14 April 2012
"Do you, Sapphire Devereux Horizon, take this man, Jeremy Samuel Franklin, to be your lawful wedded husband?"
I look round at our small party. Jeremy's two brother fidget in their suits, I almost laugh. The five year old twins look as if the interior of their suits is made of sandpaper.
My parents say they don't have the strength to come. But I know they feel ashamed.-'But why', I think,'I've come to start again, to a place where there are no reputations or pre-conceptions or judgements. To a place where I'm not so anchored by expectations'.
Finally, I look at Jeremy, in his black and white suit. Smiling his fine wine smile. "I do" "And do you,Jeremy Samuel Franklin, take this woman, Sapphire Devereux Horizon, to be your lawful wedded wife?"
I can hardly take the vicar seriously, his accent means that whenever I hear his voice, I imagine him to be more at home in a Fosters advert than in a church.
"I do."Jeremy announces. He seems to want the whole world to know.
"Then by the power invested in me, I do declare you man and wife."
Our small audience is crying, cheering and clapping. But Jeremy seems to be looking at the vicar eagerly. I try to work out what he knows that I don't
"You may now kiss the bride." I realise this is the cue Jeremy has been waiting for. He clutches my arms in a firm but gentle grip. He half lunges towards me, planting our lips on each others in total harmony.
The wedding party descends onto the beach. Jeremy and I dive into the water, hand in hand. We lie there, together. physically, mentally, spiritually, and now, lawfully.
We sit in the water for hours on end. We watch the sun go down and see the multi-coloured pallet dance across the waves.
We take the stairs to Eucalyptus Heights, we have to to keep moving. I can feel my energy bubbling in my heart.
Jeremy sweeps me off my feet and kicks open the door. We are about to jump in the bed when my phone starts to ring. I take it off the chest of drawers, ready to hang up. Then I see the name flashing across the screen.
It's my parents. I assume they've come round mentally anddecided to congratulate me.
I pick up the phone, and hear a whimper, unmistakably my Mother.
"What's wrong" I ask, worriedly. A hundred dreadful scenario's flash through my head.
"Its Danny"'she rasps, her voice thin,"He's done the unthinkable."
Jeremy-Part Five • Opuss № I