30 minutes to no show... and "I do"

I answered the phone on a Saturday afternoon to a mumbled, "Are you a JP?" I quickly answered him and explained how the process works. I added that he must get a license from Danfield if the ceremony will be in Danfield, that we can perform the ceremony anywhere he would like it.  I also explained that he should call the Town Clerk's office to make sure that someone was there to sign his license when he and his fiance apply. He asked for the phone number and I explained I was not in my office and would call him back. I took his name, Jeffrey, and asked his fiance's name.  He said "Mine."

Shaking my head, I puzzled over the strange conversation and decided to follow through, hoping it was someone who truly want to be married. 

Later that evening, I called Jeffrey back and he said, "Didn't I just talk to you?" I answered no and that I was calling to provide the phone number as promised this morning.  I asked if they would be exchanging rings and he answered that he was not sure, he would talk to "her."  At this point, we made arrangements to meet at City Hall when he gets the license, with the ceremony at 9:00 am on Tuesday. 

I get a second call on Monday afternoon. Jeffrey got the license and I asked where he would like to hold the ceremony, again with confusion in his voice he said my house, providing the address. He added that he would meet me in the  drug store parking lot next to his home at noon. Hmmmm, should I be worried at this point? He also said they would not be exchanging rings yet.

I decided this was the time to call in reinforcements and after I hung up the phone went in search of my husband/bodyguard.  I explained what has transpired so far and asked for a ride to Shady Road for the next day at noon if he has the time.  Agreeing that the wedding was not as concrete as my usual events, George, also a constable for the City of Danfield, promised to go with me.

Tuesday was hot and humid. Packing my robe, the Certificate of Marriage and the program designed specifically for Jeffrey and Mine, hoping that this was her name, we drove to the drug store.  We arrived at 11:50 am and sat in the car with the air conditioning on.  George turned to me, "Are you sure this is where you are supposed to be?" Nobody resembling a groom, or even a semblance of a couple appeared.  I got out of the car, keeping my robe over my arm as a hint that I am a JP. Nothing, with no one questioning me, acknowledging me or even noticing me.

At noon I decided to walk around the corner to the apartments next door, to see if anyone was there waiting for me.  George followed in the car, with the air conditioning on.  I found the apartment, and the only moving creature was a beautiful gray cat, scratching at the window every time I knocked.  I returned to the car, we waited for 5 minutes and I explained that he vaguely said between noon and 12:30 pm.  We went back to the parking lot to people watch and that, in itself, was quite entertaining. 

At 12:30, we drove around the corner and someone was sitting outside the apartment.  I smiled as I went up to a woman in shorts, flip flops, a bright pink T-shirt and ratty, not quite clean blond hair.  Explaining who I was, I asked about Jeffrey. "Yes, he lives here but I don't know where he is. I'll call him but he never answers his phone."

She turned to me seconds later and said the phone went directly to voice mail.  We discussed the wedding and she acknowledged that Jeffrey was planning to get married today, but she did not know where or when.  She added that she has his fiance's phone number but not on her.  I asked if she thought they may have gone to City Hall since Jeffrey mentioned it so much on Saturday.  She said maybe.......

I went back to the car and asked George to stop by City Hall.  He thought this was a stupid waste of my time, but I wanted to know what happened.  Two minutes later, I stopped at the information desk and asked if there was a couple waiting here at all this afternoon, or actually at noon.  He said yes and that Jennie came down and performed the ceremony. The couple may still be outside.

I stormed out the door and ran to the side of the building. I met a white man about 80 or so and two black women in their 50s or early 60s.  I confronted the man, asking if he was Jeffrey.  He said yes and I immediately let him know that I was waiting at his home as instructed.  He said the JP told him to come to City Hall.

From what I could gather from our short discussion, he was talking to two JPs, sometimes within minutes of each other.  Another interesting 30 minutes before I Do, but I did not get to listen to those beautiful words.  This day consisted of 45 minutes, and I refused to part with my Certificate of Marriage created for the couple and I still do not know if her name is Mine.

And now the weddings...

I sat in the car and watched three gentlemen dressed in suits, pink bow ties and black converse sneakers walk by. They were headed toward the elaborate venue surrounded by three fountains, two gazebos, an expanse of green grass and multiple varieties of colorful flowers.  The Winds is the location of the wedding I will be performing in 30 minutes.

Two more similarly clad young men strolled by, one carrying a baby.  I decided it is time to join the crowd and confirm the marriage license is complete and all details are within the proper time allotment.  I walked up to the knot of black suits and asked to speak with Tim. Tim and I have been communicating by email and phone for the past week.

He called in a panic on Sunday at 9 pm, his JP had canceled and the wedding is scheduled for Friday the 13th in Brandon, an hour and 15 minutes away.  I was recommended by his friend and my cousin, Peter. I agreed to do the ceremony explaining that I would have to charge for the extra mileage. He gratefully accepted and he spelled out the details. I put together a draft and emailed it an hour later providing the couple time to review and make changes to the words that will change their lives, during the week.

Today is Friday, wedding day, and I was directed to Tim, a good looking young man with a beer in his hand. I asked for the license and he looked startled. He quickly regained his composure and said Melissa has it.  Knowing that the bride was not yet there, I went to the lobby to wait for the limo carrying the girls. 

The limo pulled up and the groom's dad runs to greet them. Come to find out, they had his suit.  I waited inside for the bride and as she was preparing to go upstairs  I asked her for the license.  A look of horror flitted across her face as she replied that Tim has it. I quickly apologised and said, "I will find Tim."

I returned to the garden to look for the groom.  Tim and his groomsmen were in the garden, along with two month old Ben, in his tuxedo onesie.  The baby, as part of the wedding party, just slept.  Tim turned to me and said, "The license is with my passports, in my suitcase, locked in the hotel room."  I let him know that we cannot perform the ceremony without the license in hand.  "Oh, I understand," he replied, "My dad just went to get it. The hotel is just across the street."

The next update included a report that the security lock on the hotel door fell into place as the groom slammed the door as he left the room. "It's on the way," he states again.  I went back to the lobby and Jeff, the wedding planner handed my two pink gerber daisies.  He asked that I have the new bride and groom give the flowers to the moms. I smiled and said, "sure, how sweet."

I returned to the men, waiting for the license so the ceremony could begin. The latest news is that the door is being taken off the hinges to allow someone to grab the license. The groom reassured me that the hotel was just across the street and that we can begin momentarily. 

By this point Jeff has brought the groomsmen each a scotch and a bucket of beer to use as a chasers. as the clouds came rolling in.  The license arrived, the ceremony went smoothly, I escaped with license in hand, leaving another happily married couple behind.