"Okay."
Erin pulled out her cell phone and started dialing. At the first number, no one answered. The second was a woman who told her that she needed at least two weeks notice, and they would never get their paperwork approved anyway. The third was only an answering machine. Erin was starting to get discouraged.
"Keep trying."
The fourth person on the list, one Rick Williams, answered the phone.
"Hello, my name is Erin. I’m trying to find someone who would be willing to officiate a wedding."
"That’s my job. What do you have in mind?"
"Nothing fancy. We just want to get it done. The thing is, we want it done today."
"Yikes, that’s fast. Do you have the license?"
"We’re working on it. They’re trying to push it through."
"Well, if you can get it, I don’t have any plans for this afternoon. No one much really gets married in November. If what you want is a bare bones legal ceremony, I have a budget option for $150.00. Do you have a venue in mind?"
"No."
"Would my office be okay?"
"Sure. That’s fine."
"Any guests?"
"I think one."
"All right. Let’s say four o’clock. If you can’t get the license approved today, call and let me know, and we’ll reschedule something later, okay?"
"Great. Thank you so much." Erin sagged with relief.
Of course, just because they now had someone to officiate didn’t mean the wait was over. It was after noon, and Sean, who had eaten nothing since the pizza last night, and who had just spent long hours exerting himself on top of it, was beginning to contemplate stepping out for some lunch when the clerk called them back.
Erin was trembling slightly, certain their waiver had been denied. It was too much to hope that she would ever really get to be Sean’s wife.
"Well, my dears, this would never have happened in June, but here you go. Good luck. Here’s your approved license and waiver."
She handed Sean a sheaf of papers. Erin was on the phone with Rick about half a second later, confirming the arrangement to meet in his office at four.
"Erin," Sean said as they walked back to his car, "Don’t you have classes today?"
"Yes, actually. I have a bassoon lesson scheduled for about half an hour from now. Thanks for reminding me." She called the instructor and promised to reschedule for the following week. Dr. Yamamoto had been hearing this all day, and wasn’t surprised, except that Erin had never missed a lesson before.
"Bassoon?"
"Yes. I’m a double reed major, Sean. I have to be proficient all the oboe variations, English horn, bassoon, and contra, as well as piano. I’ve even been working a little with the flute. The more I know, the more lessons I can teach later. Anyway, my other class today is Political Science, which I hate. We are allowed three no shows per semester. I’ve never missed one, so it’s okay."
"I kind of liked that class."
"Well, run for mayor, if you want. I can’t stand it. It’s hard to imagine anything worse than politics."
"To each his own, baby. I think I just want to major in you for a while."
"That sounds lovely. So, what’s next?"
"Let’s get something to eat."
"Hungry?"
"Very. I had this insatiable wench trying to ride me all afternoon and evening."
"I don’t remember you complaining."
"Nope. There’s nothing wrong with a wife who really likes sex."
"Or a husband either. You know, if we go to the mall to eat, there’s a little jewelry store right there. We could look for some wedding rings."
"Sure. Sounds good."
"Do you want me to call Sheridan, let her know what’s happening?"
"Good idea. She’ll be so proud of herself."
"It’s great to see. I didn’t know that playful part of her survived."
Sean raised Erin’s hand to his lips.
"No more of that. This is our wedding day. I don’t want to talk about a four year old tragedy anymore."
"Okay."
Arriving at the mall, they strolled to the food court. Erin bought herself a small roast beef sandwich and a side salad while Sean piled into an enormous burger. Erin knew one of her jobs as Sean’s wife would be to monitor his nutrition. But he had certainly gotten enough exercise last night to burn off all those calories. She really was an insatiable wench. How wonderful.
They finished about the same time, and, dumping their trash, headed over to the jewelry store. Despite being inside a shopping mall, it was a very small establishment. Not a chain, but a local business owned by a jeweler who was very well respected in the community. His pieces were of high quality and many were unique. Erin worried a little about the cost, but at least there would be no need for an expensive solitaire. A set of simple gold bands should do the trick.
