Rosie woke up to a gentle shaking, at first she didn't know where she was or who was touching her and she screamed
"Get off me!"
"Rosie calm down it's me." The voice belonged to Beth
"Beth? I'm sorry I almost slugged you."
"It's okay, come on get up I'm taking you to the doctors. I wanna make sure there's nothing wrong with my maid of honor other then the bruises on you wrist." Beth tossed her some clothes and walked out of the room before Rosie could fuss.
"I really don't want anyone to know bout this." Rosie had stared at the ground the entire walk to Dr. Woods office and now as they sat in the exam room waiting for the doctor to came back she finally spoke to Beth.
"Don't worry I'm the mayors daughter if I say it's a secret it's a secret." Beth put her arm around her friends shoulder.
"Danny won't tell anyone will he? Everyone in this damn town thinks I'm a whore already, they'll blame me you know."
"You know Danny won't say a word Rosie. I can't promise he won't kill Johnny I know he was ready to last night. But I can promise he won't say anything."
The door squeaked open then and both girls posture straightened up as he clicked his tongue.
"Is there something wrong with her Dr. Wood?" Beth managed words
"It depends on if you think being pregnant is something wrong. Ms. Gadry you're about 6 weeks along in your pregnancy."
Rosie's head spun as the words seeped into her brain
"I'm what?"
"You're expecting young lady. Would you like me to call your father, or the child's father with the news?"
"Oh my god." was all she could get out
"Dr. Wood I would consider it a personal favor if you use discretion in this matter." Beth turned the charm on
"Of course Ms. Sullivan, however I will be expecting you Rosanna to come back for regular appointments during the duration of you pregnancy."
Rosie nodded and asked
"May I leave now?"
"Certainly." The doctor scribbled her next appointment on a piece of paper
As Beth and Rosie crossed the city again Rosie blurted out
"What the hell am I gonna do?"
"Tell Rafe and pray everything works out. I know he loves you Rosie, things will be okay." Beth however was less sure then she tried to sound
Beth sat in the vanity in her room staring in the mirror. Today was the day, or tonight was the night. She sat in her white dress, true it wasn't the one she had bought with Danny that she planned instead she bought another one. It was a lot prettier than the last one anyways. It was white satin sleeveless dress that fell to mid calf, plain and simple. No lace or beading. It was 11: 50 pm; it would take her and Daisy 2 minutes to drive to the courthouse. So, before she left she checked on her hair one more time, she hadn't done anything super special to it, she just curled it under as usual and made sure she had the ring and her flowers. True, she and Danny were being married in a court, that didn't mean she wasn't going to try to make it as churchlike as possible.
"Beth, are you ready?" Daisy peeked her head in, "I saw Danny and Rafe drive by a minute ago."
Beth inhaled deeply and stood up and smile, "As ready as I'm gonna be."
Daisy pulled her into a hug, "You look beautiful Beth, I'm so happy for you."
Beth returned the hug eagerly to the woman who had a been more of a mother to her, her past 17, about to be 18 years then her real mother, "Thank you so much Daisy."
"Alright, lets go. I'm so proud of you right now" Daisy led Beth out of her room and down the stairs and out the door to the courthouse.
Beth walked into Judge Crabtree's chambers to see Danny standing next to Rafe, and Rosie standing on the opposite side of the room. Judge Crabtree saw her and cleared his throat, "Elizabeth, you're here, now we can get started."
Danny turned his head sharply and smiled when he saw Beth walk closer to him, "You look beautiful Beth." He whispered then mouthed, "I love you."
Beth smiled shyly and grabbed his hand, "I love you," she whispered.
Judge Crabtree cleared his throat and began, "We are gathered here today to witness the joining of Daniel Michael Walker and Elizabeth Jean Sullivan in marriage. If anyone doesn't believe these two should be joined, speak now or forever hold your peace."
Beth half expected her father to barge in but smiled when he didn't. Danny knew what she was thinking and squeezed her hand to let her know everything would be ok.
"Do you Daniel take Elizabeth to be your lawful wedded wife?" Judge Crabtree asked.
Danny smiled, "I do."
"Do you Elizabeth take Daniel to be your lawful wedded husband?"
