Vol.5, Chapter XXII — The Evergreen Vows

After my proposal, we took our friends to the pool Abby had taken me to so they could wash up, and that was about it from the rest of the night, save maybe the point that, with some nudging from me and Abby, Mathilda managed to convince Stephen to stay with her around that are and watch the night sky with him. She looked very happy in the morning and even thanked us, so that likely went well, and I say that in vague terms because Abby and I on the other hand just wanted to go home now. To home we went as soon as possible with the excuse of avoiding the heat of the sun. I however stepped out of the bus Abby and I took a few stops earlier to take a different bus so that I could get to the mall and pick up the rings while Abby went home carrying our camping stuff. It ended up taking me longer than I expected because in my excitement, I forgot the stores open a bit later together with the fact that the store owner also arrived with a delay. After I left the jewellery store, I made a short stop at her favourite bakery to get her some of the jelly-filled doughnuts she liked so much before returning home, further adding to the delays, but I thought those would make for a nice treat for us to celebrate in secret our engagement while also “plotting” when we’d reveal it to our family and friends.

There, at my place, I was greeted by everyone. Dad and William had gone fishing together and as such, William would join us for lunch, Sophie would only start working in the afternoon, Oliver was being pampered by her, and of course, my now bride was waiting for me, buzzing with excitement that she couldn’t really contain. Today was dad’s turn to cook, and Sophie was going to help him, but it still would take long enough for them to make the food for all five of us, and Abby was anxious about putting on her ring, so I executed the plan I had changed right then and there.

I took Abby to our backyard and took out her ring from its little box.

“It’s so pretty!” she gasped as she covered her mouth to keep her voice low, her eyes already shimmering with tears of joy. “It really wasn’t expensive, was it?”

“Fufu, no,” I assured her. “What I’m paid monthly from working at Mrs. Fletchers almost covers these two rings two-fold.”

I held her left hand and had the tip of her ring finger inside the polished metal band with “Forever yours, V.E.” written on the inside before I started speaking.

“When I first met you, I couldn’t make up my mind about you, but now, I couldn’t make it without you. When we met the second time, I found you extremely annoying, but now, I find that extremely charming. The third time we met, I found you a very strange girl, and I still do, but have come to accept that and love you for it. You broke down the walls around my heart and now, you are a pillar in my world as you brighten it. With this ring, I make you my wife and pledge my life to make one together with you, to love and respect you always, to support you in times of need and to never make you cry with sadness. I love you, Abbigail Evergreen. I love you now, and I always will.”

I had written those words many times before, scratching and rewriting them many times until I found something I found adequate, or so had been what I had expected when I first sat down with pen and paper. I thought I’d take many attempts to find my words, but it all came out in one go. I also thought I’d need to read the note I had in my pocket, but they came out fluently.

Seeing her face, I thought it was a bit overkill, Abby’s face contorted in a fight to hold back tears and sobs. There was no need to be saying these words out loud yet, but I don’t know, I just spoke them out. As for the location, the creek might have been a more romantic place in terms of environment, but that backyard had been where we first kissed, where we shared our first time, and where we first said that we loved each other out loud. For me, that made it a perfect place to have our “wedding” ceremony, even if it wasn’t a real one. That’s what I told my sobbing “wife” as she tried to form a sentence. I think that was part of what she was trying to say and ask, but I could only understand a few words, “shoo happy!” being some of them.

She did calm herself down enough to speak, also taking my hand and holding it in the same fashion as I did to her, my ring saying “Forever Yours, A.E.”

“When we first met, I thought you were interesting, and now, I find you absolutely fascinating. The second time we met, I thought you were kind and funny, and now, I can’t even begin to describe how kind you are, and how you always brighten my day. The third time we met, I thought you were cute and had a small glimpse of the wonderful person you are, and now, I think you’re the cutest girl in the world and can’t find the words to describe how amazing you turned out to be. When I was in the pits of despair, you came and shone a light that helped me find a path out of it. I hope such a thing never comes for you, but if it does, I’ll help you as much as you did for me with all my heart. You’re my safe place, my one and only true love, and with this ring, I make you my wife. With it, I vow to always love and be there for you, to face life’s hardships we might face without ever wavering my feelings for you. I’ll live my life with you so that we can be happy and able to hold our heads high. I love you, Violet Evergreen. I always did, and always will.”

