Page 34 of The Marriage Sham
He points up at the sky, where a small plane is about to fly over the park. I follow his arm and squint up at the plane, seeing a flag behind it flapping in the wind.
“I—choose—“ I can’t quite make out the next word yet. Then I see it and I gasp. “You, Francie.” I spin to Fen. “Did you do that?”
He smiles at me, looking so much like the boy I was infatuated with in high school. “Yes. I choose you, Francie. Every time. Always. For the rest of my life.” He gets down on one knee, and my heart stops beating in my chest. He pulls out a diamond studded band from his pocket and holds it up to me. “Will you marry me? Again?”
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. My throat threatens to close up on me, but I force the words out before it does. I’m not missing my chance. “Yes! Of course, I will. Every time.”
He jumps up, and we hold each other tight, not caring we’ve made a scene. I’m sure the whole town’s confused, since we’re already married. We both hear a throat clear, and we turn our heads to see a man dressed as Colonel Davis on horseback next to us.
“I heard there’s a couple wanting to renew their vows?”
I look at Fen, wide-eyed, and he nods back at me. “But first, our special guest.” He points behind me and I turn, beyond bewildered by everything happening today.
The sight before me pulls a sob from my chest. My legs are running before I comprehend what I’m doing. Granddaddy is reclining in a mobile bed, a mountain of covers spread over him, and his nurse by his side telling the men pushing the bed where to go.
I reach his side and gently give him a hug and kiss, beyond grateful to see him.
“Granddaddy. What are you doing here?”
His eyes look right at me, clear and lucid. “Remember my bucket list? Getting out of the house was on there, if you recall. And when Fen said he was going to ask you to marry him all over again and renew your vows, he asked me to be here. I couldn’t say no to that, now could I?”
The most beautiful feeling steals over my body, slaying all the doubts and insecurities that persisted long after they should have been gone. I squeeze Granddaddy’s hand, no longer able to form words.
And here beneath the huge, red maple tree in the park in Love, Georgia, my Granddaddy gives me away to Fenwick Whittington while the whole town watches.
We choose each other.
