Determinant: a gene or other factor that determines the character and development of a cell or group of cells in an organism.
Chapter 32: Interstices - Part Six
A question is answered and a plan is formed.
"I'm gonna go find out what Clem's been up to."
Mitch left his friends sitting at their makeshift picnic and stalked back up to the house. He could feel their eyes on him but he didn't look back. He knew his irritation was irrational, but the more he thought about it all, the more he wanted to just disappear - let someone else handle it this time.
"Hi Dad!" Clem greeted him with a bright smile as he stepped into the house. She was sitting next to her grandmother flipping through her phone, obviously showing off pictures.
"Mitch," Dianne greeted. "What's wrong?" He'd never been able to slip anything by her, no matter how hard he tried. He smiled a bit at the familiar concern in her tone and shook his head.
"It's nothing," he told her. "What are you two ladies up to?"
"I'm showing her pictures of Mom and Justin," Clem said. There was a hint of sadness in her eyes, but she seemed genuinely content to share her memories with Dianne. At least she got her emotional stability from her mother, Mitch mused silently, remembering his own recent bout with loss and grief. It didn't seem like a year had passed since the crash. His keen mind recalled the memories so easily, as though it had only happened weeks ago.
"Well, I just wanted to check in with you two. Allison called and it looks like the others and I will have to travel for a bit."
"So soon?" Dianne shook her head and stood. "Mitch, you need to rest. You've been going non-stop for almost a year and a half now. You've done enough."
"I agree," he crossed his arms over his chest, "but it's not up to me. We're the only ones who know everything, which makes us the State Department's number one resource on all things Animal Rebellion. We don't really have a choice."
"You could tell them no," Dianne answered sternly. "You could ask them to give you a few weeks, at least. They owe you that."
"Mom, I've been through all of this with Allison already. Apparently it goes above her pay grade, which means it probably came from the President himself. You want me to tell the President to wait a few weeks?"
Dianne pursed her lips but said nothing. Mitch understood her frustration and agreed, but much like a lot of other things in the last fifteen months it was out of his control. "Look, we'll do a whirlwind tour and be back as soon as we can."
"When do you have to leave?" Clem asked, rising to stand next to her grandmother.
"Friday," Mitch told her. "I'm sorry, Clem. I really am. If there was another way…"
"No, it's okay," the girl said flatly. "I understand."
"Hey," he unfolded his arms and gestured for her to come closer. When she did he slid an arm over her shoulder and tucked her against his side. "Come on, let's have a chat." He threw a glance over his shoulder to his mother, but she just nodded supportively. Mitch led Clem up the stairs to the room she shared with him and Jamie. He dragged the chair across the carpet to sit as Clem settled on the bed.
"I know this is hard for you," he started. "Your entire life has been uprooted in the span of just a few days. And you've been so strong through all of it, Clem. Stronger than I ever could be. I am so proud of you, but I don't want you to feel like you have to just accept things and say things just because it's what you think we want to hear." He knew he was poking at a hornet's nest, but he didn't want his daughter to make the same mistakes he had. "I want you to tell me what you're really thinking, no matter how much you think it might hurt me."
"It's just…" Clem swallowed thickly and looked down to pick at an invisible thread on the comforter. She seemed to be gathering her thoughts, so Mitch said nothing. Finally she looked up and he tried not to react to the sight of tears in her eyes. "It's not fair!"
"What isn't?" He had a feeling what she would say, but she seemed to need a bit of prompting.
"None of it," she tossed her hands up briefly and let them land heavy in her lap. "Mom and Justin dying, you being gone all the time, the animals...everything sucks."
He resisted the urge to scold her for her language and focused on her words. "I know it does. I'm sorry about your Mom and Justin, I am. I'd give anything to bring them back, Clem."
"You would?"
Her skepticism surprised him and he let it show. "Of course I would," he reassured her. "Why would you think I wouldn't."
"Because then I wouldn't be here with you."
"Clem, you are my daughter. You are the most important thing in the world to me, and I love you. I'm not sure I ever actually told you this, but one of the reasons I was...never really around when you were a kid was because I believed you were happier that way. I'm not…" he took a breath and reminded himself that if he expected her to be honest with him then he needed to return the favor. "I'm not the best father, I know that. Back then, I wasn't the kind of person that would have been good in a family. When your mom met Justin and told me they were getting married, all I wanted to know was how he was with you. She told me that he loved you like you were his own, and that's all I needed to know. You were safe and loved, and I honestly thought you didn't need me."