I was a bit ashamed that Abby had a much more positive view of me since the very beginning, but I was also incredibly happy that she too had been able to come up with such wonderful vows. Yes, she used my formula as a base, but since they were wedding vows, I don’t think that matters one bit.

After we exchanged rings and vows came the kiss to end our private ceremony. I told her that, for all intents and purposes, this day counted as our wedding day for me, no matter when we legally got married.

I happened to bump my fingertips on her choker as I moved my hand back to her waist. I giggled at the thought that we had come such a long way from having that as a sign of our commitment. I doubt the chokers would ever come out, even if we now had the rings.

We got back inside once we composed ourselves and our stomachs started to grow at the scent of delicious food being made. Abby was completely attached to me, dangling from my arms, eyes puffed up, and looking absolutely needy.

Inside however, the adults were looking a bit strange.

They all stood in the living room, muttering to themselves as we walked in, their talk fell silent the moment Abby and I stepped inside the room, the synchronicity of how the three stared at us being uncanny. A very sudden, dreadful and embarrassing, realisation kicked in.

“...Don’t tell me,” I gasped as I looked above the kitchen cupboards.

The small window above it that served to let some natural light and breeze in was open. They had all heard us, and we could be used instead of the stove for cooking with how embarrassed we got. Even with it at its maximum temperature, we’d still cook faster.

The silence continues until my Dad suggested us all take a seat. Abby and I were huddled together, both our hearts racing in our chests. It was all I could hear really.

My Dad was the one doing the talking. He started by congratulating us on our engagement. He then presented their concerns about us perhaps being in a bit of a rush by holding an unofficial wedding ceremony in the backyard.

William nodded while Dad talked and Sophie sat looking down at Oliver while scratching behind his ear.

“Aren’t you all over—” Abby began once Dad was done talking.

“Would it be that bad if we made it official?” Sophie asked as she lifted her eyes from Oliver.

We all looked at her. She looked a bit nervous, but also firm.

“…What’s on your mind?” my Dad asked.

“I mean, it’s almost the mid-point of August already, right?” Sophie spoke, pulling Oliver into a hug. “They’ll be eighteen in about six months, so what difference does it make? I really don’t see how much more grown-up they might get until then that they aren’t now. They’ve also been living together all this time, just jumping between your houses throughout the week, so it’s not like they don’t know how it is to live together as a married couple already. I understand that there are still some adult responsibilities they haven’t lived through together, but your daughter has managed your household together with you, so they aren’t clueless as a couple either of many of those responsibilities. Honestly? I’m a lot worse! I’ve seen Violet pay up bills through her phone and budgeting for the month, and I can’t do any of those, that’s for sure. And on a more practical side of things, if they do get married now, they’ll have time to update their marital status, notify the school, and deal with any other stuff that might be needed with time to spare instead of taking care of that after turning eighteen during the school year, or between graduating and finding an university and place to stay and dealing with the legal stuff.”

My jaw was on the floor as I looked at Sophie. I hadn’t expected for her to be the one stepping up and not only defending our union, but also pushing to make it official sooner than anything I had planned. Abby too was stunned, her mouth too hanging open and her eyes wide open.

William let out a raspy sigh as he crossed his arms, and my Dad followed suit as if on cue. Abby and I, and now Sophie too, waited for their verdict.

“Sophie does make some solid arguments there,” my Dad hummed.

“I guess she does,” Willam said in the same tone and manner as my Dad. “I’m not sure if it’s due to all my past failings as a father, but…”

“Hmm, might be that there’s some influence, but…”

Abby and I stared at each other, none of us believing in this sudden turn of events.

“You don’t mean…?”

They looked at each other before looking at us. This time, it was William who spoke.

“If you two wish to do so, then after we’ve had lunch, we’ll start the process of getting you two married to one another.”

My jaw hit the floor a second time, but that didn’t last long. Abby was shivering and sobbing uncontrollably as she pulled on my clothes and rubbed her face against my chest. “Shoo Ha-happy!” she kept on sobbing.

As I tried to calm down Abby, and not make a fool out of myself too, I looked at Sophie. It wasn’t expected, and I’d have been ok with waiting, but seeing her stepping up and showing that level of support was very touching.

“Thank you,” I told her, a few tears escaping me.

She smiled back, her face flushing a bit as she went back to looking down at Oliver.

Never in my wildest dreams would I ever have dreamt of getting married at the age of seventeen to my first love, but here we are, me officially becoming Abby’s wifey, and she, mine.