Except that there were so many gold bands inside those cases that Erin didn’t know where to begin. It was overwhelming. Some had diamond chips or other inset stones, others had silver accents. Some were thick and others were thin.
"Hello, sir, ma’am, how can I help you?"
The owner, a dapper elderly gentleman, came out from a back room to assist his bewildered clients.
"Well," Sean told him, "we’re getting married. Today, actually. And we would like some rings."
"Yes, I have rings." He stated the obvious with a wry smile. "What kind of rings do you like?"
"I don’t know," Erin said, shaking her head. "I don’t wear jewelry. I’m a musician and most rings just get in the way."
"Well, something smooth would get in the way least."
"Okay, but that doesn’t really narrow things down much does it?"
"Do you want them to match?"
"Yes."
"Erin," Sean called from in front of a case in the corner, "Come here a minute."
She drifted over and gasped. Tucked into the back, behind some really chunky heavy jewelry that made Erin think of old ladies with hair like meringue, there was a forgotten ring set, dusty from having been ignored so long. The man’s ring was massive, the woman’s dainty, and they were flat broad gold bands featuring a running pattern of Celtic knots all the way around. The heavy black antiquing made the shining twists of that ancient symbol of eternity stand out in sharp relief. They were perfect.
"Sir, can we see these please?"
"Those? Why those?"
"We’re Irish."
"Of course you are. Here you go."
Erin slid the small band onto her finger. It fit perfectly. She tried very hard not to cry, but a tear escaped anyway. Sean noticed and brushed it away, softly caressing her cheek. Then he tried on the larger one. Despite its size, it wouldn’t quite go onto his work-roughened finger.
"It’s too small."
"Normally, it would take me a few days to fix it, but we’re a little dead right now, as most of the customers are at work. Friday will be a different story. I can have it fixed for you by three."
"Great. The wedding is at four, so that should work."
"See you then."
"Well now what?" Erin asked as they left the store.
"I don’t know. Do you want to shop for anything else, like a dress?"
"Hmmm. The only dress I own is a black one I wear to performances."
"That’s not very festive."
"No, but do I need to dress up? I mean, what are you going to wear?"
"I have a pair of slacks and a dress shirt at the hotel. I thought I might take Sheridan to mass on Sunday. That should work."
"What color is the shirt?"
"Blue."
"Well, I’m not sure I’m entitled to white. I’m not exactly a virgin."
"You don’t have to be a virgin to be perfect, you know. To me you look like an angel. Wear whatever color you want."
Erin knew she was far from perfect, but she appreciated the sentiment.
"I have an idea." Erin took out her phone and called Sherida
n again. Sean couldn’t really hear her conversation over the din of holiday music at the mall. A few minutes later she hung up and turned to him.
"Two hours isn’t much time, really. Why don’t you go back to the hotel and get ready. Sheridan is coming to meet me here. We’ll pick out some dresses and meet you at the jewelry store later."
"Oh, okay. I hate leaving you though."
"I know. But just think, this time tomorrow, no distance on earth can separate us."
Sean scooped Erin into his arms and kissed her.
"I love you, Erin."
"I love you too."
Erin couldn’t help watching as he walked away. How very fine he looked in his jeans. She couldn’t wait to get him out of them again, only next time it would be as his wife.
******
Back at the hotel, Sean thought about what was ahead of him. He was strangely calm, as though taking one of the most momentous steps in his adult life was not frightening at all. He was giving up, for all time, the right to be with anyone but Erin, and he wasn’t nervous in the slightest. In fact, the thought of having her all to himself for the rest of his life was soothing. For three long, agonizing years, he had tried to forget her, to move on. It had been an abject failure. The first year, he had been too hurt even to consider other girls. By December of Erin’s sophomore year of college, twelve months after their last date, he had gotten a phone call... he could still remember it. Jason had wanted to take him out.
