Chapter 33: Vows and Witnesses

The waiting room inside the courthouse was alive with the unique energy of folks going about their business on a Tuesday morning. Seated between Max and his mother, Grace strobed the fabric of her cream-coloured dress while spotting a constant flow of attorneys, defendants and citizens as they make their way through the town's administrative labyrinth.

"Are you sure we're in the right place?" For the third time, Max's father enquired, comparing his watch to the timetable that Lyla had printed and laminated for every member of the family.

According to Lyla's own laminated calendar, "Courtroom 3B, Judge Martinez, ten-thirty appointment," she verified. "We're exactly where we need to be."

Grace met Max's sight and saw a reflection of her own amusement and apprehension. They had envisioned their wedding as a basic legal proceeding, but the presence of Max's parents, Lyla, Matt Jackson, and Mrs Liv made it feel more like a small family gathering in a government building.

"Grace, dear, you look absolutely radiant," Mrs. Liv remarked, touching Grace's hand with the soft authority of someone who has attended dozens of weddings in the previous six decades. "Marriage suits you already."

"We're not married yet," Grace clarified, though she appreciated Mrs. Liv's faith in her forecast.

"Well, you are, sweetheart. You have been for several months. Today is all paperwork."

At precisely ten-twenty-five, a clerk emerged to accompany them into Courtroom 3B, where Judge Martinez…….a lady in her fifties with compassionate eyes and an efficient demeanor……..was evaluating their marriage licence application.

"Ms. Chen and Mr. Walker?" Judge Martinez looked up from his notepad. "Are you ready to get married?"

"Yes, your honour," they answered in unison, prompting encouraging grins from their assembled family.

"Excellent. "Do you have rings?"

Grace and Max exchanged looks. In all of their planning, they had somehow neglected the traditional exchange of wedding bands.

"We…….." Grace started.

"Actually, we do," Lyla interrupted, pulling two plain gold bracelets from her purse. "I took the liberty of picking them up yesterday. They're properly sized and inscribed with today's date."

Max gazed at his sister. "Lyla, how did you……."

"I measured your fingers while you were asleep last week," she replied casually. "Someone needed to handle the details you two kept forgetting."

Judge Martinez grinned. "Great family coordination. "Shall we begin?"

What followed was stunningly simple. Judge Martinez discussed the legal commitment they were making, the duties and benefits of marriage, and the significance of deciding to build a life together.

For as long as they existed, Grace and Max renewed their traditional promises to love and respect one another through both good times and bad, in health and illness.

Max's speech was crisp and his hands calm as he put the ring on Grace's finger. Grace felt the weight of the moment as she did the same for him; it wasn't heavy, but it was substantial. Actual.

Judge Martinez said, "I now pronounce you husband and wife by the power vested in me by the state." "You may kiss your bride, Mr. Walker."

Max's kiss was gentle and confident, the kiss of someone who had discovered his true place. Their small crowd exploded in cheers and suspicious-sounding sniffling from all sides around them.

Judge Martinez declared, "Ladies and gentlemen," with obvious delight, "I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Walker."

"I'm actually keeping Chen-Walker," Grace stated while continuing to grasp Max's hands. However, I'm grateful.

"Mr. Walker and Ms. Chen-Walker," the judge smiled and corrected. "Congratulations to you both."

Congratulations, photos, and the unique bustle of family members attempting to arrange group photos in a courthouse hallway dominated the following several minutes. Max covered his face with his hands in feigned humiliation while Matt Jackson, who had flown down from Portland especially for the ceremony, regaled Max's parents with college anecdotes.

"I can't believe you really did it," Matt remarked, grabbing Max in an enthusiastic hug. "When you called and said you were getting engaged, I thought you were having some kind of mental episode."

"Thanks for the vote of faith," Max said dryly.

No, I mean it. You've been talking about finding the ideal person for years, analysing every relationship until death. And then you meet Grace, and everything seems to fall into place. Happy. As if you had finally understood why you were doing all of this analysis."

Grace, who overheard this talk while posing for photos with Max's mother and Mrs. Liv, felt a warm surge of compassion for Matt's uncensored honesty and Mason's obvious shame at being mentally examined in public.

"All right, everyone," Lyla stated, examining her calendar, "the community centre is reserved for lunch at noon. That gives us an hour for more shots and transition time."

"Additional photos?" Max enquired with hardly contained dread.

"Wedding photos, Max." For posterity. Mrs. Liv suggested a rose garden behind the courthouse.

As their party stepped outdoors into the October sunshine, Grace realised that her morning nervousness had been replaced by something lighter and more certain. They were married. They'd been working towards this legal and emotional commitment for months, and it was now formal, witnessed, and celebrated.

"How do you feel, Mrs. Chen-Walker?" Mason enquired quietly as they strolled together to the courthouse rose garden.

"Like myself, only more so," Grace said, repeating her words from the morning. "How about

you, Mr. Walker?"

"Like the luckiest person in the municipal court system today."

"Only today?"

"I don't want to overstep. Someone in traffic court might have just had their licence back after a DUI. That's also pretty lucky."

Grace laughed, and the sound echoed across the courthouse steps, where Matt Jackson was attempting to arrange Max's parents and Lyla for "the perfect family photo to commemorate this momentous occasion."

After twenty minutes and approximately fifty photographs, they were finally free of family photo obligations and allowed to proceed to their wedding lunch…….a casual celebration at the community centre where Lyla had somehow arranged for Max's favourite sandwich shop to cater what she described as "an intimate reception for the immediate family."