Nick fussed with the cufflinks on his black suit jacket, the simple clasps were something he had only worn a handful of times before. The collar of his dress shirt seemed to tighten as he stood in front of the fireplace in Plumfield's parlor and he fidgeted, trying to relieve the discomfort. It was shortly after four, the Reverend had arrived right on time and with everyone now filling the space between the sitting and dining rooms, Nick began to wonder how claustrophobic he might actually be. Ben stood beside him, dressed in what he considered his best clothes; Nick had given half a thought to asking Laurie for another suit but decided better of it. He would have had to tie Ben to a chair in order to get him to wear anything resembling Sunday clothes. It wasn't worth the fight.
The moments began to tick away and the nervous feeling that had been a previous nuisance, was coming back with full force. Uneasy thoughts dashed through Nick's mind, wondering what was taking Jo so long. He had reminded her of the Reverend's arrival time but after the trip to the cemetery, he wasn't completely convinced that she was ready for marriage. The finality was set in her mind and Nick wasn't sure that his words had made much difference. Another minute passed and he stared at his shoes - maybe it wasn't meant to be. The agony of the wait was starting to churn his stomach and he closed his eyes, not wanting to see everyone staring. He wasn't good at being the centre of attention on most occasions - he certainly didn't want all eyes on him as he panicked. He heard the clock's hand click over, the minutes moving along when suddenly the room fell silent, and he felt Ben elbow him in the side.
His eyes flew open and his head rose as he watched Jo gracefully descend the stairs, the sight of her stealing his breath. She was on her father's arm, her dress catching the light and almost twinkling, gold shimmering against ivory. Her gaze caught his, her small smile lighting up her teary eyes. She was there, a vision, just like the ones he had on the ship but the stiffness of his suit reminded him that this wasn't a dream. She was there, she was real and she was about to become his wife. And his fears disappeared.
As she stepped into the parlor, her father gently kissed her cheek and gave her hand over to Rob, the young boy dressed in a suit that was a tad small, his pants not completely covering his growing legs. Nick noticed a slight cringe on Amy's face as she trailed in behind but Jo was completely enamoured by her little man, proudly taking his hand as he led them through the crowd to the fireplace. Once they reached Nick's side, Jo placed a small kiss on Rob's cheek and she glanced back up, her eyes filled with emotion. Her hand immediately found Nick's and the smell of lavender and vanilla calmed the rest of Nick's nerves.
The world seemed to fall away from them, time ceasing to exist. Nick couldn't take his eyes off of the woman beside him and it wasn't just the dress that made her look so radiant. It was the entire idea that they were about to become one, that they were about to share their lives completely and it was almost unfathomable. A gentle squeeze to his fingers brought him out of his reverie and he found her watching him, her forehead knit in concern. "You look amazin'," he whispered, not fully trusting his voice.
A light blush came to her cheeks and she shoved him lightly. "See? I told you the dress mattered."
Nick shook his head, about to explain himself, when a short cough from Reverend Lewis called for his attention. "So, are we ready to get started?"
Jo nodded avidly and Nick could see her warily glance in his direction. He had been ready for months and was just as anxious so he nodded as well, his hand tightening around hers trying to keep himself anchored to the moment.
"Dearly beloved," Reverend Lewis began and the words immediately became muffled in Nick's ears. The only thing he could hear was the incessant beat of his heart as he gazed periodically over at Jo. She was intently listening to the Reverend's words and Nick mentally scolded himself for not paying attention. He should be taking the time to consider everything being said but his mind drifted, he couldn't stop thinking that he was about to become a husband to the woman of his dreams. For the first time in what seemed like forever, he was going to officially belong to a family, belong to Jo. It was hard to believe, it was hard to understand how he deserved this woman and the life that was set before him. After so many years of struggle and hardship, how the chance was gifted to him was something hard to grasp.
"In Ecclesiastes 4, we read, 'Two are better than one…'," the Reverend's voice faded out once again as Nick's mind drifted down to their joined hands. Just over a day ago, he was longing for the feel of Jo's hand in his, the warmth of her skin warming his body. He ran his thumb over her palm and she responded with a quick squeeze to his fingers. He watched her eyes glance over to him and she gave him a soft smile. He loved the way she bit her bottom lip when she looked at him, her eyes lingering longer than she probably should have. Maybe she wasn't paying as much attention to everything as he had originally thought.
"Please repeat after me," Reverend Lewis said, snapping them both back to awareness. "I, Nicholas…"
Nick took a deep breath; he had never been so ready to do something in his life. "I, Nicholas," he said quietly, his gaze locked with Jo's.
