Three months later.…
“So, Wilder, I hear you’ve stopped jumping off bridges and are getting married this weekend,” Sergeant Major Martin said.
“That’s affirmative, sir.”
“Stop picking on your future son-in-law,” Ellen Martin scolded her husband. “Or I’ll tell him about the mysteriously fast recovery of a certain Sergeant Brown from a supposedly ruptured appendix.”
Joe didn’t have time to ask what that comment might mean. Besides, he wasn’t sure he really wanted to know. He just wanted everything to go right today. They were all standing around in the church foyer, waiting for the proceedings to begin. Ellen had just joined them from the top-secret bridal area to inform them that this special op otherwise known as a wedding was just about ready to commence. D-Day H-Hour rapidly approaching, in military terms.
“The church is filled with devil dog Marines,” Joe’s dad announced happily before adding, “but I’m not sure where all the short civilians came from.”
“They’re kids, Dad,” Joe replied.
“Prudence invited her sixth-grade class to the wedding,” Joe’s mom reminded her husband.
As if on cue, Keishon showed up, wearing a dress instead of her usual message-bearing T-shirt and jeans. Rosa, Sinatra, Gem and Pete were with her. “We’ve got all the birdseed packets ready.”
“Birdseed?” Joe’s dad said in confusion.
“To throw afterward instead of rice,” Keishon replied. “Uncooked rice is harmful to birds.”
“And we don’t want to harm the birds, right Keishon?” Joe noted.
“Right, sir. And you want to stop beating up on evergreen branches, too.”
“I’ll do that, Keishon,” Joe said with a grin. “You guys all better go take your seats now.”
“Time to synchronize your watches, gentlemen,” Sergeant Major Martin said. “I’ve got 1400 hours right…now.”
“Hey bro, is this the right place?” Joe’s brother Mark inquired as he strolled through the church’s front door. Taller than Joe and sharing his blue eyes, the two brothers were both wearing dress blue uniforms, as were all the Marines in attendance. “Am I late?”
“Yeah, you are,” Joe growled. “I expected better from the only commissioned officer in the family.”
“Well, I’m here now so let the festivities begin,” Mark said, straightening Joe’s collar with a teasing grin.
“Keep your mitts to yourself,” Joe said in exasperation.
“Boys, boys,” their father said with a shake of his head. “Not now.”
“Yeah, Wilder, not now,” Curt said. “I’m not standing in front of all these people as your best man while you stand out here arm wrestling your brother like you were kids. Get your rear in gear, buddy. Trust me, brides don’t like you messing up their schedule.”
“There are more participants than audience members,” Joe muttered once they reached the front of the church and turned to watch the proceedings.
First came his parents, joining his younger brother Sam waiting in the pew. His older brother Justice wasn’t able to get away from active duty but had sent his greetings and a stripper to Joe’s bachelor party last night.
Once Prudence’s mom was seated, the organist changed the music and Blue came floating down the aisle, tossing rose petals just as she had at Curt’s wedding.
“That kid’s gonna grow up to be one heck of a pitcher,” Curt whispered proudly.
Next came Jessie, her eyes meeting Curt’s with love. Then came…
“Who’s the princess?” Mark inquired from beside him.
“Her Royal Highness Vanessa Volzemburg so be on your best behavior, damn it,” Joe growled.
Then the music changed again and Joe saw Prudence. She looked like all his dreams come true. Her white dress billowed around her ankles as she walked beside her father down the aisle.
She took his breath away. He took her breath away. Prudence fixed her gaze on Joe’s face. He looked so handsome, so sexy, so…hers. All hers! She grinned at him and he grinned back.
The ceremony was a short one, but it seemed forever until the minister declared them to be husband and wife.
“Welcome to married life, ma’am,” Joe murmured against her lips before taking her in his arms and kissing her.
Honor, courage, commitment. Her Marine had now added love to that list of Corps values, and she was forever safe in his embrace.