Chapter 8 -- Get me to the church on time
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I tapped away on my phone, searching for information on getting married in the county, while Rick fixed us something to eat. "Aha, the marriage license counter opens up at 9. Oh, and great! There's a chapel right in the courthouse for civil ceremonies. Oops! Uh-oh". "What's the `uh-oh'?" Rick questioned. "It says we have to have at least two witnesses for the ceremony, two people who know us, family or friends". "Oh, shit! Who can we get on such short notice?" "Well, I can ask around at work, but if I could find two who would do it, it would have to wait until the next day when they can request a day off, and that will set things back". "Yeah, I could ask around at work too, but the same thing, they'd have to request the next day off". I thought furiously. "Hey! How about your mom and dad?" "Ask my father? Have you gone completely insane? He might go for a real shotgun wedding, but I don't think he'd buy that you've managed to knock me up". He winked at me. "But not for lack of trying". I shrugged. "What's the worst thing he can do? Say no?" Rick chuckled. "I'm not so sure that's the worst thing he can do. But Ok, I'll give it a shot".
"Hello, pops? Yeah, it's me". "Yeah? What the hell do you want?" was the crusty response. "Well, I wanted you guys to know that Dave and I are going to get married tomorrow". "Oh really? Queers can marry one another these days?" "Yeah pops, that happened a couple of years ago". "Oh yeah, now that I think about it, I think I do remember hearing something about that. Made me think this country is going to hell in a handbasket!". "Yeah well, whatever pops. Well, we need at least two witnesses, and I was hoping you and mom could be there for us. 10 am, county courthouse". "Oh really? Will you be dressed in a nice pretty white gown? Would you like me to give you away?" "Pops! They took my children away from me!" "WHAT? Who took your children away? Hellen! How do you turn this damn speaker phone thing on? It's Rick, he says they took his children away from him. OUR grandkids!" Rick heard his mother. "It's right here, you press this button". "Ok, can you hear us now? Both your mother and I are on the line now. Now, who the hell took our grandkids away from you?" "The Arizona Department of Child Safety". "Why the hell would they do that?" "Because in our divorce filing I gave Ellen sole custody of the kids. And the divorce was granted and filed the day before she was murdered. As surviving biological parent parental rights were then passed on to me. But I sold the house, the kids and I didn't want to live there after what happened, and we're all very happy living here with Dave. He has become like a second father to them, and they love him, and he loves them. But someone filed a complaint. The complaint was pure bullshit, saying a bunch of shit. But he got an inspector with a probable anti-gay bias to buy into it and he coached him to say that the safety and welfare of the children were endangered', which gave them the right to place the children in protective custody' and take them away from us and place them in foster homes". "Foster homes!" Mr. Richardson shouted. "They think they can put my grandkids in a foster home? Over my dead body!" "Well, it was Dave who came up with the idea, he asked what if we were married? The child safety lady said that would `immediately' change the situation because the custody order was placed with me being a single, unmarried person. But if Dave and I are married the custody order gets revoked. The kids and I would have the full legal right to live here, and they would have to return the kids to our custody within a few days". There was a long silence.
"Rick?", his mother spoke up. "you've told us why you feel you Need to marry Dave -- for the sake of your children. And I'm very proud of you for that. But, you haven't told us why you Want to marry Dave". There was silence. "Rick?'. "Sorry, there are so many reasons, I was trying to think of the most important one. Ah! One big reason that I want to marry Dave is that he inspires me to be a better father to my children. When Ellen and I started arguing so much, I began to drift away from them, selfishly thinking only about myself, and how unhappy I was. But when the kids moved in with us after Ellen's death I realized how selfish I had been. And Dave helped me see that. He took to them so quickly, asking them about how their day went, did they need any help with homework or anything else. They've been gone for just over an hour, and my life is so empty without them in it. And another thing is that Dave inspires me to be a better person. He inspires me to feel proud and confident of who I am, and so happy just to be alive and a part of this world".
There was silence. "Hello! Mr. and Mrs. Richardson? It's Dave, I'm here with Rick, we're also on speakerphone. I'm asking for your blessing to have your son's hand in marriage as my lawfully wedded husband. To have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. To love and to cherish always, until death do us part". There was silence. "Rick?" his mother's voice questioned. "Oh, sorry. That was so sweet I had to kiss him. Yes, to have and to hold, for better or worse, in sickness and in health. To love and cherish always. That's the bottom-line reason why I Want to marry Dave, I am so in love with him, and I want him by my side always, until death do us part". There was another silence. "Helen?", we heard Rick's father question. "Yeah, figured you see things that way, you're always the big softy. Hmph! The guvmint thinks they can steal our grandkids away from us and put them in a damn foster home? Well, they got another thing comin' to `em. The calvary is headed your way, son! We're gonna take on the guvmint together, side by side! 10 o'clock, county courthouse you say? We'll be there for you!". "Thanks so much, pops. It's so great having you at my back, once again".
