Chapter twenty-one: the wedding list


Thomas stares at Kate, unsure of what to say at this moment. Everything in him was screaming to tell this woman that he loved her. However, the other part of him was telling him not to. Kate wasn't ready. Today was going to be a day full of multiple bombs going off for Kate and he didn't want to add one more bomb to the mix.

Kate was also being difficult to completely read. Her posture was stiff and closed off. True, Polly and his family hadn't made things any easier for her. She was insecure from the surgery and exhausted. But there was something in her eyes, almost as if she were begging him to love her. And he did love her, but he knew if he told her that, she'd break. He needed her to stay strong and take things easy after this day from Hell finished with her. Then, once she'd recovered, he'd declare his love and made sure that not a single day went by without her feeling his love. Nor, would he ever allow her to feel unloved again.

At that moment, someone knocked at the door and they both turned as Arthur stuck his head in the room. "Jeremiah's here with Finn and Isaiah."

"Thanks." He stood up and reached for his coat. "Shall we?"

Kate knew that they needed to really talk more about this, but there was no time right now. They could always talk in detail after the ceremony. She nodded and headed towards the library exit. "Yes, Thomas." She heard him open up his drawer in his desk and pull something out. As she exits the hall, everyone is still standing there. Polly has a look that threatens to burn her to cinders where she stands.

"Ah, Jeremiah," he states casually as he approaches Jeremiah. Kate smiles in approval as he shakes the Black man's hand with ease. "good of you to come."

"I'm glad to come my friend. I was almost out of town when one of your men flagged me down and sent me back your way." Kate detects the Caribbean accent and smiles. Thomas always managed to keep a collection of interesting people close to him. Jeremiah glances at curiously at her. "Who is this lady?"

"This is Kate." Thomas holds out his hand for her and she approaches.

She extends her hand. "Katherine Carter."

"Kovach." Polly bites out, causing her to flinch.

Kate inhales. "Allow me to amend that statement. I was born Katherine Kovach, I legally had name changed to Carter years ago."

Thomas just cuts to the quick. "Jeremiah, I need you to marry us."

Jeremiah wasn't phased. "As you told me on the phone, this is most irregular."

"It's alright." She said as she held onto Thomas's hand. "It's consensual on both parties."

Jeremiah shakes his head. "Marriage is an honorable thing, not to be taken lightly."

Kate glances at the clock. "Either we marry now, or the whole of his family get slaughtered by my brother."

"What if your marriage doesn't stop your brother?"

"It will. It's a vow he and my father both made to my mother, which she made them, swear again on her deathbed." She glanced up at the clock. "It's 4:12, if they stick to the old way of doing things, they'll be here within 40 to 45 minutes. Please," she asked pleadingly. "I know, it seems fast, but Thomas and I have known each other for months."

Jeremiah glances at the two of them suspiciously before exhaling. "Dearly beloved-

Thomas took her left hand and held onto her tightly. This was not how she'd wanted to get married, but for once, she wanted to have a wedding ceremony that wouldn't end in bloodshed or tears. A scuffling upstairs caused her to glance up to see Ruby and Charlie peering over the banister with another boy. Both of them were smiling, so, she smiled up at them before glancing back to Jeremiah. Thomas's gaze followed her upwards and he smiled briefly at them.

The ceremony was a bit of a blur, until it was time for the exchange of vows and rings. Kate was able to say her vows in a clear voice, as was he. She hadn't been expecting one, so when Arthur stepped forward to hand one to Thomas, she was surprised.

She stared curiously at Thomas as he then slid a stunning diamond and emerald ring on her finger. She gasped as she stared down at it in shock. "Where did you-

"I bought it for you." he said simply.

Her head jerked up to ask him the question her heart needed to know. "Why?"

He runs a finger over the ring. "You know why Kate."

Kate's mind was in such a blur that she barely comprehended Jeremiah's final words. "And now, having entered into the covenant of marriage by the exchanging of vows and the giving and receiving of rings, by the power vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

Kate leaned forward as Thomas gently pulled her towards him and kissed her. One arm encircled her waist as his other hand gripped her hand, he ran his thumb over the ring again. As their lips touched, Ruby and Charlie let out a few shrieks and applause. A few people clapped, but she suspected it was only Arthur and Ada. It had been a month since he kissed her, but the same familiar sensations filled her body. Kate knew he must have feelings for her; otherwise, he would not have bought her an expensive ring. Hesitantly, she reached up and stroked his face. Thomas pulled her against him and deepened the kiss, causing her to moan. Jeremiah let out a chuckle, possibly because he was finally convinced that there were feelings behind this marriage.

As they broke the kiss, she smiled slightly at him. He placed a kiss on her nose before carefully leading her up the stairs towards Ruby and Charlie. "Arthur," he called over his shoulder. "crack open a bottle of champagne."

"Right!" A quick glance at the clock showed it was 4:20 and her stomach slowly began to relax. There was no way her brother would hurt any of them now. Thomas and his family was safe.

There was grumbling downstairs, which she fought to ignore as Ruby and Charlie ran over to hug them. Thomas chuckled at their reactions. "Easy you two, you'll knock your new mother down the stairs."

Mother. There's a word she thought would never be applied to her. "I like Kate!" Ruby states.

"She's your mother now." Thomas states. "So, you'll call her that from now on."

"No pressure on them." Kate reaches for his hand. "They can call me mother, when they feel the time is right."

He nods. "Right. You two head downstairs and keep an eye on Arthur. Tell him I said you can each have one sip of champagne."

Kate frowned as both the children ran down the stairs. "Aren't they young for alcohol?"

"It's a celebration. Besides, they'll keep the atmosphere friendly in there while you and I discuss a few final things."

"Alright."

Kate allows Thomas to lead her down the hall into a bedroom filled with wood. She could tell from the ornate décor, that this had to be the master bedroom. She was in Thomas's room. The door latching behind her caused her to spin around and look towards Thomas.

He looked uneasy as he cleared his throat. "Kate, I need to know this. Is your brother the type of man who'd ask for… evidence that we completed the ceremony?"

The blood drained out of her face as she understood what Thomas was asking. Her thoughts flickered back to where she'd first imagined her wedding day to be blood and tear free. But now, even that little wishful thought was about to be denied to her.