The Registry Said I Was Single, So They Assigned Me My Husband's Boss novel · Chapter 23 of 24

Chapter 23: Filed by Hand

He asked me on the porch, in front of two police cars, a hedge and a puppy.

"Willa Prentiss," he said. "The registry gave you to me. I don't want that anymore."

"Silvan."

"I want you to give yourself to me, and I want to be here when you do." He took the form from my hand with careful fingers. "Will you convert it? Put your own name on it?"

"You're doing this next to a patrol car."

"I'm doing it badly."

"You are."

"Is that a no?"

"It's a yes," I said. "Ask Deborah for a pen."

Deborah had been standing three feet away the whole time, pretending to adjust a flowerpot.

She produced a pen from her cardigan pocket without turning around.

We held the wedding two days later, on my thirtieth birthday, in the garden behind the house.

It was a cold, bright November day, and Deborah had hired four patio heaters and told them to stand in a circle around the maple.

There were thirty folding chairs on the frozen grass.

Dina sat in the front row in a purple dress, already crying.

The clinic owner had come, and the two vet techs from nights, and Biscuit's owner with Biscuit, who wore a bow tie.

Lydia stood beside me in green, with her bob combed flat and her face lit.

"I'm your maid of honor," she'd said, "and I'm going to cry on every single word."

The oldest director had come from the board, with his wife, and a small gift I wasn't to open until later.

At the end of the garden, by Walter's stone, the clerk from the registry window stood in a plain brown coat, holding a clipboard.

I hadn't known she was coming.

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