I list off all the other things I remember adding to the revised planning documents I submitted yesterday before I nearly died. That’s what the phone calls were about. I had to call my investors and arrange for the return of all their money, for anyone who wanted out of the deal. Most of them did bail out. But the ones who remain will still be getting a nice return on their investment in the homes I’m renovating that back up to the future dog park.
I explain all of this to Molly, but I have to stop halfway through because I’m tired. I need more water, and she’s starting to cry again.
“C’mere and let me kiss you.” She closes her eye and presses her forehead to mine. I suction off her tears with my mouth, every movement causing a little stab of pain in my gut.
The doctor clears her throat. “The police are outside, waiting to take your statement.”
I tell her, “They’ll get my statement as soon as you tell me how soon I can get out of here and start making my wife pregnant.”
The doctor is nonplussed. “We’re keeping you here for at least a few days. You have been through major trauma.”
Molly nods her head in agreement with the doctor. “There’s no rush. I don’t want to take you home too soon only to have to bring you back here with an infection or something.”
When Molly’s warm lips descend onto mine, the sweet thrill rushes through my body. I don’t even care what happens next.
“If being a good patient makes my wife happy, then I’ll stay put.”
“Did you say ‘wife’?” she says, her eyes shining.
“Thought you’d catch it the first time I said it.”
She wipes another tear from her eye.
“That all right with you?”
Instead of words, she makes a funny, sweet, adorable noise in response. We kiss some more and forget the whole world around us.
The doctor can stay or go. All I know is I’m kissing my soon-to-be wife, and I’ll stop when I’m good and ready.
Epilogue
Three months later
Molly
“Ain’t no law against a dog being my maid of honor, Momma!”
My mother thinks I’m being irrational when I affix the simple flower crown on Dolly’s head.
“See?” I point at my girl. “She loves it.”
The German shepherd does look pretty proud of herself. As well she should be.
Not only did she save my Daniel’s life, but she even made an appearance on the local TV news. And, the publicity helped bring the perpetrators to justice, despite the security camera footage being too dark to positively identify the shooters. Everyone in the county was on the lookout for men and a truck matching the description. And now the puppy mill dudes are safely locked up, awaiting trial for attempted murder.
My mother huffs and crosses her arms. “Dogs in the wedding party. A civil ceremony, not a church in sight! Guests having to tromp through the woods. Your father not even giving you away. And you…barefoot and wearing a yellow dress…whatever happened to white?”
“If tradition is what you want, Momma, then you and Daddy and more than welcome to have your own church ceremony to renew your vows. It’s…not my jam anymore.”
My mother pleads with me to at least leave the dogs out of the ceremony. All I can do is smile serenely as I apply my makeup in a hand mirror. We’re standing inside a white tent in the woods on my property. Excuse me, our property. Daniel’s and mine.
“Sometimes I think you do everything the opposite of how you were raised, just to be spiteful,” she says.
I pop my lipstick closed and calmly turn to my mom.
“I love you, Momma. Thank you for coming to o
ur wedding. And in eight months, you’re gonna be so happy you won’t even remember what you didn’t like about our ceremony.”