Page 99 of The Soul Never Forgets

“Picture ID and proof of age are required.”

“Check.”

“Both parties must be present for the application.”

“Check.”

“Both parties must apply in person at the local county circuit clerk’s office.”

“Check.”

“The fee for a Mississippi marriage license varies by county and is required at the time of application.”

“Check.”

“There is no waiting period or blood tests in Mississippi.”

So there it is in black and white. “We can make this happen tomorrow.”

“We sure can.”

“I need something to wear.” We may be rushing this, but I still want to look pretty for him on our wedding day.

“I didn’t pack anything that’ll work, so I need to get something too.”

“We can drive to Biloxi and pick up something. And we’ll need to get wedding bands.”

With his thumb and index fingers, Dawsey toys with the space on his left ring finger where a wedding band will be placed when we say our ‘I dos.’ “You’ll put a band of gold on my finger tomorrow, and it will stay there as long as I live.”

“It’ll be a symbol to the world that you belong to me.” I toy with my engagement ring on my finger. “Just as the wedding ring you place on my finger will be a symbol to the world that I am yours. Forever.”

Epilogue 1

Jude Dawson Wescott

New Orleans, Louisiana

Nine Years Later

Forty years old. It’s considered the average midpoint in life for most people. Yesterday I was still considered an exciting, energetic, eager young person. I could still say I was in my thirties.

Today I’m over the hill. I’ve officially entered the irreversible decline to old age. That’s what the world says about turning forty, but I don’t feel old.

“I could have sworn that I turned on the porch light before we left.” I’ll be damned. I’ve been forty for less than twenty-four hours, and I’m already becoming forgetful.

“You didn’t forget the light. I turned it off when we left,” Cara says.

“You turned it off on purpose?”

“Yes.”

“For––?”

“So I can give you the rest of your birthday present.” Cara turns on her favorite playlist. “Your parents took the kids home with them. That means we’re all alone.”

“I can’t remember the last time we had a night to ourselves without kids.”

“I wanted to have hot sex on the hood, but then I remembered that I drove a big mommy SUV, and the odds of that working out probably weren’t great. But… the good news is that I have a huge second row when it isn’t filled with car seats.”

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