The Wedding
Chapter 4
The celebration had already started when Jeremy and Candy walk into Lottie's. Congratulations are given to the bride and groom, drinks are being poured, and the music is being played. It is a joyous occasion.
Jeremy takes Candy's hand. "Mrs. Bolt, may I have this dance?" He raises her hand to his lips and kisses her fingers.
"Why, I'd love to dance with you Mr. Bolt." They walk to the center of the room. They wrap their arms around each other and slowly begin to sway. Candy lays her head on Jeremy's shoulder. He kisses her forehead.
When the music stops, they continue to hold each other. "Candy, how long do we have to stay here? I'm ready to go home. To be alone with you."
Candy raises her head and looks Jeremy in the eyes. "Oh Jeremy. I want to go home too, but we have to stay a little while longer. Let's just try to make the best of it." She gives him a little kiss. "Let's get something to drink. Maybe it'll make time go by faster." She giggles.
They go to the bar where Jason, Josh, Lottie, Clancy, and Aaron Stempel are talking. Lottie takes a bottle of champagne and some glasses and places them on the bar. She opens the bottle and begins to pour. "We can't have a toast without champagne. It just wouldn't be right." She offers the first two glasses to Jeremy and Candy. As Candy is not a drinker, she asks, "Candy, do you want a soda pop instead?"
Candy takes the champagne. "Thanks Lottie, but since this is our very special day, I'll break my rule and have champagne. Toasting with a soda pop just doesn't sound right." They all laugh and take a glass.
Jason walks over to the stairs and climbs to the third step. "May I have everyone's attention, please." It gets quiet. "Jeremy, Candy, would you two please come up here?" When they arrive, Jason begins his toast. "Who would have ever thought that my little baby brother would be the first of us Bolt brothers to marry? I sure didn't, but I am delighted that he found a special woman to spend his life with. My first comment about Candy Pruitt wasn't too favorable. I said that girls gonna stay a fireman for the rest of her life." Everyone laughs and Candy blushes. "But Jeremy knew better. He got to know her and I believe they were already in love by the time we arrived here in Seattle. It took them forever to get to this point. I honestly don't know how someone else didn't snatch her away from Jeremy because he was taking so long to commit. Anyways, I'm glad Candy loved Jeremy enough to wait until he was ready. Josh and I are going to miss having him with us all the time. Especially at meal time. While Jeremy is not the greatest cook, he is still a lot better than Josh and me." Everyone laughs. "Seriously, I want to offer my congratulations to the newlyweds and ask God to bless their lives together. Hopefully some day soon, we'll hear the patter of little Bolt feet running around. Josh and I love you both. Cheers!" Everyone tips their glass to the newlyweds and then drinks.
Jason seeing that Joshua has moved up with them, extends his arm out with hand in a fist. Josh places his hand on Jason's. Jeremy starts to place his hand , but stops. He takes Candy's hand in his and places them both on Josh's. They all smile. Candy starts to cry. Jason places his other hand on top. They all drop hands before they all get choked up.
"Um, I want to make a toast to my beautiful wife." Everyone stops and listens. "I don't know if I can get through this but I'll try." He looks at Candy, takes her glass and gives his and hers to Jason to hold. Next he takes Candy in his arms. "Candy, you have made me the happiest man in the world by marrying me. I cannot imagine my life without you. When we first met I was scared of my own shadow. I was a shy, awkward boy that stuttered. I was a mess." He chuckled. "The first time I saw you on top of that red fire engine, I thought I would love to have you for my wife. But I knew that would never happen. You were way too good for me. What would you want with a boy like me? Then, when I saw you hanging laundry, I knew I had to take a chance and talk to you. I was hesitant at first because I thought what could she ever see in me. I was afraid you would laugh at me or pity me." He chokes up. Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath. Candy puts her hand on his cheek. Jeremy opens his eyes, smiles at her and continues. "But I took a chance and you didn't do either one. You talked to me like I was your friend. You treated me with kindness and respect. I was in love with you after our talk." Jeremy pauses to get control again. "Candy, thank you. Thank you for giving me that chance, for loving me, and for giving me a life I never dreamed was possible. With your help, I finally left that little boy behind and became the man I always wanted to be. I love you, Candy Pruitt Bolt." By this time, Jeremy and Candy had tears streaming from their eyes. Their lips meet. Jeremy takes his glass from Jason. "Here's to Candy. May I make you as happy as you have made me." He raises his glass to Candy and everyone else does too.
Everyone seems to have tears in their eyes. The men are blinking back their tears and the women are wiping their eyes. Jason blinks his eyes and clears his throat. "Everyone continue with what you were doing. Enjoy yourselves." He hugs Jeremy and Candy. Then he goes to find someone to dance with.
Josh gives Jeremy a brotherly hug. Next he hugs Candy and gives her a kiss on the cheek. "Welcome to the Bolt family. I hope you know what you've gotten yourself into." He laughs. "Congratulations to you both. Take good care of each other."
"Thanks Josh," they both reply.