Beth blinked back tears and whispered, "I do."
"Daniel, do you promise to love and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, for so long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Elizabeth, Do you promise to love and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him for so long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Now we can do the rings…" Judge Crabtree smiled at the young couple.
Danny looked over at Rafe who dug deep in his pocket, and presented a simple platinum band, ""With this ring I thee wed." And slipped the ring on Beth's left hand ring finger. His hands were shaking like mad so were hers
Daisy stepped forward and gave Beth the gold band she had picked out for Danny.
"Its not platinum…" Beth whispered smiling, the said, "With this ring I thee wed." and slipped the ring on Danny's left hand ring finger.
Judge Crabtree smiled and said, "By the authority vested in me by the State of Tennessee, witnessed by your friends and family, I have the pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife."
Danny and Beth just stared at each other in amazement they were finally married.
"You can kiss her now…" Rafe joked, and made eye contact with Rosie, who had been silent this whole time, but when she met Rafe's gaze she looked away.
"You look beautiful" Rosie said to Beth hugging her "You'll be so happy."
"So do you." Beth squeezed back "Go talk to him." She whispered
"I can't."
"Rosanna, he needs to know." Beth always seemed to be the voice of reason
Rosie nodded obediently and walked over to where the guys were standing
"Congratulations Danny." She kissed his cheek
"Thanks for coming Rosie, it wouldn't have been the same without you. Now if you don't mind I'm gonna go kiss my wife again." Danny excused himself
Rafe's eyes went over Rosie quickly before he tried to walk away from her.
"I've gotta go I'll see you around." He mumbled
"Rafe we have to talk." Rosie said in a small voice
"I really have nottin to say to you."
"Then you can listen, Rafe it's important." She tried to get in his way
"I don't wanna hear anything you got to say. Go tell Johnny." With that he side stepped and walked out to the courthouse.
"Damn it." Rosanna moaned as she too left heading home to think
" What was all that about?" Danny questioned his bride
Beth stood on her tip toes and whispered the secret in her new husbands ear.
"She's what?" Danny gasped
"She's pregnant honey."
"Oh boy…"
"Get off me!"
"Rosie calm down it's me." The voice belonged to Beth
"Beth? I'm sorry I almost slugged you."
"It's okay, come on get up I'm taking you to the doctors. I wanna make sure there's nothing wrong with my maid of honor other then the bruises on you wrist." Beth tossed her some clothes and walked out of the room before Rosie could fuss.
"I really don't want anyone to know bout this." Rosie had stared at the ground the entire walk to Dr. Woods office and now as they sat in the exam room waiting for the doctor to came back she finally spoke to Beth.
"Don't worry I'm the mayors daughter if I say it's a secret it's a secret." Beth put her arm around her friends shoulder.
"Danny won't tell anyone will he? Everyone in this damn town thinks I'm a whore already, they'll blame me you know."
"You know Danny won't say a word Rosie. I can't promise he won't kill Johnny I know he was ready to last night. But I can promise he won't say anything."
The door squeaked open then and both girls posture straightened up as he clicked his tongue.
"Is there something wrong with her Dr. Wood?" Beth managed words
"It depends on if you think being pregnant is something wrong. Ms. Gadry you're about 6 weeks along in your pregnancy."
Rosie's head spun as the words seeped into her brain
"I'm what?"
"You're expecting young lady. Would you like me to call your father, or the child's father with the news?"
"Oh my god." was all she could get out
"Dr. Wood I would consider it a personal favor if you use discretion in this matter." Beth turned the charm on
"Of course Ms. Sullivan, however I will be expecting you Rosanna to come back for regular appointments during the duration of you pregnancy."
Rosie nodded and asked
"May I leave now?"
"Certainly." The doctor scribbled her next appointment on a piece of paper
As Beth and Rosie crossed the city again Rosie blurted out
"What the hell am I gonna do?"
