Page 18 of Ropers Can't Tie Knots
“To get to know each other. We’re about to be married, and it would be nice to know something about you.”
“Number three!” A woman’s voice calls, and Gabe holds up the ticket. “That’s us.”
“Is that something that’s important to you?” I ask as we approach the counter.
Gabe cocks his head. “Knowing you? Yes. No matter what happens between us, I’d like to know you.”
“Gentlemen. How can I help you?”
“A marriage licence, please,” Gabe says, and I take a moment to digest what he said as we both fish out our identification from our wallets.
The woman begins our form, and I figure if he’s making an effort, I should, too.
“What’s your favourite colour?”
“Teal,” Gabe says. “What’s yours?”
“Does black count?”
Gabe snorts. “I think so. Why black?”
“It hides dirt.” I laugh. “My grandma always called me a dirt magnet. One time I had a new white T-shirt and within ten minutes I had a grass stain, and I didn’t even go outside.”
I laugh softly, remembering that day. Still a mystery where the grass came from.
“Your grandma, you talk about her a lot. You were close?”
The memory of my grandmother is one that’s mixed. She was the only light most days in a dreary childhood filled with adult-sized work and not enough positive reinforcement. Without her, I don’t know if I would be half the person I am today.
“We were. I’ll tell you about her sometime.”
Gabe picks up on my discomfort, thankfully, and before I can ask anything in return, he offers me something instead.
“I was raised by my two sisters. My dad literally disappeared. One of those ‘oh honey, I’m going out for milk’ stories, you know?I was ten. Then my mom got sick and was gone before I turned twelve.”
He offers me a small smile, and with great clarity, I realize that maybe me and Gabe have more in common than I thought. His gaze locks on mine, and there’s a glimmer of something there, like he might understand me.
Which is absurd, because nobody ever does and I’m certainly not going to entertain thoughts of finally finding a match or some other bullshit.
“Okay, gentlemen. Your licence is ready. I just need your signatures here.”
Gabe charms the woman as he signs and replaces his ID in his wallet. She continues speaking while I do the same.
“You’re the new lawyer in town, then?” she asks after Gabe mentions he just moved here recently and bought a business.
“I am. It wasn’t just the business that brought me here, though. I couldn’t stay away from this guy any longer. Long-distance relationships suck.”
The woman sighs and nods my way. “You’re looking a lot different in a suit, Mr. Burke, but congratulations. I hope you’ll still be competing at the Kissing Ridge Rodeo as a married man this year.”
“Of course I will.” It’s then that I finally place who she is. She’s a member of the rodeo planning committee and also organizes a lot of the 4-H events for kids. “I didn’t recognize you at your day job. I apologize for not saying hello, Christine.”
She waves a hand and smiles. “I get that a lot. Don’t worry about it.”
“Is there a 4-H event happening soon? I’d like for Gabe to experience what it was like growing up country and bring him to a meeting if I could?”
The words are out of my mouth before I have more time to consider what it all means, but just like Gabe, I’m playing the part of a devoted husband.
Christine smiles and reaches for a slip of paper. “Yes, there is! Next week and my speaker just cancelled. If either of you could step in, I’d appreciate it.” She passes me the paper with her number and meeting info. “Think about it if you’d like, and just call me. After the wedding, of course.”
