This is a continuation of the Salt & Vinegar series.
As with the previous chapters, this is a stand-alone story. You may also wish to read earlier ones to get up to speed with the story so far.
Enjoy.
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JUSTINE
"Honey, I'm home!" I called as I walked in the door to our apartment.
A muttered grunt which may have been a 'hey' was the only response I got from Lena. I took off my scarf and coat, put my work bag away and wandered into the living area.
She was seated at our small dining table with the end of a pen in her mouth studying a form.
"Watcha got there, babe?"
She glanced up, smiling, and spun it around to show me.
It was a San Francisco County Clerk Public Marriage License Application.
"Picked it up today. It'll be good for three months once it's issued - and after we pay, of course", she said.
I sat down on the chair opposite. It all felt a bit surreal as I watched Lena tuck an errant strand of raven hair behind her ear and continue completing the form.
She had proposed to me a couple of months ago in the week after we'd moved from San Diego. We'd successfully negotiated telling the news to my parents (see Chapter 6) and had come through a tricky time in our relationship (see Chapters 7 and 8).
While I hadn't quite forgotten the fact that we were engaged, life had returned pretty much to normal and I hadn't given the next step much thought. I worked, Lena worked. We said goodbye in the morning and met again at night to eat, have sex and sleep: not always in that order. Our weekends were busy because Lena's photography work had irregular hours and she was just as likely to have a shoot on the Saturday or Sunday as during the week. She was also starting to pull together an exhibition for Fraenkel which was both exciting and stressful for her.
"Got a question here", said Lena, breaking into my thoughts. "New last name. Can I have yours?" She looked at me shyly.
I must have looked surprised because she immediately said, "But not if you don't want ..."
"Oh, babe. It's not that I don't want you to, it's just ... I hadn't really thought about it. Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'd really like to if it's OK with you. What you said at your folks' place about me being part of your family. Them welcoming me like I was. I'd like to feel as if I really am a McIntyre. I know I'm still me, but I want to be part of your family, Jus. I don't have one of my own."
A slight hitch in her voice on that last and a gleam of moisture in her eyes. She had, so far as we knew, only one surviving member of her immediate family. Her father was in prison and their relationship was ... well, I didn't actually know quite what it was, but on the rare occasions that Lena spoke of him it was with passionate dislike, bordering on hatred. He may even have been responsible for her mother's death.
I tried it on for her. "Lena McIntyre", I said. I got a gooey feeling. I think she did too by the answering smile on her face. I leaned across the table and placed a gentle kiss on her gorgeous lips.
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LENA
It felt right as I wrote 'MCINTYRE' on the form in response to Section 30C. The pressure of Jus's kiss lingered on my mouth and my world settled with new solidity. Lena Sanchez would soon be Lena McIntyre. Lena my-whole-fucking-world-is-Justine McIntyre. I chuckled and Justine grinned back at me. Fuck, I love her so much.
My face must have betrayed my thoughts because she said, "Uh, uh. We finish that form first, bitch, then you get some."
I poked my tongue out at her. "You're making me wait until we're married?"
She choked.
"Babe, we've already had more sex than most people do in a lifetime. I think it's a bit late for that. Unless you're planning on a period of abstinence? A temporary vow of chastity or something?"
"Fucking hell, no!"
She laughed.
Scratch that, I thought with horror: it's Lena I-couldn't-fucking-survive-without-sex-with-Justine McIntyre.
"Don't worry, babe. Not sure I could survive without your attention either", she said as if she knew what I'd been thinking. "I don't want to do that again."
I saw the darkness flit momentarily over her face. But it was a memory only. It was gone as quickly as it came, and she gave me a dirty wink.
"You done with your bit? I'll do mine and then we can do each other."
I signed the affidavit and passed it over. I watched her as she carefully filled her section out in her neat writing. She was beautiful. I could just look at her for hours. Watch her thoughts play over her face, see her emotions reflected in the deep pools of those endlessly blue eyes. The curve of her cheek, the twitch of her lips. The cascade of radiant red hair over her ivory shoulders. And she was even more beautiful inside than out. And I didn't just mean undressed - oh, she was fucking glorious naked - but she was the most gentle, generous person in her soul. I'd hardened up some of her edges, but she'd softened some of mine in return. I still found it hard to believe that this woman was here, with me, and that she'd agreed to be mine forever. And I was hers.
"Hey," she said. "Last chance. You sure you want McIntyre? We have the option of combining our names?"
Trust Jus to read the fine print. I hadn't bothered.
"Yep. Really, really sure. And as soon as you sign, I'm gonna show you how fucking sure I am."
Hers was the fastest signature I'd ever seen.
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JUSTINE
Mom rang later that evening. Fortunately, it was after we'd untangled ourselves from the couch and were messing about with dinner in the kitchen. Also, fortunately it wasn't a video call: we were both still stark naked.
We exchanged pleasantries and discussed family until she got around to the reason for calling. Not that I needed her to have a reason. It was always great to talk with Mom.
"Honey, I'm not sure where you're up to with your wedding plans but I wondered if you were interested in your great grandma Millicent's wedding dress. I still have it and it's in good condition. Do you remember it from the old photos?"
"Oh, yes I do! It was lovely. I didn't know you had it."
"I've been keeping it for when ... I hoped ... you'd get married. You don't have to, of course. But it's yours to wear if you want. I think it'll fit you without too much modification either. I think your about the same size as Millie was. Maybe a little taller though so we'd have to check that. Do you want to have a think about it?"
"No thinking needed, Mom. I'd really love that. Actually, Lena and I have just finished ... " - I shushed Lena who was sniggering 'just finished alright!' in the background - "... ahem, just finished filling out the marriage license application. We were thinking a civil ceremony maybe some time next month before Thanksgiving. Things get crazy between then and Christmas. Do you think you'd be able to come across for a day or two?"
"Of course, we can, love. I'll talk with Dad and let you know some dates that work for us. But even if they don't work, we'll be there, OK? I imagine you must have to book fairly soon?"
I looked to Lena.
"At least three weeks", she said. "Assuming they have a timeslot available. One hour for the ceremony."
"Did you hear that, Mom? It'll be tight, but I think we can do it. Only a very small number of guests, though. We'll catch up with everyone else over the holidays."
