This is a long chapter because my imagination ran away with me...
It was early Tuesday morning, and Sue was signing to herself in annoyance as she looked through the stack of the heavily laden moving boxes that filled her bedroom. "Where is it? I know it must be around here somewhere…"
After several minutes of searching, she was surprised to see her roommate standing in the doorway, waving at her. "What?!," she signed in exasperation.
Lucy pointed at her wrist. "We need to get going or we'll be late for work."
"You go ahead if you want. No need for you to be late because of me." Holding up a shoe, Sue frowned as she looked around the room. "I can't find the other one of these! I'm sure I didn't pack it, because I made it a point to pack both shoes in a pair together...but maybe I got careless towards the end of the job because I was in a hurry..."
"Just a minute…" Lucy disappeared and then quickly returned. "It was in the living room, hidden under Levi's blanket. I think he knows you're getting ready to go somewhere without him."
Rolling her eyes, Sue pretended to glare at the dog, who simply wagged his tail and smiled in return. "Levi, how could you?" She looked over the shoe carefully before putting it on. "No chew marks, so you're forgiven." Grinning sheepishly at Lucy, she shrugged. "I should've looked there. I know how he likes to keep toys in his bed."
"Well, you have a lot of things on your mind, right?" Lucy followed Sue out to the living room. "Anyway, no harm, no foul…but we need to go...like right away..."
They hurried down to the car and soon were on their way to the office. After going a few miles, Lucy turned to her passenger. "Is everything okay? You seem awfully quiet this morning."
"I'm fine. I was just thinking about everything I need to do before Saturday! I don't know how people can pull off a big production wedding ceremony and still keep their sanity, Lucy. I feel overwhelmed, and our wedding is going to be simple…"
"Well, you do have a fabulous wedding planner, right?" Seeing Sue's eye roll, Lucy laughed. "Okay, I'll let you in on a little secret. The best way to handle running any production, be it a wedding or wrangling an FBI office full of agents, is to break the plans into small sections and then prioritize. So, let's review. You have your dress and shoes ready to go…"
"Yes, and I know what jewelry I'm going to wear…and how I'm going to wear my hair and do my makeup..."
"So that's done. Your bag is packed for your honeymoon…you have your passport..."
Sue nodded. "The bigger suitcase is ready, but I still need to add some things to my overnight bag. I'll do that Thursday evening since we'll be busy Friday."
Lucy giggled as she checked her mirrors. "Better make sure you have all that sexy lingerie packed, right?" Seeing Sue's knowing grin, she continued. "Jack has the marriage license...you have his ring, the church is available, and the minister is lined up. So...that means the most important things are under control. You have everything you need to get married Saturday. The rest is just window dressing for the wedding guests."
"Okay..." Sue chewed her lip slightly as she ran down her mental checklist. "The next thing is that we have to move my belongings to our house tomorrow, which will probably take all day." She glanced at her friend. "Are you sure you don't care if I wait to clear everything out until I get back from our honeymoon? I mean, we'll get most of it tomorrow, but I'd like to leave the piano and my bedroom suite there for a few more weeks. I'm still not sure that I'll have room for those things at the house. If not, I'll have them moved to a storage unit after we come home."
"It's not a problem! I'm going to live in the apartment for the time being, and those things aren't in the way, so…"
Sue giggled softly. "You mean you'll live there until you and Henry figure out where you want to live…together..."
"Okay...you're right. You've caught me." Lucy chuckled as she raised an eyebrow at her friend. "Don't tell anyone yet, but there's the possibility that he may take a different position at a larger church in Annapolis. If he accepts that call, that's where we'll be living...after we get married…"
"So you are engaged! I knew it!" Sue playfully shook her finger at Lucy. "You were trying to keep it a secret from me!"
"Okay, yes, we're engaged, but no, I wasn't trying to keep it from you. Look, right now, the focus should be on you, okay? You're the one who's getting married this weekend!" Seeing Sue's happy grin, Lucy laughed as she continued. "Okay, so Wednesday, your stuff gets moved out to your new house. Wednesday evening is also when your brothers and their families fly into DC at various times, so dinner will be low key...we'll probably order something in. Then what?"
"Thursday is spa day, right? So you, me, Tara, Denise, my mom, Colette, my 3 sisters-in-law, and my 2 nieces are going to get facials, manicures and pedicures before we go have a nice lunch together at Le Jardin. That should be fun."
"I think so, too! Tara and I have already requested our time off on that day, and I've reserved a room at the restaurant for noon. Speaking of which...you've already gotten your honeymoon time off approved, right?"
"Yes! It's a good thing I'm hardly ever sick, isn't it? After all, I'm taking two weeks off. That's done, and I've also completed all the paperwork to change my name and my insurance stuff at the Bureau, and I've already applied for a new driver's license." Sue paused for a few seconds, thinking through the upcoming activities for the rest of the week. "What are the men going to do on Thursday?"
"I don't know...and that may be a good thing. I seem to remember hearing Jack say something about a round of golf for all of them, but I'm not sure I really want to know what those jokers are up to. All of those crazy guys together on a golf course? No thank you!" Lucy laughed out loud. "Nothing but trouble will come from that! I hope Metro PD is prepared for the mischief that's bound to happen."
