Beachcombing

Chapter 17 Change in Plans

"You sure you want to do this?" Mercy was hesitant to drop such a huge bombshell on his family. Their decision to marry was hasty but they both were confident that they could make the relationship work. And after their unplanned honeymoon the previous night, she was more convinced then ever that they were a good fit for each other.

"We can postpone telling them but the end result is the same. You're my wife and they are going to have to adjust to a new normal." He squeezed her hand as they walked to the dock to meet his family.

The Integrity had not made it into the harbor so Bam and Mercy found a quiet patch of grass. He could tell she was nervous as she fidgeted with her pack. He distracted her with a kiss   and reminded her that although his family was large, they were all quite harmless. Mercy had only met his youngest sister, Rain, and was looking forward to having her as a sister-in-law. It was his parents Mercy fretted about the most.

"What if they don't like me?" She asked.

"They will love you because I love you." Bam replied with confidence.

"What if they think I'm easy?" She choked the words out.

"Yep, you're easy alright. Easy on the eyes and easy to love." He brushed her hair behind her ear. "Do you love kids?"

"Of course I do. That's my job."

"Then you've passed my mother's only test for a Brown wife." He chuckled. "She'll probably start the grandbaby conversation once she hears we are married."

"And your dad?"

"I'm not worried. He was once crazy for my mom. He'll get it."

In the distance, Bam heard a familiar call as Bear signaled the Integrity's arrival into the harbor with his long distinctive howl. The couple walked to an empty slip and waited as the Integrity docked. Once in place, he was greeted by his family with the usual fuss and fan fare that accompanied a returning family member.

"Welcome back Bam." His mother hugged him tightly. She disliked when any of her children were away from the family unit. Mercy stood next to Bam and watched his family welcome her husband home. She only hoped their reaction to his news would be the same.

"Who is this pretty young lady?" Ami smiled at her and patted Bam's chest.

"Everyone this is Mercy. Mercy Brown." Bam purposefully introduced her as that.

Bear laughed. "She has the same last name as us."

""Right, genius." Bam cleared his throat. "Mercy is my wife."

With the exception of Rain's happy reaction, the remainder of the family stood in stunned silence. Mercy felt uncomfortable immediately and wished she could just disappear into oblivion.

"Your wife?" Ami wore a look of surprise while Billy walked off the deck and back into the wheelhouse. He had nothing to say. He offered no congratulatory hug or handshake. He just disappeared.

Rainy was the first to congratulate her brother. She had orchestrated their reunion but she never suspected she would have been an accomplice in a wedding. Ami looked at Bam slightly confused. She offered her congratulations to him. Mercy offered her mother-in-law a handshake.

Matt tried to lighten the mood by asking Mercy if Bam had to bribe her to marry him. Mercy wasn't quite sure how to react to the remark. She was an outsider, a newcomer, and would have to learn all their personalities.

"Don't mind Matt. Ma dropped him on his head when he was a baby and he hasn't been the same since."  Bam shot his eldest brother a look of contempt.

Bam was surprised at his father's reaction. He was usually more social. Bam asked Rainy to make the formal introductions as he slipped into the wheelhouse seeking out his dad. Billy busied himself with charting out their next destination ignoring Bam's arrival.

"I get the feeling you're not happy." Bam wasn't sure if he meant that as a comment or a question.

"Bam, you've been gone three days and you come home with a wife? What were you thinking?" Billy asked sounding utterly perturbed.

"I was thinking she makes me happy." He answered.

"I don't think you were thinking with your head." Billy glared at Bam.

"That's my wife your insulting." Bam's temper began to flare. He didn't take kindly to the insinuation.

"If the shoe fits...." Before Billy could say another word, Bam slammed his fist on the table.

"Always trying to control everyone and everything, aren't you?" Billy had riled an underlying tension in Bam.

"If you think you're so grown, you know where the door is." Billy pointed to the dock.

"Consider yourself down one free laborer. I don't need the hassle." Bam stormed below deck and grabbed his personal belongings throwing them in his pack.

"You're leaving?" Billy stood at the top of the stairs.

"We're leaving." Bam pushed past Billy. Mercy saw her husband exit the wheelhouse but her smile dropped when she saw his face. Something was clearly wrong.

Bam grabbed his wife's hand. "We're leaving." Mercy hesitated but he looked at her and replied, "Now."

Now it was Mercy who was at a loss for words. Ami attempted to ask him why but Bam didn't respond. He gathered her pack and escorted her off the boat. Mercy pleaded with him. "What happened?"

Without looking at her, he replied, "Let's just say we had a difference of opinion and leave it at that."

Mercy followed behind him barely able to keep pace as he walked back to the B & B. "We just checked out of here. Why are we coming back?"

Bam asked the owners for their old room.  Mercy trailed behind him up the stairs. He unlocked the door practically ripping the handle off. Once inside, he turned to her and said, "There's been a change in plans."