"But you're my dad," she argued. "I'll always need you."
Mitch finally lost the battle against the tears building behind his eyes, and he smiled through them as Clem scrambled off the bed and into his lap. He hugged her tightly and kissed her head, glad that they seemed to have passed the hardest hurdle. Clem was crying, too, and he rubbed her back as her sobs grew louder. Finally, he thought. She was finally grieving for her mother and for the man who had been her father in all but name.
He let her cry for as long as she needed, only offering her quiet reassurances and gentle caresses as she worked through her grief. When she finally stopped she sniffed wetly and sat back to wipe her face with her sleeves.
"Sorry," she whispered.
"Hey, no," he patted her shoulder and helped her move back to the bed. She sat cross legged in the center this time, her shoulders slumped and her hands in her lap. "I'm your dad, that's what I'm here for. I don't want you to ever think you have to go through anything alone, okay?" She nodded, but he wanted to press home one more point. "There are a lot of people here who love you, too, Clem. Your grandmother, Jamie, Jackson, Abe...any of them would be willing to listen, okay? That's what family is for."
"But they're not really family."
"Yes, they are," he impressed gently. "Family's not just about who's related to who. It's the people who love you, who accept you no matter what and are always there for you. And I know us Morgans aren't exactly the greatest in the world, but luckily I met people who are as close to me as family and that's more than made up for it."
"There's more than one way to be related, you know." Her tone had shifted from sad to mischievous and Mitch grew wary. "I mean...you can be related by marriage right?"
Subtle she was not, but neither was she wrong. And it was not difficult to figure out who she was talking about. He couldn't help but suppress a chuckle as he played along. "Yeah, I guess."
"So…"
"So what?" He was going to make her commit to her game, and she didn't disappoint.
"So when are you and Jamie getting married?"
"It's not that simple, Clem. We haven't even planned anything…"
"I looked it up," she scooted to the edge of the bed, her earlier melancholy replaced with excitement. "In Louisiana you have to wait three days after getting your license to get married, so you can apply tomorrow and then get married on Thursday. You leave on Friday so it's perfect!"
Mitch could only smile at her enthusiasm. "So I guess this means you approve?"
Clem just shrugged a shoulder. "Of Jamie? Of course I do. She's pretty cool."
"She is," Mitch agreed.
"And she makes you happy."
"She does."
"Then, yes, I approve. You have to ask her now, though, because you're on a time crunch." She jumped off the bed and grabbed his hand, tugging him up out of his chair.
"Whoa, whoa," he laughed and resisted as she tried to drag him out the door. "I have a better plan."
He left Clem only after securing a pinky promise to keep the plan a secret. At least for a few more hours, he'd told her. She'd zipped her lips and tossed the key for good measure, and he kissed her head gratefully. His next task would be much harder.
He found Bo Armstrong nursing a glass of tea on the front porch. Mitch stepped out the front door and sank down silently onto the porch swing. He lost his balance for a second and lurched, reaching out to grasp the chain with one hand. Bo chuckled and took another sip.
"You settling in alright?"
"Uh, yes. Yes, sir." Mitch cleared his throat and adjusted his position on the swing so that he was sitting on the edge. His feet were planted firmly on the porch as he leaned his elbows on his knees and leaned forward. "I, uh, I wanted to talk to you about something."
"Hmm?"
Mitch opened his mouth but no sound came out. He tried again and coughed loudly, startling Bo. "Sorry," he mumbled, patting his chest.
"You alright?"
"Yeah," Mitch cleared his throat and tried one more time. "I wanted to talk to you. About Jamie."
Bo straightened in his chair. "She's alright, isn't she?"
"She's fine. She's out back with the others. It's just…" Mitch hadn't anticipated how difficult this was going to be and he shook his head to clear the fog. "She thinks the world of you. You're the closest thing to a father she has, and while I'm not entirely sure she won't kill me for doing this, it wouldn't feel right if I didn't. I want to ask her to marry me. Tonight," he clarified. "And I guess...I just wanted to...see how you feel about it?" His sentence grew weaker and weaker as Bo stared him down, his piercing eyes unwavering and stern.
The silence grew longer and more uncomfortable for Mitch, who fought the urge to squirm in his seat like a schoolboy. Finally Bo just stood up. He stared for a few more seconds, then disappeared back into the house.