"Good point. I just hope they can get out of jail before the wedding!," Sue giggled. Using her fingers, she counted off the rest of the items on her list. "Friday evening is the rehearsal at the church and then dinner at Rigoletto's, which Colette is taking care of...and Saturday is the big day! I suppose we can take some time before the rehearsal to make sure things are set up correctly in the church and in the family life center."
Lucy quickly agreed. "That's what your mom thought as well. Since you're not having a lot of fresh flowers for the ceremony, we can get most of the decorating done ahead of time so there won't be such a panic on Saturday morning...you know, setting up the candelabras, putting ribbons on the pews...setting up the tables for the reception...things like that. Then on the morning of the wedding, we'll just put out the flowers and be done. Your mom has everything planned out."
"Good." Sue groaned in frustration as she continued. "That'll give her something to do besides complaining about the fact that I'm not wearing some fancy formal ball gown for my wedding. I tried to explain that a big pouffy princess dress isn't my style, but you know her...she's always got to put in her two cents' worth." Shaking her head, she sighed in exasperation. "I think she likes to worry about stuff."
"I know, but you'll see...she's gonna be thrilled about how beautiful you look in your wedding dress. It's perfect, okay? It's just so...you, and you're going to feel so happy wearing it...and then she'll realize you made the right choice."
Sue sighed quietly as she turned toward the window. "I know. I'm very happy with my choice and that's what counts, right?"
"Right."
They rode in silence for a few minutes until Lucy waved to get her passenger's attention. "Are you sure everything is okay? You're not getting cold feet, are you?"
"No, of course not. I love Jack so much...and I can't wait to marry him...but…" Sue paused slightly. "Maybe this is silly, but I wonder if someday he might regret marrying me…"
Lucy did a double take. "Why would you even think that? He's absolutely crazy about you! He has been ever since he met you! You know that!"
"But if we're married, he'll have to deal with my deafness for the rest of his life! Don't you think he'll get tired of that? Always explaining why his wife didn't hear what was being said in a conversation? Always having to tell me what's going on in social situations? Always having to make excuses for me..." Sue shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "He's an amazing man...he could marry anyone, but for some reason he says he wants to marry me…"
"Because he loves you!" Lucy sighed softly, tapping the steering wheel as she tried to think of a way to ease Sue's worry. "Okay, look...whenever I think of Henry, I think about what a brilliant, compassionate man he is. He has a great sense of humor...he lives his faith daily, as best he can...and he helps so many people through his ministry. He has so much going for him...and he also happens to be hard of hearing, but his hearing impairment doesn't change who he is in my eyes, Sue. It's just a part of him. In fact, there are times when I don't even think about his hearing loss, okay? It doesn't change how I feel about him." She grimaced slightly. "I'm sure you remember that he said there's a good chance that he'll become completely deaf later in life, but that won't change who he is or how I feel about him. Hearing or not, he'll always be the Henry I love."
Seeing that Sue was unconvinced, Lucy continued. "Okay, let's look at it another way. Does it bother you that Jack isn't as tall as most of the guys he works with? I mean, he's several inches shorter than both Bobby and Myles."
Sue was incredulous at Lucy's statement, and she glared at her friend with annoyance. "Why would that bother me? It doesn't change anything about him...it doesn't affect his work! He's been an outstanding case agent and now he's an outstanding recruiter. He's a wonderful person no matter how tall he is…" She stopped suddenly as she realized what Lucy was implying. "Oh...I get what you're trying to say, but being deaf is a lot different than someone's height, Lucy. So many things in life have to be adapted for me because I can't hear…and Jack will be the one bearing the brunt of those efforts..."
"And he managed to handle that sort of thing very well over the last couple of years as he became accustomed to working with you. Surely his being married to you will work the same way. He's intelligent, and he'll adapt quickly if he needs to...because he loves you and he wants to share his life with you." Nodding slightly, Lucy smiled. "You know, this argument sounds remarkably similar to the one we had before you decided we could be roommates, and despite those concerns, it seems we've been very successful living together. I think you like to worry about things, too, just like your mom does." Hearing Sue's annoyed scoff, Lucy chuckled. "You know, we both believe that God has a plan for our lives, right?" Seeing Sue nod, she continued. "So then, I'm sure it wasn't an accident that you barged into the wrong office that day or that Jack sat down at your lunch table. It wasn't an accident that he figured out how to use your talents for his unit...and it wasn't an accident that you two just immediately clicked with each other. It's all part of the plan! It was meant to be! And don't forget...you're an amazing person, too. Jack's lucky to have you in his life, so no more worrying, okay? I think you just have a case of the pre-marital jitters, but everything is gonna work out alright. You and Jack are gonna have a long and happy life together...starting on Saturday morning!"
"I guess you're right." Shrugging slightly, Sue grimaced as she glanced out the car's window. But I'd feel a lot better if I heard that from Jack...
Ooooooooo
That same morning Jack sat in his office, the picture of concentration as he studied his computer monitor. He had several things to accomplish that day before he'd feel ready to take two weeks off from work.
