by Shelly Crane
For a moment I thought he was finally giving in, but no. He slowed his enthusiasm and lips but I didn’t want to and I tried to pull him to me tighter. He grabbed my face between his hands so gently and pulled it away just a bit. Looking into me.
“Sherry. Baby, you’ve got to stop. One more night. Please...behave,” he breathed, pleading with me.
I laughed a frustrated chuckle and he gently lifted me off him with incredible ease, folding me into his chest under his chin. I couldn’t argue with one more night and a perfect warm embrace to last me until then.
Oh, how I loved it when he said ‘behave’, like I was capable of misbehaving. Like I was tough, rugged and maybe not so fragile and breakable. I calmed my thoughts. If I was actually going to behave I’d better just enjoy the warmth and go to sleep. Immediately.
The next morning, my eyes burst open as soon as I woke. I was wide open, coherent and eager. I knew exactly what today was before I could think of anything else. I turned to see Merrick’s wide awake face too, just as happy and anticipatory as mine.
“So I guess we’re getting married today then?” he asked and it still drove me crazy the way he acted like I was going to change my mind and give him up.
“You have to ask!” I yelled and kissed him but he pulled away.
“Listen. I love you but, I just want to make sure this is what you want.”
“Are we back to this? If this wasn’t what I wanted, then I wouldn’t be here right now, with you.”
“I just...seeing you with Sky yesterday and knowing you’re giving up a lot being with me makes me wonder if you’d reconsidered.”
“I’d say the same for you.”
“That’s different.”
“How? I can’t have kids. That’s not going to change no matter who I end up with. You could still go on to your paradise, The After. Jeff told me all about it.”
“He did?” He seemed disappointed.
My heart clenched violently with guilt. I hoped that look on his face wasn’t because I chose to marry him anyway, taking his chances of it away from him knowingly. Then I suddenly felt overwhelmed with regret at disappointing him.
“Yes and I thought so long and hard about it. I just didn’t see how we’d make it through all this so why not live while we’re alive?”
“Honey-”
“I know that sounds morbid, but if I thought- really and truly believed- that this would all be over soon and the Keepers would be going home, I wouldn’t be marrying you. I wouldn’t have even gotten involved in the first place. I couldn’t have done that to you, not knowing what I was taking from you. I’m sorry, I feel terrible about it now, but I just...couldn’t not be with you.” I looked down as I spoke, feeling red shame creep over my face.
“Sherry.” He lifted my face with a finger under my chin. “Is that what you think? That you’re taking something from me? What is a life if there is nothing in it? What good is paradise if you don’t have the one you want to share it with, with you? Who wants to live forever all by their self?”
“Piper was pretty eager to help you out with that,” I said and was a little surprised that I could still feel jealous over her.
“Keepers don’t love each other the same way humans do, Sherry. It wasn’t like that.”
“The jealousy looked the same to me.”
“Huh...Wow.” He smiled a huge cocky grin which surprised me considering the conversation we were having. “How incredibly cute that is.”
“What?”
“You’re jealous,” he whispered, amused.
“No. No, I’m not. I just noticed how she...I mean she was... Look, I just talked to Jeff about it and he told me she was interested.”
“Yeah...well like I said, it’s not the same. I promise you, she didn’t feel for me the way you do,” he said, still smiling smugly.
“Good. I wasn’t jealous.”
“Uhuh. Welcome to my world. I am constantly fighting off suitor assaults everywhere we go. First Bobby, then Phillip. Who’s next? I know another one is coming along soon. You’re too irresistible for your own good.” He looked me up and down slowly.
“Shut up!” I yelled playfully, pushing his chest but not moving him an inch. “Guys just freak cause they think the world is ending. It’s not really me they are attracted to, just the thought of...procreation.”
“Really. Hmmm, I disagree.” He leaned forward, nuzzling his way into my neck. “Men notice how amazing you are. Everyone notices, just not you.”
“Ok. Ok,” I said, hoping to stop this Sherry-Fest. “So are you gonna marry me or not?” I smiled widely and hoped he would accept my subject change.
He pulled back to look at me.
“If you’ll have me.”
“I wouldn’t have it without you.”
He placed his hand on my cheek and closed his eyes, like he was checking to make sure he was awake or that I was real. His eyes opened and they were bright and alive.
He pushed his mouth to mine, easily and sweetly. He pulled back just a bit and sighed a long, wonderful, intoxicating-me-with-his-happy-breath sigh. Then he gave the order I’d been waiting for.
“Alright you. Get dressed.”
Two Become One
Chapter 26
Merrick couldn’t hide what we were doing from Jeff nor the other Keepers. I thought he just completely stopped trying to block them out all together but as far as everyone else was concerned, we were keeping a tight lip.
I got lots of sideways looks and smiles from Kay and an enthusiastic hug in the kitchen from Ryan who told me how happy he was for me and he had no further objections to mine and Merrick’s union. Jeff was so ecstatic, in true favorite uncle spirit, but tried not to show it so no one would suspect anything.
