“Are you kidding me?” Sedalia shouted looking at her phone. “All she had to do was go to the hotel last night and hang out with her friends and meet me downstairs on time. Now she has gone and got herself arrested.”
“What happened,” Faith said, coming out the bathroom. The two had shared a room and just like when they were children, Faith had claimed first dibs on the bathroom. “Who got arrested?”
“Charlotte got arrested. Kenly texted early this morning, but my phone was off. Charlotte went down to this protest they had last night at the sight and things escalated. It looks like about ten people got arrested and she was one of them.”
Sedalia could read her sister’s thoughts all over her face. Kenly had let it slip during the party about the bet. Sedalia knew her sister well enough to know along with being worried about Charlotte, she was also upset about losing the bet
“Dalia, I’m so sorry about this. I don’t know what to say,” Faith cooed. “I know this throws a serious wrench in the works, but I know we can work this out.”
Sedalia sank down on the hotel bed and allowed her mind to cycle through what was going on and what she needed to do. She was proud of Charlotte for taking a stand but still pissed about her timing.
“Kenly said she was going to go down to bail her out this morning, but I just texted her and let her know I will take care of it. Well, I guess the only thing to do is see if Rosa is up so she can bail my beloved out of jail. I damn sure didn’t plan to give Durham County all my hard-own money this month but I guess that is the way it’s going to be,” Sedalia said. “At least since we decided to have an afternoon ceremony instead of at eleven like we discussed she will have time to get showered and changed before we have to head over to the ceremony.”
“Well, you know since you are going to be heading to the courthouse, you might as well wear your wedding dress,” her maid-of-honor said. “Since you are down there the magistrate could just do the ceremony.”
Sedalia’s shot her sister an exasperated look and headed into the bathroom to prepare to bail her partner out of jail. Thankfully, she had brought a piece of cloth to wrap her head with so she wouldn’t be walking into the jail with pins in her head. It has taken her employee two hours to arrange her hair in a style to accommodate her veil and she didn’t plan to unleash her curls until the appropriate time. She knew this was no time to be vain but hell, it was her wedding day. She has a right to be particular about how she looked, even when heading to the county’s jail.
Rosa was already at the bail office when she arrived and advised her of what was due to be paid. It had been a busy Friday night so there were a few people ahead of them, so they had time to chat.
“If it helps this isn’t the first time, I have bailed someone out on their wedding date,” Rosa said. “Usually it’s involving alcohol, damaged property, and a misunderstanding.”
“I appreciate you trying to make me feel better but right now I just want to have my fiancé on this side of the glass.”
Rosa acknowledged her words with a nod. The two sat with their thoughts for about an hour as people filed up to the magistrate’s window.
Sedalia looked around the waiting room and made up backstories for some to help distract her while she waited. The frazzled looking mother with the toddler venturing to and from but not too far from where she sat was there to get out a wayward son or husband. The burly man with the military-grade buzz-cut and sleeve of tattoos were there to get out his buddy whose problem-solving skills sometimes failed him when alcohol was involved. And that grandmother clutching her purse like it held the crown jewels was there to bail out her favorite grandbaby even though she promised last time was going to be the last time. In every case, she was proven wrong. The mother with the toddler left with a surly looking teenager girl that looked like every cheerleader captain depicted in a nineties’ teen movie. The biker left hand in hand with a slender Asian man and the grandmother-she was waiting on a man that she bestowed such a kiss of affection on even Sedalia who had no problems with PDA was embarrassed.
“Dang, I guess you never know who you would be willing to bail out of jail on a Saturday morning,” Sedalia whispered to Rosa, who responded with a half-smile.
“I know right. It seems like we have been sitting here for a minute. I will go up and check to see what is going on.” Rosa walked to the window to check with the magistrates.
Sedalia considered what would be the first words she would say to Charlotte when she saw her. She believed in the cause for which she had gotten arrested and she wanted to always support. But was she really committed if it meant upending her plans for a happily ever after? Today was supposed to be perfect and here she was spending a part of it in the lobby of the county jail waiting to bail out her beloved. Not the way she planned to start life as a married woman.
“Sedalia, I know you don’t want to hear this, but it seems there has been a mix-up. Somehow when Charlotte was booked her information was entered with her middle name entered as her first name and first name as her middle name. By some strange fate, someone with that exact same name was arrested last night so they are trying to figure out how to make sure the right person is released.”
Sedalia threw up her hands at the absurdity of having her wedding stymied by a clerical error. She explained she was going to step outside and catch her breath. While she was clearing her head, she decided it would be the right time to return all her missed calls. Each of the ten missed calls from family members and friends seemed to want to have the same questions answered. Yes, Charlotte had gotten arrested. Yes, the wedding was still going to be this afternoon. And no, there were not going to open the cash bar earlier.
Sedalia reflected on all the steps which had led her to this place. When she arrived at the NC Legislature those years ago all she intended to do was exercise her right to assemble and protest. But somehow something sparked that later turned into love. Now she was here, standing out front of the Durham County jail waiting for her lover to be released so they can start their new life together. Maybe Faith was right. Maybe they should officially start their new life where the first spark ignited.
Finally, Charlotte emerged with Rosa looking worse for the wear. While this wasn’t the first time she had stayed overnight as a guest of Durham County, it had been a minute. Just like the first time she laid eyes of Charlotte, any harsh words Sedalia had planned evaporated from her mind when she saw her face.
“Fancy meeting you here,” Sedalia said dryly.
“I know, I know.” Charlotte went in for a kiss and Sedalia involuntarily stepped back. It had been an active twenty-four hours since Charlotte last bathed. “All I wanted to do last night was stop by the protest to give them some support. There were so people down there giving them a hard time, so I said some things and they said some things. The police were called and some of the protestors were getting arrested while the hecklers seemed to be not facing any consequences. So maybe I said some things to the police about that and the next thing I knew I was being put in a police car.”