He'd planned all the arrangements for his time off with the same attention to detail he'd used when planning to take down a wanted criminal. Nothing would be left to chance if he could help it. "We'll only have one chance at the perfect honeymoon...," he said to himself as he looked through a set of papers. "...and I don't want to blow it…"
The timing of their trip was somewhat problematic as far as college recruiting went. With so many students graduating within the next few weeks, it would be helpful to have as many recruiters as possible visiting the college campuses in the DC area to answer any questions the future graduates might have about working for the Bureau, but he was going to be unavailable. However, as Director Chastain had correctly pointed out, Jack had a well trained group of recruiting agents working with him who were perfectly capable of extolling the virtues of being employed by the FBI, even if he wasn't around to personally supervise them.
"I gotta trust that they know what they're doing, right? They don't need me looking over their shoulders every minute, and that's how it should be. Eventually we'll have a whole contingent of agents who can interact with a wide range of people, and we'll be able to send them out to every university in the eastern half of the country…and then we'll have some great applicants come our way..."
With that issue taken care of, it was time to look over the schedule of the week's upcoming events. The next few days were going to be very busy. "Tomorrow we're moving Sue's stuff out to the house. That should be interesting. I wonder what our parents are gonna say about our scruffy little white 'cottage'...but Sue loves it, so that's good enough for me…"
They'd unload her things and then lock up the house for a couple of weeks. He'd already asked Pooleville's sheriff to have a deputy drive by their place occasionally to check on things, since he was going to stay in DC until the wedding, crashing in his parents' hotel room. He'd originally asked to stay at Sue's apartment for a couple of nights, but that idea was quickly shot down. He smirked as he remembered how shocked all of the women involved in the wedding preparations had been when he'd suggested it. "I don't know why they think I'd be in the way…"
As it turned out, it was probably a good thing he wasn't going to stay at Sue's place after all. He wanted to practice the words to his 'song' without worrying about his inquisitive fiancee' hanging around, since she'd be very curious as she tried to figure out what he was doing. "I don't want to spoil the surprise…"
Then he checked the appointments on his phone. A round of golf for the men in the wedding party was on tap for Thursday...a little bit of 'relaxation' before the big day. He chuckled to himself as he sat back in his chair. Sue's brothers were going to be there, too, and based on everything she'd told him about them...and also knowing how much she enjoyed teasing him...he was anticipating the pointed questions...and the incessant ribbing...he'd be receiving from them. "That's what guys do, right? Check out the guy their sister's marrying to make sure he's okay? I know that's what I'd do if I didn't already know Bobby…"
He figured Friday would be a blur until the rehearsal dinner, and then Saturday morning...he sighed with satisfaction. Saturday was the big day...the day he'd been looking forward to for a long time. "Sue's gonna be my wife...and I can't wait…"
Shortly after the wedding, they'd leave for their honeymoon in Quebec, and then, after spending a week visiting his grandparents and seeing the sights of the city, they'd fly back the following Saturday, pick up Levi from the vet, and buy some groceries from the little mom and pop store in Pooleville, and then…
"And then, we're gonna shut down our computers, turn off our phones, pull down the shades, and lock the doors...and we're gonna spend three and a half days in uninterrupted, clothing optional, marital bliss in our new house...just her and me...and Levi, of course, but he won't care what we do as long as he gets fed. We're gonna take some time to enjoy being newlyweds...just the two of us, by ourselves...almost like Adam and Eve in our own little garden, right? We're gonna savor our time together. I'm gonna spend as much time as I can just holding my beautiful wife in my arms...and I'm gonna enjoy every minute of it. She's gonna make me so happy...and I'm gonna do everything I can to make her understand how much I love her." He smiled happily. "It's gonna be hard to come back to work after spending time like that with Sue, but knowing that we'll be together when we get home in the evening will make it a lot easier. It's gonna be great..."
Jack's romantic thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a soft rap on his office door. Rising from his chair, he quickly embraced his visitor. "Sue! I didn't expect to see you until this evening…"
"I know…" She reached up to caress his cheek. "...but I haven't really had a chance just to talk to you lately...you know, with everything that's been going on while we've been getting ready for the wedding and all…"
"It's been crazy, alright. I mean, in a way, I've missed you, too, even though I've seen you every day. We haven't really had time to be together...just you and me…" Noticing that she was uneasy, Jack frowned slightly. "Is everything okay? What's up?"
"Nothing...I just wanted to see you." Seeing his serious expression, she knew she hadn't been successful in hiding her worries from him. "So...I...um...I was wondering…"
"Wondering what?" As Sue hesitated, Jack took her hand. "What's wrong? Are you having second thoughts about us getting married? I guess we did rush things because I didn't want to wait, but…"
"No, I'm not having second thoughts about marrying you…" She averted her gaze and pulled her hand away from him, moving to sit down in a chair by his desk. "...but I wonder...if you've really considered how difficult it's going to be for you to be married to someone who's deaf."
"Wait...what? Sue…come on..." He groaned softly. "We've already discussed this, okay? It'll be fine…"
She was unconvinced. "Jack, it can be such a challenge! It'll be a never-ending struggle for you, dealing with your deaf wife…and it's not like it'll ever get better over the years..."
"You mean like the struggle I had when we started working together? I'll admit, it was a bit of a challenge when you joined the unit, even though it was my idea, but I think I've figured things out pretty well. We've been very successful working together, so we should be even more successful at being married."
"But if we're married, you'll have to deal with my deafness all day, every day. You'll never get a break…it'll be a constant part of our lives."