"Candy, let's have one more dance and then let's go home." He takes her hand and leads her to the dance area. They dance as they did before, in each others arms barely moving.
When the dance finishes, they say their goodbyes and head out the door. A buggy with streamers and cans tied behind is waiting on them. Corky, Jeremy's best friend and one of his loggers is sitting in the driver's seat. "I hope it's okay if I drive you home. Biddie and I have already been to your house and lit some lamps and built a fire. There's a basket of goodies on the kitchen table. All compliments of Lottie, Biddie, and me."
As Jeremy and Candy climb out of the buggy, Corky shakes Jeremy's hand. "Congratulations. I hope you both will be happy."
"We are. Thanks Corky. We appreciate everything. See you next week at work." They watch Corky drive off.
"Ready, Mrs. Bolt?"
Candy nods her head with a big smile. "Ready, Mr. Bolt."
They climb the steps. Jeremy opens the door, then sweeps Candy up in his arms and carries her over the threshold. He uses his foot to close the door. When they get to the parlor, he sets her down but still has his arms around her. "Well Candy. Welcome home." His lips brush her lips lightly. "Why don't you go on up while I check on the fire and lock the doors."
"All right." She starts up the stairs, then turns around. "Jeremy, don't be too long."
" I won't." He grins. He watches her climb the stairs. Jeremy hurriedly checks the fire and doors, visits the washroom, and looks in the basket of goodies. He carries it upstairs with him.
When he gets to their room, he doesn't see Candy anywhere. "Candy?" he calls out.
"I'm in here," she answers from the washroom. "I'm about ready."
Jeremy removes his suit coat, string tie, shoes and socks. I'm more than ready he thought to himself. He noticed he was sweating. He walks over to the window and opens it a little to cool off. He hears the washroom door open. After closing the window, he turns around.
Candy walks out of the washroom with her robe on. She starts to walk over to Jeremy. She stops. "Jeremy." She pauses. " Lottie and the girls bought me a nightgown. I don't know if I have the nerve to wear it." She blushes.
Jeremy grins at her. " Candy, you have to let me see it now. Should I sit down?"
Tears moisten Candy's eyes. "I-I. . ."
Jeremy rushes to her and takes her in his arms. "Candy, it's all right. Show me. You're not going to have it on long anyways." He chuckles. "Would it help if I take your robe off?"
Candy lays her head on Jeremy's shoulder. "I love you Jeremy."
"I love you too, Candy." He kisses her forehead. Then he puts his finger under her chin and tilts her head up until his lips meet hers for a tender kiss. He slowly unties her robe and helps her out of it. He is in awe of what he sees. "C-Candy. Oh C-Candy."
You, uh, uh . . ." He couldn't go on. He just kept staring at her.
Candy stoops down to pick her robe up. She tries to put it back on but she is so nervous she is having trouble. "I'm sorry, Jeremy. I should have known better than to let Lottie and the girls pick something out for me."
"No, Candy. Don't. I like it." He takes the robe from her and throws it across the room. "You are so beautiful and sexy."
"Jeremy Bolt!"
"Candy, we're married now. I'm allowed to say that." He kisses her lips lightly. "Remind me to thank Lottie and the girls."
"You don't think it's a bit too much?" She giggles. "How can it be too much, when there's hardly anything here?" Her face turns as red as her hair.
"No, it's just right." He wraps his arms around her and begins kissing her. First her lips and then her neck. He picks her up and carries her to the bed. He sets her down and sits beside her. As he starts to take his shirt off, Candy helps him. He stands to finish undressing. Candy helps him remove his pants and underpants. Jeremy then helps Candy move up on the bed and he lays beside her. He kisses her lips, then neck, and touches her breasts. As much as he likes the nightgown, he wastes little time of disposing of it. His lips find her breasts and his hands are caressing her body. "Candy, I love you so much."
"I love you too, Jeremy." She is enjoying being kissed and caressed. Her hands are caressing his body too. "Oh Jeremy," she whispers. They become one.
Jeremy rolls off of Candy. He takes her hand in his and kisses her fingers. He turns his head to look at her and sees that she is looking at him with tears in her eyes. "Candy, are you all right? Did I hurt you?"
"No, Jeremy, I'm all right." She kisses his shoulder. "It did hurt a little for a second or two."
"I'm sorry. I tried to be gentle but, oh God Candy, I didn't mean to hurt you." A tear fell from his eye.
Candy snuggles up to him. "Jeremy, you have nothing to be sorry for. I knew it was going to hurt some the first time. I'm all right." She puts her hands on each side of his face and kisses him. "Besides, a little pain was worth the pleasure I felt being with you." She blushes.
"It was incredible, wasn't it?" Jeremy chuckles. "I told you, we'd figure it out." They both laugh. Jeremy slides his arm around Candy. She lays her head on his shoulder. Her hand keeps rubbing up and down on Jeremy's chest. They are quiet, just enjoying holding each other.
"Jeremy?"
"Huh?"
" I love you."
"I love you, too."
They look each other in the eyes with big grins. Their lips meet and they become one.
