"Isn't it beautiful?" Julie asked as they watched the fire dancing in the evening breeze. She leaned against his chest and wrapped his arms around her tighter.
"Mmhm." He nuzzled her neck, giving her goosebumps. "Delicious too."
"Mike, I meant the fire and the water." She turned and looked up at him. "I love you," she whispered. His lips met hers with a gentle love that took her breath away.
They had sneaked away from the rehearsal barbeque as soon as they could. Now their plan was to stay where they were until it was absolutely necessary to head back.
"So tomorrow night…"
"No details, Jules. It's my surprise." He had made a reservation for a suite at a fancy hotel in Madison, with money he had set aside months before his job status changed, and then the next morning they would hop on William's jet and head to Oahu for two weeks.
"Will you be upset if we got pregnant right away, Mike?"
"What? Of course not. Why would I be upset?"
"Because I know you are worried about money and I figured maybe you might not want a baby right away."
"I'm sorry I have been struggling so much with that. I just feel helpless and I hate feeling that way, but nothing will make me not want a baby with you. I promise."
"As of tomorrow, I am your wife. I am going to be here to support you no matter what. Please remember that."
"I'm so thankful for you."
…..
The next day, Noon
Mike and Jack stood at the archway covered in daisies watching their Thatcher women walk towards them. Jack was blown away by how stunning Elizabeth was in her lacy pale pink knee length dress, holding daisies in front of her, walking toward him. The dress hugged her curves in all the right places, making his heart race. She gave him a wink and then stood off to the side of the Pastor.
She heard Fin whimper from the front row of little white chairs where she sat on Grace's lap. She had seen Elizabeth and now she wanted her. Grace turned her around so she would look at the row behind them, hoping to distract her.
The music changed and everyone stood as Julie and William walked up the aisle. Mike's breath caught in his chest as he saw her in her dress for the first time. Then tears filled his eyes despite his best efforts.
Jack patted his back, knowing the emotions were running high. Mike looked at him and then took a deep breath, meeting Julie's eyes as she walked closer.
He felt a tear slip free as William passed her to him. She slipped her hands into his and smiled brightly. "Hi."
"Hey. You are so beautiful," he whispered, forcing himself not to kiss her. He needed to wait, but it was difficult.
"Friends, we are gathered today to witness and bless the union of Michael and Julie in marriage." Julie's mind was not on the short sermon that the Pastor was giving. She was thinking back on Mike and her last eighteen months. From the first night she held his hand while watching Sleepless in Seattle, to their first actual date in Bozeman and dancing in the street, to their first kiss by the lake after Charlotte and Bill's wedding, to his wonderful proposal. He was an amazing man and he was going to be her husband in about three minutes.
"Do you, Michael Ryan Hickam take Julie Kathryn Thatcher to by your wife? To have and to hold, from this day forward. For better or worse. For richer or poorer. In sickness or in health. To love and to cherish, as long as you both shall live?"
Mike hesitated for a split second, realizing how much those vows meant to him. He knew that his vows to Renee had been tested more than anyone should have to be tested, but that was the point. He was promising to live by those now to Julie and he would try very hard to do that.
"I do." He stroked the top of her hand with his thumb.
"Do you Julie Kathryn Thatcher take Michael Ryan Hickam to be your husband?"
"I do!" she blurted causing everyone to laugh. "Sorry."
"To have and to hold, from this day forward. For better or worse. For richer or poorer. In sickness or in health. To love and to cherish, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," she answered again.
After the rings were exchanged and William gave her away, they sealed it with a long, sweet kiss.
He rested his forehead on hers and sighed. "Thank you for marrying me."
"Thank you for loving me."
…
Two days later, Oahu
After a long flight, Julie and Mike were more than ready to find their hotel and private bungalow on the beach. They, however, needed to be patient. The line for the rental car was really long and after thirty minutes of waiting, the computer went down causing an even longer wait.
Julie sighed and leaned against Mike as they waited. "This is kind of funny," she mentioned with a giggle.
"What is?"
"It just seems someone is always trying to teach me a lesson in patience."
He smiled and kissed her, lingering a bit. He felt more relaxed than he had in a long time. Maybe it was because she was finally his wife. "Next!"
They walked forward a bit more, but there were still five people ahead of them. "I'm going to use the ladies room, babe. I'll be right back." She walked away and he continued to wait. As the line moved, he rolled both of their large suitcases forward.
Ten minutes later, Julie returned with two large iced coffees. "Here you go, husband."
"Thank you. This is exactly what I needed."
"Mm. What I need is a long bubble bath and a glass of wine."
"Ooh, can I come?"
"Uh huh. One of the perks of being my husband." She kissed his cheek.
After what seemed like forever to Julie, they were at the rental car desk.
"Names," the woman said abruptly.
"Michael and Julie Hickam."
"Spell it for me?"
"H-i-c-k-a-m."
"Thank you. Ok, it seems we have a vehicle already paid for ready for you just outside."
"Already paid for?"
"Yes, sir." She handed him a key and gave him the paperwork.
"Next!"
Mike glanced at Julie. "I'm guessing your father?"
"Wouldn't surprise me. He paid for the bungalow, why not the car?"
He nodded and started walking through the door to the lot.
"Wonder which one it is."
"Hit the lock button. It should honk."
He pointed the fob and hit the button. They looked over and gasped. "Really? We don't need a Mercedes SUV. He could have gotten us a Volkswagen beetle and I'd be happy."
"Me too, but it's a car and we need something to drive while we're here."
They placed their luggage in the back and got in. "I'm almost afraid to drive this thing," he said as he buckled his seatbelt.
"I'll drive if you want."
"Actually I need you to put the hotel address into the GPS so we can find it."
Once that was done, they rolled down the windows, opened the large moonroof, and drove through the beautiful lush surroundings and hills.