"Take thee, Josephine…"
"Take thee, Josephine…" Nick smiled at the words. He rarely got to use Jo's full name and even though it felt a little foreign, the name rolled off his tongue. He might need to use it more often.
"To have and to hold, from this day forward…"
Nick repeated the Reverend's words, carefully noting the meaning. This was important - he was making the biggest promise of his life and he wanted to get everything right. As the vows continued, Nick stared into Jo's eyes, truly devoting himself to her, his pledge would never waver.
"... Til death do us part…" Reverend Lewis finished. Nick's voice caught a bit in his throat as he spoke - the idea of death too recent. He never wanted to be apart from her again.
The Reverend turned to Jo, having her repeat the passages. Her voice was clear and assured in Nick's ears. Of all the doubts he had a few moments earlier, she was as ready as he was to write this next chapter in their lives.
"The ring?" Reverend Lewis asked, Jo's voice still a hum in Nick's ears. Luckily Ben was quick to the rescue and produced the velvet pouch from his front pocket.
"A wedding ring is a symbol of commitment; a promise, a pledge, and a vow," Reverend Lewis began, placing the small silver ring in his palm. "The promise is to forsake all others, to stay devoted and true; the pledge is to honor that promise selflessly, to see the whole thing through. The vow is to keep that pledge unwaveringly, until the days are few. It is a mutual agreement to become one instead of two." He carefully handed the ring over to Nick. With quivering fingers, Nick took Jo's hand and carefully slipped his mother's ring onto her left hand. It was a surprisingly perfect fit and a small lump formed in Nick's throat at seeing it possessed once again.
"With all the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife…" Reverend Lewis finished, his words a jolt in Nick's mind. "You may kiss your bride."
Jo looked at Nick, her eyes brimming with tears. It had all happened so quickly; Nick could hardly believe it was over. "My bride?" he whispered, Jo's face flush with expectation. He took a deep breath, tears beginning to sting his own eyes. "My love..." He brought his lips to hers; their first married kiss was soft and light but to Nick, felt as necessary as taking a breath. He was a husband, she was his wife and as applause echoed throughout the room, time began once again.
XXXXX
Jo sighed happily, her hand held tightly in Nick's as they stood in the parlor, chatting with guests after the ceremony. She could hardly believe it, in what seemed like a blink, she was married and all the urgency came to a halt. She could finally breathe and it had been months since she was able to say that she was this happy.
Asia had laid out a special buffet of Nick's favorite foods and everyone milled around, partaking in the feast as well as the company. As Nick spoke with Reverend Lewis, Jo refused to leave his side, it was strange but she couldn't bring herself to break the connection, the bond that had been fused the moment they kissed. The undeniable need for him sent shivers down her spine and her thoughts strayed as she played with the new ring on her left hand. Fritz's gold band sat comfortably on her right hand, familiar as it had always been but despite the perfect fit, Nick's ring felt different. Not in a bad way, she realized but just as the vows and the wedding had been unique, the ring's significance seemed deeper, more profound. Perhaps it was the fact that it had been his mother's, someone who hadn't had the chance to appreciate Nick as a man or maybe even the idea that he had chosen her to wear it but the silver band was special, for reasons undefinable to Jo. The circumstances that had brought them to this point were forceful and causing a sensation that flowed through her. She had never felt this with Fritz; it was exciting and scary and all of her emotions were just trying to surface themselves at once. She took a deep breath to calm her anticipation and tried to focus back on the conversation.
Reverend Lewis finally excused himself, giving his regards to the happy couple as he left Plumfield and Jo found Nick staring at her, a bit concerned. "You okay?"
She smiled at him, trying to alleviate his fears. "Of course - never better." She squeezed his hand, desperately wanting to pull him from the room. As though he could sense her mood, he leaned in, his lips close to her ear. "We'll stay a bit longer and then get out of here."
She cocked her eyebrows at him, his comment leaving her a bit confused. "Get out of here?" she whispered, her face warming at the idea. "And where do you expect us to go?"
Nick chuckled softly, kissing her cheek. "I told ya... I have everythin' figured out."
She rolled her eyes, the impatient ache in her stomach growing stronger at his suggestion. She inwardly scolded herself for such thoughts but then realized that it was pointless and unnecessary. He was her husband now, formalities and modesties were no longer required.
She was still lost in thought when Laurie approached them, his plate overflowing with goodies. "Asia's cooking is going to send me to the tailors," he said, shoving a piece of cake into his mouth. "Between this and Thanksgiving, I'll probably need all of my pants taken out."
Nick chuckled. "It's worth it though - especially the biscuits," he said, eying the table. "It definitely beats anythin' you'd get on a ship."
