We shall Carry On
Chapter 7
Most of the men made it into the Station, all except George and Constable Philips. Both would recover soon. William sat at his desk with mounds of paperwork he needed to complete, tying up the dock raid. So engrossed was he in his activity that he did not hear Julia come in. She stood in the doorway of his office, waiting to see how long it took before he looked up. She smiled, shaking her head at his deep absorption in his work.
"Ahem."
"Oh! Julia! I'm sorry. Have you been standing there long?"
"Not very. You certainly were concentrating."
"It's tedious work, but must be done. What brings you here?"
"Several things. First, I'm taking you to lunch."
"I don't think I have time..."
She cut him off. "You have to eat. And the world won't come to an end if you take a little extra time to finish that...what ever it is you are writing."
He smiled. "You're right. Lunch would be delightful. Where are you taking me?"
"My surprise. Here's your hat. Let's be off."
Emily went to the hospital to take George home when he was discharged.
"Emily, you didn't have to come. I'm perfectly capable of getting home."
"Nonsense, George. I wanted to."
"Thank you."
They left, Emily on George's arm, both smiling shyly.
Julia took William to a new Italian restaurant, Casa Giorgio. William found the cuisine particularly toothsome. He hadn't had much Italian food heretofore.
"You seem to have something you want to say to me, Julia."
"I do."
"Well...?"
"As you are aware, I had a large church wedding, well...previously.
"Yes, I recall." William looked down, somewhat pained.
"I was wondering if you would be receptive to a small civil ceremony."
He thought for a moment. "I would, but you do remember that I have already invited the whole station verbally."
"Oh. That's right."
"Well, how about a large civil ceremony, followed by an even larger reception?"
"Would this be occurring soon? I don't want to wait one minute longer than we have to. Not anymore."
"Margaret said Thomas's doctor thinks he could be up and about in a couple of weeks.
"Then let's officially set the date, three weeks from today."
Julia grinned, reached over the table, and took William's hand, squeezing it. "This is really going to happen, isn't it?"
"I certainly hope so. I don't think my heart could take much more delay." William smiled winsomely. "Will Ruby be coming?"
"I don't think so. She wasn't even able to return for father's funeral. I'm going to ask Emily to be my maid of honor. What are you going to do?"
"Well. We did delay the whole thing because of the inspector. I think it would be appropriate to ask him to stand with me as best man. What do you think? Will George be hurt?
"I believe George can handle it just fine."
"Well. Well. Well." William sighed happily, his eyes sparkling.
"I have a place in mind and will see if it's available. I'm sure Emily will help me with the other details.
"A theatre!" William exclaimed. "We're to be wed in a theatre!"
Once William had come home that evening, Julia sprung her news on him.
"Well, when you say it like that, William...! It's really quite a splendid place, if you think about it. There's room for as many people as we want and the reception can be held there too. I've already checked with a caterer who thinks it will be no problem."
"Go on."
"I've asked Judge Henry Logan if he could perform the ceremony. He was a good friend of father's. He said he would be delighted."
William said nothing, which was something he often did.
"Say something, William."
"I say...if this pleases you, it pleases me. I just want us to be married." Then William smiled pulling her in for a kiss.
Emily and the inspector both gladly agreed to participate in the wedding of the decade. Well maybe not decade, but seven years is a long time too. And as Julia said, George was just fine with not being chosen as best man. The next weeks would be the happiest, yet most anxious weeks of William's life so far. He smiled all the time, and everyone noticed. Julia smiled a bit more too. This marriage just felt right, this time.
"Julia, I never knew I could be this happy."
"Me too, William. We will have a glorious life together."
"Because we are together."
The end for now.
A/N: This is the end of this story. It is possible I might pick it up from here. You never know.