"That went well," Mitch groaned. He leaned back, momentarily forgetting he was in a porch swing, and had to flail a moment to regain his balance again. "Okay, Plan B. I don't have a Plan B. Maybe Clem does."
He shifted his weight to stand, careful of the still moving swing. Once on his feet he made his way to the door, but it opened before he could grab the knob. Bo emerged wearing the same steely expression. He had one hand in his pocket, and as Mitch backed up a few steps he could see the man's fingers moving absently inside.
"Sit down, son." Bo thankfully gestured toward the other side of the porch where the non-moving chairs were. Mitch selected the old wicker chair that Fran had purchased from her cousin's yard sale years ago. She'd liked the pattern, she told him, and nevermind that it pinched your bottom whenever you tried to stand up. Bo took the bench seat, his broad frame enough to fill the space despite the expanse of wood next to him.
Mitch tried to stammer an apology. 'I'm, uh, I'm very sorry if I offended you -" He stopped abruptly as Bo held up his hand.
"You know, I've never really given much thought to this moment. I briefly entertained the idea when she was in high school dating Vic's boy. Fran dreamed she'd settle down with him and raise her family right here in Folsom, but I knew better. Our Jamie never settled. She soared. She rose above her tragedy and the pitfalls of this town and made it out. She made it through college and all the way to Los Angeles. She was making her life there, and I'd made my peace with it." Bo took a deep breath in, and when he let it out Mitch saw the barest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Each time she called Fran would ask about boys - men," he corrected. "But I never did. It's not that I gave up hope, it's that I decided that Jamie knew what was best for her, and I was happy if she was."
Mitch felt like Bo was waiting for him to say something, so he did. "I feel the same way."
"Which is why it works," Bo nodded. "The two of you. She wants you to be happy, and you want the same for her. Luckily, the thing that makes you happy is each other. I've seen her light up at just the mention of your name. I saw how devastated you were last year when you thought we'd lost her. There's no one else on this earth who could love her better than you, and I thank God each night she found you, Mitch."
To say he was stunned was an understatement. He gaped openly for a moment, completely overwhelmed at the compliment he'd just been paid. Swallowing back the lump in his throat, Mitch stood and offered his hand.
"Thank you."
But Bo didn't grab his hand. Instead, he pulled the one from his pocket and held it out. Sitting on his palm was a ring, the band thin and pale gold. The jewels were small but beautiful, a white diamond accented on either side by smaller emeralds. Mitch had never seen a more beautiful ring.
"This belonged to my mother," Bo explained. "When she passed, she told me to give it to one of my boys. Now I love my daughter-in-laws dearly, but it just never felt right. I know why now. I was saving it for you."
Mitch was speechless. He clenched the muscles in arm tight to keep his hand from shaking as he reached for the ring. His fingers pinched the band and he brought it closer to his face for inspection.
"It's...I don't know what to say."
"Nevermind that," Bo clapped his shoulder heartily. "Welcome to the family."
Mitch spent the rest of the afternoon in a haze. Bo had suggested he take a walk to "work off the jitters," and he found himself in a lovely expanse of fields that were likely once rows of sugar cane. Bo and Reese had obviously started working the area again, clearing out the weeds and replanting. Mitch wondered how many other Folsom residents were doing the same, assessing their land and getting back to work. He hoped they could recover, especially after they'd worked so hard after the Reiden Global disaster. He'd hate to think of this quaint little town disappearing completely from the map.
As much as he loved it, though, Mitch knew he could never live here. He needed more to do than just examine livestock and pets. It's why he loved working at zoos. The variety of animals, the challenges their care presented, the joy he felt whenever he managed to work out a particularly difficult problem...it thrilled him.
He wondered what Jamie would want to do. After everything, of course. After they did their press tour, after things settled down. He knew she was working on the very beginnings of a book, and she seemed genuinely enthusiastic about it. He hoped she continued it. Their story deserved to be told, and Jamie deserved the attention for it. And maybe - just maybe - Reiden would get what they deserved, too.
The sun was sinking when he finally reached the end of his mental rails. He'd sussed through everything, replayed moments in his head, and managed to concoct something resembling a speech for later. He'd wanted to do something super romantic, but that really just wasn't his style. Or hers. Surrounded by family - by people who loved them unconditionally - was better than any candlelit restaurant or fancy proposal.
"Where were you?" Jamie accosted him the moment he stepped through the door. She was almost panicking, and Mitch was startled to realize he'd been walking for almost three hours. "I tried calling your cell."
