While Lottie was with Candy out back, Jason was tending to Jeremy inside. Jason had given him more water and a small amount of laudanum to take the edge off the searing pain in his side. Harry was leafing through one of Dr. Wright's medical books, looking for ANYTHING he might have overlooked.
"Jeremy, are you SURE about this?" Jason asked.
Jeremy nodded. It was too much effort and hurt too much to talk. He was saving his strength for what was to come.
Jason patted Jeremy's arm through the blankets that still covered him.
"Alright then. I'll go get Reverend Adams." He paused for a moment, trying to comprehend what was happening. He gave one more pat to Jeremy's arm and left the office to get Rev. Adams.
Harry was still leafing through the medical book when Jeremy spoke. His voice was so soft, Harry wasn't sure at first if he'd actually heard it.
"Thank you... for trying."
Harry looked immediately at Jeremy and saw that he had tears in his eyes.
"Jeremy, lad, don't talk. You need to rest."
"Not... yet... Get to... marry... Candy. Thank you."
Harry set the book he'd been leafing through down and went to sit down next to Jeremy. His arms were still wrapped under the blankets, and the tears flowed down his face. Harry took his handkerchief out of his pocket and gently wiped the tears from Jeremy's face. He was having great difficulty mastering his own emotions.
"Jeremy, you are one of the bravest people I've ever met. If you were my son, I would be so... proud... of you." His voice caught in his throat as he spoke. "I need you to keep being brave. Please."
Jeremy gave a short nod, but the look on his face said he was tired of trying.
Jason had found Rev. Adams at the church, along with a large number of Seattle residents who were keeping a vigil for Jeremy at the church. Jason quickly explained the situation to everyone there. Although Biddie and some of the other women offered to come and decorate and help Candy, Jason thanked them, but refused their offer, simply saying, "I'm afraid there's not time" as he left, solemn-faced with Rev. Adams.
When Jason and the Reverend got back to Dr. Wright's office, they found Candy, Lottie, and Harry all huddled around Jeremy's bed. His right arm was now out from under the blanket, his hand held tightly in Candy's.
On the way over, Jason had told the Reverend that he would need to do a very brief version of the wedding service. As it was, Jeremy may not be able to make it through it all.
Rev. Adams found the Service for Holy Matrimony in his Prayer Book. Out of habit, he started with, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation," the Reverend motioned his hand toward Jason, Lottie, and Harry, "to join together this Man and this Woman," the Reverend then motioned his hand toward Jeremy and Candy, "in holy Matrimony."
He looked at Jeremy before continuing on. Realizing that Jeremy was barely holding on, he skipped down the page of the Prayer Book, until he found the section he was looking for.
"Jeremy, wilt thou have this Woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?"
Jeremy hadn't taken his eyes off Candy since she came back inside.
"I will," Jeremy said with all the strength he could muster.
The Reverend now turned to Candy.
"Candy, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him," both Jeremy and Candy smiled through the tears each were shedding at the thought of Candy "obeying" anyone, let alone Jeremy. The Reverend continued, "and serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?"
Like Jeremy, Candy hadn't taken her eyes off Jeremy, and although tears were freely flowing from her eyes, she matched Jeremy's strength when she responded, "I will."
The Reverend continued, "Who giveth this Woman to be married to this Man?"
"I do," Jason said firmly and bent to kiss Candy's cheek. Candy lay the palm of her free hand on Jason's cheek in thanks.
"There's just a little more, Jeremy. Are you doing alright?" the Reverend asked. Jeremy was beginning to look even more ashen, if that was possible. He nodded his head in answer. "Alright then. Repeat these words after me. The Reverend spoke only a few words at a time, knowing how much effort it took Jeremy. And Jeremy still hadn't taken his eyes off Candy.
"I, Jeremiah Alasdair Bolt... take thee Candace Elizabeth Pruitt... to be my... wedded wife... to have... and to hold... from this day forward... for better... or worse... for richer... or poorer... in sickness... and in health... to love... and to cherish... till death... us do part..." Jeremy was having trouble catching his breath at this point. The Reverend was quick to jump in.
