Chapter 136

"Let us pray. Lord we ask you to watch over this family. Keep them safe from harm. Let their love be a bright light to others. Amen. AJ, you may now kiss your bride," smiled Chaplain Turner.

He took her in his arms and kissed her until her legs were weak. Then he tenderly placed a kiss on his daughter's cheek. Admiral Tom Boone stepped forward and indicating the bride and groom, said, "Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Admiral and Mrs. Albert Jethro," that part got him a quick glare from the groom, and a giggle from the two teenaged bridesmaids, "Chegwidden, and their daughter, Angela!"

The applause began and got even louder as AJ swept Sarah and the baby up into his arms. He was just about to start down the aisle with his family, when Tom held up his hands to stop the applause for a moment. "At the bride's special request…" and he nodded to the organist.

AJ stumbled a bit as he took his first step down the aisle to the Marine Hymn. Giving his bride a knowing look, she smirked back at him as Angel cooed at a song she had come to know well. In the back of the chapel, AJ returned Sarah to her feet, as they waited for the rest of the wedding party to come down the aisle and for the sword formation to take their places.

As they came down the aisle, Bud leaned over and kissed Harriett. Chloe looked up at Tom Boone and asked, "So you're an Admiral too, huh? Not bad looking, either. I like the bald look."

"Yes, AJ told me. You're my blonde that loves bald Admirals," grinned Tom. Mattie grinned up at Sturgis, happy to finally be included.

They left the chapel under the traditional arch of crossed sabers. As they came to the end of the line, where Bud, as best man, had the honor and terror of smacking Mac's six with his sword. Bud knew the tradition, but the bride was not usually a kick-ass Marine, and this one was carrying a small baby! So his internal debate had been how hard to smack her. Tradition said firmly, as he would have, knowing that as a Marine, Mac could take it, but with the baby in her arms? However, he didn't' want to wimp out either….

When Tom Boone, who stood across from Bud in the arch formation, saw him hesitate, Tom decided to take matters into his own hands…just as Bud made his decision and acted…That was how Sarah came to receive two very firm swats on her six and two calls of "GO NAVY!" She turned to glare at both men and the whole formation, as well as the groom, broke into laughter.

Sarah, in retaliation, lifted Angel's dress and showed them her tiny six covered in a Marine green diaper cover that read, 'Property of the US Marine Corps', which made all but the groom laugh harder. "Hey!" AJ's protest had the formation in convulsions.

Later that afternoon, at the reception, there was a suspicious looking gathering in one corner, which the bride and groom thought they should check out. They approached quietly, but the group was so intent on what they were doing that they wouldn't have noticed a parade going by.

Ms. Bea had just said something to Bud as AJ and Mac walked up. Tom Boone, Jen Coates, Harriett, Chaplain Turner, Sturgis, Mattie and Chloe surrounded them. They could see money being exchanged. Ms. Bea handed Bud a dollar and he wrote something down in the notebook in his hand. "Okay, anyone else want to place a bet on when their next child will be born?" Bud asked the group.

They were all startled when AJ spoke with a laugh, "You do all know that Ms. Bea is psychic, don't you? All bets should be off!" The group as a whole turned to look at the quaint old lady who just shrugged. They all chose to keep the bets they had made. Shaking his head at them, AJ turned to walk away, thinking Sarah was by his side. But she was doing some quick mental calculations and asked Bud if he would trust her for a dollar because she didn't have her purse.

At his nod, she told him the date she wanted. Bud looked down at his notebook and with surprise in his voice, told her that date, only a little over seven months away, was already taken. Sarah's eyes flew to Ms. Bea's and they exchanged amused glances. "Then make my bet a day earlier, Bud!" Sarah laughed.

Catching up to AJ, he looked at her smiling face, then back at the group she had just left, "Did you just place a bet, Sarah?"

"You bet!" she grinned.

"Do you have something to tell me, Mrs. Chegwidden?"

"You bet!" Sarah smiled and stood on tiptoe to whisper her news in his ear.

Smiling, he said, "You do know that with the delivery date on twins, all bets are off!"

The End