"What makes you think I'm ever going to want a break from you?" He smiled as he leaned on the corner of his desk. "I think the opposite is gonna be true instead. I don't think I can get enough of you…"
"Jack, be serious! You have no idea what you're in for…"
"I think I do. See, I've been doing some 'research'." He pursed his lips slightly as he considered his words. "Henry and I have discussed the situation...yours and mine...on numerous occasions, and he's helped me a lot when it comes to getting a handle on how things are gonna be. He's even given me some pointers on how to live with a deaf person."
"You went to pre-marital counseling without me? When did that happen?" Slightly annoyed that Jack had kept a secret from her, she glowered at him. "Why didn't you tell me what you were doing?"
He shrugged slightly as he considered her questions. "I don't know. It wasn't like I was trying to keep you from finding out, and anyway, I'm not sure what we were discussing actually counts as pre-marital counseling. It just worked out where Henry and I met for lunch one day to discuss the music for the wedding, and I mentioned that you'd said it didn't matter much to you, since you couldn't hear it...and it sort of took off from there." Taking her hand, Jack gently ran his thumb over her knuckles as he explained. "I guess he's worried about Lucy being in the same boat as I am. He wonders if it's fair to put that burden on her if they get married. He loves her, but he worries about whether or not she can deal with everything that goes with it...you know, his hearing loss and also being a busy pastor with an active ministry at a large church...and maybe even kids who might be deaf."
"And what did you tell him?"
Jack smiled tenderly at Sue. "I said that no matter what problems may arise, being with the person you love is never a burden. When you consider all the traits which are a part of that person, you accept them, both good and not so good, because those traits are what make them who they are, which, in turn, makes you happy, too." Seeing her nod, he continued to explain. "Anyway, I guess he wanted to get my take on how our relationship works...you know, what it was like for a hearing person like me to be in love with a deaf person like you." Shrugging a shoulder, Jack grinned at his fiancee'. "I told him it was the most wonderful thing in the world, because, since you can't hear, you'll never complain about me snoring like a Mack truck or having the Capitals hockey game up too loud on the TV…"
"Jack…" She rolled her eyes at her fiance'. "I think you're missing the point…"
"Nah...I don't think I am. See, here's the thing. I'm planning on hanging around for a long, long time, okay? I mean, at least fifty years or so. And that means that someday, when I'm in my seventies or eighties, or maybe even my nineties, I might be bald as a cue ball, with a wrinkled face, sporting dentures, thick glasses, and using a walker to get around. Who knows? I might even turn out to be a fashion icon like my grandfather. I might think it's really cool to wear baggy plaid Bermuda shorts with snug white tee shirts stretched over my paunchy belly and white over the calf socks with my plastic sandals." He scrunched up his nose as she laughed. "Yeah, I know...I'll be pretty homely, but hopefully you'll still want to be seen in public with me, because no matter what I look like, you'll still love me, right? Please tell me I didn't learn ASL for nothing...please tell me you'll still love me when I'm a ridiculous little old man..."
"Wow...that's a lot to ask…" Seeing Jack's pout, Sue giggled. "Of course, I'll still love you. But I'll get old, too, Jack. I'll be this frail old deaf lady with gray hair and crow's feet. I'll probably be grumpy, too, and I'll spend most of my time wearing worn out sweatshirts and sweatpants that are covered with dog hair, and beat up slippers instead of shoes..."
Jack chuckled at her description. "It won't matter, Sue, because I'll always love you, even if you can't hear me say it out loud." He flashed the hand sign for 'I love you'. "And you'll always know that's true, because you trust me, right? So, there you go. It's gonna take a lot more than the fact that you can't hear to get rid of me…"
Sue tried to smile. "Are you sure? I don't want you to marry me just because you feel sorry for me…"
He threw up his hands in disbelief. "I don't feel sorry for you! I admire and respect you and everything you've accomplished! I love you so much! I think you're an amazing, wonderful woman, and I can't imagine for the life of me why you'd want to marry a guy like me, unless you've taken pity on me…"
"No, that's not it. You're a wonderful, intelligent, gorgeous man, and you know I love you...and that's why I want you to know that you shouldn't feel obligated to stay with me…"
"Sue…I appreciate that, but..." Heaving a soft sigh, Jack shook his head. "...I'm not sure what else I can say. I love you with all my heart, and I definitely want us to get married Saturday. Okay?"
Finally she nodded. "Okay...if you're sure."
"I'm sure! Very, very sure! Now...no more of that talk, okay?" He bent down to kiss her. "So...I'll see you tonight? I'd like to load some of your things into the truck if we have time after dinner…"
Nodding, she rose from her chair. "That's a good idea." Smirking at him, she giggled. "You know, I can tell when you're snoring loudly. The noise makes the bed vibrate…"
A naughty grin spread across his handsome face as he embraced her. "Trust me, Sugar...I'm gonna make sure our bed vibrates in lots of interesting ways…and not just because I'm snoring..."
Her eyes widened in surprise as she realized what he meant. "Jack Hudson! Behave yourself!," she giggled. "You shouldn't talk like that at work! What will people think?"
He chuckled before giving her a passionate kiss. "They're gonna think I'm in love with you. No harm in that, right?"
