June 2

Nita stood at the altar beside her father, facing Kit, her face glowing with joy and anticipation, while tears of joy and approval rolled down her father's face.

"Juanita Callahan, Christopher Rodriguez. Do you promise to love and to cherish each other, for better and for worse, for richer and poorer, in sickness, and in health, until parted by death?"

Eight hours earlier

Nita stood in the doorway of her old bedroom in her nightgown, listening to her father as he paced the room.

"Nita?"

"Yes, Daddy?"

He stopped pacing and faced her, his eyes glistening with tears.

"Nita, I made this same promise to your mother I-don't-know-how-long ago. We had you later. I have… raised you from age three minutes, when we decided on calling you Juanita, up through now. It… it's time for… for you to leave out from my care."

Her father took a breath, then, his voice trembling with emotion, continued.

"You… you've brought pride to… to this house and family… I'm sure, if your mother was here, she would think the same thing. I... I want you to go out there, and make a mark on this Earth. And I know you can."

Nita went to him and hugged him tightly, her eyes filling with unrestrained tears at the thought of leaving the place she had called home for twenty-one years.

"I will, Daddy."

She sniffed, and, remembering something, went back t her room, then came back with the envelope she had stuffed the letter into the other night.

"Here. I found this on the nightstand in Kit's and my room the other night."

Her dad unfolded the letter, read it, then, to Nita's amazement, smiled and laughed.

"See, Nita, what did I tell you?"

He handed her the letter, and she reread it, puzzled.

Dearest Nita,

You've grown into a fine, fine young woman over these past years. Yeah, go ahead, think, Okay, She's Dead. Don't think I haven't been watching you these past years, missy, because I have. I'll also be watching Harry hurl you across the threshold, he's so eager to get rid of you… yes, Nita, I'm kidding. I'm sorry I won't be able to watch you on your honeymoon… the Transdescent Pig, or however you spell it, strictly forbid that. When I threatened to fry him for breakfast, he told me that if he's gonna be bacon, I'd better at least serve him with my pancakes he loves so much. I had to laugh.

One more thing: hurry up and raise a family, darn it! I need to extract my revenge on you… something else the Pig told me I couldn't do as a ghost. When I mentioned all the demons running rampant on the earth, he told me they weren't evil, they were merely good spirits that were put on the earth to keep the people in line. Whatever.

And another: expect a couple of extra guests at your wedding. Put out some chairs.

Love always,

Mom

Nita raised her head, eyes filling with tears again, then hugged her dad tightly.

End Flashback

Nita looked at Kit from across the threshold, and smiled.

"I do."

Kit blinked back tears, the words struggling out of his mouth through his joy.

"I do."

"Juanita Callahan, do you accept this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Nita's gray eyes locked onto Kit's brown ones.

"I do."

"And, Christopher Rodriguez, do you accept this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Two hours earlier

Nita and Kit had met each other on the beach, looking at all the attendees in their chairs. They were both amazed at who was there.

Tom and Carl, their hometown area's Senior Advisories, sat in the front row, laughing and talking with each other. Dairine was there with her longtime boyfriend, Ethan, subtly making out further down the beach. Kit and Nita's parents stood, talking warmly with one another, pleased with the arrangements. Darryl, the young autistic boy they had helped long ago, walked up with his parents, giving them both a warm embrace and the words, "Knew you two were gonna get married someday… Nita, it was too easy to read in you when I was the clown."

Nita blushed, shook hands with his parents, then joined Kit on a driftwood log, watching Dairine and Ethan down the beach, who were still kissing and laughing uncomfortably.

Kit smiled distantly.

"Remember when we were like that?"

Nita nodded. "Those were the days," she sighed. "No more flirting with other guys for me," she added mischievously, eyes sparkling. Kit knew too well that neither he nor Nita would cheat on the other, but he gave her a small push anyway.

"Quiet, you," he chuckled, hands on his slim hips.

Nita leaned over and kissed him gently, reminding him that she loved him more than anything in the world at that moment.

"Whatever," she said as she pulled away. "I still get to blackmail Dair more than she ever did to me."

Kit smiled and sent a thought to Dairine and Ethan.

Hey, lovebirds. Come on over, why don't you?

Ethan was the first to respond.

Shut up, KF…

Kit rolled his eyes as Ethan laughed.

Coming… You, Dair?

Dairine's thought voice, somewhat bemused, came through.

Yeah. I'm coming.

Ethan kissed her, and the last word of her thoughts came out as something like cominnnnnnnng…

Nita watched Dairine break the kiss slowly, reluctantly, then slip her hand into Ethan's and head up the beach toward where they sat on the log.

Dairine arrived, her cheeks flushed, her eyes dancing with love and amusement. Ethan rolled his eyes at Kit, who grinned and told him, "You've got a long way ahead of you, pal. And a lot, a lot of pointless fights."

Ethan grinned at Dairine, who blushed and looked at the ground.

"Point taken, Kit. Thanks."

Dairine worked up enough courage to grumble, "I'm just the ring bearer gain, as usual…"

Ethan turned to her, murmuring, "Not to me, Dair. To me… you'll always be you… the way I love you."

Nita glanced at Kit, who grinned and leaned over, gently meeting Nita's lips for nearly a full minute before parting,

Dairine looked at Ethan, taking both of his hands in hers.

"Think we can beat them?"

Ethan smiled at her, then hugged her, pressing his lips to hers.

They broke apart a minute and a half later, but not before cuddling for a few seconds.

Nita rolled her eyes, smiling.

"Alright. Let's get going, Kit."

End Flashback

Kit smiled, and a tear made its way down his cheek.

"I do."

"Are there any objections in the crowd?"

Silence.

"Then, Christopher, you may kiss the bride."

Tears shimmering in his eyes, Kit watched Nita's father carry her across the threshold and place her on the ground.

Her eyes met his, and his heart did a few flips.

She slipped into his arms, and she gazed up into his eyes, calmly waiting for his lips to meet hers.

Kit closed his eyes and pressed his lips to Nita's.