Arranged •{ONC 2020}•

《 Chapter Six 》

"What is it that I'm supposed to approve?" A balding man stepped out of an office behind the clerk's counter.

"Mrs. Whittaker's niece is getting married to this young man, but their marriage license hasn't been approved yet."

The man put on a pair of reading glasses and glanced over the documents. "I see. Another one of your set-ups, I assume?"

Aunt Leah laughed. "You know how I love to meddle, Jacob."

"Today it's 'Judge McKinley' if you want me to approve it." He took a pen from the clerk's desk and signed the license. "There you are. Let them do it today, Abigail."

"Yes, Judge McKinley. Now, there's a small fee—"

Aunt Leah pulled a crisp one-hundred-dollar bill from her wallet and handed it to the clerk. "I believe this will cover it. Let's get on with this, Judge McKinley."

The tension in the air between the two was suffocating. The desk clerk, Abigail, was dying to know what their history was. Wesley was scared of dying.

After a minute of deafening silence and intense staring, Judge McKinley huffed and told them to follow him. He led them through the courthouse into a small room. A few rows of chairs filled the half of the room nearest the door, and a plain gray rug stretched from the door to the front of the room. Stained-glass windows filtered sunlight into the room, casting colorful patterns on the hardwood floor and rug.

"Where is the bride?"

"Arnold is bringing her; they'll be here shortly." Aunt Leah set her bag down on the front row of chairs. "Wesley, come here. Your tie is all messy!"

He wisely obeyed and leaned forward so she could reach it—she didn't have much stature, but that didn't make her any less intimidating.

Her fingers worked deftly to smooth out his tie. Before she finished, she pulled him closer. "I hope by now you realize just exactly what you are getting into, Wesley. This is your last chance to back out. No one here would blame you if you left."

"She would."

Aunt Leah studied him for a few moments and released his tie. "There," she patted it gently, "good as new."

He murmured his thanks and went to stand by the judge at the front of the room. Sweat was forming on his palms and his toes tapped incessantly. Wesley didn't know why he was anxious; it's not like this was a real wedding anyways.

Arnold stuck his head around the doorframe and peered into the room, his signature mischievous grin spread from ear to ear. "You folks ready in there?" At a look from the judge, he disappeared.

When he reappeared with Ashlynn on his arm, Wesley forgot how to breath for a few moments.

Ashlynn looked beautiful, even with a scowl on her face. Her dress was simple; it was knee length with a sweetheart neckline and lace covering her tanned shoulders. Her hair was braided into a bun, with white ribbons woven into the dark strands.

She hated it.

Her instincts were screaming at her to turn and run, and she probably would have if Arnold wasn't gripping her hand and Aunt Leah didn't have her eyebrow raised in warning. She received no satisfaction from the look of awe on Wesley's face.

Faking a nervous smile didn't fool the judge; he knew a lie when he saw one. And he'd conducted enough marriages to know he'd likely see these two in six months' time and sign their divorce papers.

Ashlynn and Arnold reached the front of the room and he gave her a swift hug. She gripped the back of his jacket tightly and gave him as confident of a smile as she could muster when he pulled away.

Judge McKinley started rattling on about the significance of marriage. Wesley and Ashlynn spoke only when prompted. Eventually he reached the end and, turning to Aunt Leah, asked, "Do they have rings?"

Aunt Leah dug around in her bag and pulled out two ring boxes, handing one to Ashlynn and the other to Wesley. The latter looked a little surprised; he didn't recall Aunt Leah mention buying him a wedding band.

Handing the empty boxes back to Aunt Leah, they readied themselves to slide the golden bands on the other's fingers. Wesley went first, except he kept his eyes averted this time. His hands were cold and clammy. Ashlynn shook slightly when slipping the band onto Wesley's finger, partly because of anger and partly because of nerves.

The judge nodded his head in approval. "I now declare you husband and wife," he proclaimed, a sly look overcoming his wrinkled features. "You may kiss the bride."

Wesley looked at Ashlynn in shock, only to see his surprise mirrored in her expression. They had been told that kissing wasn't a requirement, and they both vehemently agreed not to kiss. But now they had to, and they had an eager audience to boot.

The judge was thoroughly enjoying their deer in the headlights looks. Aunt Leah was wrong about this pair, for sure.

Wesley snapped out of it first. It's just a quick peck on the lips, he told himself. He cupped her face and leaned in.

He hadn't expected Ashlynn to grab the lapels of his suit jacket and yank him down. What was meant to be a reserved peck on the lips escalated when she smashed her lips against his. If the judge wanted a show, then by golly she was going to give him one.

Judge McKinley cleared his throat when Ashlynn started to tangle her fingers in the hair at the back of Wesley's head. She forced herself to pull back tantalizingly slow, although she would have very much liked to jump back immediately. They both were out of breath, and Ashlynn was wondering how much mouthwash it would take to sanitize her mouth.

Aunt Leah was too shocked to say anything. Arnold, who had figured out what Ashlynn was going to do before she did, was still grinning and had gotten a good picture of them for the papers.

"Congratulations," Judge McKinley spoke, breaking the silence that had fallen over the room. "I wish you both the best of luck."

"Thanks," Wesley replied breathlessly. He was going to need an oxygen tank after this was all over.

Ashlynn smiled at the judge as he walked past her and towards the door. She was going to need at least half a bottle of mouthwash—and some tequila.

Aunt Leah came out of her stupor and flew to her niece. "I can't believe you did that!"

Ashlynn wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "Neither can I, but the old guy wanted a show, so I gave him one."

Aunt Leah shook her head incredulously. "Well, it's over now. Arnold, take us home."

The four of them left the room and made their way out of the courthouse. The clerk was giggling violently at her desk when they walked by. She paused long enough to say, "Have fun, you two!" before she fell into another fit of giggles as they exited the building.

Ashlynn huffed and climbed into the backseat of the car. She immediately began tugging ribbons and bobby pins out of her hair, making a sizeable pile of them on her lap.

Wesley watched in amusement as she scrambled to get them out. She glared at him and he redirected his gaze out the window, absentmindedly fingering the gold band he would wear for the next six months.

Aunt Leah was in the front seat, gushing about the lovely pictures Arnold had captured. Ashlynn zoned out, her eyes fixed on the innocent ring that sat on her finger. She had crossed the point of no-return now, and she wasn't sure exactly how she felt about that fact.

All she knew was this was just the beginning, and she had the feeling it was only going to get messier from here on out.