"I suppose not." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "I love you, too. See you tonight."
"By the way, what are we having for dinner?," Jack asked suspiciously.
"Meatloaf" Seeing his slight grimace, she laughed. "Just kidding. My mom is frying some chicken."
"That's great!" Seeing Sue's glare, he laughed. "It doesn't make any difference what we have for dinner...as long as we're together, right?"
"You're a very smart man, Jack. I'll see you later."
"Bye." He gave her a tender look as she left his office. "I can't wait to get married…"
Oooooooooo
Sunlight streamed through the window over the sink in the cozy kitchen of the little house as Sue, her mother, and her future mother in law unpacked boxes and put the dishes away Wednesday morning. "I can't wait to make my first dinner here, in my very own kitchen!," Sue said happily. "I think maybe I'll make us a nice pot roast…"
"That sounds good." Her mother smiled indulgently as she put some plates in one of the upper cabinets. "Of course, you won't have much time to cook when you get home from work…after all, you'll have a 30 minute commute...maybe longer if there's heavy traffic."
Grimacing slightly, Sue shrugged. "I can put it in the slow cooker and it'll be ready when we get home." She folded some dish towels and put them in a drawer. "I know our new place is kind of a long way from work, but Jack wanted an acreage, and this place was offered for a great price. We can adapt...we'll be fine…"
"I hope so." Her mother sighed softly as she sorted out the flatware. "I just wish you'd been able to find some place closer to DC. It would've been nice if you could've afforded a nicer place in a bigger town with a better school..."
"Mom, it wasn't Jack's fault that his credit rating took such a hit when someone stole his card numbers! And it wouldn't matter if we had found something different, because I love our new place! This house is so cute! The lot has a beautiful view, and Paul said he can design a really nice new house for us when we're ready to build. It'll be built back away from the road, by the trees. It'll be a great place for our children to run around! Besides, we checked out the school, and it has a good rating...and anyway, it's going to be several years before we have a child old enough to go to school."
"But if one of your children is deaf…" Mrs. Thomas bit her lip as she realized she might've said the wrong thing. "I know the chances of that happening are small, but it's really something you should keep in mind."
"Carla…they're going to be okay.," Colette interrupted quietly. As she reached over to give her future daughter in law a hug, she smiled at Mrs. Thomas. "I think things will work out fine for Sue and Jack. My husband and I live in a small town, and we've been happy there for years, even with John having to commute to work. Actually, he has to drive all over Wisconsin for his job, but he says he's always happy to come back home to Waunakee, no matter how long it takes to get there. He says it's like his own little piece of Heaven on Earth, being out in the country like we are. Both Jack and Denise got a great education at their little high school, and as you know, they're both successful adults." Seeing that her new friend was still somewhat unconvinced, Colette continued with a smile. "Besides, you know Sue isn't one to make rash decisions about finances, right? She's very practical, and I'm sure she's considered all of the ins and outs of living here…and even though Jack teases Sue a lot about how much she loves this little house, I know he's thrilled that they're going to have their own piece of Heaven on Earth as they make their start in married life."
"You're right, of course. After all, it's not like the town we live in is all that big..." As she thought over what Colette was saying, Carla finally smiled as she turned to her daughter. "I know you'll be very happy here, darling…especially with a fine man like Jack as your husband, and it's wonderful to think that you're able to buy your first home together so soon after your marriage! Not many newlyweds can say that!" Laughing softly, she began to reminisce. "When your father and I first got married, we moved into a tiny efficiency apartment in Cincinnati and lived there for 2 years while he completed his degree. It was about 500 square feet at the most, I guess, so it was a lot smaller than your new house is. In fact, my father used to tease me by saying that if I wanted to turn around in the living area I had to step out into the hall first, do a spin, and then come back in."
As she laughed merrily at the story, Colette nodded in understanding. "Johnny and I lived in married student housing at the university for a year, which was basically a dorm room with a tiny bathroom, and a two burner stove, a sink, and a very small refrigerator on one wall. It wasn't even a real kitchen, you know? But it's what we could afford. Maybe that's why Johnny wanted to live on an acreage when it was time to move...we may have experienced a little too much togetherness as newlyweds, and he wanted to have a workshop where he could have some peace and quiet…"
Sue giggled as she put the glasses away. "Jack has already claimed the garage for his own personal domain. I think he's planning on hiding out there when he needs some time to himself. Who knows? Maybe one day he'll set up his own indoor ice rink out there and he can play hockey whenever he wants...or maybe I'll send him out to play whenever I need a break..."
The women laughed and talked as they finished unpacking the kitchen utensils, and empty boxes were piling up in the living room. Finally, the last of the pots and pans were put in the cabinet next to the stove. "I think that's all of it." Sighing with satisfaction, Sue brushed her ponytail over her shoulder and smiled. "Thanks for all the help."
"Our pleasure, darling." Carla winked at Colette and looked around the room. "Now, the question is...will your kitchen always look this neat and tidy?"
Sue laughed. "Maybe...if we eat at the diner in Pooleville every evening…" She pointed toward the living room. "Now maybe you two can help me figure out where to put our furniture. We have Jack's sofa, which is about six feet long, and we have a television stand, a side table, and maybe an armchair and a bookcase. The big question is whether there's room for my piano, or do I need to put it in storage?"
