Chapter Twenty-Six: Two Words
"I do, I do, I do, I do, I do," Sookie chanted in front of the mirror as Gran and Pam flitted about her doing hair and make-up.
"You'll be fine, Dear," Adele chuckled as she followed Pam's instructions with the straightening iron. "It's only two little words, and you managed that much in front of an entire gymnasium of people you didn't like."
"I don't know what the big deal is?" Tara was admiring Pam's work on Sookie's wedding dress, which was waiting on its padded hanger. "It's not like ya gotta recite any vows. Easiest wedding ever."
"Maybe for people who could speak for more than a year," Sookie grumbled.
"Pam, girl," Lafayette was resting his chin on the Northman girl's shoulder as she painted Sookie's face, "don't you want to accent the eyes more?"
"It's a wedding Laf, not a Drag Show," Pam admonished. "I told you that you could do that pouty mouth thing for her lips, but I don't trust you with contouring, and I definitely don't trust you with eyes."
"Bitch, what?" Lafayette fumed playfully. "I do the best cat eyes this side of the Mississippi."
"Cat eyes for a wedding? Maybe if she used to be a stripper," Pam retorted. "She just needs a little wing to make her eyes look bigger."
Lafayette huffed and flopped onto Sookie's bed until it was his turn with the make-up kit.
As the flames of the latest squabble settled, Sookie let herself be distracted by the gentle tug of her hair and the light touch of a make-up brush against her face. Those little comforts did next to nothing to dampen the memories of last night and the disastrous meeting with Bobby Burnham.
The squat, plump lawyer from New York had seemed so kind and charming. He greeted Sookie with a pleasant smile and hugged each of the Northman children before Godric and Pam left for last minute items for the wedding. With the increased guest list came the necessity for another table and identical settings.
With the back and forth about who was and was not coming from the Brigant Branch of the family tree, the final tally of attendees had come down to the last minute. Sookie had been embarrassed about the complications her family had caused, but Pam had waved off her friend's apologies. The Northman girl was happy to have a wrench thrown into her project for the opportunity to show off her flexibility as an event planner.
After the oldest and youngest Northman was gone, Eric made tea for the three of them, and Sookie listened happily as Eric and Bobby reminisced.
When Eric disappeared to refill the hot water, however, Bobby's pleasant demeanor evaporated. He accused Sookie of gold digging and demanded that she convince Eric to go ahead with a prenup.
Unable to defend herself, Sookie had recoiled like a scolded puppy until Bobby stopped his assault. As Eric reappeared in the sitting room with more water, Bobby transformed back to the kindly lawyer once more.
"Alright!" Pam's hands clapped together near Sookie's face, and the girl was jostled from her recollections. "Your turn, Laf."
"Feet still nice and toasty?" Gran asked with a gentle smile as she finished with Sookie's hair.
"Mmm," Sookie nodded distractedly.
The bride hadn't told her family, let alone Eric about her moment with Mr. Burnham, and it was weighing on her conscience. After everything Sookie had been through the last year, she promised not to try and protect Eric from the things that hurt her. The problem was Sookie wasn't sure if she were scared Eric wouldn't believe Bobby had been mean to her, or that he would believe her and lead to the Northmans losing the last adult they had.
"Are you okay, Sook?" Tara asked as Gran started fixing the combs of the veil to Sookie's head.
"Can I have a minute with Pam?" Sookie asked quietly.
"Of course, Dear," Gran smiled and began shooing Lafayette and Tara out of the room.
"What's up, Sookie?" Pam asked as she pulled away to lean against her friend's vanity. "Did you finally figure out you're too good for my brother?" she teased.
Sookie used all her willpower not to pick at her smooth nail polish. "I've been thinking," Sookie began slowly, "maybe we should have Mr. Burnham draw up a prenup real quick before the ceremony."
Pam's eyes widened at her friend's comment. "You hated the idea of a prenup."
