Bryan didn’t realize how loud the reception had been until he and Nedra were in the car, on their way to the hotel. The silence in the car was almost deafening. It wasn’t the awkward silence that can sometimes overthrow a first date. It was the silence of two people who were so in love, just being together was conversation enough. They were also both very tired from the wedding and the day filled with festivities.

As they got checked into their hotel, Bryan looked around the small lobby. It was kind of a dumpy looking place, but it was also the only one they could find nearby that had a waterbed. As Bryan’s eyes scanned over everything from the peeling, dated wallpaper to the grimy looking carpets, he was just grateful they only had to stay here one night. Like any other newlyweds, they were both too eager to complain, so they climbed into bed quickly, despite the stained bedspread.

They slept late the next day, grateful for a morning of nothing to do and nowhere to be. Bryan couldn’t believe his luck when he awoke and his eyes first rested on his lovely bride. He lay there, just staring at her peaceful, beautiful face for a moment before her jade eyes fluttered open. She smiled at him, causing a wave in the bed as she moved close enough to kiss him good morning.

Bryan moved to wrap his arms around her, but his left wouldn’t budge.

“Oh, come on!”

Nedra jumped in response to his loud cry. “What’s the matter?” she asked, scrambling off the bed and running around to his side.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. I just can’t get my arm to move like it used to and it’s frustrating. I wanted to hold you.”

Nedra smiled. She sat back on the bed and pulled Bryan’s head onto her lap. She rubbed his neck slowly and carefully, then ran her fingers through his thick, blonde hair. “Is this helping at all?”

“Yes,” Bryan whispered, closing his eyes. “I just wish I knew what was going on. Why now? Why is my left arm losing strength and ability? Something is wrong.”

“Well, we will go back and see the neurologist in just a couple weeks. Can I get you anything to help you feel better?” she asked.

“Just a new arm, and perhaps a new neck,” Bryan teased.

“Sure, I’ll get right on that,” she said, softly massaging his neck some more.

Bryan smiled at Nedra. She always had a way of distracting him from any worrisome thoughts. “What time is check-in at the Homestead?” Bryan asked.

“Check-in is at 3:00 p.m., I believe. Or maybe 4:00…” Nedra rolled off the bed and rifled through her purse, pulling out some crumpled papers. “Yup, 3:00,” she said. Nedra shoved the confirmation papers back into the depths of her purse and turned to face the bed. She noticed for the first time how high and flat the top of the footboard was. The smooth, dark wood stood above the top of the waterbed by a couple feet, at least. Nedra grinned and began climbing on top of the footboard.

“What are you doing?” Bryan laughed.

Nedra stood up straight on the top of the footboard, and looked at Bryan mischievously. He looked at her curiously in return, not sure what she was trying to do. She turned her back to Bryan and raised her arms as if she were getting ready to take flight. Bryan’s eyes widened when he finally realized her plan.

“Nedra, no!” he shouted just as she fell flat back onto the waterbed. Her height and momentum as she hit the bed caused Bryan’s body to fly several feet into the air. Nedra watched him, smiling. She thought her idea would be a funny trick and make them both laugh. She forgot to take into account that Bryan couldn’t reach out and catch himself. As she watched his body fly into the air, his face filled with terror, she realized her mistake. He landed safely back onto the bed, causing them both to move up and down with the waves. Silence followed.

“Sorry,” Nedra whispered, afraid to look at him.

“Don’t. Ever. Do. That. Again.”

***

Bryan was excited to get to the Homestead. It was the only honeymoon they really had planned, and they could only afford one night, but they looked forward to the nicer hotel and better amenities.

After checking in, Nedra pushed Bryan’s chair along the beautifully carpeted hallway all the way down to the honeymoon suite. She unlocked the door and paused in the open doorway to look around. The tall, cathedral ceilings made the room feel much bigger than it actually was. The fresh, white canopy bed was much larger than the queen they slept in last night. Bright crimson rose petals sprinkled over the top of the bed added to the romantic atmosphere. Across from the bed, a fireplace glowed, warm and inviting. Nedra eagerly pushed Bryan into the room.

“Wait a minute,” she said, backing out again. Then she scooped Bryan up out of his chair, and carried him over the threshold. They both laughed as Nedra walked past the jetted tub and set Bryan onto the down comforter. She turned around to go back for his chair, pushing it the corner of the room. She also brought their bags in and set them beside the tall, ornate dresser. She knelt down to unzip her bag when Bryan shouted from behind her.

Nedra turned to see his face red and sweat pouring down his cheeks.

“This bed is boiling hot!”

Nedra ran over and lifted him from the bed. Sure enough, someone had turned the waterbed temperature up as high as it could go. Nedra moved Bryan out onto their private deck and turned down the bed.

“You okay?” she asked, twisting the lid off a water bottle she removed from the mini fridge and bringing it to his lips. He took a long drink before responding.