Rick and I got up at the crack of dawn, excited for the day to begin. Rick fixed breakfast and I rinsed off the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. "Well, let's head out," Rick said. I looked at the clock. "It's only 7 am, the marriage license counter doesn't open until 9". "Well, it will take us almost an hour to get there, and I want to stop by a jewelry store on the way". "A jewelry store?". "Duh! We're getting married, it'd be nice to have a set of rings to exchange?" "Oh, right! Ok, let's get going then". We were pulling into the outskirts of town when Rick spotted the store, Christine's Jewelry Designs. "Let's stop there. What time is it". "Five minutes to eight". We parked in front of the store and waited until we saw a young lady unlock the door and turn the Close' sign over to Open'.
We got out of the car and walked to the door. A bell rang as we opened the door; the young lady who was walking back toward the counter spun around to face us. "Oh! You startled me, we just opened. Can I help you with something?". "Sorry," I told her, "We're on a tight schedule this morning. Yes, we'd like to see what you have in wedding rings". "Oh! How wonderful, congratulations! Men's rings are in this counter over here". "Rick, you pick out your ring first," I said as we walked to the counter. The young lady took out a large ring, with a red ruby in the center, surrounded by a ring of small diamonds. Rick shook his head. "I've never been much for jewelry, and I work with my hands, I don't want such a large ring that can get caught up on something. I was thinking of a simpler gold band". "Oh, I see," she said, disappointment evident in her voice. Rick looked over the rings in the display case. "How about that one?" he asked, pointing to a ring in the case. She took it out and handed it to him. He tried it on, it was a perfect fit. "I really like the design around the edges, and it's a nice simple ring. I'll take it". He handed her back the ring. "Wonderful!" she said as she placed the ring back in the small box. "Now, if you'll follow me, women's rings are over here". "No," I said firmly. She turned to look at me with a confused look on her face. "We need another man's ring, we're marrying each other". "Oh! I see," she said curtly. She snapped the case shut on the ring Rick had selected and put it back in the case. "Then I can't help you, I don't do same-sex weddings". "You don't `do' same-sex weddings? We're not asking you to perform the ceremony, or even bake a cake. We just want you to assist us in purchasing two wedding rings". She shook her head. "It's against my sincerely held religious beliefs to assist in any way in a same-sex wedding. Now, please leave". "So, look, bitch" I growled. Rick put his hand on my shoulder, "let's just go, we'll find another store".
I glared at the young lady when the bell rang as someone entered the store. We turned to see who it was. A plump, white-haired lady closed the door behind her. "Good morning!" she greeted pleasantly. Then she stopped, and examined the angry expressions on our faces, and that on the clerk. "Is there some kind of problem here?" "Rick and I are getting married this morning at the courthouse, and . . .". "How wonderful!" she interrupted, "Congratulations!". "Thank you" I replied. "But we want to purchase wedding rings, but this clerk refuses to assist us". She turned toward the young lady. "And why is that Judith?" "It's against my religious beliefs to assist in any way to a same-sex wedding". "Well, isn't that special? Sorry, gentlemen, that you encountered this misunderstanding. I'm Christine, the owner of this establishment, and we'll be more than happy to assist you. Judith? Will you assist these nice gentlemen?" "No!" "No? You refuse to serve my customers?" "Yes". "Well then, you leave me no choice: you're fired, get out!" "You can't fire me!" "I can, and I just did, get out!" You can't fire me over my religious beliefs!" She insisted. "I remember hearing about a court case, a baker who refused to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding. He won his case". "Yes, I remember reading about that. The stubborn jackass took it all the way to the Supreme Court. They just asked him to make them a damn cake, not conduct some kind of Satanic ritual".
"Well, if fire me over my religious beliefs I'll sue you!" the young lady said adamantly. "I'm not firing you over your religious beliefs, sweetie. I'm firing you because you refuse to do your job and serve my customers. Judith, you did read through my employee handbook? You signed an acknowledgment that I gave you a copy, and that you would read it". "Well, no, not yet "I've been rather busy". "Oh, that's a shame. If you had bothered to read it I very clearly state that we do not discriminate on the basis of national origin, race, color, religion, disability, or gender. You are discriminating against these gentlemen on the basis of their gender. Sue all you want honey, it's your money to throw away if you want. Now, get out!" The young lady grabbed her purse and stormed out, slamming the door shut behind her.