"I know," Sookie mumbled, "it feels like having one means we're not serious about each other. It feels like an escape route, but if it helps other people realize I'm not after the Beauchéne fortune, maybe it's worth it."
"Sookie," Pam sighed, "when your great-grandfather dies, you'll have close to eight million dollars. Sure, it's not ourmoney, but it's plenty enough to prove to others you're not in need of a cash injection."
"I don't know that makes me feel any better," Sookie mumbled.
"What's gotten into you all the sudden?" Pam wondered aloud. "Is this cold feet? You seemed so calm yesterday."
"I don't know," Sookie whispered and cast her eyes downward. "I just can't stand people only seeing dollar signs when they look at us. I know I'm not what people expect Eric to marry with his looks and his money-"
"Oh. My. God! Shut the fuck up," Pam snarled. "You and Eric bring the best out in each other, and that's what a marriage should be like. So, what's the real deal, here? I've never seen you act like this when it comes to your relationship. You've been secure about you and Eric all through his first year of college, and then your wedding day finally comes, and you're acting like you're about to have your mask ripped off?"
Pam leaned away from the vanity and looked into her best friend's eyes. "You've never cared that someone would think you're a gold digger. Who made you think that's what people believe?"
"It must be cold feet," Sookie abandoned the conversation like a coward.
"Uh huh," Pam had her doubts, but she already had a feeling about who had caused this problem. "Well, I think you're stupid considering a prenup now. So, I'm going to get Gran in here to calm you down, and make sure my brother's not turning into as big of an idiot as you."
Pam could hear Sookie sigh as she left the room, but she ignored it and went to hunt down Bobby.
The rotund lawyer was already helping himself to the snack table while the rest of the guests sweated outside.
"Bobby," Pam approached the family friend, "Sookie wants to know if you can draw up a quick prenup." A look of relief came across the man's face. "I told her she can shove that idea right up her ass." Bobby's expression immediately deflated. "At least I know where she got this sudden seed of doubt."
"I'm just trying to protect you kids like I've always done," Bobby insisted in a hushed voice.
"You don't have to whisper for long, Bobby," Pam assured him. "Once they're back from England, I'm going to tell Eric all about you trying to drown his wife in subterfuge."
"Pam," Bobby seemed panicked, "you know what Eric will do if he finds out!"
"I do," Pam nodded. "He'll drop your retainer the second we get our inheritance, and I promise Godric, and I will do the same. Your firm won't handle any of our family's money, and I will happily let the letterheads know why they lost such a huge account and a future client."
"Future client?" Bobby asked in surprise.
"Sookie's worth about seven and a half million on her own," Pam told him. "We would have recommended you as her legal counsel as well, but you can kiss that goodbye." Bobby paled. "Now I might consider sticking with your firm if you apologizeto my future sister before she says 'I do,' and you mean it."
{†}
Eric stood, waiting outside with the rest of the guests. It was a warm, June morning, and they were doing their best to move things along before the heat went into full swing. Thankfully, the wedding had stayed casual, and he was able to dress in a white dress shirt and slate colored slacks. He'd rolled his sleeves up after twenty minutes in the heat, and the guests had begun fanning themselves beneath the linen canopy. Tara and Lafayette had just joined the guests, and Eric had to chuckle when the black man made himself cozy next to Claude.
Relief came over the groom's face when he saw his sister wave from the front entrance of the farmhouse. Next, he watched as Pam picked up her viola and began playing Canon as she strolled toward the end of the aisle until she was standing beside her brother.
Once Pam was in her place, the front door of the house opened again, and Sookie appeared in a form-fitted dress that stopped just below her knee. Adele was beside her granddaughter as they strolled toward the temporary altar.
Eric's smile widened with every step his bride came closer to him. He felt his hands shaking in an effort not to reach for her, but his willpower failed him. Eric took a half-step toward Sookie and extended a hand for her making both Adele and the bride grin.