"That's alright, son. We'll just move on to Candy's part". He turned to face Candy. "Repeat after me, Candy." And she did, also with great difficulty, especially when she also got to "till death us do part." But she made it through.
"Is there a ring?" the Reverend asked.
Candy looked from Jeremy to Jason, questioningly. Jason's mouth dropped open, a pained expression on his face.
"Um, I'm afraid not, Reverend," Jason said, apologetically.
"Wait a minute," Lottie interrupted. She checked her hands and quickly took off the simplest ring she had on. "Here, use this one." She handed the gold band to Reverend Adams. Candy mouth the words "Thank you" to her.
"Alright, Jeremy?We're almost done." Jeremy nodded, although his breathing was getting even more labored. "Jeremy, put this ring on Candy's finger."
Jeremy's hand was so cold and stiff at this point, he wasn't able to pick the ring up to put it on Candy's finger. He looked at Jason, his eyes pleading. Jason took Jeremy's hand, palm up, and put the ring on the flat of his fingers, holding his fingers in place on the ring, and guiding it to Candy's hand. Jason helped Jeremy place the ring on Candy's finger.
"Jeremy, if you can, repeat after me, "With this ring, I thee wed."
"With... this... ring," Jeremy fought to say each word, "I... thee... wed." Jeremy couldn't catch his breath. He began gasping for breath, causing the searing pain to jolt through his body. He shouted out in pain.
Candy reached for the laudanum.
"No! No... Finish!" Jeremy managed to get out. They all looked to Reverend Adams. Although reluctant, the Reverend continued.
"Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. For as much as Jeremy and Candy have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God, and this company, and there to have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a Ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be Man and Wife together, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."
"Amen." repeated Jason, Lottie, and Candy." Harry had continued to page through the medical book during the ceremony, and belatedly said his "Amen." Jeremy mouthed the words, no longer able to speak. He grimaced in pain.
Candy poured a spoonful of laudanum for Jeremy, not taking no for an answer. After swallowing the medicine, his body slowly relaxed enough that he managed to say, "Kiss me, wife." He even had a small smile on his face. Candy returned his smile but still had the feeling that everything was surreal. Nonetheless, she leaned in close to Jeremy and softly kissed his lips. She tasted the bitter residue from the laudanum, but what shocked her was how cold Jeremy's lips were. She hid her surprise, though, and just savored the moment.
A few moments later, Candy heard a soft tune being sung outside the door. She looked towards the window,and saw the glow of candlelight shimmering outside, as late afternoon turned into early evening. She listened harder and heard the hymn being sung.
"O perfect Love, all human thought transcending, Lowly we kneel in prayer before Thy throne, That theirs may be the love which knows no ending, Whom Thou for evermore dost join as one. O perfect Life, be Thou their full assurance, Of tender charity and steadfast faith, Of patient hope and quiet, brave endurance,With childlike trust that fears not pain nor death. Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorry; Grant them the peace which calms all earthly strife; And to life's day the glorious unknown morrow,That dawns upon eternal love and life."
Candy had gone to the front window at the second verse to watch the group of dear friends sing. When the hymn ended, Candy turned around and said to Jeremy, "Wasn't that beautiful, Jeremy?" She received no answer. She tried again. "Jeremy? Did you hear the hymn? Jeremy?" Her voice had taken a fearful tone. "Jeremy?" She ran to his side and lightly shook his arm. "Jeremy?" Her voice now had a desperate, louder tone. "Jeremy?" She shook him, thinking, hoping he had just fallen asleep. His head fell to the side, but he didn't awaken. "Jeremy!" She screamed his name so loudly, it was heard by the people who had been singing outside. "Nooooooooo!" Candy screamed, and then all was silent.
*Author's note: The "O Perfect Love" hymn quoted was actually written in 1883, after the events of this story take place. Artistic license was used because this hymn was perfect for this scene.