Chapter 2: The Wedding
In the summer of 1992, in the meadow outside of the ranger station, some workers were busy setting up chairs. In front of the chairs there was an arch all decorated with flowers. There was a big white tent set up nearby in the meadow. Matt was in his office at the ranger station getting dressed into a black suit and tie. His brother Cody and dad were there by his side, also in black suits and ties. Robin was in the newly constructed commander's cottage with her mom and sister. Robin was wearing a beautiful white, classy wedding dress. It was Matt and Robin's wedding day.
"Big day, big brother, are you ready for it?" Cody asked.
"I sure am. I can't wait. Have you seen mom yet?" Matt asked.
"Not yet. No way she will miss your big day," Cody said. Just then there was a commotion in the lobby of the ranger station, "I think mom is here."
"I will go find her," Jesse said. Jackie was there with her husband Pete. Jesse walked up to them. "Glad you can make it. Matt is in his office."
"Hi Jesse. We had a bit of a car problem. I can't wait to see my boys all dressed up," Jackie said as she walked past Jesse and went right into Matt's Office.
Jesse nodded to Pete and walked outside. The guests had arrived and were mingling around. So, Jesse walked over to where the ceremony was happening. Jesse spotted his old friend Aaron Bass. "Aaron, so glad you are here."
"Jesse is that you? It has been a few years," Aaron said. "Do you remember my granddaughter, Jen?" Jennifer came out from behind her grandfather.
"Jen is that you? Wow, you look so grown up now and so beautiful," Jesse remarked. He gave her a hug.
"Mr. Hawkes, thank you. Is Cody here?" Jennifer was looking around hoping to see Cody.
"He is inside with Matt and his mother," Jesse said.
"Do you think I have time before the wedding to go see him?" Jennifer asked.
"Probably not sweetie, you guys should take a seat. Now that the mother of the groom is here, we should be able to get started soon," Jesse said. Jennifer had a disappointed look on her face.
"Cody is all she has been talking about. She was very excited to see him. She even convinced me to get her a new dress," Aaron said. Jennifer blushed at what her grandfather was saying.
"When was the last time you saw Cody?" Jesse asked.
"Right before you left for San Francisco," Jennifer said.
"So, has it been about three years?" Jesse asked. Jennifer nodded yes. "That is right, he was at his mom's most of last summer. He was dating a girl who lived out there, Gabby or something like that."
"Is he still dating her?" Aaron asked.
"I don't think so or at least he did not bring anyone this time." Jesse said, he then turned to Jennifer. "Darling, I bet he won't even recognize you. You have grown up so much."
Aaron and Jen took their seat and waited for the ceremony to start. The rangers were there with their families, the sheriff, Robin's family came from Sweden, and a few of the locals. Frank had gotten married earlier that year, so he and his wife were there, and they were expecting a baby soon. There were a few new faces at the ranger station, Marco Smith, and James Templeton. Marco joined right before Matt's return, and he did not care for Matt or the Hawkes family much. James pretty much followed Marco on everything he did.
It was time for the wedding to begin. So, Matt escorted Jackie and Mrs. Kelly to their seats with Jesse and Pete following behind. Then Matt went up front with Cody. Robin's sister was her maid of honor, and her dad escorted her down the aisle. Jennifer had a big smile on her face once she saw Cody. Aaron looked over at his granddaughter and rolled his eyes.
Robin passed her bouquet to her sister and then Matt took Robin's hands. The pastor led Matt and Robin thru their vows, exchange of the rings and kissing of the bride. "It is my pleasure to be the first to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Hawkes." The whole crowd cheered for them. Matt and Robin walked down the aisle with the guests throwing flower peddles at them.
Jennifer tried to find Cody after the wedding, but as the best man he was running around taking care of things for Matt and of course decorated their car. The reception was about to begin in the tent and Aaron persuaded his granddaughter to come into the tent. There would be time to talk to Cody later. They were seated at a table with many of the locals who were friends with Jesse and their spouses: Stoney, who was the owner of the local gun and camping shop, Sheriff McBride and Sly Fox Avila and his daughter. Jen was sitting between Sheriff McBride and her grandfather.
"Jen, you look beautiful. How old are you now?" Sheriff McBride asked.
"I am sixteen and I will be a Junior in High School," Jennifer said.
"Wow, you're growing up so fast. What are you going to do when you are done with high school." Sheriff McBride asked.
Jennifer was about to speak but could not get the words out before Aaron spoke for her, "She is going to college. Her parents wanted nothing less for her. Their estate has it all covered."
"Do you know what you want to study?" Sheriff McBride asked.
Aaron once again spoke for Jennifer, "Business, then she is going to come back and take over the running of my fishing lodge."
Jennifer gave a half smile and the sheriff leaned over to Jennifer, "I bet your grandfather chases all the boys away." Jennifer just nodded and she kept looking over at Cody.
"Ah…. The young Mr. Hawkes has caught your eye. He is a good choice, but he is probably a bit old for you," Sheriff said.
"I don't think he remembers me," Jennifer said as she looked down a bit.
"I don't think he could forget you, but you will find someone your age," the sheriff assured Jennifer.
Dinner was served to the guests. As the meal was finishing, the table with all the rangers started clinking the glasses. Matt gave them a look, as Matt and Robin got up and kissed. Matt dipped Robin as they gave a passionate kiss. The guests, especially the ranger table, started to hoot and holler. Jesse had gotten up and stood in back. He was sitting at the table with Robin's family, with Jackie and Pete. He had enough of Jackie and Pete.
