Arthur’s first day of work went well. He met Harrington’s assistant, Michael, with whom he was already somewhat familiar, and they get along well. He helped organize the office a little bit and sat in on a phone meeting between Harrington and Jared. Afterwards, Harrington took him out to dinner, and they talked about the business and where it was going. It was uneventful, really, which was a good thing for me, because today was also Gabrielle’s first day of marriage, and that was quite eventful.
Though she went immediately in search of the proper documentation that would allow them to get married, the state in which they live required them to wait twenty-four hours after receiving the license before they could get married. This seems strange to me, but humans are often heavy-handed with laws—they regulate every little detail, sometimes. Gabrielle didn’t really mind, however, once Nick pointed out that they would be able to get married on a Sunday. They went to church together, had a lovely lunch, and then headed over to the courthouse. In a small office, in front of two mandated witnesses and a judge, they each vowed to love, honor, and protect one another, and exchanged plain gold bands bought the day before. And that was it.
I was with them for as much of the wedding night as I could be. Gabrielle was nervous, but Nick was not pushy at all; he even said that they could wait. But being in his arms made her brave, and so she went forward with it. I think she enjoyed it, really, though perhaps not as much as she might have. Still, it is a good start, and she woke up happy this morning.
Her parents were the first ones they called. Gabrielle chatted with her mother for a while, hearing bits of news about her parents’ church family and the people next door. As soon as Gary came into the room, however, Gabrielle made her announcement with Nick grinning next to her.
There was a beat of silence, and then delighted shrieks in two different voices came ringing through the phone. Gabrielle moved it away from her ear, laughing, as her mother and father tried to talk over one another.
“When did you decide—”
“You need to bring that boy back home with you!”
“—your husband—”
“Was he the one who proposed or was this your idea?”
“Oh, my god, but we won’t get a wedding! You have to let us throw you a party!”
Finally the cacophony settled down, and Nick took the phone from Gabrielle. “Of course it was her idea,” he said with a laugh. “I have class this week I can’t miss, but I’ll be happy to come see you all on the weekend. And you don’t have to throw us a party—”
Both Gary and Ellie interrupted him then, insisting on it. A date was chosen then and there, and it was several minutes before Gabrielle could persuade her parents to let their new son-in-law go.
“Oh, married,” Ellie sobbed. “I’m so happy for you both.”
“We both are, kiddo,” Gary added. I could hear the relief and happiness in his tone. “I love you so much, Gabby.”
She leaned against Nick’s shoulder. “Buckets and buckets,” she said, and he laughed.
They passed another few hours calling others—Nick’s parents, his brother and Gabrielle’s sister, various friends. Most people had the same reaction, with one notable exception.
Victoria, too, was silent right after the announcement. This, however, was a different silence, one that made Gabrielle grimace and take a few steps away from Nick.
“You’re not joking,” Victoria said after a minute.
“Nope,” Gabrielle said, trying to keep her voice light. She is familiar with Victoria’s disapproval of her more reckless choices, and she recognized it coming on.
“Pictures or it didn’t happen.”
Gabrielle took a moment to take a picture of her wedding band and sent it to Victoria. There was more silence.
Then—“Why the hell was I not there?”
Gabrielle cringed. “I messaged you to ask you what you were doing, but you said you had plans.”
“Is there anything—any single thing on this planet—that you think I would rather do than be there when you get married?”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“I mean, you didn’t even call me! If I had heard your voice I would have known something was going on. A stupid text? You fucknugget.”
“I know, I know!” Gabrielle stepped out into the hallway and slid down the wall, covering her face with her hand. “I said I was sorry, all right?”
Victoria sighed, and some of the iron went out of her voice. “Are you okay?” she asked.
This was no platitude, and Gabrielle thought about the answer before she gave it. “Yes. Yes, I am. I know I’ve only been married for one day, but…Vic, it’s so much more than I thought. Already I feel…I mean, we belong to each other now. And I used to think that the words were just words, but it’s more. He’s more.” She fumbled for a way to describe it. “It’s like—I held out my hand for a marble, and instead I got a universe.”
This was something that she had not said to anyone else—but then, Victoria is like no other friend that Gabrielle has. “So this is what you want?” she asked Gabrielle gently.
Gabrielle glanced through the doorway to see if Nick was listening. “It’s what I need,” she answered, “and it’s more than I thought it would be.”
Again Victoria sighed—I gather that she does this a great deal around Gabrielle—but this time I could hear relief in the breath. “All right,” she said, and Gabrielle smiled. Then Victoria added, “I’m not getting you a wedding present, though,” and they both laughed.
A friend with whom one can talk about serious things, with whom one is secure enough to get angry and to calm one’s anger—that is a blessing indeed. I am grateful for Victoria, for Gabrielle’s sake, and I wish all of my charges could have a friend like her.
I share Victoria’s concerns, but I do believe that Gabrielle is happy with her decision. There will be difficult times ahead, but I will do whatever I can to help her through them until her happiness is assured.