"I went for a walk," he told her. He pulled out his phone to check and grimaced as he realized it had been on silent. "Sorry," he told her. The rest of the team stood off to the side, and Mitch found Abe's eyes as he offered another apology for his earlier behavior.
"Karibu," Abe replied. Mitch didn't know Swahili, but the meaning was clear. You're welcome.
Mitch was content to sit back and listen as the chaos that was dinner unfolded. They'd managed to find another table to fit everyone, though proximity hardly seemed to matter. Questions were shouted across the room, laughter filled the space and there was a warmth that had nothing to do with the still-cooling oven. It was perfect.
"Excuse me." Mitch stood and the room fell silent. He swallowed down the butterflies that threatened to flutter up from his stomach into his throat and spoke from the heart. It wasn't terribly good or well-planned, but it didn't have to be. He spoke from his heart, thanking each of them for being his family, both related and not.
"And I can't do anything about you three," he teased Abe, Jackson and Dariela with a smile before turning a more serious one on Jamie. "But I can do something about you." She sobered instantly, and he had to fight to keep from laughing at the startled expression on her face. "Jamie Leigh Campbell…" He couldn't resist now that he knew her middle name, and he saw the flash of mirthful warning in her eyes as he moved over to her and carefully knelt down. His muscles were protesting the abuse he'd put them through today and he knew he'd pay more dearly for it tomorrow.
But he didn't care. He slipped the ring from his pocket and held it carefully between two fingers. Her eyes jumped from his to the ring and back again, and he knew she recognized it. This is it, he told himself. You're really doing this. He took one more steadying breath, caught her gaze and held it.
"Will you marry me?"
There was a beat as he watched her quick mind catch up to the events, then she exploded from her chair in a flurry of arms and tears as she yanked him up from the floor and threw her arms around him.
"Yes!"
The room erupted in cheers and hollers as everyone else jumped up to congratulate them. Mitch's pain disappeared as euphoria swept over him and he hugged her back. He felt hands and arms engulfing them in a group hug but he was focused solely on the woman in his arms. She was still gripping him tightly, and he could hear her laughing against his shoulder. Their family and friends were still celebrating around them, but he managed to put enough space between them to slip the ring on her finger. It was a little loose but not enough to fall off, and Jamie glanced at it briefly before returning to his arms.
"I love you," he whispered in her ear, knowing she would hear despite the raucous around them.
"I love you, too," she answered, squeezing him once more before letting him go. She was swept immediately into a hug by her aunt as Mitch was grabbed by his mom. The next few minutes was a blur of hugs and blessings before they found each other again.
"How long have you been planning this?" she asked once they'd all found their seats again.
"About five hours," he admitted, earning laughter from almost everyone. "Clem wanted me to do it this afternoon."
Jamie turned to the girl, who just shrugged and grinned broadly. "This was way better, Dad."
"I thought so, too." He watched as a myriad of emotions played across Jamie's face and decided he loved them all on her. She was happy - reallyhappy - and he knew he'd spend the rest of his life trying to put that look on her face everyday.
"So," Clem bounded out of her chair and came to stand between them. "You're gonna go tomorrow right?"
At Jamie's questioning look, Mitch explained. "Clem had it all planned out," he told her. "Apparently there's a three day waiting period, so if we want to do this before we leave on Friday then we'll have to apply for a license tomorrow."
"You'll need both of your birth certificates," Charlie warned. "And a notarized application."
"Nonsense," Fran interrupted with a wave of her hand. "Bo and I got married in Mississippi. All they need is your driver's license and there's no waiting period. My cousin, Patricia, lives in Hattiesburg. Her husband's a pastor there. He can marry you two tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Jamie reeled at the word and Mitch grabbed her hand.
"How about Wednesday? That'll give us enough time to adjust…"
"No," Jamie shook her head quickly. "Tomorrow. Who knows what could happen between now and Wednesday."
Mitch had to agree and - given their track record - it was probably best to do it as soon as possible. "Alright," he smiled as his heart pounded away in his chest, "tomorrow."
Hattiesburg was a two hour drive from Folsom, though it took a bit longer since Charlie requested they stop to gather his wife and twins. They ended up in four cars caravanning along I-59. Mitch had Jamie had been separated at Fran's insistence, and the last Mitch had seen of Jamie had been her apologetic wave as she was bustled into Reese's sedan with Fran, Dianne and Clem.
