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Chapter 14

Matt stood in front of the cracked, full length mirror in his room and tied his bow tie. He was calm. He wasn't a bit nervous.

"Ready?" His father gave him a scrutinizing glare.

"Yup." No one could talk him out of it. He pushed his father's wheelchair down the dirt driveway and entered the neighbor's yard. It was a small affair. In her Aunt's garden. He stood in front of a flower lined trellis. The minister of the local church stood in the center. He didn't know most of the people sitting in the chairs, but they whispered to each other, alternating glances at him.

"You're taking this too far." Jeff mumbled out of the side of his mouth. "I sure hope you know what you're doing."

"It's only a matter of time before she takes off." Matt whispered back. "There's no way I'm letting her take off with my kid." Matt knew the law well enough to know that if he married her he had as much right to Olivia as Randie did. Not to mention the fact that he knew he couldn't afford to pay child support, which he expected to be sued for. She put his name on the birth certificate and they had gotten a paternity test done. There had to be a reason her aunt had paid for it and he didn't believe it was just so he would know. He could support a child easier in his home and he really wanted Olivia.

Rather Randie realized it or not, she just made it harder for herself to take off. It sure would keep the help he needed around longer. She wouldn't leave without Olivia and there was no way he was going to let her take his child with her. His mind was made up about that. All he needed was for her to go through it. All he needed was for her to say yes and half of his problem would be solved. Maybe more if she brought some of her family's money with her.

Music began to play from a small CD player set up on a table behind the rows of chairs. Only Randie's aunt walked out. Randie's only bridesmaid wore a dress suit type outfit with a flower corsage on her wrist. He had his hands in his pockets as he waited. He didn't expect anything amazing. Love wasn't some fairytale. It wasn't some romantic evening or crazy … Randie walked out. His hands come out of his pockets and his was in complete awe.

Her dress complimented her every curve, all the way to the waist and it flowed out in billowy fabric making her look like an angel walking towards him with the sun glittering off the sequins on the top of the gown and in her upswept hair. She didn't carry a bouquet. Only their daughter, dressed in sweet little white gown.

When he reached him she smiled just as she had when they were kids. He hadn't seen that smile on her in a long time. She looked radiant and happy. He kissed Olivia and touched a hand to her cheek and his forehead to hers.
"You're so beautiful." That was one thing he had always thought of her.

"Family and friends." The preacher began and Randie handed Olivia to her aunt and they took each other's hands. He just couldn't take his eyes off of her and for a moment he forgot why he was doing what he was doing. He just couldn't believe someone like her was really going to go through with marrying someone like him. "If there is anyone in attendance who has cause to believe that this couple should not be joined in marriage, you may speak now or forever hold your peace."

He could tell that his father and Jeff wanted to say something. He could see it in their eyes and on their twitching mouths, but they stayed silent.

The exchanged sacred, traditional vows, rings as a symbol of their commitment and then

"You may kiss the bride." And Matt sealed her lips with a long, almost too passionate kiss.

"May I present, Mr. And Mrs, Matthew Hardy." Everyone clapped. Including his father who looked at him with reprimand.
"Mine." He cupped her face in her hands and chuckled as they sat at a long table. Her aunt had set up their reception in the backyard. It wasn't over the top. Everything was simple and he couldn't imagine it being more beautiful. He still couldn't believe that this girl, had said really married him. Randie Parker. The one who was always the prettiest girl in town, well her and Jaycee but that was always feverishly debated among the old gossips. "I can't believe you're my wife."

She just smiled meekly. She seemed so honestly humbled by his every compliment. He touched his finger to her bare shoulder and traced her soft skin. His heart was so ready to give in. If only memories of the past didn't keep reminding him why he was so angry at her. Then thought of her leaving. She never came to him. He would have taken care of her, even if he had doubts about being the father. He would have been there, but instead she'd just left town. And he'd really had no clue. He missed seeing his child born because she had been selfish and he couldn't get that moment back and he just couldn't forgive her.

"Well."

"Jake, you better remember yourself." He heard Randie's uncle who sat on the other side of the table say. Randie's smile faded and he looked up to see her father, her stepmother and Jaycee who strangely had not been in the audience during the ceremony.

"Remember myself?" her father said, taking and empty seat at the end of the table next to his daughter. "I'm not going to cause trouble. I'm hurt that I wasn't invited to my own daughter's wedding. Hell, I'm hurt that she'd came back after running off who knows were for over a year and a half and no one thought to tell me where she was or that she was even alright."