"Mike?"
"Yeah, babe."
"You seem happy. Are you happy?"
"Very, very happy." He kissed her hand and then squeezed.
"Good. Me too."
….
BACK IN MADISON
Jack and Elizabeth left Fin with William and Grace so they could go into downtown Madison. Jack wanted to take her to the café where he proposed.
As they slid into the back booth after getting their coffee, Elizabeth smiled. "This is a very sweet idea, babe."
"It's funny to think that the last time we sat here, Fin wasn't born. We weren't even married."
"Hey! Good morning. I remember you!"
Jack and Elizabeth looked up at the barista standing by their table. "Hi. You remember us?"
"Yes, you two got engaged in this booth, didn't you?"
"Yes we did," Elizabeth confirmed.
"When's your wedding?"
"Oh, it was a year ago, March, and our daughter was born last December."
"Oh. You got married fast. I've been planning my wedding for a year and it feels like I still have too much to do. What's your daughter's name?"
"Finlea Grace." Elizabeth proudly pulled up one of the hundreds of pictures she had on her phone and showed the girl.
"Oh my. She is so adorable. Congratulations to you both."
"Thank you." They watched her walk off and then returned their attention back to each other.
"Honey, are you sure you are ok with going on our road trip?"
"I know how important it is to you."
"That doesn't answer my question, though."
"I want to be with you and Fin."
"I feel like we should have this tradition of going every year and I know that she is little but with the possibility of having five children, we are always going to have a little one."
"I know. Jack, don't worry. We will go and have a wonderful time just because we are together."
"Is there someplace else you would rather go?"
"Nope. I'm up for wherever you want to take us."
…..
OAHU, Honeymoon bungalow, a week later
Mike held her close as they danced in the ocean breezes that flowed in through the open patio door.
"So, do you think we should actually leave the bungalow one of these days?" she asked with a laugh.
"We left yesterday."
"The patio doesn't count."
"Sure it does. It's outside."
"Mike, we are in one of the most beautiful places on earth. I think we should at least see some of the sights."
He honestly had no need to leave the bungalow, except to get food, which they did in fact need. He had everything he could possibly need right there in his arms. That being said, they more than likely would never be in Oahu again so he agreed that they should venture out.
"Ok, what did you have in mind?"
"Maybe tour a volcano? Rock climbing? Maybe a luau?"
"A luau sounds great. Let's do that but only if you promise we can come home and do more of this."
"You got it."
….
ABOUT TEN DAYS LATER
Mike carried Julie across the threshold of their rented home. "Welcome home, Mrs. Hickam."
"Thank you, husband." She immediately rolled their suitcases to the bedroom to start unpacking. "Uh, Mike?"
"Yeah?"
"Where's our bed?"
She stood and stared at the empty space where the bed should be. "Its not there?" He walked up behind her and saw the empty spot. "I don't know. Jack said he would take care of setting it up." He pulled out his cell which had been turned off for two weeks and pushed the power button.
After a moment, his phone chimed half a dozen times, signaling that he had messages. "Jack says the bed was back ordered and should be here within a week."
"A week? What are we supposed to do?"
"Jack offered to let us stay with them."
He saw her face. The look that meant she'd rather enjoy the privacy that newlyweds needed in their own home than be stuck staying with her sister, husband, and baby. "I'd rather not."
"We could sleep on the floor," he suggested. "I have tons of blankets and pillows. It might be fun."
"Ok. That's what we will do." She kissed his cheek and turned to open their suitcases. He watched as she put their dirty clothes in a pile and their clean clothes from the other suitcase away in the dresser.
"Julie?"
"Yeah, babe?"
"I love you." She turned and looked at him, seeing the familiar sad, overwhelmed look on his face that he had before they left on their honeymoon.
"I love you too." She hugged him and kissed his lips. "You ok?"
"I wish we were still on vacation."
He hadn't spoken about getting a second job while on vacation but it had been in the back of his mind. Working 28 to 30 hours a week wouldn't cut it. He had a wife to support now. He needed to make rent, his truck payment, and buy food. All of those things were necessities and 30 hours a week would pay for those things, but he'd have nothing left.
"Where are you thinking of applying?"
"The grocery and the hardware store."
She nodded, wanting to be supportive, knowing he needed to feel that he was contributing, especially now that she was paying for his health insurance through her job. "They'll be lucky to have you."
"But you don't think it's necessary." She bit her tongue, feeling the tension in the room escalating. "Go ahead, you can say it."
"I don't think I can without causing our first disagreement."
"Julie, my pay isn't going to cover my bills. What do you want me to do?"
"Whatever you think is best, babe."
"Will you just say it?"
"No. This needs to be your decision." She kissed him quickly and took the dirty clothes down the hall to the laundry room. They needed detergent. It was almost gone. She pulled out her phone and started her shopping list.
"This isn't my decision only. It's ours," he told her from the doorway.
"It doesn't feel like it."
She headed back in the bedroom, closed the suitcases, and wheeled them to the hall closet. She then walked to the kitchen and looked in the refrigerator. "What are you doing?"
"Making a grocery list. We need things."
She typed in her app the things they needed, according to the set budget they had agreed upon. When she was finished she turned and looked at him. "Julie."
"You might want to get spruced up if you're going to apply at the grocery while we're there."
"I'm sorry. This is not easy knowing that I'm fail…" She covered his lips with her fingers.
"Don't you dare say failing, sweetheart. You're amazing and kind and thoughtful and you're a great husband. It's not your fault they cut your hours, and we will be fine, whether you decide to get another job or not because we are in this together. Now, go put on a dress shirt and pants and we will head to town, ok?"
He couldn't be more grateful at that moment for the lovely woman that God had provided. He kissed her and then went to get dressed.