Page 22 of Silver Linings
Gunner choked on his coffee.
“Your wedding day?”
“I guess it’s not just mine, right?” Lily patted his back. “Today is as good a day as any. You want your mom to be there, and we know our time is limited between her and the baby coming. I think today is right, as long as you are still okay with this arrangement.”
“Of course I am. But I’m pretty sure that even if we were to get our license today, there’s a waiting period of a few days.”
“That’s if you just pay for the standard processing. You can stand before a judge about fifteen minutes after you submit your application if you pay an additional fee.” Gunner must have been looking at her with some sort of doubt on his face because she was rather quick to add, “I looked it all up last night. There’s a surprising amount of information on the county website.”
“Okay.”
“If you don’t want to pay the fee, then we can wait. Or I can pay it.” She sighed and twisted the mug in her hands. “I mean, I can pay you back from my paycheck that you’re giving me, or we can wait until I go back to work after the baby comes and I can pay you back then.”
“Lil, I’m not worried about the fee.”
“Okay,” she took one last sip from her coffee cup before standing back up from the table. “I need to see your mom and do her morning routine, but then we can go. Maybe in two hours when the county clerk’s office opens?”
“That’s fine.”
“Hi Jules.” Lily laid her hand on her friend’s arm, smiling as she watched her wake up.
“Lily, you look beautiful.” Her voice was hoarse, and she licked her lips.
“Would you like some water?” Lily lifted the cup from the nightstand and held the straw to her lips. Jules took a small sip and smiled.
“Thanks, love. Why are you dressed up?”
“It’s a special day.”
“Is it?”
“I’m marrying Gunner today.”
“Really? I’m so happy for the both of you.”
“We have to go to the courthouse to get all the paperwork figured out, but then we are going to come home and have Gia do a simple ceremony here.”
“I could cry, honey. That means so much to me. I won’t get to be there for Gia, but to be at my son’s wedding before I go means everything to me.” Juliette moved to sit up and Lily quickly moved to help. “Don’t you dare. Gunner told me what your doctor said.”
“Jules, this is my job. I can help you sit up.”
“I’m good. Got a burst of energy knowing I’m about to have a new daughter and granddaughter in just a few hours.” She patted Lily’s hand. “Will you go over to my dresser for me?”
“Of course.” Lily walked towards the tall dresser in Juliette’s room. “No, not that one. The one with my jewelry box on it. Grab that old thing and bring it here.”
Searching the smaller dresser, Lily located an old wooden jewelry box and placed it on the bed next to Juliette.
“I know somewhere in here is exactly what I’m looking for.” She rummaged around with a smile on her face for a moment, and Lily couldn’t help but smile right along. It was the most energetic she’d seen Juliette all week, and it almost felt like her old friend was in the room, the one who lived before sickness started to take her away.
“Found it! Look at that sparkle.” Juliette held up a stunning broach, with a large central blue gemstone and diamonds embedded all around.
“Jules, that’s beautiful.”
“It is. For your ‘something old, something blue’.”
“And my ‘something borrowed’, too.” Lily smiled as she took the piece of jewelry from Jules.
“No, Lily. If anything, it’s something new to you. I want you to keep it. My mom wore it on her wedding day. I opted not to. Maybe that’s why she had a lifelong love, and I…well…didn’t.” Her laugh was soft, and an emptiness came with it. “Hopefully it will bring you good luck with Gunner.”