Matt looked at Randie inquisitively. He had no idea that her father didn't know she was back and living with her aunt. He wondered why she would hide from her family.

"Congratulations sweetheart." He leaned forward and kissed Randie's cheek. "I hope you will very happy." He extended a hand to Matt who reciprocated. "You've grown a lot since I last saw you kid."

'Thank you sir. I'm glad you could make it."

"Well, I had to move some things around. But I wouldn't miss it for the world."

XXX

Randie didn't know how to take her father's sudden appearance at her wedding. She had been the happiest she had ever been in her life until he showed up. Jaycee sat with a smirk on her face. She knew what she thought about her choice in a husband, but she didn't care what Jaycee or her mother thought about Matt and his family. She felt honored that Matt let her become a part of it.

Her uncle announced it was time for them to dance their first dance and Matt led her to the wooden dance floor set up in their yard. She laid her head on Matt's shoulder and let out a breath. She held him close. Even her father couldn't rip her from his arms. Not this time. Not ever again. He had signed papers. Given Aunt Peg full guardianship. His exact words were he didn't want to fool with reporting her missing. Which was good because Aunt Peg knew along where she was and Aunt Peg signed the marriage license, given her permission to marry before she was eighteen. Her father would have never done that.

She relaxed in Matt's embraced. She felt free for the first time in her life.

She sat back down at the table with him and watched him. He was all smiles. He greeted people, mostly friends of her Aunt's and Uncle's. Some people she had met, some she hadn't. They all gave him cards and well wishes and he beamed and kissed her cheek.

They cut the cake together, crisscrossed a wine glass of sparkling grape juice and picture were taken from every angle. She felt a little dizzy from all the flash or maybe it was her fluttering heart that couldn't' believe she had married the boy she had loved most of her life.

His brother's all hugged her, the younger ones estactic. His father gave her a long hug and even managed to stand long enough to dance with her. When he was tired, Jeff cut in.

"Watch out for him." Jeff kidded her and jutted a chin at his older brother. "He can be a real ass."

"I know." She said softly. "But I knew that before I married him, so I have to deal with that right?"

"Yeah." He sighed and then Matt cut in.

"Your family is very generous." He told her. "I think they stuffed money in every card."

"I think they just didn't know what to buy." She still couldn't speak normally when she spoke to him. But right then her biggest fear wasn't him striking her. She was worried that she would disappoint him. That she wouldn't be good enough for him. He worked so hard. She just hoped she could be the wife he needed and deserved.

The day went by so fast. The sun was setting and the guests began to leave. She swayed with Matt so many times on that dance floor. More than she had ever expected to and it seemed that someone was always coming to bid them farewell and luck. Matt would thank them and she would smile. Soon, no one was left but immediate family. Her father lingered much to her chagrin, but he hadn't said or done anything threatening towards her and she knew he would hang around until the liquor was gone.

"I'm getting hungry." Matt said when they returned to the table. The people Aunt Peg had rented the tables and chairs from returned to pick them. The only one they owned was the one they sat at so she didn't have to worry about getting up. "Are you hungry?" They had both eaten the simple buffet they had set up for reception, but it had been very little. They had been very busy greeting people and talking. "I'll get you something." He said sweetly and pecked her cheek.

"I guess you're happy." Her father never left his seat, chugging one drink after another.

"I am." She said meekly. She wasn't scared. Not anymore. He had never struck her front of Aunt Peg and her Uncle. And she knew he wouldn't dare do it in front of the Hardy's. Besides he had no authority over her anymore and it seemed like it was a relief to him as well.

"Here sweetie." Aunt Peg brought Olivia to her. "I think she wants her Mama." Her aunt had kept that child with her the entire day. She refused to give her up, parading her around the party, showing her off so proudly. The way her father stared at her, she knew he'd had no idea that she'd had a child or had even been pregnant. He stared with big wild eyes and sipped on his beer.

"Here you go." Matt sat a plate with a slice of a sub she had cut up herself that morning.

"thank you." She said and re positioned Olivia.

"let me hold her." Matt's father was at her side, lifting her out her arms. "I haven't got to hold my granddaughter all day and you have barely gotten to eat."

"I forgot a drink." Matt rushed off again.

"You really are the slut aren't you?" Her father snapped, then his hand shot out and connected with her cheek so hard it knocked her from the chair she was sitting in.