“Well, I’m just glad you are out,” Sedalia said.
“So am I. Butter, I am surprised and happy to see you. Don’t you know it’s bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony,” Charlotte joked. “I reached out to Kenly to come and get me, so I was expecting her. I called her and after saying that was the easiest fifty dollars she had ever earned, which I totally didn’t understand, she said she was going to bail me out in the morning.”
Sedalia explained Kenly told her about the arrest and she had told she would bail Charlotte because soon she would be legally bound to her it should fall to her to get her out of jail.
“And this is one of the reasons you are my heartbeat Sedalia. Getting arrested last night made me realize I don’t have to put my body on the line to show my support for causes as long as my heart and mind are committed,” Charlotte said.
“Charlotte hearing you say that just convinces me, even more, you are the one for me. Come
here.” Sedalia wrapped her arms around Charlotte and kissed her deeply. She was aware of the looks and comments from passersby, but she didn’t care.
“You know Faith suggested since we are already down here at the magistrate’s office we might as well get married,” Sedalia said. Charlotte and Rosa’s face conveyed their confusion.
“Are you saying we don’t have the wedding,” Charlotte’s voice rose in confusion.
“No, I’m not saying that. We spent too much time planning it to just not do it. But I have the license in my purse. I figure we do the ceremony here and have the magistrates sign it then we get dressed and have the ceremony. We can explain to the minister that we already have our license signed and keep it moving. Since Kenly and Faith were going to be our witness, we just tell them and no one else needs to be none the wiser.”
Charlotte smiled her agreement then Rosa broached the issue there is a need for two witness for it to be official. While she doesn’t mind being one there is a need for another. And at that moment all the recent events in Sedalia’s life came full circle.
“Miss Sedalia, is that you?” Navassa came up to Sedalia and hugged her.
“It’s me, why are you here? Navassa please tell me you didn’t get arrested, too.” Sedalia frowned.
Navassa explained she had not gotten arrested. Instead, she had come to deliver breakfast to her cousin who worked in the jail. Introductions were made all around and an idea formed in Sedalia’s head. Of course, Navassa agreed and so the foursome headed back inside. Thankfully, the line to bail people out had lessened so the two were able to get into a room and get married.
The same swell of emotions that filled Sedalia’s chest in that small side room when she said “I do” crested when she saw Charlotte walk in the ballroom accompanied by her nephew four hours later. Her usually jeans, tennis shoes, and polo wearing lover looked resplendent in a milk-colored V-necked dress which pooled around her feet. The hair that usually tumbled down to slightly below her shoulders had been captured in a topknot and her ears dazzled with the sapphire earring Sedalia gifted her for her birthday a few weeks prior. Once she joined her at the alter the two paused and looked into each other eyes.
“Fancy meeting you here,” Charlotte whispered. Sedalia’s mouth rose and she kissed her appreciation.
Sedalia and Charlotte filled Kenly and Faith in about what happened at the magistrate’s office during the reception and the four of them had a big chuckle.
“Like I said, it seems fitting since the two of you spent so much time in and out that’s where you would do it,” Kenly said. “But not matter where the words were said first, I’m just glad they were said. And I’m also glad for that fifty dollars.”
Faith exhaled and said she would square up with her later by covering her tab for the reception’s cash bar. Kenly accepted her offer and the reception carried on.
During the reception, the two posed for pictures danced with relatives and basked in the joy of being finally done with being engaged. Finally, the day was done, and they headed to their new shared home.
Prior to leaving the hotel, the couple had received an envelope with the details of their honeymoon. The members of their wedding party had pooled their money and planned for their destinations with the understanding their trip would have the couple leaving on Monday and returning back to Durham on Friday.
“You know as much I want to open this envelope and know where we will be spending next week all I really want to do is take a shower, eat something and go to bed,” Sedalia said. The two sat on their couch with their feet up.
“Agreed. This has been a long day and the news will hold.”
Fifteen minutes later the two looked at each with matching expressions of amusement.
“Well, I have never been to Boston and I know how much you like the Red Sox,” Sedalia said to her wife.
“And you are a history buff so there will be plenty of things to check out and we both love seafood. But I think the fact they booked our hotel in a converted jail that is now a high-end hotel has to be the cherry of the top courtesy of our sisters.”
Sedalia smiled at her wife. “Well, at least this time we can check out anytime we want and don’t have to worry about anyone posting our bond. But face it, we just signed up for a life sentence of being in love and I am willing to do the time for the crime.”
“Now that is a cause I can support. C’mon, wife; let’s head upstairs.”
THE END
ABOUT LA TOYA HANKINS
La Toya Hankins is a native of North Carolina and currently resides in Raleigh, NC. A graduate of East Carolina University, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in journalism with a minor in political science. During her college career, she became a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and later served as second vice president for one of the largest graduate chapters in North Carolina.
After working as a regional reporter and features editor in the Charlotte metro area for seven years, she entered the world of banking. Presently employed with the State of North Carolina, she divides her time between being a proud pet parent of an 8-year-old terrier named Neo and volunteering in the community.
Currently serving as the co-chair of Shades of Pride, organizer of the annual Triangle Black Pride, Hankins is an active supporter of LGBT issues and addressing health disparities that affect her community. Her literary influences and loves include Zora Neale Hurston, Walter Mosley, Anne Rice, and Pearl Cleage. Her motto, borrowed from Hurston, is “I do not weep at the world, I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.”
ABOUT JMS BOOKS LLC
JMS Books LLC is a small queer press with competitive royalty rates publishing LGBT romance, erotic romance, and young adult fiction. Visit jms-books.com for our latest releases and submission guidelines!
Married to the Struggle Page 4
