Midnight:
Chapter 16:
May 22nd
A Room at the Manning House
2:15
No matter how hard John wished, it didn't seem to slow down the ticking clock. Every second that crept by just brought the ceremony closer and closer and it would soon seal John's fate. He found himself pacing back and forth, once again. Secretly, he was hoping he would wear a hole in the floor and fall through, along with everyone else who got caught up in this mess with him.
It was happening too fast.
"Stop pacing, it's not very dignified," his father's booming voice startled him.
"How long have you been there?" John asked, a small frown on his lips.
Henry stood in the doorway; arms crossed in front of his chest as he stared at John. "Not long at all, I came to find you."
"I don't want to do this."
Henry's eyes bore into him and he wanted to leave. They had already had this conversation before, and the look his father was giving him, he certainly did not want to revisit it. "We've talked about this, John."
"What if I just refuse to go out there?"
"Well," Henry cleared his throat as he straightened his tie. "If you want your inheritance, no matter how far in the future that is, you're going to have to go out there and marry this woman." Without saying another word, Henry turned sharply on his heels and headed out of the room.
Sighing, John slumped against the wall with his eyes closed when the door suddenly burst open again. His eyes snapped open and he could see Marta standing there. "So," she began after a moment. "Is there going to be a wedding or not? Martha is getting impatient and you're the one who needs to go out there first." She paused. "You know as dictated by wedding tradition or whatever."
He stared at Marta for a long moment, still slumped against the wall. After a moment he nodded his head, pushing himself off the wall and staggering over to the door. "All right, all right, I'm going."
Manning's Backyard
2:20 PM
The comfort of the cushions on the guests' chairs was only going to last for so long. Gilbert had already started to fidget in his seat. The three of them were seated near the back, due to Hercules' suggestion that if they wanted to get out of there quickly before the reception they were right there and go somewhere else.
As the time ticked on, they couldn't help but hear the murmurs from the other guests about the wedding. They were questioning if it was going to even happen if it wasn't happening by now. Was it delayed? What was causing the delay?
Gilbert leaned in closer to where Alexander and Hercules was, with Alexander sitting between the two of them. "Do you think someone has cold feet?" He whispered.
"I'd believe the bride or the groom," Hercules whispered back, giving a quick look to Alexander.
Alexander just rolled his eyes, refusing to comment back to either of them. His arms were crossed in front of his chest, trying his best to tune out what either one of them were gossiping about at this point.
2:25
Taking a deep breath in, John stood there at the end of the aisle that would soon seal his fate. He took a quick glance around to take in the number of guests that were present, there to see him and Martha get married and start their life together in wedded bliss. Oh, this was happening way too fast but there was no way to get out of it.
The music started up and he had to force his legs to move to join the priest who was standing up there.
As soon as he was up there, John glanced out among the guests once again, nearly freezing when he saw Alexander sitting there in the back row. He forced himself to look away but with the music change, it was easy as the music would bring Martha down the aisle to him. He stood there, watching and waiting for her to come join him up there in front of all of their family and friends.
As the music died down, the priest smiled happily seeing that Martha was now with them, opening his bible and clearing his throat to start this wedding. "Dearly Beloved, we are all gathered here in the beautiful grace of God to join this man and this woman to be joined in holy matrimony." He glanced up, looking between the two of them before glancing back down at his bible to continue.
All the feelings were rushing into John right now. He was hardly listening to anything the priest was saying. It was all the standard wedding stuff was said at every wedding since the beginning of time. Okay, maybe no since then, but still.
There was a beat of silence.
"John?"
The priest was looking at him along with Martha. Was it his turn to speak already?
"What?" He croaked out.
The priest cleared his throat, turning back to the bible. "Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?" The priest asked once again.
John stared at Martha who stood across from him, waiting for him to say his life. It was two words. It was simple. "I…can't." The words were out there. They elicited a gasp from the crowd that was there, letting go of Martha's hand. He turned quickly, leaving the backyard as the guests soon turned to each other and started muttering amongst themselves.