Bo and Reese had been forced into the old truck, which left Mitch riding in the Hummer with Abe, Jackson and Dariela. They were third in the caravan (Bo had offered to ride tail to make sure they didn't get lost) and no one said a word during the first half hour of travel.
Dariela finally turned the radio on once they pulled out of Charlie's drive, tuning it to a local station that played classic rock and old country tunes. Mitch sat in the back with Jackson and tried to calm his nerves, reminding himself that he'd done this before.
This is different, his heart reminded him. He and Audra had married for the wrong reasons, trying desperately to craft a family from the accidental miracle that had been bestowed upon them. Even as they'd stood in front of of the judge and recited the words, Mitch hadn't felt the soul-consuming love that had been described ad nauseum in books and movies. He'd chalked it up to his own shortcomings and told himself that he loved her. And he did. Audra had been the one to pull him out of the spiral after Allison, had validated his feelings of betrayal and anger and had condemned both Allison's actions and his father's. But the damage had been done, he'd assumed. Clem came along and they were happy, for a while. But he couldn't give Audra what she needed, and he'd bowed out before the tension between them grew too dark, too full of resentment to leave him any happy memories.
But his heart was right. With Jamie, everything was different - easier - and he felt no hesitation when he spoke to her about his own fears and feelings. And it had been like that from day one with her, another variation from his usual aloofness whenever he met someone new. Jamie had mesmerized him from the moment he'd met her, and he still couldn't believe they were going to be married in just a few hours.
Mitch felt a pang of regret as they crossed the Mississippi border. She deserved so much more than this shotgun wedding, planned and executed in the span of less than twelve hours. She hadn't so much as hinted that she wasn't happy, but he imagined that this rushed ceremony and small party of witnesses hadn't been a part of whatever childhood plans she'd crafted for this day. Other than the one on her finger, they had no rings, no cake, not even a wedding party. He wondered if Jamie had asked anyone to be her maid of honor and almost asked, then thought twice. If she had, then he would be forced to pick a best man, and he had no idea how he would choose between Abe and Jackson. They were the closest things he had to "best friends," though truthfully the only one who really fit that bill was going to be his wife.
"I can hear you thinking from over here," Jackson joked as they slowed for an emergency vehicle. "Not having second thoughts?"
"What? No," Mitch shook his head. "Of course not. I just…" he blew out a breath and turned to look out the window. The scenery of southern Mississippi was unremarkable, much like most highway drives. With nothing to grab his attention, he was forced to answer Jackson's questioning stare. "I was just thinking about the wedding," he said honestly. "Jamie probably had all these plans for a huge ceremony and reception, with all the bells and whistles. This is...less than what she deserves, I guess."
"I didn't hear any complaints from her," Dariela pointed out. "She loves you. That's all the matters. The rest of that is just...fluff." She said it with such disdain that Mitch couldn't help but laugh.
"I thought all you girls planned these glamorous fairytale weddings when you were kids?"
"Yeah, well, some of us had other things to worry about." She caught his eye in the side mirror and shrugged. "Besides, you can always plan a big reception or whatever when this is all over."
"Right," Mitch nodded and filed that away for the future. It was a good idea, and he would definitely talk to Jamie about it. Then, before he could think about it, he asked, "Did she talk to you about being maid of honor?"
"Actually," Abe jumped in with a side glance. "She asked me to stand with her."
Mitch laughed at his joke, then sobered when nobody joined him. "You're serious?" Abe nodded solemnly. "Huh. Well, I guess that means I don't have to decide between you and Jackson, then." He turned his head to the man sitting next to him. "How about it, Oz? Wanna be best man?"
Jackson just grinned. "Why not?"
Fran called Dariela's cell when they crossed the city limit. Mitch only heard one side the conversation, but he gathered enough context clues to get the gist.
"Fran says she wants you to close your eyes and not open them until Jamie's inside the church."
"This is ridiculous," Mitch pointed out.
"Jamie probably isn't the only one who had big plans for this day," Abe pointed out. "Just do as she asks."
They rounded the last corner and Mitch dutifully shut his eyes the moment he saw the steeple in the distance. He waited as Abe parked, and then listened as Dariela narrated Jamie's movements from her car to the church.
"And she's gone."
Mitch opened his eyes, stepped out and looked around. He'd been half-expecting one of those enormous megachurches that had thousands of members and broadcast their Sunday worship services on a local channel on Sunday evenings. But apparently Fran's cousin's husband wasn't that kind of preacher.