"Hmm…" Colette shrugged as she studied the small front room. "Let's see. Maybe we can put the sofa over here..."
Oooooooooo
As the women unpacked the kitchen items, Jack, his father, and his future father in law were out taking in the 'lay of the land'. Jack smiled as they stood in front of the little house. "It may not be much to look at, but the plumbing and electrical are up to code, and the roof is in good shape. It doesn't have central cooling, but the wiring can handle some room air conditioners, which will work well enough for 900 square feet. We'll be able to live here comfortably for a couple of years until we can get our new house built." He pointed to the vacant land behind the house. "Look at all that space! Someday we're gonna have a really nice house in that spot by those trees...with four or five bedrooms...a game room...a big kitchen...a big deck in back for grilling...and who knows? Maybe even a three car garage and a swimming pool. Room to grow, you know? Space for our kids and a couple of dogs to run around...maybe even a big vegetable garden, if we have time to take care of it…"
"Sounds like a great plan, Jack…" As he gazed out over the acreage, John Hudson smiled. "It's a nice lot, isn't it?"
"Yeah, we're really pleased with it. Sue's brother Paul is an architect, and he's gonna draw up the plans for our new house as our wedding gift, which will save us a huge chunk of change." Pointing to the cottage, Jack turned to Mr. Thomas. "This little house isn't fancy, but the land is beautiful, and Sue and I both see so much potential here. We wanted an acreage and the price was hard to beat. It's kinda far from DC, but sometimes compromises have to be made..."
Smiling happily, Bob Thomas patted Jack's shoulder. "It does have a lot of potential. I think you made a good choice, buying out here. With the way the suburbs are growing around the city, this might end up not being so far out after a few years, and then your property will be worth a lot more. It's a good investment, and besides, if you two like the house, there's no need to worry about what anyone else thinks." As Mr. Thomas stood with his hands on his hips, he studied the house. "I think maybe Sue loves this little place so much because it reminds her of my mother's home, which was a tiny white frame house in Granville, Ohio. She loved going to Granny's house as a little girl, and I think this place brings back those memories for her."
Jack grinned. "That sounds like Sue. When we started looking for a place, I figured out that she likes older houses. She says she wants our new house to be a bigger version of what we have now."
"And just think, son…," John added. "You're going to be making your own happy memories in your first home. Someday you'll tell your kids funny stories about living in this place...you'll show them pictures of your first Christmas here, and how you tried to squeeze all of your stuff in those tiny closets…and about hiding all of your boxes of Hot Wheels under your bed..."
Jack pretended to be shocked. "DAD!"
The men laughed as they walked around the house, discussing all the work involved in caring for one's own home. They were deep into the topic of yard work when suddenly they were interrupted by Colette calling to them from the front door. "Johnny! We need you to come inside for a minute. Bring your tape measure, okay?"
"Uh oh." Mr. Hudson grimaced slightly. "Well, you know what that means, fellas. Duty calls…"
"Yep." Jack laughed as he turned to Mr. Thomas. "You see, Bob, whenever my mom asks my dad for a tape measure like that, it means she wants to know if a piece of furniture will fit in a certain spot. In other words, it's furniture rearranging time…"
"Great." Bob rolled his eyes with a laugh. "And here I thought all the hard work was done." He waved at John. "Jack and I will be in to help shortly." He paused slightly. "Jack, I need a word, if you don't mind..."
"Um...yeah. Sure." Surprised at Bob's request, he stammered out a worried question. "Is...um...is something wrong?" Worried that his future father-in-law might have some concerns about the upcoming marriage, he tried to explain things. "I know you probably hoped we'd be living in a nicer place, but we're gonna get there eventually, when my credit rating gets straightened out...and my best friend works with Sue, so he's gonna make sure she stays safe while she's working in that unit, since I've changed jobs within the Bureau…he'll keep an eye on her if she has to leave the office..."
"Jack...Jack, just relax, okay? Nothing's wrong. I know you and Sue are going to be happy together, wherever you live..." Holding up his hands to stop Jack's anxious sputtering, Bob smiled pleasantly. "...and I have no doubts about your ability to take care of my daughter, although I'm sure she'd tell both of us that she doesn't actually need anyone to take care of her, right?"
Jack couldn't help but laugh. "Definitely." Pausing, he crossed his arms over his chest. "So what's up?"
"Well, there's something I've been wanting to say to you before the wedding takes place, but with us being so busy the last few days, I haven't really had a chance." Seeing Jack's confusion, Bob walked around to the front of the house and sat down on the porch step. "I'm afraid it's gonna sound silly, but…"
"Go on." Jack made himself comfortable, sitting next to Mr. Thomas. "I'm listening…"
"Well, it's like this." Bob exhaled slowly, studying his hands. "When each of our kids was born, Carla and I prayed for them every single day...not only for their good health, or that they'd grow up to be brave, strong, godly men...or a brave, strong, godly woman...but also that they'd meet someone special in their future...someone they could spend their lives with...someone who would cherish them." He paused, exhaling slowly. "But even with us praying fervently, I was worried about Sue. We'd dealt with her hearing loss as best we could. We tried to give her the tools to overcome that problem, and she's done just that...she's more successful than I'd ever imagined she'd be...but eventually, I gave up on her finding someone to love. I lost my faith, in a way. I began to think she'd never find someone who would care for her deeply...someone who'd take the time to see the real person inside instead of being put off by the fact that she can't hear...someone who would appreciate the truly amazing woman she is." Nodding slightly, he turned to Jack. "Then I met you over that Christmas right after she moved to DC, and I realized that I had no reason to worry, because somehow I knew that sooner or later, you two would be together...like it was meant to be. It didn't make any sense at the time, and I didn't tell anyone...not even Carla...what I was thinking, but I knew that you were part of the Lord's plan for Sue...that you'd be the one to make her happy, and that you two belong together. So, as it turns out...you, Jack Hudson, are the answer to this father's lifelong prayer for his only daughter, and I want you to know that I am so grateful for you...and so thankful that Sue has you in her life."