"So eager," Adele chided as she placed Sookie's hand in Eric's and cupped their joined hands. "Bless you both."
Adele hobbled to her chair between Jason and Fintan as Eric raised Sookie's veil over her face. She was glowing, and her eyes were already watering.
"You look amazing," Eric told her as they turned toward the Reverend.
"You too,"Sookie mouthed with a grin.
"Good morning, friends and family of this young couple," the Reverend began with a broad grin. "Today we gather together to celebrate the beginning of their journey as husband and wife and offer our prayers for happiness, health, and love.
"Now, to get us out of this heat," the Reverend joked, "let's begin. Eric, do you take this woman to be your wife; to love her, to cherish her in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad as long as you both shall live?"
Eric gripped Sookie's hands before accepting the ring the officiant offered. "I do," he announced as the young groom slipped the band over his bride's finger.
"Sookie," he addressed the young woman next, "do you take this man to be your husband; to love him, to cherish him in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad as long as you both shall live?"
Taking a deep breath, Sookie stared into Eric's eyes, she waited for a beat to gather all of her focus until the spectators melted away. Finally, she took the ring from the Reverend and choked out, "I do-oo."
"By the power vested in me by the church and state of Louisiana, I now pronounce you husband and wife," the Reverend announced before turning to Eric. "You may now kiss your bride."
Eric leaned in, grasping the back of Sookie's neck in that familiar way that brought calm to her heart. Sookie felt her face being drawn in and finally met her husband's lips with her own. She could feel Eric stroke her earlobe with his thumb as they lightly kissed before their families and friends. When the clapping grew thunderous, Sookie pulled away and flushed at the amount of attention their kiss was receiving.
"Why am I not surprised that you are a blushing bride?" Eric teased.
Sookie swatted his chest playfully as everyone headed indoors to get their hands on some food and escape the increasing heat. Although there was only a small window unit for an air conditioner in the kitchen, the moderate drop in temperature and humidity was welcome to the attendees.
"You seem a lot calmer," Eric noted as they arrived in the kitchen, standing as near the cold air as possible. The newly married man couldn't seem to stop touching his wife. His fingers would caress her cheek, or hold her hand or waist at every opportunity.
"Mmm," she replied as she leaned her head against her husband's chest and shut her eyes. Despite Bobby's hushed apology for yesterday's outburst, that wasn't what eased her mood.
The thing that brought the young woman comfort was that after a year of pure hell, she was finally married to Eric Northman, and she would never be forced to stand anywhere without him again. She could go wherever he went, and no one could stop her.
"There's something I need to tell you," Sookie whispered uncomfortably.
"What's that?" Eric smiled, still reveling at the reality of having a wife. His hands were running up and down her arms, taking in the moment in as many ways as he could.
"I don't like Bobby," Sookie told him. She didn't want to mention the prenup, but she wouldn't pretend to like the lawyer. "I don't want him helping us with our wills."
Eric frowned. It wasn't like Sookie to say that she didn't like someone that she had only just met. The fact that Sookie had been anxious since meeting Bobby only fueled Eric's concerns. Sookie had a habit of working things out on her own before discussing them. She didn't like to make a fuss over trivial things unless they genuinely affected her.
"What did Bobby say to you?" Eric asked gently.
"He implied he didn't trust me, and I don't want someone who thinks the worst of me handling my legal affairs," Sookie told him.
Eric nodded in understanding, "Okay. When we get back from England, I'll call the law firm and see if I can get our account handled by someone else."
"I'm sorry," Sookie whispered.
"Don't be sorry, Sookie," Eric smiled. "If Bobby made you feel that he didn't trust you, then he doesn't trust my judgment either. Either way, it wasn't his place to talk to you like that."
"But you've known him so long," Sookie mumbled.
"As a lawyer, Sookie," Eric shook his head. "Bobby's job is to get me out of trouble, not protect me from trouble. Don't worry about it. I'm glad you told me."
