow in a months time, the news of the impending nuptials spread around town, though a lot of people didn’t exactly approve of it, but they couldn’t stop it. So, we shared our home with our classmates, and sure, there was a lot of frolicking and loud music, but one of the benefits of a house in the country, the neighbors are too far away to hear, or care.
Once the graduation’s excitement died down, it became time for us to set to work on the wedding. Our uncle wanted a weekend wedding, on a Saturday, and after talking to a few ministers and justices of the peace, he set a date two weeks after graduation. Spending more time in Rhode Island at his home than at our house, we didn’t get to see our friends enough but we’d invited them earlier, so they knew about the absence. It took Melissa almost an entire day to convince Rene to go out shopping together, but with a little well-placed encouragement from her future husband, Rene reluctantly went out. My uncle took me out to get a tux, then we went looking for rings. With all the money coming out of what mom and dad left us, the only limit were the ones we wanted to set.
When it came to the rings, we’d thought the idea of using our parents rings felt like a good idea, to honor their memory. Then Rene insisted on buying new rings after seeing the inscriptions on their bands, so we spent a better part of a day looking for the right ones. Once the rings were selected, we spent our last night single curled up together.
The night before the wedding, sleeping in separate rooms in Uncle Ken’s house, it was the first time in a long time we’d slept alone. It proved hard, but she called me on my cell phone, helping a little. The night alone didn’t sit well with her, and not seeing each other the next day for hours, almost unbearable. We talked for awhile, losing track of time in the process.
A very loud cracking noise woke me up the next morning with a start. I hurried to get to breakfast while Ken supervised the final arrangements, and once breakfast was done, I got ready for the ceremony. Something in me held the urge to seek out Rene. When my best man, Alec, arrived, he gave me a message straight from my bride, with the same sentiments as my own. The one thing I didn’t feel that day, one everyone said I should’ve had, was fear. Instead, I leapt, not blindly but seeing clearly, into this willingly.
Unlike my parents, the home of my aunt and uncle was an estate, with a spacious view and a large private beach. The seating near the waters on some artificial grass laid over the sand, while the ivy-covered arch we’d be married under was set up on a platform. I stood under the arch, Alec and Chris standing to my left, the justice standing behind me as I watched Rene, all dressed in a simple white gown. The veil covered her face, but she still stood out in it, her hair flowing about. The dress didn’t have the usual frilly, bulging appearance, instead trim and hugging her form with a low cut front and no sleeves, only thin straps draped around her shoulders. She’d managed to find something classy but sexy. I stood under the sun in a black tuxedo, absorbing every ray, but the heat went up another notch. Her knowing smile spread across her lips as she moved slowly towards me, feeling the effect she had on me.
