Page 11 of Promise To Marry You
We pull into the parking lot at the Brandon City Hall early. I shut off the engine and we just sit there, staring at the raindrops starting to fall on the windshield in front of us.
“Ready?” Cam asks softly, and I turn my head to meet her gaze.
“Ready.”
I get out and open the back door to grab an umbrella and the bag I stashed there earlier. When I come around to her side and open the umbrella over Cam’s head, she looks at the bag quizzically, but doesn’t say anything. I can see nerves etched on her face, but also the firm resolution. We’re really doing this.
We head inside, check in with the front desk clerk, and make our way upstairs to the chambers where we’ll pledge ourselves to each other. This isn’t how I ever thought my wedding day would go, but that doesn’t matter. All that matters is that we’re here and we’re doing this so Cam can start the life she wants, with her grandfather’s money and free of the town of Cliveden.
Settling onto a bench outside the office, we wait for Barkley and Cam’s contact at city hall to show up, and I decide to show her what I brought.
“Listen, I know there’s nothing traditional about today, aside from the license and the rings. And you might hate this, in which case, we can pretend it never existed. But I wanted you to have something. Not to remember us getting married, since I’m guessing you’d rather forget that, but to remember that you’re not alone.”
I pull out the small bouquet of origami flowers I stayed up to make last night. Cam’s the one who got me hooked on the art of folding paper into anything and everything back in university as a way to decompress and just chill. We’d spend evenings challenging each other to make complex animals and shapes while a cheesy movie played in the background.
When I eventually lift my eyes from the purple, red, and pink paper flowers to see her reaction, my heart plummets at seeing tears gathering in the corners of her eyes.
“Shit, I’m sorry, I fucked-up again.” I move to put the bouquet away but her hand shoots out and stops me.
“No. You didn’t. They’re beautiful.” She takes them from my hand, turning the bouquet one way, then the other.
Meanwhile, I shift on my feet, waiting for her to say something else. Waiting for her to accuse me of getting sentimental, or confusing today with something other than a practical arrangement between friends.
“Thank you.”
At her quiet, yet no less heartfelt words, I pause. This side of Cam is one I’m not used to. The Cam I know is all hard edges, sharp, and closed off. The woman looking at me now, with something undefinable written on her face, is softer, open, vulnerable. In all our years of friendship, I’ve never seen her like this.
“There you two are.”
Barkley’s voice breaks through, and whatever moment I’d hoped we were having is gone. I see Cam retreat back into her protective shell, and it makes me physically ache. Whether as her friend or her secret husband, I want to someday make Cam feel safe enough to take down those walls for good.
“I have to admit, I was surprised at just how quickly you two decided to move ahead with things, but I’m glad my intuition was correct. It gives me no small amount of relief to know your grandfather’s wishes will be realized, Cam.”
I don’t know why, but I brace myself for her to deny that any of this is real, that whatever perceived connection Barkley sees between us doesn’t exist, but she doesn’t. Of course, she doesn’t. We need him to believe we’re happy and in love, so that there’s no reason to question Cam’s accessing the trust from Wilbert.
I reach down and take her free hand, the one not clutching the bouquet I made her. Her palm is a little clammy, but her fingers clamp down on mine tightly. She’s got nothing to worry about, I’m not going anywhere.
An older woman walks up, and Cam greets her with a smile. “Hi Wendy, thank you so much for coming down.”
Wendy pats Cam’s shoulder. “Of course, my dear. Happy to be here for your special day.” Cam makes quick work of introducing Wendy to me and to Barkley, and I try to play the part of excited husband-to-be convincingly.
“Yes, we really appreciate you coming on such short notice. Cam and I are so excited to start our married life together.” I smile down at Cam, debating whether or not she’d elbow me if I kissed the top of her head. I decide not to risk it.
“It is quite sudden, but I’m guessing that has something to do with your grandfather passing away?” Wendy turns to Cam. “I don’t mean to pry, of course. Wilbert was a good man. And I’m sure he’d be very happy for you if he were here.”
Cam gives her a swift nod and a smile that doesn’t quite stretch far enough to be convincing. But then again, if Wendy knows about Wilbert’s passing, maybe she’ll assume it’s grief holding Cam back from any more positive emotion.
“Grandpa would want me to be happy.”
We all fall silent after Cam’s simple statement. It hits deeper for me than I’m guessing it does for Barkley or Wendy. After all, they only know what they see in front of them. But despite the circumstances that led to today, I know Cam’s right. Wilbert only ever wanted what was best for her. They just didn’t always see eye to eye on what that should be.
The door to the clerk’s chambers opens, and an older man sticks his head out. “Are you the Donnelly-Byrne wedding?”
I step forward. “Yes, that’s us.”
Chapter six
Cam
