Stealing Grace (24 page)

She curled her wet hair around her fingers that morning so it would be wavy hanging past her shoulders. She wanted to look good for him today. She knew they couldn’t have a real wedding, and she really wasn’t interested in one.

This was her perfect and ideal wedding day; spending time with friends, a small ceremony, just the two of them and no fancy-smancy distractions and cost.

They bought a couple coffees for the road and surprisingly found a jar of green olives in the general store, which Alex bought for Elena without her knowing.

She couldn’t stop thinking about today’s events as she stood, waiting for him at the window in the shop. Once he paid for their items he finally tore her out of thought advising it was time to take off again.

It was unusually warm, much warmer now than this morning. The weather was so back and forth this time of year. Elena removed her sweater, showing her bare arms in her sleeveless dress as they walked to the truck. She caught Alex watching her with a dreamy look. She smiled and bit her lip. He saw and chuckled.

He helped her into the drivers’ side and she slid over just a bit sitting next to him. They both put their sunglasses on as he put the truck in drive, his other arm on Elena’s knee, which was propped up on the seat. She rested her head on his shoulder, her arm wrapped around his.

The air conditioner was blowing on her face, giving her goose bumps. He noticed and chuckled as he turned the blower to the other side of the truck.

Something new was playing on the radio, a new song she’d never heard. It was distracting her thoughts which she inevitably agreed to herself was best. She was getting herself all worked up over this wedding. It wasn’t a big deal. She was happy. Alex was happy. Roger and Amy were happy. It was a miracle if she’d ever seen one.

Alex ran his hand up and down her leg to soothe her, inevitably giving her goose bumps again but of a different kind. He again fidgeted with the blower but it wasn’t blowing on her. He looked at her questioningly.

“It’s not the A/C, it’s you,” she laughed.

“Oh, well then, I’ll take that as a compliment.” He laughed looking cute and smug.

“I’m ok. I’m just so excited about today, Alex. And the next day...and the next day. I can’t believe we’re actually on the road, heading away from that place.”

“Me too. I can’t believe we did it. We left, gone. You don’t know how long I’ve thought about this, El.”

“I can guess. Are you happy?”

“Of course I am.” He looked between her and the road several times. “What kind of question is that?”

“I just wanted to hear you say it.”

“I’m happy. And you look beautiful. I was so busy earlier I forgot to tell you that.”

“Thanks, babe. You look pretty good yourself. You know how those white t-shirts get me.”

“Oh really? Well, I’ll have to remember that for the honeymoon.” He smiled in his profile.

“I’m already on my honeymoon.”

She removed her sunglasses and looked at him. Her sweet smile was happy and her eyes intense. He almost ran off the road looking at her. She laughed at him throwing her head back and shaking with the force of it causing him to laugh too. He hadn’t seen her laugh like that before. She was finally set free.

Alex couldn’t wait to get to the city and marry her, on his and her terms. He couldn’t imagine being more in love than he was right then.

Then he was absolutely certain of one thing.

There was a God.

There without a doubt had to be a God. And for whatever reason, he had found favor in Alex and had given him an angel.

* * *

The streets were packed with cars and people. Cops were directing hoard after massive hoard of people where to go to park and for people passing through.
Wow.
Elena had no idea what this festival was about, but whatever it was, it was big.

They finally found their way through the middle of town to the church. As described the double doors were wide open, white bloom azalea bushes lining the brick walkways. It was gorgeous.

Alex turned to her.

“Look, if you wanna wait to have a real wedding, I’m fine with that. I know how it is for-” Elena stopped him, her finger on his lips.

“It’s perfect. There is nothing else I want more than to do this with you, right now.” She kissed him good and he, giving one last glance over her, got out of the truck smiling.

He and Roger went in to talk to the preacher. Amy went to stand by the truck with Elena. After a few minutes, Roger came and got them.

The church was small but lovely with ferns and potted flowers everywhere. The pulpit was old cracked wood and stood up on the flat platform. The pews were white as well the walls and railings. The floors were crimson red.
Perfect.
Alex and the preacher were waiting for them in the center row.

“I understand you want to renew your vows.” The very short and stout preacher asked the girls as they walked up. They smiled and nodded. “How long have you all been married?”

“Four months,” Alex said, knowing it would sound odd to the preacher.

It wasn’t exactly a milestone.

“Four months for us, too,” Roger said, no doubt thinking the same thing.

“Four months? And both couples want to renew?” the preacher said, a questioning eyebrow raised.

“Yes. That’s the plan. We know it sounds strange, but it’s just something we need to do,” Alex answered for everyone.

“Ok, well, who’s first?”

“We’ll go first,” Roger said, “if that’s ok.”

“Sure, sure. Well, how do you wanna do this? Just say the vows or... Do you wanna give her away?” the preacher said pointing at Alex, referring to Amy.

“I can, if you like,” Alex told her, looking thoughtfully at Amy to see if that was acceptable to her.

“Well. I mean we don’t have to make a big production of it, if you don’t want to.” Amy didn’t like being put on the spot and was trying to push the blame on someone else.

“Nonsense!!” The church secretary rounded the piano headed their way, her extremely over enunciated Irish accent was sweet and hilarious. “It’s so much more romantic that way, don’t you think? You didn’t have a real fancy wedding the first time now did ya now, darling?”

“No, not really,” Amy answered shooting glances at Elena and Roger.

It took all they had to keep from bursting out with laughter.

“I didn’t think so. Why don’t you just walk her down the aisle, deary? It’s a girls’ prerogative to have some semblance of fancy on her wedding day,” she said, motioning for Alex.

“Ok. Let’s go, little lady,” Alex said poking out his arm for her to take his elbow.

