Chapter 8: Two Happy Days
A dizzying month passed before graduation. Uncle Ken and Melissa (she didnāt like being called aunt) took our sister back to their home, raising her as their own. They didnāt 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 āactualā relationship between Rene and me and the ātruthā of Reneās origins, even having the school records fixed with the oversight. Some of the older teachers still felt we shouldnāt have romantic feelings for one another, but most of the younger ones, seeing how happy we were even with our parentsā passing, did accept it. Word got out around school and suddenly I found myself the envy of every guy. To this day, Iām not sure how it got out, but once word spread Iād 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 momās 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 dadās Explorer. But, thankfully, all of the wedding arrangements at the time fell into other hands. The invitations, rings, stuff weād 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 Allyās day. Throughout the ceremony, Reneās 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 didnāt exactly approve of it, but they couldnāt 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 graduationās 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 didnāt get to see our friends enough but weād 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, weād 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 Kenās house, it was the first time in a long time weād slept alone. It proved hard, but she called me on my cell phone, helping a little. The night alone didnāt 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 didnāt feel that day, one everyone said I shouldāve 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 weād 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 didnāt 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. Sheād 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.
As Ken handed her arm to me and went to sit with his wife, the two of us turned to face the minister. While the ceremony passed in a blur, and much of the day that followed, it was a happy one, with a lot of celebrating involved. Finally being able to call Rene my wife, it felt somehow complete now, the rings on our fingers, holding each other in full view of everyone. Those attending congratulated us both, saying how happy we looked together.
When night came, the party started to die down enough for us to leave. Our family had pitched for a nice honeymoon in the Bahamas which weād be leaving for the following day, and we still had our wedding night to ahead of us. With a lot of thanks, we left everyone to head home, two hours away still. The car Rene drove now had already been packed in anticipation and we headed off, wanting our first night as man and wife to be in our own bed. Though long, the trip did give us a chance to talk, both of us fighting the desire to do much more.
Near ten, we pulled up into the driveway to a darkened house. Still dressed in tuxedo and gown, I pulled up close to the house. Crickets chirped in the fields, fireflies danced in the warm night air. Something hung in the air, romantic and sensual. Something about summertime, and we both felt it. Without delaying, we ran to the door, grabbing each other just before either of us reached it, a long kiss giving us pause. Mirth filled our hearts, the rings still feeling so new, such bliss in the night after having to wait so long. We were married and didnāt care to hold back now, though, of course, we held back a little, waiting to get to our room for that.
Once the door stood unlocked and wide open, I lifted up my sisterās body in my arms as she held me by the neck. Laughter filled the air for a few moments as a foot crossed the threshold of our happy home. Even as the rest of me passed through the doorway, our lips again lovingly embraced. With only one more thing waiting to confirm the marriage, more of formality really, I carried my bride up the stairs to our own bedroom, laying her down on the swishing bed. Rene had removed the veil hours ago, leaving it the car when weād gotten out, and looking at her now, dark hair contrasting the white dress, her angelic features actually glowing even in the darkened room, it all felt so perfect.
She turned on the lamps by the bed as I moved to open the windows in the room. In the nights leading up to this night, during the summer months, weād enjoyed listening to the summer night sounds while we made love. Sometimes during the previous summer, when all was quiet in the house, Rene would lead me out to the field with quilts draped about us providing our only cover. Lying on one, shielded by another, weād sleep there until dawn came. The barn did have itās own private backdoor, convenient for us those nights. Out there, making love under the stars before falling asleep in the arms of the other, it only helped our love grow more.
Reminiscing on those days, I felt her come up behind me, even as her hands moved around my waist. As a soft smile borne of love crossed my face, turning my head to her, I placed my own hands on her arms. āPenny for you thoughts, my love?ā she asked so sweetly.