Jo winced at the thought of what Nick had to endure those months - not only on a ship but fighting to survive on a remote island. "Well, now you can indulge yourself whenever you choose," she said, giving his hand a quick squeeze.
He gave her a sad smile and nodded, obviously lost in thought. He shook his head, turning back to Laurie who greedily took another bite of a cookie before setting his plate aside. "I actually was wondering if I could speak with both of you… for just a few moments," he said, motioning towards the hallway. Nick threw Jo a sideways glance and she shrugged, not sure what Laurie had up his sleeve.
As they moved through the parlor and out into the hall, Jo could feel Nick's grasp tighten, a nervous gesture, worry about the impending conversation. "Somethin' wrong?" he asked once they were out of earshot from the rest of the guests.
Laurie grinned, shooting Nick a reassuring glance and shaking his head. "Well, I know this might not be the best time to be discussing such matters but I came across a very promising business proposition the other day…" Laurie reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a sealed envelope, handing it over to Nick. Jo peeked over his shoulder as Nick tore it open, revealing a property deed.
"What's this?" Nick asked, his face scrunched with confusion. Jo recognized the title on the deed as a small shop in the middle of town and she watched as Nick made the connection, his head beginning to shake with disapproval. "Laurie… I can't…"
"You can't what?" Laurie plucked the paper from Nick's hands, emphatically pointing to the names listed. "I am simply investing in a new entrepreneur - I'm told that he's hardworking and reliable… and just happens to be my brother-in-law."
Jo watched Nick struggle with the idea - she knew how desperately he wanted that space, wanting that business but she also knew how desperate his pride could be, wanting to do it all on his own. He glanced over at her, his eyes pleading, she saw the fight going on behind them. Jo gave him a reassuring smile and squeezed his hand, wanting to give him the encouragement he desired.
He looked at Laurie with a gradual nod. "I'll pay you back..." he urged, reclaiming the deed. "... every single penny." He looked over the paper. "Though, it might take some time."
Laurie reached back into his pocket, retrieving several other pieces of paper. "I'm not giving you a loan," he said, unfolding the pages. "This is a business… and I want to be a partner. Albeit, a silent one." He handed over the new set of documents. "We can have lawyers review it but it basically says that once you get things up and running, we share in the profits - 80/20 split."
Nick's eyes narrowed as he considered the proposal. Jo knew that while he wasn't as business savvy as Laurie, Nick would look out for his best interests, regardless of who was making the offer. He nodded his head slowly and gave Jo slight grin. Taking a deep breath, he looked Laurie right in the eye. "85/15… with the intent that I buy you out whenever I figure it's necessary."
"Necessary?" Laurie chuckled, his face a bit surprised at the counter. "Well, I hope it never comes to that." He gave Jo a big grin and stuck his hand out towards Nick. "85/15 it is… you drive a hard bargain but I think it'll be worth it."
Jo watched the satisfaction in Nick's face as he heartily shook Laurie's hand, sealing the deal. "Thank ya, Laurie," he said quietly, a bit overwhelmed by everything.
"My pleasure," he replied, "We can talk more about this next week…" Laurie started back towards the parlor. "In the meantime, there is some pie with my name on it!"
Jo turned back to Nick as he took a deep breath, a look of suspicion lighting up his eyes. "Did you put him up to this?"
"Of course not!" Jo replied in defense. "I've never mentioned the shop to him." She wrapped her arms around his waist trying to draw his attention from the papers to his new wife. As thrilled as she was for him, this was still their wedding day and it wasn't over yet.
Nick chuckled and set the stack of documents down on a nearby table. His arms instinctively enveloped her and Jo rested her head against his chest, his heartbeat echoing through her ears. "This has been quite a day," he whispered as he kissed her head.
Jo nodded, closing her eyes and just relishing in the feeling of him. The tingle returned as she felt his fingers begin to caress her back, his thumbs playing with laces on the back of her dress. It lasted a few moments before he pulled away, an urgency in his movements. He looked down at her with a gentle smile, drawing his face down to hers. "We should get outta here," he mumbled, his lips gracing Jo with the lightest kiss.
She didn't protest, she didn't trust her voice to even try. And if she had, it would have been a betrayal to her own urgency. She simply nodded, allowing Nick to take her hand and lead her into the kitchen. He grabbed a packed bag that lay next to the table and the couple gave a brief smile to Asia who glanced knowingly as they rushed out the back door. The buggy was already hitched, and Marty readied as Nick helped Jo in. As simple flick of the reins and the couple was off… to whatever Nick had figured out.