"I promised I wouldn't hide things from you," Sookie reminded him. "I just needed some time to sort it out for myself."
"I know," Eric leaned in and kissed her lips. "I'm glad you told me."
"You're not upset or mad?"
"I am," Eric nodded. "I'm angry that Bobby would say something about prenups when I told him last year that we weren't interested in having one. I'm upset that he hurt your feelings."
"I just thought you guys were closer than this," Sookie admitted.
Eric let out a sigh as his traitorous fingers began playing with a tendril of Sookie's hair. It really was impossible to keep his hands to himself.
"I liked Bobby because he's a good lawyer," Eric told her. "He let his emotions get the better of him, and he worked against my wishes. If I can't trust him to follow my directions, then he's not as good at his job as I thought."
"Sometimes," Sookie cast her eyes downward, "I forget that you're not as nice to everyone else as you are to your siblings and me."
Eric's smile grew into a grin, "That's because I love you. I love my brother and sister. Hell, I even love Gran. Your brother… I'm warming up to him."
Sookie finally smiled. "I'm glad to hear it."
The newly married man glanced around the kitchen, surprised to find that they were ignored entirely for the food. He thought couples were customarily hounded all throughout the reception, but everyone seemed content to mingle by the buffet table and leave them to the loud AC unit.
"Are your bags all packed?" Eric asked, impatient to get out of the house. He wondered if they'd be able to sneak back to his family's home for a quickie before the flight.
"Mmm," Sookie choked when a strange young woman came to greet them. Sookie accurately guessed it was a relative from Fintan's side of the family.
"Hello there," the redhead extended a hand, "I'm Sophie-Anne. I'm Dermot's step-daughter."
"A-a pleasure," Sookie shook the offered hand.
"That was the quickest and bestwedding ceremony I've ever had to sit through," Sophie-Anne smiled happily. "And the food is amazing! Who catered?"
Sookie swallowed hard and gestured to her grandmother who was cheerily handing out plates. "Gran."
"Wow," the new relative mumbled. "You guys really kept it simple. I'm impressed! Although, I bet Uncle Fintan would have sprung for you guys to have better if you'd wanted."
"We always had a small and intimate wedding in mind," Eric explained. "In fact, the reception is just our way of saying 'thank you' to everyone for making the trip for such a short event."
"Well, I think it's wonderful," Sophie-Anne patted Eric's arms reassuringly, and something in her tone made Sookie feel patronized. The young bride didn't take it personally, though. Judging by her cousin's jewelry and dress, it was evident that the redhead was used to having money.
Eric's smile tightened, "Thank you. He was diplomatic because it was Sookie's family, but also because Elfyria Mergers and Acquisitions had to be his top choice of companies he hoped to work for after graduation. For a while, he thought it would be a long-term goal because the resource pool was gigantic with many sharks swimming through it. Now that he was married to the granddaughter of one of the chairmen, the opportunity didn't seem so impossible.
After Sophie-Anne departed, Eric and Sookie soon realized that the young woman had broken the dam of people wanting to offer their well-wishes. Sookie's new family members were the first to congratulate them.
Claudine approached with her brother Claude, "Thanks for inviting us, Sookie," the young woman smiled cautiously. "Especially after everything I said."
Sookie's mind fumbled for the shortest response she could utter, and a, "Thanks," was all she could muster. The queue of people behind her was daunting.
"We knew you were going through a tough time," Eric assured. "I'm glad we are already moving on."
Claude grinned, "Definitely, plus, having you in the family is taking a load off the rest of us."
"How's that?" Eric asked in surprise.
"Your major," Claude said pointedly. "Our grandfather's been furious that he only has step-grandkids working for the firm. Even though you're the husband of a grandchild, it'll still be blood that you make with her."
Eric thought that was a very old-fashioned idea, but it worked nicely for him. "I haven't seen your grandfather here."