Calvary Baptist Church was a modest one story L-shaped building that sat on a corner lot. Three interconnected parking lots stretched out behind it, and another smaller lot crossed in front of the main doors. It was here that their caravan had parked alongside a late model SUV with an ichthys emblem above the back left tail light and a small cross decal in the back window.
The front doors, as well as the entire facade around it, was painted white. The steeple Mitch had seen from the road towered above the main doors, which led into the shorter part of the "L." A young man of about twenty was standing just outside, atop the wooden steps painted to match the rest of the building.
"Welcome to Hattiesburg," he greeted. "I'm Michael Greenbaugh. My dad is the pastor here. He said to take you to the conference room."
Introductions were made on the way, and soon Mitch found himself in a very pristine room with a mahogany table and eight luxurious chairs. He guessed this room didn't see many people judging by the fine layer of dust that coated the tops of the picture frames, though it was fancy enough that Mitch didn't dare reach out to clean them.
"Dad said he'd come by in a few," Michael explained. "I'll fetch some water and sandwiches for you."
"Gotta love that southern hospitality," Dariela remarked as Michael dashed away.
"Where did everyone else go?" Abe wondered, peering up and down the hall. But no one materialized, leaving the others to just shrug.
"I'm guessing the girls are with Jamie," Jackson said. "I have no idea about the others."
Mitch sank down in a plush chair and drummed his fingers absently. His nerves were beginning to ratchet up again, and he had to take several steadying breaths before he could organize his thoughts.
A knock on the door was the only warning they got before it opened, admitting a man in his early fifties with salt and pepper hair and bright green eyes. There were laugh lines around his mouth, and they deepened as he offered his guests a broad smile.
"Good morning," he stepped into the room and didn't bother shutting the door behind him. "I'm Thomas Greenbaugh. My wife, Patricia, is Fran's cousin." He shook hands with everyone before clapping his together. "So which one of you is the lucky groom-to-be?"
"That would be me," Mitch waved.
"Excellent. I wonder if you and I can walk together for a moment?"
"Uh, sure." Mitch followed him out into the hallway and fell into step as he meandered down the corridor.
"Fran told me all about your circumstances," Thomas kept his eyes on the hall as he spoke, his tone even and sure. "Normally I require six months of counseling before I even consider performing a wedding. Do you know why?"
"To make sure one of them won't kill the other for the life insurance right after the honeymoon?" Mitch offered.
Thomas laughed. "That's part of it, I suppose. I always want to be sure that both parties involved fully understand the commitment they're making. I often see too many young people rushing into something their simply not ready for."
"That's not -"
"Oh, I know," Thomas went on. "As I said, Fran has told me everything I need to know. You know, I met Jamie once when she was just a little thing. It was at a reunion or another wedding? I can't recall. But she was certainly unforgettable. A little redheaded spitfire, running around with the boys and calling the shots even though she was just five or six. I met her mom that day, too. Lovely woman. I was sad to hear that she'd been affected by that awful sickness."
"Not that I'm not loving our little chat," Mitch glanced around and realized he had no idea where they were. This hall looked exactly like the other, but when he glanced back he didn't see the open door of the conference room. "But why are we here?"
"Because," Thomas clapped Mitch on the shoulder and grinned. "You're getting married today, and you have nothing to wear." He opened the nearest door with a flourish, revealing a long closet full of clothes. There were robes for each member of the choir done in almost half a dozen different colors. Larger white frocks hung in the back - probably for baptisms, Mitch thought.
Thomas led him through the narrow gap between the clothes and stopped at a section near the middle. Suits of various shades and sizes were hung there, each with a tag labeled in a neat script that detailed the size and color.
"Pick one you like," Thomas gestured. "These are for our ushers during formal events like Easter and Christmas. They're not the most expensive in the world, but it's better than jeans and a t-shirt."
Mitch disagreed, but he also reminded himself that this hasty wedding had been (mostly) his idea and the least he could do for Jamie was dress for the occasion. He selected a black suit and a white dress shirt from the rack, then hunted through the assortment of ties until he found one that he didn't hate. Unfortunately there was no magic shoe rack to be found, so his broken in sneakers would have to do.
He changed in an anteroom across the hall, and though the sleeves were about half an inch too short and the pants about an inch too long, Mitch thought he cleaned up rather nicely. Thomas nodded in approval as he stepped back into the hall, then gestured for him to follow.