Thinking back to that evening, Sean replayed the scene in his mind. He’d been home from work, exhausted after a day of ripping out rancid, disgusting carpet. It hadn’t just been tacked to the floor. The installer had used a ludicrous amount of adhesive, and every inch they gained had been won with a sweat that defied the lake effect snow hurling itself against the single pane glass of the window. All he’d wanted was to crash on his ugly sofa with a beer and a football game. That’s it... and then the phone had begun to ring.
"Hello?"
"Sean, it’s Jason. Get your ass down to the Fish House right away."
The Fish House was a sports bar both of them enjoyed.
"Jase, it’s twenty below outside and windy. I’ve had a long day. I don’t want to go anywhere."
"C’mon bro. You can’t just sit home and brood all the time. There’s..." Jason had hesitated, a little nervously, "there’s someone I want you to meet."
"I don’t want to...."
"Not you, jackass. I want you to meet my girl."
"Oh." Jason dated a lot. He loved girls on a large scale. But he’d never introduced one to his brother, not since they were in high school. She must be pretty important. Sean took a deep breath. He really didn’t want to go out, but he’d hardly seen any member of his family except his dad in almost a month. And even he and dad, when they were working, talked about... work. He knew they realized something was up with him, but what could he do? He couldn’t tell them what had happened. It was unthinkable to sum up everything that had passed between him and the love of his life in one simple phrase: I broke up with my girlfriend. It was so much more than that. And he didn’t want to start the conversation. And he didn’t want to think about Erin. So he’d bundled up in his snow boots and parka, scarf and hat, and gloves, and shivered to his Mustang, which fired up grumpily in the cold.
The Fish House sports bar and grill was actually warm inside, packed as it was with stir crazy bodies. He found Jason saving him a seat at the bar. Sidling into it, he asked for a Budweiser longneck and took a long gulp before turning to greet his brother.
"Okay, Jase. What’s up?" Sean asked, his voice a little grumpy.
"I want you to meet... Lisa." Sean had never heard such a hesitant, possessive tone in his brother’s voice. This girl meant a lot to him. Sean glanced past Jason and stopped in stunned amazement. Actually, it should have been no surprise at all that someone of Jason’s aesthetic taste would have chosen a beautiful girl. But Lisa was more than beautiful. She was unreal. Sean blinked several times.
She looked like a statue. A small statue, but perfectly proportional, thin, and petite, with a shimmering sheet of blue black hair falling to her shoulder blades. Her skin was perfectly smooth, her lips pouty, painted a delicate red. And her dark brown eyes tilted exotically at the corners. Jason’s girl was Chinese.
"Pleased to meet you, Lisa." Sean said politely, once he had regained the ability to speak.
"And you, Sean. I’ve heard a lot about you." Despite her appearance, she had a rather strong Minnesota accent. How adorable.
"Lies, all lies," he said.
"Knowing Jason, that’s probably true," she laughed. Good thing the girl understood what she was getting into.
"Lisa and I just moved in together." Jason announced, and a hint of color stained the porcelain cheeks. She didn’t want that shared so blatantly.
"Um, congratulations. Mom and Dad won’t like that."
"So? My life, my decision."
"And my decision," Lisa added, sticking up for herself. Sean was struck by how young she was. If this girl was a day over eighteen, he would be shocked.
"Excuse me a moment," she said, heading toward the bathroom.
"Jase, what are you doing?" Sean asked.
"Introducing you to my girlfriend. Is that wrong or something?"
"She’s so young. Is she even eighteen?"
"Uh, yeah," he replied sarcastically, "her birthday was yesterday."
Sean gave him a look.
"What?"
"Too young, Jase."
"And you?" Jason sneered. "How old was Erin when you... got with her?"
"That’s what I’m talking about. It didn’t go well. I don’t want you to go through it."
"I won’t. Lisa’s different."
"I thought Erin was different."
"She wasn’t? Then why were you with her?"
