See part one for disclaimers and other important information.
AN: The town mentioned in this chapter does really exist; however, it does not actually offer the specialty mentioned or at least I highly doubt it does. I really did read about another town with that specialty in National Geographic, though.
"Margaret!"
She peaks her head in through the partially open door.
"Hey sweetie"
"Could you try yelling that through the door? It would sound a lot more pleasant."
"Just for that I'm not telling you."
"Tell me what?"
The ringing of the telephone interrupts whatever he was going to say next.
"Answer it"
"Leo McGarry's office."
"Yeah, I'll tell him," she replies hanging up the phone.
"What?"
"It's your mother."
"What happened?"
"She slipped away in her sleep last night."
"I just talked to her last night," he pauses to think, "I told her about us. She really likes you."
She takes his hand and squeezes gently in comfort, "It was time."
"Yeah, I need to make phone calls."
The funeral itself is simple. The O'Hare's are few and Mrs. McGarry didn't have a large abundance of friends.
"Leo, come on," Margaret encourages, trying to get him out of the cold.
"Give me a minute"
The wind blows creating the appropriate chilly atmosphere for a final goodbye.
"Okay" he hesitantly breaths, "Let's go."
The drive back to the house is made in silence. Margaret's concern grows as Leo vanishes as soon as they arrive.
"I wanted to show you this."
Margaret jumps when he suddenly reappears.
"Sit down." Margaret is confused at Leo's sudden mood shift.
"This was a gift from my Great Aunt Elizabeth," she watches him blow dust off of a photo album, "she had a fascination for photography." He turns the pages over--beautiful shots of his mother and then of family gatherings always in the summer. "I've had it hidden in my room ever since she gave it to me. I don't know why." He stops at a certain photo, "this is the last family picnic we had – most of my aunts died the next year – my father's family stopped speaking to us for whatever reason," the tears start to flow, "It was nice to have cousins – someone to play with – we found a creek behind the wood line – my mother was so angry that I ruined my good clothes."
Margaret can't help a weak smile at Leo in muddy pants. "I'm going to miss her, too."
Leo puts his arm around Margaret and kisses her temple, "Yeah."
Leo rents a car for them to drive back. He wasn't in any state to fly to Chicago, but he has no intentions of flying commercial twice.
"I had our luggage put in the trunk. I have a hotel room booked in Elyria.
He doesn't comment on the singular of room, "Where?"
"It's in Ohio"
"Whatever," he starts the car, "We could visit your family instead."
"No!"
He doesn't comment on that either – yeah- he wants to reenact that Spanish Inquisition with her brothers again.
Leo can't help, but stare at the billboard across from the hotel. It turns out this is a small town that specializes in marriage. He had about read another place like this in National Geographic. They offered a chance for spontaneous marriage without the tackiness of Vegas.
"Elyria's private chapel performs over a hundred marriages a month most of them spontaneous with people traveling in from all over the country – It's the town of love," she draws out the last word.
"Margaret" he shakes his head with a chuckle.
"I read the brochure from the hotel lobby."
The wheels turn in his head – he considers the possibility, "Want to?" It sounds so inefficient outside his head – the crossroads once again are before him, but for once the decision does not rest in his hands alone.
"It would be more cost efficient."
He ponders more how she says it than what for a moment – the fanciful imagery of his frugal girl-that this is as close to a yes as he's going to get from Margaret – he grasps her hand and softly kisses it.
She smiles at the connection they've suddenly made – snap-the noise of the outside world returns, "If this is going to happen, I need to make phone calls now."
It is amid the midmorning dew that their vows are exchanged. Margaret carries purple lilacs-the only color between the two – after all they had packed clothes of mourning.
Leo, DO YOU TAKE THIS WOMAN
TO BE YOUR LAWFUL WEDDED WIFE,
TO LIVE TOGETHER IN HOLY MATRIMONY,
TO LOVE, HONOR AND COMFORT HER,
KEEP HER IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH,
AND FORSAKING ALL OTHERS, KEEP YOU ONLY UNTO HER,
AS LONG AS YOU BOTH SHALL LIVE?
Margaret, DO YOU TAKE THIS MAN
TO BE YOUR LAWFUL WEDDED HUSBAND,
TO LIVE TOGETHER IN HOLY MATRIMONY,
TO LOVE, HONOR AND COMFORT HIM,
KEEPING HIM IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH,
AND FORSAKING ALL OTHERS, KEEP YOU ONLY UNTO HIM
AS LONG AS YOU BOTH SHALL LIVE?
Though they are standardized the caring is present none the same- the way he grasps her hand – the smile that caresses her lips.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
"We should buy a house."
Leo smiles at Margaret's ever revolving brain.
"I think I know a guy – but no --he wouldn't have the right type of places – Abbey would know or least know someone that knows..."
It hits them both that they're going to have to tell people – that very few people even now they're together, "I'll take care of the announcements on Monday. You'll have to call people when we get home."
He realizes that home has a real meaning now.
"I want a yard – I miss having space."
"We could plant a lilac bush in the backyard."
She smiles at his thoughtfulness, but then it morphs into an evil grin, "Flip you for who gets to call my brothers?"
Leo glances at her in horror, causing Margaret to giggle.
TBC
Thank you to all my loyal readers!