Going to the Courthouse, Cause We're Gonna Get Married...
There was something about watching a man work. Floating through the disappearing sunlight, motes of dust fell through the air as Adam lifted the first cabinet from the wall. The man was strong as a bear. A few years ago, two sections in the kitchen were damaged when the farmhouse suffered a roof leak during a bad storm. The sun was almost down and lighting more lanterns wouldn't give enough illumination to keep working. Mimi placed her hammer back into her toolbox and said, "I think we should practice kissing."
He eased the heavy cabinet onto the floor. "Now?"
"No. We are dusty and dirty, and only halfway through pulling these cabinets out." She removed a drawer from the bottom half of the damaged section and tried to make her case. "It's just that we are going to be kissing in front of other people on Sunday." She dampened her lips. "I want it to be convincing."
His handsome mouth quirked into a smile. "Are you sure it's not that you want to kiss me? Do you like kissing now, cupcake?"
She stammered, "Maybe, no, yes. I've just been thinking." Her face turned red and Mimi hit her hip on the corner of the counter as she stepped away.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded, facing away from him, rubbing her hip.
"It's okay that you want to kiss me."
She nodded but didn't turn around toward him. He wiped off his hands on a towel and stepped toward her. When he cupped her shoulders with his palms and drew her back against him, she could feel his solid body warm against her back. "It's okay."
She turned around and stood with her cheek pressed to his chest. "But this is all pretend."
Tilting her face up to his, he said, "The two of us liking each other as people is not pretend. There is no one I trust enough to do this with but you."
"Not even Marge?"
He engulfed her in his arms and held her tight. "Marge is too smart to mess with a man like me." He pressed a kiss to her temple. "We can both get what we want, Mimi."
***
At the courthouse, Mimi waited with her paperwork in hand. She had worn her grandmother's retro robin-blue dress and a cute pillbox hat with the tiniest of veils. She was early. Adam had sent her a text that he was parking.
Impatiently, she paced, wanting him beside her before her parents arrived. When he came around the corner with Marge and his sister at his side, his mouth dropped open at the sight of her. Flattered, she watched him recover himself and break into a gigantic smile. Lifting his hand in hello, Adam walked toward her. Dressed for work in a flannel, jeans, and work boots, he looked extremely handsome. His beard was trimmed neatly. Beside him, his sister was beaming.
Adam said, "When I called this morning, they said we needed witnesses." He hugged her tight. "You look adorable." He lightly touched the edge of her lace gloves. "These are pretty."
"Thank you."
Down the hall, Mimi heard her father's boot tread on the tiles before she saw him. "I have witnesses too." In a spring church dress, her mother walked next to her father's side. Adam stiffened a little as her parents approached.
Her father nodded, unsmiling. "So, are we doing this thing?"
"Pa, we haven't even gotten in line yet."
Adam took the paperwork from her. "I'll go put us on the list."
When she hugged her mother, the older woman whispered in her ear, "Your dress is cute. It looks like one my mother used to wear."
Mimi grinned wider. "It is her traveling suit from her wedding. I might have invaded the attic and had it cleaned."