Jennifer had stepped away to use the bathroom, so Jesse went and sat in Jennifer's seat between Sheriff McBride and Aaron. He was catching up with his friends. Jennifer got back in time to hear Cody give the best man speech.
Cody got everyone's attention, "On Matt and Robin's behalf I want to thank you all for coming and celebrating with them. Robin is a very special lady and I am honored to call her my sister. Robin has helped me navigate through some difficult times. Robin is not only foxy, but she is caring, smart and has the ability to heal people. Both by her words, advice, and by her medical knowledge. Which is something that my big brother needs in a woman. Speaking of my big brother. Matt, would you have ever ask this foxy lady out if it was not for me?" Matt shrugged his shoulders. "I doubt it. So, I am glad I set the two of you up. And now we are all here celebrating your big day." Cody was about to say something clever, and he spotted Jennifer. He did not recognize her at all, but he immediately forgot what he was going to say. He snapped into reality, "Ah… Ah… raise a toast to Matt and Robin. Congratulations to the two of you."
Everyone raised their glasses and toasted Matt and Robin. "Toad did you get stage fright or something?"
"Or something. Ah… Matt, who is that back by the bar?" Cody asked.
"Where?" Matt asked.
"The pretty woman by the bar," Cody said.
"You mean Jen?" Matt asked.
"Jen? That is not Jen," Cody protested.
"In the blue dress, that is Jen. Have you not talked to her?" Matt asked.
"Wow, she has changed," Cody said.
"Go talk to her, but remember she is sixteen," Matt said.
"Yeah, I think I will," Cody said.
Cody got up and walked to the back of the tent. He had to get through a few people that tried to talk to him. The music started and Matt and Robin were having their first dance. And Jennifer was no longer standing where she was. Cody started to look around for her. Then he spotted her sitting on a chair on the side. He went right over to her. He sat on the chair next to her.
"Hi Jennifer," Cody said. Cody was the only person out side of her parents that called her Jennifer and she liked it when he did it.
"Hi Cody," Jennifer said shyly.
"You have grown up, I mean you look so grown up," Cody stumbled a bit.
"It happens. Your dad did not think you would recognize me." Jennifer said nervously.
"He was right, I did not recognize you. Matt had to tell me who you were. I did not believe him at first." Cody said.
"Are you going to be here long?" Jennifer asked.
"Just until Monday morning, then I am heading back to school. I am doing an internship at a police station near school." Cody said.
"You want to be a police officer? I thought you wanted to be a High Mountain Ranger?"
"No, I am studying Criminal Justice, so some kind of internship is required in law enforcement. I am hoping to be a High Mountain Ranger when I graduate from college. But unless the timing is right, there most likely won't be any openings right then. So, I am looking into some other options. Are you heading to college when you are done with High School?"
"Yes, guess my parents' estate has the financials to pay for it," Jennifer said.
"College is nice, you get out from the control of your parents or in your case, your grandfather for the most part. Then you can decide what you want to do with your future. You can become your own person and you have independence, it is nice," Cody said.
"My Grandpa wants me to study business and then come back and take over the fishing lodge," Jennifer said.
"Is that what you want?" Cody asked.
"I don't know. I like it out here, but don't know if I want to live such an isolated life that comes with living in the mountains," Jennifer said.
"When you go to college, just try different things and groups. Then you can find what you like to do," Cody said. Cody gave her a teasing bump and smiled at her, and she smiled back. The song ended and the DJ was introducing the next song. "Would you like to dance?"
"That would be nice," Jennifer said. Cody got up and reached out his hand to her and she took it. They went out to the dance floor. The song that was playing was 'Can't Help Falling in Love' by Elvis Presley. Cody and Jennifer danced close together.
"Looks like Jen found Cody," Aaron said and laughed a bit.
"Looks like it," Jesse then noticed Jackie and Pete dancing. He got up and left the tent.
Over at the bar Marco was standing by Frank, "Who is that dancing with the kid?"
"With Cody?" Frank asked. Marco nodded his head yes. "That is Jen, Aaron Bass's granddaughter."
"That old grumpy man?" Marco asked.
"Yeah, she lives out there with him," Frank said.
"They are close to Matt and his family?" Marco asked.
"At one point, but I don't know how much anymore. I think Robin is close to Jen yet." Frank said.
Marco had a slimy look on his face as he looked at Jennifer and Cody. He did not like Matt and the rest of the Hawkes family.
By the time the song ended. Jennifer and Cody had gotten so close that Jennifer had laid her head on Cody's chest. He smelled her hair and nearly kissed the top of her head. Cody took a deep breath to compose himself. He did not know if it was the song, being at a wedding or if he was falling for Jennifer. "Ah… Jennifer, it was nice to see you again. I wish I was staying longer, but the next time I am in town, would it be okay if I come see you?"
"I would like that," Jennifer said. Cody gave Jennifer a big hug. Aaron walked right over to the pair. He did not like what he saw. He immediately wanted to take his granddaughter home. That Hawkes kid was now on his list. Cody would not be seeing Jennifer again.
"Jen, it is time to go. Come on girl," Aaron said. He looked at Cody and just nodded to him.
"Bye Cody," Jennifer said as she walked away with her grandfather. Aaron leading her away. He held her by her arm to hurry her along.