Eli made the flyer on Phillip’s old computer in his room. A lot of that stuff would come in handy.
We decided to make Phillip’s old room a second commons room pushing one of the couches in there. We just needed places to put the people when they weren’t in their rooms sleeping. His bed we kept in there for sitting and napping purposes and Calvin and Franklin had already made a fort out of the sheet and the light fixture from the wall.
Taking Keepers into town to put up business flyers would be risky and tricky. We had originally said no Keepers in town but this was our search operation now.
Katie and the rest of the newbie’s were busy with the new baby and Phillip was no longer here. Specials were still considered ‘Special’ and therefore forbidden to leave since the Lighters could sense them. There were only so many of us left who were able to do these missions.
We took our headless golf clubs with us, laughing at the thought of carrying them around, stabbing dark haired men like vampires through the heart.
Merrick was apprehensive about the days events, knowing I would be the one, heading into the print shop by myself, then for all the pit stops for flyer distribution, going in by myself. He seemed a little too preoccupied with the wedding to be too upset though and it made me happy that he was so...well, happy.
If I could be some slight sliver in the happiness pie of others, that just added to my own feeling of purpose. I was making him happy. Me. Short, boring brown hair, no job, no home, nothing special not even a Special, just me made him happy.
I twisted my ring around my finger the whole drive. The old Jeep hadn’t been driven in a while and it spat and sputtered for a minute but eventually evened out. Merrick handled the gear shifting like a pro in no time.
He extended his hand over to rest on my leg when he wasn’t shifting.
AeroSmith was playing on the radio and he seemed to like it, indicated by the slight head bob. He looked so handsome and happy, his hair blowing in swirls from the wind from the top down. He seemed so human and completely normal.
Once we got our flyers printed, and I got hit on by the Kinko’s copy guy, we made out rounds to the places we all thought would be good business advertisement. So hotel lobbies, truck stops, restaurants. No g
rocery store though as neither of us was comfortable with that after the Taker being there.
We started towards the church and it was already starting to darken in the skies. Hopefully the other crew had as much luck as us with the flyers as we did.
Last on the agenda for today was matrimony.
The first church we came upon was called Heaven’s Gate Baptist Church. It sounded perfect to me. I took Merrick’s shaking hand after we slid out of the Jeep. I knew why he was shaking, we were in the lions den as he once called it. Anyone could call him out as a Keeper here and that would be that. It would all be over. He would be gone and I’d become a Lighter or worse, a mark carrier, trying to be myself but working for the enemy. I realized the risk he was taking for me, for my dream.
I squeezed his hand and bit me bottom lip with a half smile. He smiled too and slowly towed me inside behind him.
The cover up job done early this morning to Merrick’s mark had kept it really good and hidden. It stopped snowing yesterday so we would be ok, at least until we got done with one small task.
I couldn’t believe how giddy I was.
I tried to steady myself as we approached the pastor sitting in his office at the end of the long hall.
“Excuse me? The door was open, I hope that’s alright,” Merrick began.
The pastor was sitting there at an ancient computer on his desk. He was writing in an old brown leather binder with multiple scribbles all over the page. The desk sign said ‘Pastor Robert Berns’. His gray hair laid across his forehead and when he saw us he swiped it with his palm and pushed his glasses back up on his nose.
“Oh course. You are always welcome in God’s house. Come in, please. How can I help you today?”
“We want to get married. Right now.”
“Oh. I see,” he said and flinched with surprise. Then he cleared his throat and continued. “Ok. No witnesses? Did you take your blood tests yet? Got your marriage license?”
“We just want the ceremony. We know it won’t be official or on the books. We just want to hear and say the words.”
“Ok.” A long pause. “Well, I guess I can do that. I’m not sure what you think you could gain from it but, alright. You know you can’t claim ‘say and hear the words’ on your taxes right?”
He was joking and Merrick laughed before I did. I was so proud of my human.
“Yes, sir. It’s just something...sentimental and important we need to do. Nothing to gain, just us,” he said and looked at me with that smile that made me heart jump.
The preacher looked pleasantly surprised and smiled too.
“Sounds like the best reason I’ve heard in ages. Why don’t you follow me.”
We followed him back down the hall as he peeked his head in at the plump secretary and mumbled something I couldn’t hear, then he motioned for us to continue to follow him.
The sanctuary was beautiful. It was an old original 1800’s church restored as he explained. It was so simple with clean lines and curves in the architecture. Huge stained glass windows with no pictures of shining suns or angels, just colorful glass pieces fit together to make something beautiful and let just the right amount of light in.
It was perfect. I sighed as I glanced around and Merrick looked over to eye me curiously. While the pastor looked for something, I pulled Merrick down and whispered in his ear.
“If you could read my mind right now, Keeper, you’d see that I think this is perfect. This place is what I would’ve dreamed about for my wedding day, had I ever thought to do so.”
“I’m glad you like it. I’m sorry you can’t have the big to-do,” Merrick said, wrapping my hand in the crook of his elbow.
“This is all the to-do I want.”
He knew I was telling the truth and smiled.
