Chapter 15

Gordon bounded up the stairs to his room taking two at a time. He would pack his bag and then go pick up Charlotte, and they would drive... He skipped a step banging his shin painfully, he swore loudly taking the rest of the steps one at a time. To his dismay Alan popped out of his room to look at who was making noise.

"Yo bro.." He began as Gordon brushed by him brusquely. "Hey Gordon." Alan followed on Gordon's heels into his room.

Why did he have to be so nosy? Gordon began to pack some clothes. He glared at Alan. "Beat it kid." He said gruffly.

"Why?" Alan grinned. Gordon was spoiling for a fight, well so was he. He was tired of walking around his surly brother on tiptoe. He walked further into the room and started picking up things off his brother's desk. That was a surefire way to rile his brother. Alan balanced on his toes ready for the swipe aimed at his head. He was surprised to be largely ignored.

"Hey what's up?" Concern colored Alan's voice. "Where are you going?" He laid a hand on Gordon's arm. "I know Dad tore a strip off you last night, but taking off like this..."

"We know what we are doing! We're not running away! I'm taking charge of my life, just like father wants me to do!" Gordon started stripping off his T-shirt. He was too focused to bother with getting rid of Alan, besides his concern felt - good. The fact that he'd dropped from being school hero to school heel in a short period of time had been more painful than he wanted to admit. The big argument with his father yesterday hadn't helped either. He emptied out his pockets and threw the contents onto his dresser while pulling off the jeans to drop shot them into his laundry basket.

Alan ignored the spare change and focussed on the small velvet box that his brother had tossed on the desk. He looked at it curiously before picking it up to turn it in his hands. He looked up at his brother who was standing in front of his closet and pulling out the plastic bag that held his good suit. Alan's jaw dropped in understanding and he opened the box to confirm his suspicions. Nestled in the satin was a ring, a wedding ring if he hadn't missed the boat completely.

"Oh man..." Alan groaned.

Gordon turned to see the open box in his brother's hands. The two stared at each other for what seemed forever. Gordon felt his stomach dip. Sure, he and Alan scrapped, but they had always remained close, depending on one another especially when their older brothers weren't around. Or especially when they were around.

"I - I am getting married. Today. Charlotte and I are going to drive across the border and get married there." Gordon confessed.

Alan's mouth snapped shut along with the velvet case.

"We gotta do it, Alan. It's the only way we can really live the lives we want to." Gordon explained shredding the plastic off the navy blue suit.

"Father..." Alan began.

"Father is forcing me into something I don't want." Gordon said mulishly. "He just can't understand. He won't listen to me. No one does." He muttered.

"Okay." Alan handed over the box. "Do you need anything? I have some money saved."

Gordon looked at his baby brother for the first time. "Thanks bro, but Charlotte has some savings and I have mine. We'll be fine." He went to pat him on the shoulder and was surprised to be pulled into a hug. The two brothers hung onto each other a fraction longer than usual.

"Promise me. Word of a Tracy. Don't tell anyone, especially Father." Gordon squeezed his brother's shoulder.

"I promise." Alan swore.

"I promise." Gordon averred.

The ceremony was short and mechanical. In no time at all, Charlotte Jones had become Mrs. Tracy. Gordon looked at his bride. She was dressed immaculately in a cream silk sheath dress that emphasized her clear skin and glowing blue eyes. She had seemed cool and collected all through the ceremony, but now seemed a bit agitated and nervous. Gordon felt a well of protective emotion rise up.

"It will be okay darling." He hugged her and bent his head for a well earned kiss.

"Please Gordon. I need time. Can we wait until we get to the hotel?" She squirmed in his grip and brushed at the dress ironing out imaginary wrinkles with her fingers.

"Hotel? I thought we were going home...to tell our fathers." Gordon looked perplexed.

"Without even having our wedding night?" Charlotte pouted. "I booked us a room at the Motel Seven two miles from here."

"Uh sure, that will be fine." Gordon felt as if the tie around his neck just got a little too tight. "Right!" He said cheerfully. Charlotte was so good at details, just like Em.

The motel looked awfully seedy and the desk clerk incredibly bored with the whole procedure of checking them in. It looked like the kind of place that only catered for clients needing a room for a few hours rather than overnight, not to speak of an ideal place for a wedding night.

"Uh, I think I can afford a little better place than this..." Gordon began carefully as he took in the cheap surroundings.

"But I chose it!" Charlotte blinked her blue eyes at him, a single tear resting on her perfect cheek. "Aren't you happy with me Gordon?" She turned away and sniffed delicately into a lacy handkerchief that was handily in her purse.

"Aw, of course I am darling. I just want what is best for us." Why did his knees feel like rubber and his stomach churn unhappily?

"Gordon darling, why don't you go and buy us a bottle of champagne while I get ready?" Charlotte batted her eyes at him and blushed charmingly.

"Champagne? I'm not sure if I'm old enough to buy liquor in this state." Gordon looked confused. "I thought you didn't like to drink?"

"It's our wedding day Gordon." Charlotte's mouth moved into a thin line of disapproval.

"Well sure darling for you." Gordon kissed his bride on the cheek as she ducked to avoid his lips. Well, they were both new at this sort of thing.

No sooner than Gordon was driving away then Charlotte was on the phone.

"It's done." she giggled happily. "I did it!"

"Good. Now you know what to do next." Came the terse orders.

"Right. A phone call to Daddy."