"Bo and the boys went to the store for some things," Thomas explained. "Patricia brought a few dresses for Jamie to try on. I need to check on a few things, so I'll take you back to your friends then come get you when we're ready."
"Sounds good," Mitch nodded. "And thank you...Father?"
Thomas laughed. "Brother Thomas is what my congregants call me, but just Thomas is fine." He held out his hand and shook Mitch's firmly. "Thank you for everything you've done. I'm sure Fran only told the bare minimum, but even what I heard I still don't believe."
"Try living it," Mitch quipped, offering the man a final wave as he smiled and disappeared down the hall.
Dariela gave a low whistle as he stepped back into the conference room. "Hello, Professor."
Mitch just rolled his eyes. "Shut up." He used one of the framed photos to catch his reflection as he tried to comb his hair into submission with his fingers.
"It's hopeless," Jackson came up behind him. "Maybe I should marry her instead."
Mitch was grateful for their good-natured ribbing, knowing they were only doing it to keep his mind from spiralling too far out of control. He had a nasty habit of overthinking things, and if given the chance he was sure he could talk himself out of this. Jamie deserved so much more - someone better than a washed up scientist with a failed marriage already under his belt.
He slammed the lid on that line of thinking immediately, turning his thought instead to Thomas' words. What kinds of things could Bo and the others be getting from the store? What kind of dress would Jamie be wearing? Had he ever actually seen her in a dress before? He couldn't remember. He didn't think so. Dresses weren't exactly conducive to the rough-and-tumble, end-of-the-world lifestyle they'd led for the past fifteen months. And he was pretty sure he'd remember seeing Jamie dressed in anything other than jeans and a blouse that had become her staple.
"Mitch?" Abe's deep basso pulled him out of his own head, and he blinked owlishly in reply. "It is time."
And so it was. Michael was standing by the door with a pleased smile and bright eyes like his father's. "Ta-da!" He produced a manila envelope with a flourish and offered it to Mitch.
"What's this?"
"Your marriage license. Normally you have to apply in person, but I have a friend in the County Clerk's Office. I had your mom and Reese text me all of your information."
Mitch flipped the top of the envelope back and pulled the thin paper from within. Sure enough, every line was complete except for the signatures. "Wow." It was becoming more real with each passing minute, and seeing their names in black and white struck a chord in him.
"Dad said to get you and bring you to the multipurpose room."
That caught Mitch off guard. He'd expected they would be married in the sanctuary. His surprise must have shown on his face because Michael launched into an explanation immediately after they began walking.
"Dad said that Jamie said you might not be comfortable in the church proper," he said. "So we found a compromise." His conspiratorial smile told Mitch that he wasn't going to share said compromise, but Mitch couldn't really focus on that. He was too busy putting one foot in front of the other and making sure he didn't trip over his own feet on the way to his wedding.
Multipurpose was an odd moniker for the large space that Michael led them to. Though, Mitch supposed, that was probably the point. It could become whatever they needed at the time, from a banquet room to a meeting hall to a secondary worship space. He expected to see his and Jamie's family gathered there, but as they entered it was eerily quiet.
"Jamie's on the opposite side of the courtyard," Michael explained. "The others are out here. Come on." He opened a side door that Mitch had thought was an emergency exit. It turned out to lead to a small garden courtyard contained completely within the church's walls. There were rows of magnolias around the perimeter and lining the walkway, which looked appropriately like a cross. The smaller section stretched from the door they'd exited to another identical one across the way. Jamie was just beyond, Mitch reminded himself, though he couldn't see through any windows.
The longer part of the cross stretched to his right and the shorter part to his left. The left side ended in an impressive floral arrangement that was likely hell on everyone's allergies in the springtime. The right side led to a large red maple tree that had obviously been here since before the church was built. Mitch's estimation of Thomas and his family ratcheted up a notch as he admired the old tree that was so cherished that they built their church around it. A bench sat just in front of it, and it was here that a hastily constructed lattice archway had been constructed. Bo and Reese were just finishing up the spiral of Christmas lights on either side when Mitch approached.
"What do you think?" Bo reached down and connected the plug to an extension cord, and the entire thing began to twinkle softly with white light. From somewhere behind the tree Mitch heard the faint strains of music, and when he peered around he saw Charlie fiddling with an iPod and a docking speaker.
