Page 73 of The Lyrics of Love

“Give her my love,” said the clerk, her eyes turning to Nash and Rylie. “Friends of yours?”

Jackson nodded. “They are and would like to get married on Saturday, Bertha. I knew you would be able to fix them up as you did Ainsley and me. This is Nash Edwards and Rylie Robinson, who is Ainsley’s cousin.”

Apparently, the clerk was not a fan of country music because she gave no indication that she knew who Nash was.

“I can take care of you now, and I will try to arrange a similar wedding in a judge’s chamber as I did for you and Ainsley, Jackson.”

“I appreciate it, Bertha.” Jackson turned to them. “I think my work here is done. See you back in the Cove.”

They filled out the required paperwork and gave it to Bertha, who looked it over and accepted their filing fee.

“Be right back,” she said brightly, disappearing through a doorway.

Rylie looked at him. “Is this really happening?”

“It’s as real as it gets, darlin’.”

The clerk returned with their license, though she had been gone much longer than she had indicated. She asked them what time they would like to marry on Saturday. They decided upon three o’clock, and Bertha told them she had already spoken to a judge who was a huge country music fan, and said he would be thrilled to perform the ceremony in his chambers.

“You know who I am?” Nash asked, surprised.

“We get all types in here, Mr. Edwards. Yes, I enjoy your music, but when you come to my courthouse? You’re just another groom wanting to marry the woman he loves.” She smiled. “But I feel certain Judge Bailey will not be as calm as I am when he meets his favorite country artist. It wouldn’t hurt if you would take some time to take a few pictures with him after the ceremony.”

“That won’t be a problem, Bertha,” he assured her. “Thank you for arranging the ceremony for us.”

They left the courthouse and went into Portland. Jackson had contacted Burt, the jeweler they were supposed to see. Burt was actually leaving for Hawaii mid-afternoon and wouldn’t be able to see them after Nash’s session today. Because of that, he had texted everyone involved, telling them he wouldn’t arrive at the studio until eleven, asking that they work on the new song he had sent to them while he was missing in action.

Burt proved to be an interesting man and told them he had actually visited Antiques and Mystiques, buying a Queen Anne chair from Jerry, whom he knew from the Lions Club.

“Are you interested in the usual wedding rings,” the jeweler inquired. “Or would you like to see something older and with more character?”

Nash only wanted a simple band, but he encouraged Rylie to view the collection of antique rings Burt had for sale. As they browsed, one caught his eye and he removed it, studying it in the light.

“Do you like this one?” he asked Rylie.

“I was about to try it on,” she admitted.

“Let’s see how it looks on your finger.” Nash slid the ring on and they admired how it appeared.

“It’s a perfect fit,” Rylie declared. “It wouldn’t have to be sized at all. I’ll take that as a good sign.”

“Do you want it to serve as both engagement and wedding ring?” Burt asked.

She nodded. “I like that this will do double duty.”

The jeweler placed both rings in separate boxes, and they paid for their purchases. Leaving the store, Nash told Rylie to hang onto both.

“I don’t trust myself. I’m afraid I would set them down and then walk off without them, my head in the clouds, thinking about the next song to work on.”

He drove her to the shop which was holding the dress for her, where she was to meet her cousin. Nash had also asked that Rylie pick out a suit and shirt for both him and Pops, giving her their sizes. He had teased her, saying he would have packed something a little more formal beyond jeans and T-shirts if he had known he would be getting married while in Oregon.

“I’ll have Ainsley drop me at the studio once we’re done shopping,” Rylie said. “She can take all the purchases back to the Cove for me, including our rings.”

He leaned in and kissed her, and she got out of the car, waving goodbye to him.

Nash drove to the new studio they would use this week, being greeted by the staff and quickly shown to the studio they would be using, where his band was playing. He entered and said hello to everyone.

“Let’s get down to work. I want to start with The Love in Your Eyes.”

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