"Tell Rafe and pray everything works out. I know he loves you Rosie, things will be okay." Beth however was less sure then she tried to sound
Beth sat in the vanity in her room staring in the mirror. Today was the day, or tonight was the night. She sat in her white dress, true it wasn't the one she had bought with Danny that she planned instead she bought another one. It was a lot prettier than the last one anyways. It was white satin sleeveless dress that fell to mid calf, plain and simple. No lace or beading. It was 11: 50 pm; it would take her and Daisy 2 minutes to drive to the courthouse. So, before she left she checked on her hair one more time, she hadn't done anything super special to it, she just curled it under as usual and made sure she had the ring and her flowers. True, she and Danny were being married in a court, that didn't mean she wasn't going to try to make it as churchlike as possible.
"Beth, are you ready?" Daisy peeked her head in, "I saw Danny and Rafe drive by a minute ago."
Beth inhaled deeply and stood up and smile, "As ready as I'm gonna be."
Daisy pulled her into a hug, "You look beautiful Beth, I'm so happy for you."
Beth returned the hug eagerly to the woman who had a been more of a mother to her, her past 17, about to be 18 years then her real mother, "Thank you so much Daisy."
"Alright, lets go. I'm so proud of you right now" Daisy led Beth out of her room and down the stairs and out the door to the courthouse.
Beth walked into Judge Crabtree's chambers to see Danny standing next to Rafe, and Rosie standing on the opposite side of the room. Judge Crabtree saw her and cleared his throat, "Elizabeth, you're here, now we can get started."
Danny turned his head sharply and smiled when he saw Beth walk closer to him, "You look beautiful Beth." He whispered then mouthed, "I love you."
Beth smiled shyly and grabbed his hand, "I love you," she whispered.
Judge Crabtree cleared his throat and began, "We are gathered here today to witness the joining of Daniel Michael Walker and Elizabeth Jean Sullivan in marriage. If anyone doesn't believe these two should be joined, speak now or forever hold your peace."
Beth half expected her father to barge in but smiled when he didn't. Danny knew what she was thinking and squeezed her hand to let her know everything would be ok.
"Do you Daniel take Elizabeth to be your lawful wedded wife?" Judge Crabtree asked.
Danny smiled, "I do."
"Do you Elizabeth take Daniel to be your lawful wedded husband?"
Beth blinked back tears and whispered, "I do."
"Daniel, do you promise to love and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, for so long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Elizabeth, Do you promise to love and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him for so long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Now we can do the rings…" Judge Crabtree smiled at the young couple.
Danny looked over at Rafe who dug deep in his pocket, and presented a simple platinum band, ""With this ring I thee wed." And slipped the ring on Beth's left hand ring finger. His hands were shaking like mad so were hers
Daisy stepped forward and gave Beth the gold band she had picked out for Danny.
"Its not platinum…" Beth whispered smiling, the said, "With this ring I thee wed." and slipped the ring on Danny's left hand ring finger.
Judge Crabtree smiled and said, "By the authority vested in me by the State of Tennessee, witnessed by your friends and family, I have the pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife."
Danny and Beth just stared at each other in amazement they were finally married.
"You can kiss her now…" Rafe joked, and made eye contact with Rosie, who had been silent this whole time, but when she met Rafe's gaze she looked away.
"You look beautiful" Rosie said to Beth hugging her "You'll be so happy."
"So do you." Beth squeezed back "Go talk to him." She whispered
"I can't."
"Rosanna, he needs to know." Beth always seemed to be the voice of reason
Rosie nodded obediently and walked over to where the guys were standing
"Congratulations Danny." She kissed his cheek
"Thanks for coming Rosie, it wouldn't have been the same without you. Now if you don't mind I'm gonna go kiss my wife again." Danny excused himself
Rafe's eyes went over Rosie quickly before he tried to walk away from her.
"I've gotta go I'll see you around." He mumbled
"Rafe we have to talk." Rosie said in a small voice
"I really have nottin to say to you."
"Then you can listen, Rafe it's important." She tried to get in his way
"I don't wanna hear anything you got to say. Go tell Johnny." With that he side stepped and walked out to the courthouse.
"Damn it." Rosanna moaned as she too left heading home to think
" What was all that about?" Danny questioned his bride
Beth stood on her tip toes and whispered the secret in her new husbands ear.
"She's what?" Danny gasped
"She's pregnant honey."
"Oh boy…"