"It's my wife's," he explained. "Megan is a huge music lover. She's got a million songs on here. We spent the whole ride over here coming up with a playlist."
Mitch looked around at the miracle that had come together before him and he smiled. "Thank you. All of you. This is…" He trailed off, unable to think of anything suitable.
"We know we did good when Mitch can't speak," Dariela joked, earning her a half-hearted glare from the scientist.
The side door opened and Thomas came out, along with a woman who Mitch guessed was his wife. "She's ready. Are you ready?"
"More than," Mitch replied. He was still nervous, but now that the moment was here his nervousness was overshadowed by the rightness of this.
Thomas smiled at his answer and came to stand next to him. Jackson took up the space just behind him as Abe backed up a bit to leave room for Jamie. Her family poured out of the church and stood along the stone path as Charlie pressed a button on the iPod.
A soft melodic piano line floated through the air. It was familiar, but Mitch was woefully inept when it came to pop culture. He heard his mother sniff wetly and raised an eyebrow at her. She dabbed the corner of her eye with her sleeve and smiled at him, mouthing something he couldn't understand. He realized she was trying to tell him the name of the song, but his attention was suddenly pulled from her to the vision standing at the end of the walkway.
Like him, Jamie had borrowed clothes for the ceremony. Unlike him, she looked absolutely stunning. The dress she wore was a rich cream color, and Mitch suspected the style probably had some fancy name he couldn't be bothered to remember. Her hair had been pulled up into a bun, though wisps of it had escaped and fluttered about her face and neck as she tucked her hand into the crook of her uncle's elbow. He whispered something to her that made her smile, and Mitch's breath caught in his throat.
The music crescendoed as she began walking toward him on her uncle's arm. Mitch glanced over at his mother and daughter, smiling at the thumbs up from Clem. He gave her a quick nod before returning his eyes to his bride.
Oh my God.
She was standing in front of him before his mind could fully process his own words. His bride. Jamie was about to be his wife. This was really happening right now.
Thomas started speaking, going through the openings of a traditional wedding, but Mitch couldn't stop staring at Jamie. She was staring right back, her eyes shining with the same delight that seemed to have taken hold of him.
"Mitch."
He blinked and turned quickly toward the pastor. "Huh?"
Everyone chuckled - including Jamie - as Thomas indicated he should take Jamie's hand. He did so gladly. "I have not spoken with the bride and groom regarding their wedding vows, so if it's alright with you we'll stick with the version we usually use here. Do you, Mitch, take Jamie to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you swear before God, before your family and friends, that you will love, honor, cherish, respect and comfort her, in good times and bad, in sickness and in health? Do you promise to share your joys and sorrows, help her when she needs help and turn to her first when you need help and, forsaking all others, to be faithful to her alone?"
It was easiest question he'd ever been asked. "I do."
He felt Jamie's fingers tighten within his grasp as Thomas turned to her and repeated the vow. "Do you, Jamie, take Mitch to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you swear before God, before your family and friends, that you will love, honor, cherish, respect and comfort him, in good times and bad, in sickness and in health? Do you promise to share your joys and sorrows, help him when he needs help and turn to him first when you need help and, forsaking all others, to be faithful to him alone?"
"I do."
"Then, by the power vested in me by the state of Mississippi, I pronounce you husband and wife. What God has joined together today, let no man tear apart. You may kiss your bride."
But Mitch was a beat ahead, his lips pressing against Jamie's before Thomas finished speaking. He heard everyone start to cheer, but the only thing that mattered in that moment was his wife.
His wife.
Jamie was his wife. A weird sort of bubbly feeling erupted from his gut, slipped past his throat and spilled off his tongue in an elated giggle. He realized with a start that he was feeling happiness - true and pure happiness - and for once he didn't bother stuffing his emotions back down.
Mitch lost hold of Jamie's hand as they were set upon by their family, but he kept catching her eye as they were passed from one person to the next. Once, between Bo's hearty back slap and Dianne's weepy hug, he mouthed "I love you" to her. She returned the sentiment, along with her own giddy smile, and Mitch knew he wasn't the only one overwhelmed by the moment. Despite the odds, amid the horror and anarchy that had surrounded them, after so much heartache and despair, they'd made it.
Mitch had told Jamie once that he didn't believe in fate, that things happened by chance and by choice and not because of some preordained plan. But standing here with her now - not just as her friend and lover, but as her husband - he was definitely beginning to believe.