Outrageous Proposal

Chapter 7

     While Bermuda was a great idea, Sandy came up with another thing to save up for that was a lot more mature than a week in a beach paradise. After saving his entire bonus for the next several months Craig had over fifteen thousand dollars, which was more than enough for a down payment on a house. He really liked the idea because starting a marriage and eventually a family in an apartment downtown wasn't ideal. It took a while to smooth things over, but one everyone realized what had really happened, it was a story for them to laugh at for hears to come. When the wedding invitations went out, everyone was even more excited about it after the false start. The next summer, Craig was standing in the middle of a Church, watching as his beautiful bride walked down the aisle towards him. Sandy looked spectacular in the large white dress and while many people cry during their weddings, not a single tear was shed between them during the entire ceremony. It was a sign of how committed they were to one another, that this wasn't a sad occasion but one to be happy about. Everything went off that day without a hitch to get in the way. While photography was a royal pain in the ass, it was the same for everyone else. The reception was a small gathering, no more than fifty people but it was a grand time had by all. When they finally got into the limo to take them off for the wedding night, neither of them could believe the day was finally coming to an end.

     "That went by rather quickly," Craig noted, slouching into the leather seat.

     "Did you eat very much?" Sandy asked.

     "Not really," Craig confessed, "I was talking so much, dancing and all that stuff that I barely ate a thing."

     "Me too," Sandy confessed, "I'm starving."

     "Excuse me," Craig called up to the driver, "Mr. Driver!"

     The window between the back and the front sections rolled down slowly.

     "Yes, Mr. Greene?" the driver asked.

     "We need to hit a fast food place for a burger, stat!" Craig called up.

     "There's a great burger place up the street," the driver replied, "But it doesn't have a drive in. I can wait for you if you're that hungry."

     "Thanks," Craig called back, "That would be perfect."

     Despite how odd it looked, Craig and Sandy walked into the small burger joint wearing the exact same outfit they had been wearing all day to order something to eat. While he had taken off the bow tie, the tux was still looking rather spiffy, and Sandy was still in the big white dress just without anything on her head.

     The person at the counter looked up at them and smiled. "I guess congratulations are in order?"

     "Thanks," Craig said before making his order. They didn't get anything out of the ordinary, just two burger combos and milkshakes instead of sodas. Sandy asked Craig to order a strawberry shake, so she could steal some sips when she got tired of the chocolate shake she ordered for herself. Once they had sat down and started to eat the rather impressive homemade burgers, Craig couldn't help but chuckle.

     "What is it?" Sandy asked, "Did I stain my dress?"

     "No, not that," Craig replied, "The people are looking at us like we just left the chapel of love in Vegas. It's hilarious."

     "It doesn't matter," Sandy said as she took his hand with hers, "The best part is that I get to share this moment with you."

     "That's always been my favorite part as well," Craig said, nibbling on a fry, "To share a whole whack of firsts with the only person I love more than I love myself."

     "That's a powerful statement," Sandy confessed, "Considering what a narcissist you can be sometimes."

     "Is that so?" Craig said with a shocked look on his face. He was tempted to throw a French fry at her but decided not to get too childish.

     "I'm not embarrassed," Sandy told her husband, "Are you?"

     "Not in the slightest," Craig said as he looked back at someone staring, "Hey there! Having a good time?"

     Surprised that they were so friendly, many people started to speak with the happy couple and even take pictures with them before they left. It was almost like having a second reception with complete strangers. Stopping for burgers in their wedding outfits was just another of many more stories they would share with their future children, along with the stolen cell phone that pushed them both in the right direction in their lives. Rather than being obsessed with marriage and what everyone else was doing with their lives, Craig and Sandy were obsessed with one another, which was the way it should always be. In the years to come it would be that obsession that would get them through the hard times and celebrate when things went as planned. They would both honor their vows, never parting until death came to claim one of them many, many years later; a love that was true right to the very end.