Christine walked behind the counter. "I'm so very sorry you had to put up with that in my establishment, my sincere apologies. I apparently need to interview prospective help more thoroughly. Now, will you please allow me to assist you?" We nodded. "I had already picked one out," Rick said. "It's that one, with the case closed. She snapped it shut and put it away when we told her we were marrying each other". She opened the case and handed the ring to Rick. "Ah yes, that is one of my own designs. Simple, basic, but rather unique design I think. I like the unique pattern on the edges". Rick put the ring back on, admiring it. "Yes, that's what caught my eye". Christine looked at me, and then Rick. "You two seem like such a perfect match for each other. Why don't you get matching rings?" She looked at my hand. "Hmmm, your fingers seem a bit larger than his. I think I have the exact same ring in a slightly larger size. "Ah yes, here it is!" She handed me the ring and I slipped it on. We held up our hands together, examining the rings in the light. "They are a perfect match, just like you two," Christine said. We looked at each other and nodded. "We love them," Rick said. "We'll take them!". "Excellent!". Rick took out his wallet and handed her a credit card. He glanced at his wristwatch. "Oh crap, It's already 9:15!" "On a tight schedule?" "Yes, we're meeting my mom and dad at 10:00, and we have to get our marriage license first". Christine smiled. "Ah, get me to the church on time?". "Huh?". "Oh, a cute, clever little song I always liked, from a musical I've always enjoyed, My Fair Lady". We shrugged. "Well, not important. Here's your receipt, I guess you two lovebirds better hurry along. Thank you for your business, and if there's anything else you ever need please stop by, I'd love to see you again".
We hurried to the courthouse. Fortunately, it wasn't busy, and we provided our IDs and got our marriage license in a few minutes. We hurried to the chapel where we found Mr. and Mrs. Richardson waiting. They hugged Rick; Mrs. Richardson hugged me, and Mr. Richardson stiffly shook my hand. It was a simple ceremony, we exchanged wedding vows and rings. When the Chaplain suggested we kiss each other Rick glanced over at his father. "Thanks, but we'll save that for later". We walked over to them. Mrs. Richardson's eyes were moist with tears. Mr. Richardson rolled his eyes. "She always cries at weddings". The Chaplain brought over the marriage certificate, and they all signed it. I took my phone out of my pocket and snapped a picture of the certificate, and then of the marriage license, and began tapping away on my phone. "What are you doing?" Mrs. Richardson asked. "I'm emailing pictures of our wedding license and certificate to the lady with the Department of Child Safety. She promised to work on returning our kids to us as soon as she gets them". When I finished I looked up to see Mr. Richardson looking at me, carefully studying me. "You know, Dave, I probably didn't make a very good first impression with you". "No" I quickly replied, as the image of him pointing a gun at Rick and I involuntarily flashed in my memory. "No, you didn't, frankly". I smiled. "But then, I probably didn't make a very good first impression with you". "No" he assured me, "you can come off as pretty cocky". I shrugged. "Well, my apologies. But you know, I've never bought that first impressions have to be lasting impressions. When you first meet and find you disagree on something, find something else to talk about, something you can agree on". Mr. Richardson nodded. "So, you served in the Marines for 25 years?" He nodded. "Well, you must have been deployed to some interesting places?" "Oh yes, I've been all over the world". "Ah, what was your favorite place, Mr. Richardson. "Fred" he replied, "please just call me Fred, and this is Helen. And I don't have to think about it: Wiesbaden, Germany was my favorite place. Beautiful countryside, beautiful little city, and my, such beautiful German girls". "Fred!" Helen admonished. "That was before I met you, Helen. The first instant I met you I knew those German girls couldn't hold a candle to you". She broke into a broad smile. "Well, I'd love to hear more about it, and your other deployments. Um, did you know Steve wants to be a chef?". Fred shook his head. "No, I don't remember Rick mentioning that". "Oh yeah, he loves to cook, and he's very good at it. "When the kids are returned to us, hopefully by this weekend, we'd love to have you guys over for dinner, and have Steve show off his talent". Fred looked at me in surprise. "Why thank you, we would enjoy that very much". "What's your favorite dish?" "Oh, Fred is a meat lover" Helen injected, "Ribeye is his favorite, medium rare". I nodded. "Ribeyes, medium rare it is".