Author's Notes: Thank you everyone who's been reviewing the story. I appreciate and it helps to inspire me to write more. In response to the emails I've gotten, yes the pair will be separated eventually, but I promise that they will be together in the end. Reviews are always appreciated.
Part 8
Age: 12 Years 8 Months
Samantha waited eagerly for Jack in the attic. Every day when the mail would arrive he would run down and see if the envelope they were waiting for would arrive. Jack had sent photos and information to a man who used to construct fake ID's for the FBI. In exchange for a large sum of money, the former FBI agent would make full sets of ID's for Jack and Samantha that would hold up under the closest scrutiny. Once the ID's arrived, they could put the rest of Jack's plan into motion and get married.
Jack entered the attic and Samantha looked at him expectantly, "Well?"
"How about a kiss?" Jack teased and walked over to her.
"Jack!" she protested.
"Yes, Mrs. Newquay?"
"Mrs.-" Samantha trailed off. Throwing her arms around Jack she began kissing him over and over. Then she demanded, "Let me see."
Holding out the envelope, Jack watched in amusement as Samantha tore into it. Inside lying between sheets of paper were two driver's licenses. Jack's listed his age as 17 and Samantha's listed her age as 16. All the information was exact except for their birthdates which had been adjusted to allow them to get a marriage license. The pages that were wrapped around the ID's were brilliantly forged court documents declaring each of them were emancipated minors as of two years ago.
"Why did you get these?"
"I wanted to make certain that we were completely covered no matter what. It will help that I have credit cards thanks to my oh so loving parents."
"Jack, why do you hate your parents?"
Kissing her gently, Jack told her, "Someday I'll tell you. Today is a happy day and I don't intend to let anything ruin it. Gesturing at the two bridal magazines he'd smuggled into the orphanage he asked, "Find a dress you like?"
Sitting down on the pile of cushions under the large stained glass window, she hesitated, "Not yet."
Sitting down beside her, Jack looked into her eyes and sighed, "Samantha, I hate it when you lie to me. I've told you before, there's nothing you can't tell me. Is it the money?"
"Yes. I can't let you spend a bunch of money on a dress I'm going to wear one time."
Patiently, Jack informed her, "You're marrying a very wealthy man. Or rather I will be when I get my trustfund when I turn 21. And I'll also be inheriting my father's money. I haven't had anything to spend my allowance on in years, please Samantha, let me buy you a dress."
"Ok, yes there's one I like."
"Is the store across town listed in the ad?" When Samantha nodded, he suggested, "Let's go tomorrow and buy it. Everything is in place, I have a phone card, I'll call and make reservations for us in Memphis."
"Memphis?"
"I want to take us somewhere that we won't attract attention and where my last name isn't known. Marriage licenses are always published in the newspaper and I don't want either of our families finding out until we're ready. Agreed?"
"Definitely," Samantha nodded. Her father would be furious if he found out, although more because it disturbed his research than that he cared about her. Part of her wished Angel could be there, but her friend simply wouldn't understand. Not only did Angel change crushes every other day, but Samantha doubted her friend would understand Jack. As much as she adored Jack, she feared Angel wouldn't. Not that her friend's disapproval would stop her. Marrying Jack and spending her life with him was all that mattered.
The next day, the city of Cincinnati's premier bridal shop had one of their strangest customers ever. When the young pair walked in, the staff had been ready to shoo them out, every now and then teenagers would wander in and try to cause trouble. To their shock, Jack demanded to see the manager.
"May I help you?" a middle aged woman with too much rouge wearing a tag that proclaimed her title of manager, inquired haughtily.
Jack reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a thick bundle of hundred dollar bills and replied, "My fiancé would like to purchase a dress. I trust there will be no further problems and that she will be treated appropriately. Money is no object."
The woman took another look at Jack, he was wearing suit that was obviously custom tailored and his voice suggested he was accustomed to having his own way. In his hand was a bundle of ten thousand dollars and inside his jacket she caught a flash of more bundles of money. Smiling widely, she declared, "Of course. Do you have anything in mind my dear?"
Samantha held out the bridal magazine and the staff instantly fell all over themselves to attend her. They offered the couple coffee, cappuccino and even offered to go out and fetch anything that might tempt them as they shopped. Although Jack was accustomed to people fawning over him for financial reasons, Samantha was not and she blushed under their attentions. While Jack despised the hypocrisy of the sales staff, he was pleased that they were making Samantha happy, that was what was important. When the dress had been fitted and alterations marked, Jack paid for it and the manager asked when he wished it by.
"End of the week," he informed her. When she started to hesitate, he told her, "You may add another grand to the total for the inconvenience."
Immediately the woman agreed and the couple left with a bag in hand that held the veil Samantha had selected. Carrying the bag back to the orphanage, Jack hailed a cab for them because the November air was quite chilly. Jack didn't wish for Samantha to get sick and he didn't wish to have a relapse. Recovering from being locked in the refrigerator had taken several weeks and Jack didn't want anything to delay their marriage. Thanksgiving was approaching and it was the perfect time to get married. Jack had paid an actor to call the orphanage and pretend to be Sam's father and say that he was taking her for a few days for the holiday. As for himself, Jack had paid an actress to call and pretend to be his mother with a similar excuse. No one would be the wiser and he had already secured a rental car for them to drive to Memphis.
Two days before Thanksgiving, the pair left in a cab supposedly going to the airport to be rejoined with their families for a few days. Instead they stopped at the bridal shop and picked up Samantha's gown and picked up their rental car. Samantha held the map Jack had traced their route on as he carefully drove out of the city. Snow had begun falling as they crossed the bridge from Ohio into Kentucky. They planned to drive straight through the state and not stop until they reached their destination in Tennessee.
Samantha looked at Jack who was positively grinning and asked him, "What is it?"
"I'm just happy. I don't remember ever having been so happy in my entire life. You actually love me and want to marry me. You didn't change your mind or leave me."
"Jack, I would never leave you. I love you."
"I know it's just-" Jack trailed off. How could he explain a lifetime of rejection and neglect to her. Finding words he told her, "I just worry that some day you'll decide I'm not good enough to love."
Looking at Jack, her heart ached for him. Someone had actually convinced him he wasn't good enough to love. The thought of anyone hurting him so deeply, made her furious. Her Jack was amazing, how dare someone make him feel otherwise. Moving over to snuggle against him, Samantha kissed his cheek.
"I love you and nothing will ever change that. You are going to be my husband and I will be your wife. No one can ever change my feelings for you, Jack. Someday you'll believe you deserve love, I'll make you believe it. In the meantime, watch what you say about my favorite person, or I might have to hurt you. I'm damn partial to you and I won't tolerate anyone saying anything bad about you. Including you."
Jack laughed and surrendered to Samantha's display of affection. As he drove he watched the road, carefully, every now and again stealing a peek at his bride-to-be. Driving out of the snow and into a clear sunny sky, he allowed himself to bask in her love and to enjoy being near her. Tomorrow they would be married and nothing bad could ever happen to them again, Jack decided...
