Nothing In This World (BWWM) ✅

Chapter Thirty Nine

The deaths were recent. The pain was on everyone's chest but none of them could show it. Charlene put on her best clothes that her mother didn't toss out since she's vanished. Told her how glad she was that Charlene left something behind. Now, at eleven in the night, they were to witness the illegal marriage of two young kids in love.

Charlene told herself she never wanted a life like this. She didn't want the traditional or the average. She didn't want what all the girls at her school did at such young ages. She never thought it could be her changing her mind. But her mother always said to wait for the right one. The right one will change your soul.

"This is my Uncle LL. Stands for Lester Lance. The man my old man named me smooth after." The smile on Lance's face when his uncle formally greeted everyone made even Charlene crack the biggest grin. "He's about to make my entire world complete by doing me the biggest favor and marrying Charlene to a screw-up like me."

Gloria sighed in pure happiness as she witnessed Charlene stare up into Lance's eyes as he stared down into hers. They shared a genuine smile that'll make anyone's heart stop.

Lester cracked on a lantern and placed it on a wooden stool along with two more on either side of Charlene and Lance. "It's real late to be on this side of town. Let's get this going."

Mrs. Skinner sat next to Mrs. McCullough who was eerie of everyone around her. She held her arms and purse close to her chest and looked over at the road quite often. Charlene could feel her mothers discomfort and wanted to speed things along if she could.

"Can I start off by saying what I need to say?" Lester nodded at Lance who was smiling from ear to ear. "I've been wanting this for a while. With you especially, Char. More importantly, I wanted our parents to be right here to witness it all. I know Mrs. Gloria ain't the most fond of me taking her only daughter off. I just couldn't live without you near me. I love you enough to do everything you want and more, Char.

"You are everything to me and I knew it when I looked at you. Helpful, beautiful, you glow, and you're so damn smart. God I wonder how an idiot like me got ahold of such a woman." Charlene went to wipe a tear from under her eye but Lance did the honors. "I love you, Charlene McCullough."

She looked at Lester who motioned her to go on with one tilt of his Bible.

"Uhm, you were a storm, Lance. I didn't know I needed you until I was left to make a decision. My old life or my new life with you. You don't know how fast my mind chose you. As a little girl, I imagined a very different life for me. Opposite of this to be frank. Then I met you and I simply ain't care. I just wanted to see you happy with whatever we chose. That's my new life." Charlene looked at her mother who nodded her head once as if to keep her on track. "My love for you is strong, Lance Skinner. Too very strong."

He searched her face for any sight of excitement as from ten minutes ago but was left looking at pain. Lester read from the scripture and even cracked a joke that had everyone laughing but Lance. For the first time in months he actually felt scared.

"We ain't have to go back to the city!" He blurted which caused all eyes to go from Lester to Lance. "You ain't happy then damned the idea. I ain't no fan of that creaky door either. I hate our neighbors and their loud truck and it's too close to the factory that shut down." He released his tight grip on Charlene's hand to rake his hair out his face. "God knows what they used to be crafting up in there anyhow." Charlene couldn't contain the joy rushing through her veins. "Sell the land in Billings... uh, buy Lottie's portion and we'll move right down the street from Mrs. Gloria. I know you will just die for that."

It was as if he read her mind. Relief washed over her body as she crashed into him for a hug. Charlene knew that once she arrived she wouldn't want to leave. There was no reason to. Her heart was here, but she knew Lance's was not. Yet they did everything he wanted done. Charlene wondered when it would ever be her turn to be free. That thought ended today.

"You two seem to can't get your hands off each other. If both parties agree to love each other through thick and thin, sickness and health, and through all things good and bad. Say I do."

"I do!" Charlene bounced on her toes.

"I do." Lance grinned as he took ahold of her empty hand once again.

"You may kiss the bride."

Charlene prepared herself for a simple peck on the lips but was met with being hauled two feet off the ground and pressed against Lance's chest. Once she was done laughing as her suddenly new position, she and Lance locked lips causing the three adults to clap and whistle.

"When y'all get done making babies. Sign this paper and put your thumb prints on the desired square. Then you'll be as official as two dead bucks."

Lance scribbled his signature and Charlene followed after. Using the ink pad, they both stuck their thumbs at the same time on the pad then the paper. "I'm gone build a frame for it. Paint it your favorite color. Yellow." Charlene's cheeks were sore from how happy she was feeling. "And I'm gone ask you what you want from now on. Never neglect you like that again. I just want you happy, Char."

Mrs. Skinner came tapping and twirling over in the dirt with something big and heavy in her hand. "Look what I brought!" She held out a film camera which made the two newly weds quickly strike a pose. When she held the camera up to her eyes, Lance pulled Charlene closer to him by her waist and she rested a hand on his upper torso. "Smile, babies," was followed by a flash. "Take this to the print shop and frame for y'all's new place. How about that?"

"Thank you Mrs. Skinner," Charlene beamed.

"Let's not stop there. Lester! Get on over here and take a picture of the two happy mamas with their babies!"