"Oh…" Stunned by Bob's words, Jack sat speechless for a minute before responding. "I don't know what to say." He gazed out over the lawn surrounding the house. "I mean, when I first met her, I'll admit I felt this spark between us right away. There was something so different about her, and I finally realized after working with her for several months that she was everything I'd been looking for in a woman, but...an answer to your prayers? I'm not sure about that…"
"Let's look at it another way, shall we?" Mr. Thomas chuckled softly. "You're a guy from a small town in Wisconsin, and she's a gal from a small town in Ohio. You both have similar backgrounds and similar values...and a lot in common...but no practical way to meet each other...no way for your paths to cross. Then you joined the FBI and moved to DC. Sue happened to get a job at the FBI and moved to DC as well, but still...the FBI employs hundreds of people at that field office, right? The Hoover is a huge building..."
"Yeah, I guess so…"
"Right. So...she was unhappy with her job in fingerprinting, and she went to find personnel to see about getting something different, but the building directory was wrong, and she walked into your office instead. Do you think it was just some weird coincidence that she found you sitting there in that office instead of one of your coworkers? I don't believe that...not for a minute." Bob shook his head. "If the sign hadn't been wrong, you probably never would've met her, right? Not with how many people work there. So was it just a happy accident that she talked to you that day? Or was it the Lord's hand at work?"
Jack laughed out loud. "Well, if it was an accident, that's okay, because it made me happy, right?"
"True." Bob grinned at Jack as he continued. "Why did you decide to sit with her at lunch that day?"
"Well, for one thing, when she came into my office, I noticed that she's really pretty…" Smiling as he remembered that day, Jack shrugged. "And then when I saw her in the lunchroom, I thought maybe I'd like to get to know her. I wasn't really being altruistic, though...I was trying to meet a cute girl who had a big yellow dog sitting next to her. I told her I was curious about why the dog was there, and that's why I stopped to chat, but you know...I might've been interested in seeing if I could get a date as well. Then I found out she was deaf and saw how well she could read lips, and...the wheels started turning. I had this sudden brainstorm about how my unit could use her talents in surveillance..."
"And the rest, as they say, is history." Bob studied Jack for a few seconds. "Where do you think that brainstorm came from?" Before Jack could answer, he continued. "I think that inspiration came from the Lord." Seeing Jack's doubt, Bob shrugged. "I know you may think I'm being ridiculous, but why not humor an old man, okay? If I want to think you're an answer to prayer, maybe you could just play along. It would make me happy."
"If that's what you want, I don't mind." Jack laughed softly. "Listen, Bob...no matter how it was that Sue and I got together, I want you to know that I'm gonna make sure she always feels loved and cherished. There won't be a day that goes by where she doesn't know how much I care about her. I'm going to do whatever I can to make her happy. You have my word on that." He reached out to shake Bob's hand. "And I really do appreciate all your kind words about me, okay? It's kind of a big responsibility, being an answer to someone's prayer, but I promise to make every effort to live up to it."
Shaking Jack's hand, Bob grinned. "That's good to know." Pointing over his shoulder at the front door, he laughed. "I wonder if we should go help John with the furniture. We don't want them to think we're slackers, right?"
"Trust me, Bob...we haven't missed anything. If my mom is in charge, we could be moving furniture for hours! Besides, I'm not sure all six of us and a big dog will fit in that house at one time…"
"But we don't want to abandon your father to the whims of those women, do we? I mean, who knows how many times he's had to move the sofa already…"
Jack sighed audibly. "I guess you're right. Okay...we're going in…"
Bob nodded. "That's the spirit. Now...let's go move that furniture!"
Oooooooooo
It was late that afternoon when Jack put two suitcases and a garment bag in the back of his SUV. After one last tour through the house, he and Sue closed the front door and he locked it. "So the piano won't fit? That's too bad. I know you must be disappointed."
"We could get it in there, but it would take up a lot of space in the front room. I think I'd rather have a bookcase instead. I'll put the piano and the rest of my big pieces of furniture in storage for now, until we get the bigger house built."
"Okay, if that's what you want."
"It is." She smiled as she scratched Levi's ears. "Are we ready to go?"
"Yep, I think so." Grinning as he took her hand, he pointed at the house. "Just think, Sugar...when we come home in a couple of weeks, we'll be married. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Hudson at home in beautiful Pooleville, Maryland…"
She giggled. "Hmm...Sue Hudson...it seems like I've heard that name somewhere before."