"He's got early onset dementia," Claudine offered. "We were worried the wedding would confuse him and he'd make a scene. He still has a lot of good days, but when he's upset or confused, he's very quick to get, uh, mean."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Eric offered.
"It's fine," Claude grunted. "We better let you guys get through this line of people, so you don't miss your flight."
Eric and Sookie waved goodbye to the twins as they returned to the buffet table.
"Sookie," Fintan approached with two men. One was about Fintan's age, but the other seemed half as old. "These are my brothers, Dermot and Dillon," her grandfather-by-blood introduced.
"It's good to meet you officially," Dermot nodded stiffly.
"Thanks," Sookie smiled tensely.
"I've wanted to thank you," Dillon took Sookie's hand and squeezed it. "And, I wanted to tell you that because the things you remembered about that photo album, the FBI has been able to identify several missing girls and are looking for them now instead of presuming them dead. Also," Dillon took a deep breath, "we called in an expert of spinal cord injuries, and she told us that Claudette's broken neck was too clean to have occurred in the trunk of that car. She was dead before it went into the water."
Sookie felt the blood drain from her face as Dillon kept speaking, and her hand gripped Eric's tighter and tighter.
"Dillon," Fintan interrupted gently, "I think any more news about that can wait a while."
The younger brother seemed to shake himself out of a trance, "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me."
Sookie swallowed hard and released Eric's hand to pat Dillon's. "You're grieving."
Dillon sighed, "I suppose so." After eight years, the father thought he had cried as much as he possibly could for his daughter. It always surprised him when he found himself wander past Claudette's bedroom door and peeking inside. There was still crippling anguish that followed when she wasn't there, safe in her bed. The tears would always follow. Sometimes it was a fleck of water he could blame on the dust. Other times, he would weep without inhibition.
Dermot cleared his throat to break up the intense atmosphere, "We actually wanted to discuss something with you two in private?"
"Right," Fintan gestured to the back porch, and the young couple followed the three brothers. Once they were out of earshot of the rest of the partygoers, Fintan smiled at his granddaughter. "My brothers and I have spoken, and we thought a young couple just starting off together could use a little help. Since you didn't receive all the benefits of being part of this family growing up, we brought you this as a wedding gift."
Fintan extended his hand to Sookie, and the bride took the piece of paper she was offered. When Sookie looked at the writing, she found a Cashier's Check for $500,000.00.
The young woman's breathing shortened as she handed the check to her husband, and she flopped into the wooden rocker by the window.
"This is very generous of you," Eric was far less intimidated by the amount, "but we have plenty of money, and even more coming to us in a few years."
"Of course," Fintan nodded. "Sookie's inheritance is-"
"I was speaking of myinheritance," Eric explained. "My siblings and I are on a monthly stipend from our estate until all three of us graduate with a bachelor's degree. After that, we receive our full inheritance."
Dermot seemed pleased to hear this, "Then Sookie would want to opt out of her claim on our estate?"
Eric's jaw tightened, "I was hoping to convey that she isn't in need of money and that buying her affection was moot. Trying to deny her what she is legally entitled to or dissuade her from seeking it was not my intention at all."
"Dermot, your step-children are already seen to in the will," Dillon snapped. "This isn't the time or place for your underhanded bullshit."
"I agree," Eric nodded.
"It wasn't my intention to buy off Sookie," Fintan told the groom. "I just wanted to do something for the two of you. An olive branch from her new relatives in response to the one she extended to us through the invitation to the wedding."
"We accept," Sookie uttered after she had absorbed the meaning of the gift. "And we appreciate it." She was looking at Fintan with a tentative smile. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Fintan returned her smile and then gestured to his brothers. "Let's get back to the party and let them finish their reception line."
Sookie and Eric followed the brothers back to the kitchen. When they returned, the line had grown a bit, and now all the remaining attendees were there. Eric looked at his watch and realized that they were running a bit behind.