Elena walked up front with Roger and stood on the brides’ side. She glanced over and saw Roger pull a ring out of his pocket, twisting it in his fingers, looking thoughtful and happy.

She smiled at him and he looked up.

“I saw that rock Alex landed on your finger, I can’t let him one up me now, can I?” Roger joked with her, his hands shaking now.

She could see how nervous he was.

“Roger, you’re a good man, you know that? She’s lucky to have you. Don’t worry, you’re already married remember?”

They both laughed and then heard the secretary start the piano.

They turned to see the loves of their lives walking down the aisle arm in arm. Amy had a single red rose in her hand. Elena was dreading her walk a little. Like Amy, she didn’t like to make a production of herself, but somehow she knew she wasn’t going to be able to get away with not doing it, what with the secretary sitting right there and all.

Once they reached the end of the aisle Alex stood by Roger and Amy stepped in front of Elena. Elena saw Alex peeking around Roger to look at her.

Amy had a disposable camera in her pocket and had given it to the secretary earlier, advising her to split the pictures between both couples. Elena smiled and chuckled when Roger gave Amy the ring as she gasped and flitted her hands in the air a little bit in excitement.

After their ‘I Do’s they kissed, an exceptionally deep and long kiss, which the preacher laughed at to break up, and then posed for a couple pictures. Then it was Alex and Elena’s turn.

Roger immediately put his arm out for Elena to take, “Shall we?”

She took it gratefully and they marched to the back.

“This is all so silly,” Elena said.

“Yes, but that secretary is right, you girls like this sort of thing. You’ll look back on this one day and be glad that kooky lady made us do this.”

They both laughed again, Elena trying to stifle her laugh in Roger’s sleeve as the secretary gave them a bewildered yet stern look. Then she settled, looked up and realized it was her turn. The preacher, Amy and Alex we’re ready in front and now the music was playing. Elena started shaking, instantly going clammy and blew a shaky sigh
.
What’s the matter with me?

Roger noticed and turned to her, tightened his hand on her arm and smiled as he whispered to her.

“Relax. You’re already married remember?”

She gave a breathy chuckle.

“Yes, yes we are. Thank you, Roger.”

“I’m the one that should be thanking you. You saved mine and Amy’s lives. I’ll owe you forever for that. Alex is a good guy and a very lucky one.”

“You don’t owe me anything, just make her happy and I’ll try my best to make Alex happy. Deal?”

“Deal. You ready?”

“Da dum dum dum,” she hummed and they laughed as they started the walk down the aisle.

She looked up at Alex and didn’t care how ridiculous she looked anymore. She was smiling and so was he, one not able to take their eyes off the other.

* * *

Their ceremony was the much of the same and after their pictures, Alex handed the preacher an envelope and the girls hugged the sweet eccentric secretary, who had been crying the whole time.

Amy got her camera and they headed out the door. Once outside they decided to make the four block walk to the festival instead of trying to drive closer, as all the roads and parking lots were packed anyway. They walked, Roger and Amy in front, holding hands with her head on his shoulder and Alex and Elena behind them, his arm around her shoulder and her holding his hand.

You wouldn’t think anything strange about them if you had seen them walking to the festival. They were normal married couples from this day forward.

They rode rides together and ate greasy cakes and hotdogs and listened to music. Roger dragged Amy then Elena out to dance to the upbeat country music. Alex then took Elena to the picture booth. He squeezed in next to her in the tiny space and began trying to force the bills into the machine. Elena laughed at him, making his body shake which in turn made it harder to get the money in the slot. He was laughing too once he finally got it in, and they waited for the beep.

He pushed a piece of her hair behind her ear while his fingers traced the edge and she felt goose bumps spread on her arms, causing her to bite her lower lip. That was her signal to him these days that he was driving her crazy in a very good way.

They both started laughing when the machine beeped and took the first picture. It got a candid half laugh kiss, a fish face next, kissy face, stick out tongue face and a smiling face later, they stumbled, laughing out of the booth and waited on their pictures.

Elena leaned back against the machine and Alex leaned toward her and kissed her. It was almost dark now. They were alone under a tree by the booth so Alex let his hand wander on her waist, then they heard a noise behind them.

“Ew.”

They were startled by a little boy staring at them and waiting to use the machine. They turned to look at him.

“Eeew!” he all but yelled again.

Alex apologized to him sarcastically and they turned away, chuckling to themselves. They got their pictures and Alex slid them into his back pocket as they walked away, arm in arm.

“What do you think about kids?” Alex asked Elena, trying not to sound so interested but more curious.

“I love kids, I guess. I’ve never really been around any.”

“Well...I guess I’m wondering, would you ever want to have any of our own one day?”

“Sure.” But she thought she sounded unsure so she reiterated. “Yes, definitely, once we get the community taken care of and behind us and get settled. Do you?”

“Yeah. I do, but I agree on waiting until all this is past us. You are gonna make a good mom and some adorable kids.”

“You would have kids right now if you could,” she realized.

“Well, not
right
now. Maybe in a year or so. I’m getting old here! Twenty seven isn’t as young as it used to be.”

“True,” she said feeling him laugh and tickle her stomach in retaliation. “I never really thought about it too much. I think I’d like to be a mom, but I’d like some time with just you and me first.”

“Deal.”

“Deal.”

“You want to ride the pirate ship with me?” he asked and smiled cunningly at her.

“Eeeee. Does it go upside down?” She almost laughed at the whine in her own voice.

“Elena Smithe,” he said in a mock reprimand, “are you scared? You’ll march through dark rainy woods, stand up to night guards and risk your life but can’t handle a little ride at the fair?”

“Hey! I’m not scared. I just... Ok. I’m scared. Happy?”