"No, she was really special. Too special. I had to let her go. I hated that. I would have..."
Jason gave Sean a sharp look.
"Would have what?"
"Married her."
Jason considered this for a moment. "Not me. I’m never getting married."
"Why not?"
"It’s not necessary. It’s just a piece of paper."
"Does Lisa know that?"
"Yep. Her parents never married. She’s fine with it."
"I would make sure of that if I were you."
"Okay, bro. Can the lecture. I don’t want to hear it. And for God’s sake quit moping. Get out there. Meet someone. Dance. Get busy. Don’t just hang around your apartment dreaming of the past. It’s over. Move on. How long has it been?"
"Not long enough." But Jason was right, and Sean knew it. He’d finished his beer by this time, and started another, and the alcohol was starting to make him feel a little fuzzy. So when the stool next to him emptied out, and a sexy redhead in a tight dress sidled in, he’d decided to flirt, just a little. The woman was smoking hot, and slightly familiar.
"Well hello, hot stuff," she drawled, "I think I ought to let you buy me a drink."
"Shannon? Shannon Becker?"
"Yes. Do I know you?"
"Sean Murphy. We went to high school together."
"Oh yeah. How’s it going?"
"Fine. Can’t complain."
"Sweetie, it’s winter in Minnesota. You can always complain."
"Naw. Complainers are boring. What would you like to drink?"
So he’d tried. He and Shannon had talked, and danced, and eventually she’d led him into a corner of the room and plastered her body against his, kissing him for all she was worth.
His first reaction had been revulsion. She smoked. She had smoker mouth. Added to her daiquiri, it was a very unpleasant taste. And she smelled wrong too. The curves squashed against him were too big. She was too tall. She felt aggressive, pushy, almost...slutty. No. This felt all wrong.
It had taken several long minutes to disentangle himself from her embrace, but when he did, when he opened his eyes after his
first kiss in over a year, and saw someone that was not a pretty, delicate brunette, he was done.
"I’m sorry, Shannon. I can’t do this," he said gently, apologetically.
"Yes, I know," she replied. Her voice was wry and so was her expression.
"You do?"
"Hon, I can see it. Why are you here alone instead of with her?"
"We broke up."
"Go fix it."
"I can’t."
"Then you’d better stay the hell out of bars, hon. You’re too fine to avoid attracting attention you don’t want."
"Thank you. I’m sorry."
"Me too. Oh well. If you get over her, let me know."
"It’s unlikely, but I’ll remember."
He’d kissed her cheek, said goodbye to Jason and Lisa, who were seated at a table now, eating a late snack, and gone home.
After that, there had been girls, dates. He’d tried to force himself to get out there. But he couldn’t do it. No one had been able to compare. To this day no one could. And last night, holding Erin, his Erin, had only confirmed what he’d known all along. She was the one. And they were getting married in a couple of hours. It was perfect.
Sean considered calling his parents. Their relationship had been kept too much a secret already. The reckoning would be terrible. But he decided against it. They might try to talk him out of it, and that just wouldn’t do. Better to let them know when it was done.
******
At four o’clock exactly the bride and groom and their guest arrived at the office of Rick Williams, wedding officiator. Sean was freshly showered and looked quite nice in his Sunday clothes. Erin had found a lovely knee length silver dress in a touchably soft velour fabric that clung sweetly to her body. Sheridan had talked her into getting a makeover at the makeup counter too, so she looked her best. She was a little concerned that no matter what, this bride would always be outshone by her best friend. Sheridan looked radiant no matter what she wore. Still, Sean was looking at her, Erin, with love and desire in his eyes, and that was what mattered. They entered the room nervously.
"Hello there," boomed a loud voice from behind the desk. Rick turned out to be a heavyset man of middle years with a pleasant face and sparkling eyes. The very sight of him made Erin smile. He looked like everyone’s favorite uncle.
"Okay, ladies, which of you is Erin?"
When the Music Ends (The Winter Rose Chronicles) Page 12
