CHAPTER 23

Friday night both families and all their close friends joined Jack and Sue for a rehearsal dinner. The chatter and bustle that came from the table seemed like more than the 12 that they were. Well, thirteen if you count Levi. Suddenly, the clang of metal utensils against glassware rang out. Jack heard it, but tried to ignore it. He turned his face down a bit, raising his eye brow. Sue looked curiously at him as she realized that everyone was looking at them, and had stopped talking.

"What?" Sue asked innocently.

"It's customary for the couple to kiss when the crowd starts to clank the glasses." Myles announced. Bobby started a chant in which the entire party joined in on.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" they all called out to the couple.

Sue looked at Jack, and around the crowd. Even her parents had gotten in on the chant. Sue began to blush a dark pink. She looked at Jack and both shrugged. They leaned into each other and shared a simple kiss.

"I thought that was kept for the reception?" Sue asked looking around the room.

"Well, you two haven't exactly been an ordinary couple…" Lucy said with a smile.

Jack stood up and made a toast to his friends and family.

"I just want to say thank you to all of you for being here with me and Sue to help us celebrate becoming a family. It means a lot that you're all here to support us. Thank you." Jack said as he lifted his glass.

The crowd of people lifted their glasses and toasted their hosts.

Jack leaned into Sue and asked if he could drive her home. She agreed. Everyone hugged goodbye. Sue told her parents and Lucy that she would meet them back at home shortly. Lucy smiled knowing she was going out with Jack.

"Oh, Darling… don't do anything I wouldn't do…" Carla called with a wink to her daughter.

Sue blushed as she and Jack left the restaurant.

The couple got into Jack's car and drove to his apartment. The night air was breezy yet warm. They drove holding hands with the windows down lightly blowing through Sue's golden locks. Jack glanced in her direction, noticing she had her head leaning back against the seat with her eyes closed. He couldn't tell if she was asleep or not. He slowly reached his hand to her cheek, brushing the back of his fingers softly against her face. A smile graced her face, and her eyes fluttered open.

"Hi…" She said with a guilty smile on her face.

"I'll take you home so you can get some rest." Jack offered.

"No. We haven't spent any time together the past couple days, I want to talk for a little bit." Sue said.

Jack put on some coffee and sat with Sue on the couch.

"Everything OK?" Jack asked. Sue shook her head yes. "Was 'talk' code for make out?" Jack asked with a devilish grin on his face. Sue playfully smacked his arm, both laughed nervously.

"NO!" Sue exclaimed. "I wanted to talk about our marriage… we kinda got caught up in everything, we haven't really talked about what we want for the future." Sue said.

"Like what?" Jack asked.

"Do you want children? " Sue asked blushing a bit. "Seems odd that I don't know the answer to that question." She said softly.

"Yes. Yes, I want kids." He answered. "Do you?"

"Yes." Sue said smiling. She looked down to her lap. "Where are we going to live? Are we going to live at your place or get our own?" She asked.

Jack took her by the hand. "Honey, what's this about?" Jack asked. He lifted her chin so their eyes met. "Cold feet, or have you just thought about it and changed your mind?" He asked cautiously.

"I haven't changed my mind Jack. I love you. I want to be your wife." She said softly. "I just don't want you to wake up a year from now asking why you did this. We've sort of rushed into this." Sue admitted.

"I love you, have for a long time. I know our wedding is happening pretty fast, and if you want, we can wait. I don't want to wait… I feel we've waited so long just to get to this point, we'd just be wasting time." Jack said as he gently kissed Sue on the cheek. "I guess it comes down to what do you want?" Jack said with a half-smile. "I will wait for you forever Susan Thomas… "

A single tear fell onto Sue's cheek as she smiled at her future husband.

"I think we should…" Sue began.