“Yes, but I think the waterbeds are all trying to kill me!”

***

A few days later, home in their own apartment, Nedra slipped into her long, white wedding dress.

“You ready to do this again?” Bryan asked from behind her.

Nedra already dressed him in his black suit. He looked sharp with his bright blue tie bringing out the blue in his eyes.

“Yes, and then I’m ready to be done so we can just focus on us for awhile, and not have to worry about everyone else.”

Carol Jean had the church gym decorated with blue balloons and crepe paper. Every touch from the flower arrangements on the tables to the ribbons on the backs of the chairs was coordinated perfectly and added a state of elegance to the otherwise simple room. Carol Jean also made and decorated their wedding cake, which stood prominently on a round table in the center of the room.

“I can’t believe your mom did all this,” Nedra said, examining the cake more closely.

“She’s pretty good, isn’t she?”

“Pretty good?” Nedra asked. “Look at this!” She pointed to the fancy string work Carol Jean designed out of frosting.

As they continued to look around the room, four women entered, all dressed in black.

“Can we help you?” Nedra asked.

“Yeah, where would you like us to set up?”

“Set up?” Nedra looked around the room, confused.

“Right over here,” Carol Jean said, coming into the room and pointing at a cluster of chairs.

Nedra and Bryan watched as the women retrieved their violins and began to warm up.

“A violin quartet?” Nedra mouthed. “Wow!” she whispered. “Your mom really went all out with this!”

“Well, it’s not like I’m her only son and eldest child or anything,” Bryan teased.

“Still,” Nedra said quietly. “I’m impressed.”

Guests began arriving a short time later. With the exception of a few nurses, Nedra knew almost no one. Bryan enjoyed introducing his new wife to countless family members, church friends, high school buddies, and neighbors. They couldn’t believe the crowd that turned out to support them and help them to celebrate their new life together.

Toward the end of the reception, both Bryan and Nedra were getting very tired. “Sometimes I think you’re lucky to be in that chair,” Nedra said, hopping from one sore foot to the other.

“You can sit,” Bryan offered.

Nedra sat on his lap to give her feet a break. She glanced at the long line of people who remained to be greeted. She was touched by the show of support by Bryan’s parents and their friends, but she did want to get home at some point tonight.

***

“Home, sweet home!” Nedra said, pushing Bryan’s chair over the lip and through the front door.

Bryan glanced around at the small two-bedroom apartment. The white, cinderblock walls stood bare and cold, but his eyes widened in amazement as he looked from the small kitchen to the cozy living room. It was their first home as a married couple. There could have been no windows and black streaks of mud down the walls and it still would have felt like a palace.

They unpacked boxes and set up their new home in preparation for their lives together to begin. One of the first things they did was purchase a large, brown recliner for Bryan to sit in. Bryan pushed forward with the joystick, moving slowly around the chair. His whole face broke into a smile.

“It’s perfect,” he said.

“Do you want to try it out?” Nedra asked.

“Sure!” Bryan’s smile widened.

Nedra carefully picked him up and set him on the cushiony seat. “How does that feel?” she asked.

Bryan placed his cheek against the back of the chair and closed his eyes. "It’s very soft and comfortable,” he whispered. Bryan made a kissing sound with his lips so Nedra would lean closer. As her lips neared, he kissed her sweetly. “Thank you,” he whispered. “I know you’ve given up a lot for me.”

“My beanbag chair for a nice, comfortable recliner is not giving anything up,” she responded.

“Your cats.”

Nedra glanced around the small room, as if expecting to see one of her babies peer around a corner. She sighed. Her gaze moved to the window and the large yellow sign that was posted across the courtyard: No Pets Allowed. Nedra stared at the harsh sign begrudgingly before finally pulling her eyes back to Bryan. She saw his sweet smile looking back at her and was reassured of her decision.

“I miss them,” she admitted. “But I found them good homes. Besides...” She climbed onto the arm of the large chair and snuggled into his broad chest. “You make a much better companion.”

“Someday when we have a house, you can have cats again. I promise.”

“But you hate cats,” Nedra said, raising her head to look him in the face.

“I do, but for you, anything!”

Nedra smiled to herself and snuggled in deeper. “So are you ready for school?”

“I don’t really know exactly. I’m not sure what the professors will think of me, or what they’ll expect from me.”

“Well, we should definitely go talk to disability services tomorrow, so you can get some aids to help in class.”

Nedra hopped off his lap and gathered the pile of wood they had purchased earlier. She crouched over the floor and worked, following Bryan’s instructions, to build a table a little bit wider than the recliner and just tall enough to clear the armrests. The little legs had wheels she could easily slide over Bryan’s lap for homework or eating.

She stood back and admired her handiwork. “There,” she said. “Now you are really ready for college.”