Antler Crown, Silent Departure novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: The License Office

At 8:50 on Wednesday morning I stood in the marriage license office of the county courthouse.

I wore a gray coat, with Poppy on my left and Dot on my right.

Dot had brought a thermos.

"You can't stop two adults from getting a license," she said.

"I know."

"Then why are we here?"

"Because I want him to see my face when he does it."

The room was a long bright hall with a counter at one end and a line of plastic chairs.

Six couples waited in the chairs, holding paperwork and each other's hands.

Zack came through the door at 8:58 in a navy suit, with Lacey beside him in a cream dress and a small white hat.

She was carrying a folder, and she saw me before he did.

Her steps slowed.

Zack's grin did not last.

"Bridge, what are you doing here?"

"I'm early for my appointment," I said.

"You don't have an appointment."

"No," I said. "I don't. I came to watch."

A woman in the third chair put her hand over her mouth.

Lacey tightened her grip on the folder.

"This is public, Zack. We don't have to talk to her."

"You don't have to talk to me at all," I said. "Nobody's stopping you. Go and sign."

Zack took a step toward the counter.

Then the door opened behind us, and his father walked in with Malcolm at his shoulder.

They both wore overcoats.

Malcolm had not slept either, and I could see it in his face.

I looked away.

"Dad," Zack said. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to say one thing," his father said. "If you marry this woman before Friday, I pull my guarantee on the cabin this morning. Not on Friday. Now."

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