Her Journey Begins (20 page)

  
“
So
…
Are you going to stay at her foster parent
’
s house?
”

  
“
No mom, unlike you, I have respect for them.
”
Brandon takes Chris
’
hand and leads her out.

   Getting in the car, Chris starts crying.
“
Brandon you can
’
t do this. She
’
s your mom.
”

  
“
Shh, it will be okay. We will work it out, but for now I
’
ll stay at Brent
’
s for a couple of nights. We
’
ll give her some time to think about it. The only thing you need to worry about right now is you.
”
Brandon pats her belly.
“
And our baby, okay?
”
Chris sniffles, takes a deep breath, and nods.

   Brandon pulls into the driveway.
“
I
’
ve got to go talk to Brent, but I
’
ll be back in a little while, okay?
”

  
“
Okay
”

  
“
Chris
…”
She looks up at him.
“
I love you.
”

Chris smiles a sad smile at him,
“
I love you too.
”



   Barb
’
s in the kitchen peeling potatoes for dinner when Chris walks in..
“
Do you want some help?
”

  
“
Chris I didn
‘
t hear you come in. Not yet, but in a little while you can grate some cheese for me.
”
Barb finishes the potatoes and pulls out the chair.
“
Let
’
s sit down. How did it go? Did everything work out okay?
”

Chris shakes her head.
“
No, she disowned him. She wanted him to choose between me and the baby, or her. Told you she hated me.
”

  
“
Oh Chrissy, honey I
’
m so sorry. Where
’
s Brandon now?
”

  
“
He went to see Brent. He
’
s going to see if he can stay there a couple of days. See mom, this is my fault. I told you, I shouldn
’
t have told him.
”

  
“
Chris it takes two people to make a baby and if you ask me, Brandon is handling this quite well. He
’
s being mature about it and I am thinking that he
’
s very happy. You know the saying
…”

  
“
I know, but I still don
’
t understand why.
”
Chris says with a sigh.



After Dad gets home, Chris is sitting on the porch swing waiting for Brandon. She has to be at work at 6 p.m. and she
’
s hoping he
’
ll get here before she has to leave. Just as Chris gets up to go in, Brandon pulls into the driveway. He walks up and sits down next to her. Chris
’
heart breaks knowing this must be tearing him apart. She knows she has to be strong as he puts his arms around her and holds her close.
“
I
’
ll stay at Brent
’
s for a few days, then on Saturday we will go find us an apartment, okay?
”

Chris pulls back from him.
“
Brandon, are you okay?
”
He smiles at her.
“
As long as I am with you, I
’
ll be just fine.
”

  
“
Oh Brandon, I am so sorry. I didn
’
t mean for all of this to happen.
”

Brandon puts his fingers on her lips,
“
You have done nothing to be sorry for. Now how about we go in and see if your mom wants any help with dinner.
”



   As they are eating Brandon looks at Barb and Brad.
“
I was thinking that maybe you could meet Chris and I at city hall after school tomorrow, so we can get married.
”

Barb reaches over and squeezes Brandon
‘
s hand.
“
I think that will be okay, that is if Brad can get off of work early enough.
”

Chris looks at the three of them.
“
Tomorrow, gee this is so sudden maybe I should check my schedule and see if I can make it.
”

Brandon grins at her.
“
Oops, I think I forgot to do something.
”
Barb and Brad watch as Brandon gets down on one knee and pulls a small ring box out of his pocket and opens it. Inside Chris sees a gold ring with one small diamond. Brandon takes Chris
’
hand in his and looks up into her eyes.
“
Chris, will you marry me?
”

Chris loves him so much.
“
Are you sure?
”

Brandon nods. 
“
Yes. I
‘
m sure
”

  
“
Oh Brandon, I would love to marry you.
”

Brandon stands up and pulls Chris into his arms.
“
So does that mean yes?
”

Chris smiles.
“
Yes
”



   Chris is twiddling her fingers while waiting for Barb and Brad to get there. Brandon covers her hands with his. Chris looks over at him and smiles.

