Free Solid Foundation by J. A. Armstrong Page B

sister to the doorway .
    “They
look good like that,” Rick said.
    “Yeah,
don’t get any ideas,” Michelle whispered. “Jameson has an aversion to ankle
biters. I think you two will have to provide the new additions.”
    Marianne
looked at Michelle. “Now, you know, you are telling us that story.”
    “Okay,
but let’s wait for Jonah.”
    “That
good?” Marianne asked and pointed toward the kitchen.
    “I
went shopping with Jameson. Trust me. It’s good. Like fireside, beer drinking
kind of good. J.D. hates shopping, has deemed Mom’s campaign manager Gollum,
and actually asked mom if they could get married in Vegas,” Michelle said as
the trio slowly walked down the hallway.
    Marianne
shook her head. “Why do I always have to be pregnant when there is an occasion
for beer ?”
    “Don’t
look at me!” Michelle laughed. “No itty bitties for me. I practice safe sex.”
    “Shell,
you are a lesbian,” Marianne said more loudly than she had planned.
    “Where
there is a will, there is a way,” Michelle chimed. She took a long pull from
her beer.
    “I
don’t want to know what that means. Backyard now,” Marianne ordered.
    “God,
you’re bossy,” Michelle complained.
    “And
you are annoying. Go!”
    Jameson
felt Candace shaking with laughter against her. “Gollum?” Candace asked.
    Jameson
groaned. “She really should just rent billboards to embarrass me. It would be
easier.”
    “Don’t
give her any ideas,” Candace said. “Now, really? Gollum?”
    Jameson
groaned. “It’s like this…”
    ***
    “You ready?” Candace
called. Jameson turned and nodded. Candace smiled and approached Jameson
slowly. “Still have time,” she said.
    Jameson
shook her head. “I might be a lunatic. I’m not stupid,” she said. She took
Candace’s hand and led her through the back door.
    Jameson
looked out at their family. There was no fanfare, no music, no tuxedos, not
even an expensive dress, only some simple flowers. Candace walked hand in hand
with Jameson to stand under a large oak tree in the back yard. She had
purchased an elegant, ivory pant suit that complimented the navy suit that
Jameson had chosen. Pearl stepped beside Candace and Michelle to stand with
Jameson. Candace could sense the photographer behind her. Life was full of
compromises, even on this day. Jameson had a close friend who agreed to
photograph the wedding. Candace had asked one of her dearest friends to
officiate. Justice Bevins had been appointed to the Supreme Court just three
years earlier. Candace had known the colorful judge in law school. Jameson was
more than happy with the arrangement. It had quieted “Gollum’s” concerns.
Candace chuckled as they stood before the judge recalling Jameson’s explanation
as to Candace’s campaign manager’s nickname. She took a deep breath when
Jameson turned to her to speak her vows.
    “We
said simple ,” Jameson said. “I have been
trying to think of a way to explain how I feel right now, today. You are the
one who delivers speeches. I design buildings. I have even built them. That got
me thinking. Anything that lasts starts with a
strong foundation. It is simple. I love you. It’s that simple. I don’t
want to think about my life without you in it. It’s that simple. No one has
ever made me laugh more. No one has ever understood me better. No one has ever
accepted me so completely. No one has ever made me feel safer. No one. I’ve
never been as honest with anyone in my life as I am every day with you. You were my friend before you were my lover. You’ve
become the foundation of my life. There is no more, my future. There is only
our future. I don’t want a future without you in it. You are the rock that is
my foundation. The strongest person I know. The most loving. It’s that simple,
Candace. I promise you that no matter what, I will remember the simple things.
The fact that I love you. The fact that I miss you when we are apart, that you
make me laugh, that you accept me,