“Aha! Found it,” the pastor yelled, “my pastors manual. You would think after all these years, I could remember the words to marry someone but, this mind doesn’t work like it used to.”
He stepped forward as he laughed and motioned for us to stand in front of him by the altar, right near the piano. The secretary was playing something softly. I didn’t know the tune and it didn’t really sound like a song, just slow melodious playing. It was very sweet and timely.
The pastor went through the whole spill and I wanted to just yell at him to get to it already. I just wanted to hear the words ‘I now pronounce you...’.
When he got to our names he said to just fill in the blank, so we did. Merrick started with ‘Sherry Elizabeth Patterson...’, then it was my turn to copy the pastors line of vows. I started with ‘Merrick...Finch...’. We both laughed and he looked at us like we were nuts but went on once we settled. Then I heard the sweetest words in my whole existence.
“Merrick and Sherry, it is my pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife in the eyes of our Lord. You may kiss your beautiful bride.”
And he did, a good and long and perfect kiss. My hands fisted his shirt front as his framed my face in complete control. The intensity of his kiss made me feel guilty being in church and all. When we were done the pastor clapped Merrick on the back and started to walk off but Merrick stopped him.
“Um, Sir. Here, take this, thank you. We really appreciate it,” he said, handing him a folded up paper bill. A fifty.
“Son, you don’t have to give me anything. I wanted to do it, so I did. I’m just happy to see two people that can still find each other in all this...mess.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Besides,” he paused thoughtfully, “the news says I’m not allowed to take business from a Keeper.”
Merrick squeezed my hand in his and we looked at each other. I was sure his fingers were hurting from my intense squeeze. Well maybe not, but we were more than stunned.
“Excuse me?” Merrick tried to keep his voice even.
“It’s ok, son, I understand. You just didn’t do a very good cover up job and when you turned sideways to look at her, I had to pretty much stare right at your mark the whole time. Listen, you’ll get no trouble from me but I don’t want any trouble from you either.”
“No sir. We would never. We just wanted to get married, that was all.”
“Kind of a weird predicament you got yourselves into, huh? A Keeper and a human?” he said easily.
He was puzzled but not being condescending.
“Predicament, no. Unforeseeable turn of events, yes.”
“Well, I wish you the best. You ought to be more careful. The next time you might get someone who actually believes those vultures on the news, pardon my crassness. I just don’t like all this business.”
“Sir, don’t watch the news anymore, ok? Keepers aren’t the bad guys, we just want to help. Be careful and thank you for you time.”
“Oh, sonny? We don’t want to be involved but, if you ever really need help, well, you two know where to find us. I say people, human or not, who would risk this much to get married, to be together, must be something special in my book.”
He walked over to the lady playing the piano, the secretary, and put his arm around her kissing her temple. How sweet. They were married and ran the church together.
I waved a thank you and we shot out the side door, the same way we came in. As soon as we were clear it was as if we were both thinking the same thing.
We turned and grabbed each other in a grateful embrace. He lifted me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist as we laughed and twirled, completely wrapped around each other in happiness.
I kissed him with all the tenderness reserved for such an occasion. I kissed my husband.
Once home, I had one thing on my mind. I hoped that Merrick did as well but he surprised me and seemed reluctant to my silent and not so silent pleas to turn in for the night as we sat together on the couch.
I smiled at him sweetly, bit my lip and looked at him playfully, I even nudged his arm once when he refused to look my way. I came to the conclusion that I was not a very good seductress or he was too worried about
tonight to even try. Probably both.
My face fell. I was disappointed. I wanted him to enjoy our wedding night, not freak out about it. Maybe he wasn’t even interested in that aspect of marriage. That thought had never crossed my mind before.
He saw my expression and pulled my chin up with his finger. He looked deep into my eyes and smiled a sweet understanding but wry smile. He let go of my chin and grabbed my hand, pulling me from the couch and led me to our room. I still wasn’t convinced. Maybe he was just taking me to more a private place to talk it over, though not that many people were still awake and even out of their rooms.
Once inside our room, he was more gentle and loving as I’d ever seen him. He pulled me to sit on our knees and caressed my face and neck slowly and tenderly. He kissed the scar on my shoulder from the Marker, back and forth, up and down my arm and neck. He kissed my lips easily and then framed my face with his warm hands. Then he spoke to me in the way only my Keeper could.
I’m sorry I was worried. I just don’t want to hurt you. I’d never do it on purpose but, my inhuman strength comes out sometimes and I don’t... I’m still a little anxious but I’m trying not to be. I have no idea what I’m doing but I’m not going to ruin tonight for you. If I do something...you don’t like or if I hurt you in any way, even a little bit, you tell me. If there is anything you want me to do that I’m not doing, you tell me. Promise me, Sherry.
“I promise as long as you do, too. I love you.”
I love you, too, wife.
He brought his mouth to mine parting our lips together. Our breath mingled and I felt the thrill of it all. I grasped the nape of his neck and tugged his hair gently. He groaned against my throat as he kissed my collarbone and I figured that he must have realized the same thing as me.
