Short little vignette of Jules' PoV on the subject of getting married. I own nothing but the idea that went into this little story and it ends on a very curt note: I'm out of practice in my fiction writing!
Jules admits it herself: she doesn't really know how to get married.
Sure, there are blogs online and books and magazines about what plans to make, who to talk to, and even who to hire. Girls are supposed to be planning their wedding day since they put on their first chiffon tutu. But she has to admit to herself that, even if she and Sam had joked about it in the past, the idea of the process of getting married is terrifying.
So that day, hiking on their off day when Sam presents her with a simple ring, a modest diamond winking in the sunlight shining down through green leaves, Jules feels a rush of terror along with the happiness. She doesn't put it on right away, except when Sam slowly pushes the circlet onto her finger – veina amora. Too easy to lose a diamond while hiking, she theorizes, and explains when she catches the flash of hurt cross Sam's face. She's pretty sure he only half-buys her explanation.
When they get home, they give it a few days before announcing the news; not at her insistence, but at Sam's, which surprises her. She agrees, but not before proudly putting the ring back on. The huge smile on Sam's face is worth it.
At work, well, Team One wouldn't be so good at their job if they didn't notice things. Pats on the back for both her and Sam, and somehow it's a quiet day at SRU. And only a couple of jokes about who will wear the pants. Sam retorts that kilts are perfectly manly wear.
Then she and Sam have to let family and friends know. Jules bets that letting Natalie know will inform the Braddock side of things. Her task is to call her folks, two time zones, countless miles and cows away, and let them know. This guy her brothers have never met, and she's going to be marrying him. Surprise.
They are surprised, but deal with it better than she expected. "Keep us informed", the youngest says, "and we'll be there with bells on." Dad is a little less happy, but his sigh says it all before he has to: "You say he's good, and I'll trust your judgment, Julianna. He made it to SRU. But his dad's a general?"
The other shoe drops when Natalie comes by, bringing swatches of fabric. Different fabrics, different colours, and the first question as Jules opens the door to her is, "What flowers are you thinking for your wedding?"
That's about when Jules knows she's truly out of her depth. Colours, flowers, fabrics, seating charts, church-wedding, not-church-wedding, what flavour of cake? This is all in one morning, and she and Sam haven't even finalized a date.
Is it too late to elope?