  
“
Sorry
…
I wonder where mom and dad are. I thought they
’
d be here already.
”
Chris picks up a magazine to look at and they walk in.

  
“
Sorry
…
I had to put a bouquet together for you.
”

  
“
Oh mom they are beautiful, but you didn
’
t have to.
”

  
“
Every bride should have a bouquet as beautiful as she is on her wedding day.
”

Dad nods at Brandon and Brent and then points at Barb,
“
She
’
s been crying all morning and now they are both going to cry. Be prepared for a flood.
”

   Standing in front of the judge Chris takes off her ring and goes to hand it to Brandon.
“
Here
…
You
’
ll need a ring to put on my finger.
”

  
“
You hold on to it, I have a ring.
”
When the judge says,
“
With this ring
…”
Brandon slips a simple gold band on Chris
’
finger, then slides her other ring on next to it. The judge looks at Brandon. Brandon nods at him and holds out a ring for Chris to slip on his finger as the judge says,
“
With this ring
…”
Chris has tears in her eyes as she looks at her new husband, when the judge tells Brandon,
“
You may kiss the bride.
”



   Standing in the lobby waiting for the clerk to give them the official wedding certificate, Barb hugs Chris.
“
Now we can go celebrate.
”

  
“
But mom, I have to work tonight.
”

  
“
I know, but we can go get something to eat at the restaurant right down the street and you
’
ll still make it to work on time.
”
Moms leans closer and whispers.
“
That way I don
’
t have to cook tonight.
”

Chris looks over at Brandon.
“
Sounds good to me.
”

Barb looks over at Brent.
“
Brent, we want you to come and celebrate with us also.
”

Brent smiles,
“
Sure. I have no other plans, besides I rode with them.
”
Joking he tells her,
“
I could just sit in the car and wait while you eat though, if you want.
”

Barb laughs.
“
I would never make you do that. Besides you are a part of the family too.
”



While waiting for their waitress, Barb pulls out the newspaper from her purse.

  
“
Mom, what are you doing with a newspaper in the middle of the week?
”

Barb smiles at her.
“
I found a couple of apartments listed, so I called and found out where they were, in case Brandon wants to drive by them after he drops you off at work.
”

Brandon takes the paper from her and tells her thank you.

Chris smiles at her,
“
Trying to get rid of us already, huh?
”

Barb blushes,
“
No
”

Laughing Chris reaches over and gives her a hug.
“
Thanks mom
”

Barb looks over at Brandon.
“
Brandon you are welcome to stay at the house tonight.
”

  
“
No, that
’
s okay, thank you for offering, but I
’
ll stay at Brent
’
s.
”

Barb puts her hand on Brandon
’
s arm and grins.
“
Chris is your wife now. You are married. You do realize that married people sleep together, don
’
t you?
”

Trying not to laugh Chris sees Brandon blush.

  
“
Besides this way you won
’
t bother Brent
’
s family getting in so late after picking Chris up at work.
”

Brandon shakes his head,
“
No, it doesn
’
t feel right. We shouldn
’
t be sleeping together in your house, besides she is still a foster child and I wouldn
’
t want to get you in any kind of trouble.
”

  
“
I doubt you would get us into any trouble. She is only going to be a foster child for one more week. What can they do to us? I
’
ll tell you what, I
’
ll leave you a blanket and a pillow out and you can sleep on the couch. Will that work for you?
”

Brandon nods and tells her thank you. Looking at his watch, he nudges Chris,
“
Are you ready to go? It
’
s almost 6 p.m.
”

Brent looks at Chris and then at Brandon.
“
May I?
“
Brandon sighs and nods. Smiling, Brent puts his arms around Chris and kisses her on the cheek then lets her go.
“
Okay, she
’
s all yours.
”

Brandon takes Chris
’
hand.
“
We have got to go.
”



   Smiling when she sees him walk in, Chris looks at the clock. 
“
You are early.
”

He walks around the counter and gives her a kiss before sitting down in the chair.

 
“
I missed you.
”

  
“
How could you miss me already? You just dropped me off  three and a half hours ago. What have you been up to since then?
”