"Maybe so, but your new name won't be an undercover alias any more, will it?" He chuckled as he embraced her. "Now it'll be your name for a lot longer than a week."
"I know...and I'm very happy about that." After giving Jack a kiss, she put Levi in the back seat of the car. "Besides, Sue Hudson is easy to fingerspell, so that's a point in your favor."
"Glad I can be of assistance." Rolling his eyes at her silly joke, he climbed into the driver's seat. "I guess I saved you from a life of fingerspelling Mrs. Ferdinand Kwiatowsky or something even more difficult…"
"Very true." As she sat in the passenger's seat, she winked at him as she pointed to the front door.. "Are you going to carry me over the threshold when we get home from our honeymoon?"
"You know it!" Flexing the muscles of his right arm, he deadpanned as they pulled away from the house, "See? I've been working out, you know? Carrying all those big boxes of Christmas decorations into the house has helped me get in shape for the job." He paused, waiting for her reaction to his comment, and wasn't disappointed.
"Wait...are you saying you need to be extra strong to pick me up?" Sue regarded her fiance' with annoyed surprise. "Well? You don't think I'm too heavy to carry, do you?"
"No, of course not. I'm sure you're as light as a feather." He laughed as she shook her fist at him. "I'm teasing, okay? I'm going to carry you over the threshold...and then straight to our bedroom…"
"You're a very naughty boy!" She laughed as he made a funny face at her. "At any rate, you still have more toy cars than I have Christmas ornaments…"
He scoffed softly. "I don't think so. Besides, like I said, some of those cars are valuable. I'm not sure about the ornaments."
"Right…so we should sell them..."
"Nope!" Deciding a change of subject was in order, Jack cleared his throat. "What's on this evening's agenda?"
"Let's see...your parents are taking the rental truck back to the dealer, and then they're going back to their hotel for the evening. Your mom said she wanted my parents to spend time with my brothers without them being in the way, which I thought was very nice, although they wouldn't really be in the way…"
"That's just how she thinks…"
"I know." Nodding, Sue continued. "My brothers and their families are all arriving at the airport at various times, so they're all going to meet us at my apartment. We'll order something to eat, spend a couple of hours with them, and then they'll go to their hotels…"
"And I'll go stay with my mom and dad in their room." Jack winked at her. "Or I could stay with you…"
"We've already had that discussion…," Sue laughed. "Sorry, buddy...you were outvoted."
"Well, it doesn't hurt to try, does it? Maybe I should ask for a recount." Wearing an ornery smirk, he checked his mirrors. "Anyway, in a couple of days it won't matter, right? You won't be able to get rid of me that easily."
"I suppose that's true. I'll just have to be brave."
They drove down the road in silence for a few minutes. After studying her fiance', she tilted her head to one side. "Is everything okay, Jack?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just tired, that's all." He chuckled quietly. "Moving all your stuff wore me out."
"Are you sure? You're being awfully quiet." Narrowing her eyes at him, she shook her head at his silly grin. "Yes, I know...how can I tell the difference, right? Well, your lips aren't moving…"
"Look, nothing's wrong that a couple of aspirin can't fix. Moving that couch so many times has made me sore."
"I don't believe that. I know you really do work out...besides lifting heavy boxes, that is." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Hmph. Henry said we should tell each other the truth about what we're feeling, Jack. You need to tell me what's bothering you while I can still see what you're saying!"
"Oh alright…" He sighed softly as he gazed down the road before them. "It's not that anything is wrong, okay? I was just thinking about something your dad told me today."
"Oh...was it about the time I gave my brother Billy a black eye?"
"No...but I do want to hear that story someday soon." He grimaced slightly. "Anyway...your dad said that he's always thought that we belonged together...that it was part of God's plan for us, and the way he explained it, I can see that. Maybe it wasn't just a lucky set of circumstances that led to us meeting each other, but it's so hard for me to believe that God would take time away from running the Universe just to make sure I find the right girl…"
"You know what? Lucy said the same thing yesterday…that we belong together, and it was God's plan from the beginning."
"Well, if Lucy said it, and your dad said it, it must be right." Smiling at Sue's slight annoyance, he chuckled. "You know what I mean. It's just hard to imagine that I'd be that high up on the Lord's to-do list…"
"But you're important to Him, Jack. We all are...He wants to extend His blessings to everyone…"
"Well then, I guess I got an extra helping." Taking her hand in his, Jack nodded. "I'm so thankful for my blessings, Sugar, especially for you. Having you walk into my office that day...it's the best thing that's ever happened to me. I love you so much...and I can't wait until we're married." He smiled as he glanced over at her. "There...satisfied? Now you know for sure that I want to marry you, right?"
"Yes, thank you. And Jack?"
"Hmm?"
"I want you to know that you're a blessing to so many people, but especially to me. I love you, too. You make me so happy."
"And you make me happy, too." He sighed contentedly before winking at her. "Now...let's talk about where you're going to keep all those Christmas ornaments, since we're not getting rid of my Hot Wheels..."
"Hmm…" She laughed as she gave his hand a squeeze. "I guess we have about fifty years to figure that out…"
I know you may be wondering...when's the wedding? You promised us a wedding! In view of my imagination running wild, the wedding will be in the next chapter, I promise!
Thanks for reading! Laura