CHAPTER 7

"Jeremy!" Jason shouts as he and Josh run into Lottie's. Seeing Jeremy coming out from behind the bar carrying two beers and a soda pop, they stop in their tracks. "Jeremy? You okay?"

"I'm fine, Jason. Never been better. Why?" Jeremy smiles.

"Well dear brother, you did say it was urgent that we meet you here," Jason sneers.

"Oh that. Sorry, but I knew that was the only way you'd get here fast. Otherwise you two would lollygag around and show up whenever," Jeremy replies. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"Jeremy, you're unbelievable," Josh says shaking his head. "I'll take a beer."

"One beer coming right up. Jason? Drink?" Jeremy asks.

"Uh, yeah. I'll take a beer, too. Jeremy, why did you want to meet us?"

"Have a seat and I'll tell you all about it as soon as. . .ah, there she is. Biddie? Want a drink?" Jeremy asks as Biddie runs through the doorway.

"Jeremy, I got here as fast as I could. What's wrong?" an out of breath Biddie asks.

Pouring a shot of whiskey, he hands it to Biddie. "Here, you look like you could use this. All of you need to calm down," Jeremy states as he hands drinks to Jason, Josh, and Biddie.

Jason looks over at Candy. "Candy, mind telling us what's going on?"

"No, not yet. Jeremy has something to tell all of you. Well, actually we both do. We have two things to tell," Candy says as Jeremy sits down beside her.

"So which do you want first? The good news or the bad news," Jeremy asks.

Jason speaks up. "Might as well tell us the bad news first. Get it over with. Then maybe the good news will cheer us up."

Jeremy and Candy look at each other and sigh. "All right, remember when Candy had her run in with the horse? Well, it seems like there was more damage done to her than any of us realized," he says as he takes her hand and squeezes it gently.

"How so, Jeremy?" Lottie asks.

"Remember the horse clipped her head." Jeremy bites his lip as he takes a deep breath. "Because of that, Candy is. . .well she's. . .uh, she's losing. . . her. . .her. . .she's"

"Jeremy, just say it! I'm going blind!" Candy begins to cry as Jeremy puts his arm around her drawing her closer.

"I don't believe it!" Jason bellows. "What does Allyn say about this? Where is Allyn?"

"Allyn went over to the Wilson's to deliver a baby. She's been wiring doctors all over the country to see if there is anything that can be done to reverse what's happening," Jeremy says.

"And? Is there?" Josh asks.

"We don't know. She hasn't gotten any response yet," Jeremy answers.

"How bad is it right now, Candy?" Lottie inquires.

Wiping her eyes Candy states, "Getting darker, things are blurry, and gray. I don't know how much longer I have before. . ."

"Shh Candy, please don't cry. We'll get through this together, I promise." He kisses her cheek. "Now for some good news," Jeremy changes the subject. "I asked this beautiful woman to marry me and she said yes! We're getting married day after tomorrow!"

"What? Why the rush?" Jason asks.

"Because we want Candy to see her wedding, so she'll always have those memories in her mind," Jeremy says. "I know it's a shock, but could you please be happy for us?"

"Of course, we're happy for you," Lottie answers. "Candy, let's you, Biddie, and me go in the back room and plan out this wedding. We don't have long."

"All right. We want it simple," Candy says as she rises from her chair.

Jason and Josh hug Candy before Jeremy takes her in his arms. "You all right?"

"I think so. Jeremy, are you sure about this? Getting married, I mean?" she whispers.

"You're not going to back out now, are you? Not after we just made the announcement," Jeremy chuckles. "And yes, I'm sure. I love you."

"I love you, too. See you in a little while." Candy kisses his cheek and the three ladies go into the back room.

As soon as the door closes Jason says, "Jeremy, have you lost your mind? Getting married now of all times."

"What? You just said you were happy for us," Jeremy says perplexed.

"What else could I say? I wasn't about to hurt Candy. She has enough going on in her life right now," Jason responds. "Can she cope with being blind and a new husband at the same time?"

"Jeremy, are you sure you know what you're doing?" Josh asks. "I mean, what with Candy going blind, this marriage isn't going to be easy. I hope I'm wrong about this, but I see nothing but failure."

"Was this her idea? Did she talk you into this?" Jason demands to know.

Jeremy shakes his head, "Wow, I never thought my own two brothers would be so. . .so cruel. Your enthusiasm for my marriage overwhelms me. Look, this was my idea, not Candy's. I bought her a ring when I was gone on my trip and I was going to propose as soon as I got home. Her accident kept me from doing that. So this isn't something that just popped into my head all of a sudden. I've been thinking about it for a while now. Still, I had to do a lot of convincing before she accepted. I love her. I love her more than I thought possible for a man to love a woman. And I will do anything in my power to help her and make her happy. She needs me, she needs me more than ever right now and frankly, I need her too. If you can't be happy for us, that's fine. We'll survive without your blessing, but just don't try to change my mind and don't blame Candy for any of this."

"I'm sorry, Jeremy. I just want you to be sure, that's all. Of course, I'm happy for you," Josh says.

"Me too, Jeremy. I didn't mean to be so negative. Congratulations," Jason states as he holds his fist out. Jeremy stares at the fist then gives a little laugh before placing his hand on Jason's fist. Josh laughs and places his hand on Jeremy's.

"Oh, one more thing. Would either of you mind if Candy and I stay at the cabin after we're married? Just until we can build us a house. I thought of us staying here at Lottie's but I don't want Candy having to climb a staircase."

"That's fine. Josh and I can stay at the camp."

"If you don't mind staying there for several nights so we can have sort of a honeymoon, we'd be much obliged. But you can come back to the cabin afterwards. We'll try not to get in your way," Jeremy says. "Not too much anyways."

"Candy okay with us all living together?" Josh asks.

"She said she was. I guess we'll see," Jeremy chuckles.