Free The Game of Denial by Brenda Adcock Page A

mind if I ask why you have chosen a secular ceremony rather than a religious one?"
    "Fran and I were brought up in different religious beliefs," Brad said.
    "Which ones?"
    "Well, I'm Episcopalian," Brad said.
    "And I'm Roman Catholic," Fran said. "I have no desire to change my religion and I don't expect Brad to change his. I don't believe any children we have will suffer because their parents belong to different denominations." She looked at Brad. "It's really a non-issue."
    "Are your parents of different faiths?"
    Joan leaned forward, but didn't speak. There was absolutely no reason for her lifestyle to interfere with Fran's wedding. Fran looked at Joan and smiled.
    "My Mama, my brother, and sisters are all Roman Catholic. However, my mother was brought up in the Lutheran faith."
    A short round of laughter went around the table at the look of confusion on Nagle's face. Finally Joan said, "Although I don't believe it has any bearing whatsoever on the marriage of my daughter and her fiancé, my wife, who was brought up as a Roman Catholic, was Fran's birth mother. But I am also her mother. In other words, Fran's legal parents are two women."
    "Where is your wife? She should be here for this meeting," Nagle said.
    "There is nothing I wouldn't give for that to happen, Dr. Nagle, but Martine, my wife and Fran's biological mother, passed away ten years ago."
    "I'm very sorry for your loss, Mrs. Carmichael," Nagle said. Joan met his eyes and decided he was sincere.
    "Thank you." Joan sat up a little straighter in her chair. "I am not ashamed of who I am and as far as I am aware neither are our children. We pledged our lives to one another in a private ceremony. However, neither of the faiths in which we were raised accepted our union and it wasn't until after her death that some civil authorities would have recognized us as a legally married couple. There is nothing I would not do for my children, Dr. Nagle. Their happiness is most important to me and I don't want my lifestyle to interfere with that happiness. But I will not apologize to anyone for the way I live my life."
    "Nor should you, ma'am," Nagle said. "It will only be a matter of time before a union such as yours will be recognized in every state. I hate to sound sophomoric, but love cannot be held captive by the whims of men and will always find a way to break free." He rubbed his hands together and grinned. "This will be an interesting ceremony, indeed."
    "Would it be possible to refer to it as a union rather than a wedding?" Fran asked. She looked at Brad. "That's what the invitations say. Guests are invited to celebrate the union of Francesca Martine Carmichael and Bradley Lester Chase."
    "Cool," Brad said.
    "Well, I think this calls for a toast," Evey announced.
    "That is a wonderful suggestion, Mrs. Chase," Nagle said.
    The remainder of the meeting went better than Joan thought it would. She could only hope everything would go as smoothly if and when Charmaine and Meg were married.
     
     
    AFTER DINNER, EVEY and Ralph made their usual evening trek to the stables to feed and care for the horses. Charmaine finally sucked it up and decided it was her night to clean the kitchen, which surprised Joan. As Evey prepared to leave and was pulling on her rubber work boots, Morgana skipped into the mud room and stared at Evey.
    "Did you have fun with the ponies today?" Evey asked.
    Joan watched her granddaughter as she nodded so hard she thought the child's head might snap off. "Would you like to say good night to the horses, sweetie?" Joan asked. Bright hazel eyes stared up at Joan and melted her heart. She knelt down and Morgana didn't hesitate to step into Joan's open arms. "I love you, sweet baby," Joan whispered. She looked up at Evey. "Do you mind?"
    "Of course not," Evey said with a smile before turning to Ralph. "We'll follow you in a minute."
    After informing Giselle and Tucker where their daughter would be, the three left the house. Joan laughed when Morgana pushed