They quickly thanked the Reverend, Tara, Lafayette, Mrs. Crane, and Mrs. Brigant. Sookie gave Hadley a big hug, and her Aunt Linda hugged both Sookie and Eric. Quinn and Alcide approached at the same time, both looking like the other was their lifeline amidst the family dynamics. Alcide had been avoiding Claudine's family like the plague, feeling it was too soon in their relationship to deal with such a scene at a wedding of all places.
"Ready to head to the airport?" Alcide asked uncomfortably.
"Mind giving me a ride too?" Quinn asked hopefully. He'd detoured to Shreveport rather than going straight to Colorado.
"I guess that's fine," Alcide looked curiously at the newlyweds.
"We're going to change at my house really quick," Eric told them.
"Yeah," Alcide snorted, "quick."
Sookie responded with rolling her eyes before walking away to find her brother and gran to say goodbye.
"Seriously, though," Eric's eyes were intense as he glared at his two friends, "we have to stop by the house before heading to the airport."
"You better be a minute man, Eric, 'cause otherwise, you're missing your plane," Alcide pointed out.
"We can be quick when we have to," Eric grinned as the three of them headed toward the kitchen door for an easy escape. The groom saw his bride weave her way back to him, and Eric took Sookie's hand as they slipped out the back.
"I can't wait to get to England," Eric told his wife happily as the four of them jogged down the gravel driveway to Alcide's truck. The short ride to Rosenfont Hall spoke of a half an hour of torture for Eric when they would soon drive to Shreveport. A truck cab was not built for three men all over six feet tall.
As the young couple spilled out of the truck to grab their luggage, Eric took Sookie's hand and pulled her toward his old bedroom.
"Okay," he stripped off his shirt, "I can't survive a twelve-hour flight without-"
"Shh," Sookie's fingertip pressed against her husband's lips as he finished peeling off his shirt. Her dress was already on the ground, and her free hand was already working the fly of his slacks.
"I'm glad we're on the same page," Eric grinned as he reached his arms around Sookie's waist and pulled her to him. Sookie gave a quick hop to wrap her legs over Eric's hips and giggled happily as they flopped onto the bed together.
With quick movements, Eric had the remainder of his clothing tossed aside, and Sookie wiggled out of her undergarments. As their bodies were about to join, Eric heard the horn of Alcide's truck sound, and he rolled his eyes while simultaneously coupling with his wife.
"If they can make it that fast, I'm worried about their sex lives," Eric grumbled as his hips began to rock.
Sookie laughed beneath him, twisting her hips to hit that sweet spot upon collision. She groaned and sighed until she finally found the angle she was seeking. After that, the sound of her panting breath filled the air, and Eric became lost in the music of her excitement.
As her inner walls began to flex, Eric reached between them to push Sookie over the edge, ready to follow her.
"Yes, yes, yes," Sookie chanted before her back arched off the bed and her body coiled tightly. Her mouth went silent, and she held her breath at the release, and Eric allowed himself to be welcomed into his own climax as Sookie jerked with pleasurable aftershocks.
"Mmm, no time to glow, Sookie," Eric mumbled as he straightened back up. "We have to catch a plane."
"I just need to freshen up," Sookie told him as she shimmied off the bed and ran to the bathroom.
Eric chuckled as he followed her so he could wipe himself down. Trapped in a plane while body fluids dried on his skin didn't seem appealing.
Grabbing up a change of clothes for the both of them along the way to the bathroom, Eric gave Sookie's shoulder a kiss as he set the outfits on the counter and reached for a washcloth.
Soon the couple was clean and redressed. Eric grabbed their bags, and Sookie opened the doors for him as they headed back to the truck. With an unceremonious fling of the bags into the bed of the vehicle, Eric and Sookie were soon shoved once again in the back of the cab.
After some good-natured ribbing from Alcide and Quinn, the four were on their way to Shreveport. Soon, they would be airborne and begin their honeymoon.
Eric couldn't wait to show Sookie his old haunts and explore all the things he had missed while living in London.