I laugh, leaning to the side as the ship lists and Crane’s steady hands keep me up.“How can you be jealous?We’ve been legally married for two months now.You’re my husband.How do you think Brom has felt being on the sidelines?”
“You know he’s never on the sidelines.He’s always at the forefront, right alongside you,” he says.Then his hands drop to my belly and he holds them there gently.“Though I suppose soon you shouldn’t be wearing any corsets at all.You have to give the baby space to breathe.”
I bring my hands over his and squeeze, so much love fluttering up through me I don’t know what to do with it.I’m three months into my pregnancy with Crane’s child, my husband’s child, and in a couple of minutes I’m supposed to meet with the captain of this ship, where he will marry me to Brom.There’s been so much change since we escaped from Sleepy Hollow, but it’s all been for the better.
It’s been better than I could have ever dreamed of.
A clock chimes from the wall of our double cabin, and Crane pulls away.“Time to get you dressed.”He goes over to the wardrobe and brings out my other wedding gown.This one is simpler than the one before, mainly because I know both Brom and Crane will be tearing it off me later with impatience, or at the very least getting it stained.
Also, we have to be more frugal with our money.Cranewalked away from the cathedral with thousands of dollars’ worth of rare gems, but that won’t last us forever.We spent a lot on our tickets for this ship across the Atlantic, and the rest of the money will go to buying a house in London, England.After that, Crane will get a teaching job somewhere prestigious, while Brom says he wants more of an industrial job, and I’ll be taking care of the baby.
A knock at the door sounds just as Crane has finished buttoning up the back of the dress.
“Come in,” he says.
The door opens and Famke pokes her head inside.“Your witness is here,” she says.“Reporting for duty.”She always jokes this way around Crane.I suppose his bossy personality rubs off on everyone.
“I’m ready,” I tell her, sitting on the bed while Crane slips on my shoes.Of course, I won’t be alone in raising our child.Even with Brom and Crane off working, Famke will be there to help me every step of the way.
“You look lovely, dear,” she says to me when I get up, taking my hands in hers.
“Thank you,” I tell her.“I wanted something more simple with Brom, being on a ship and all.”
“And Brom’s a much more simple man,” Crane comments.
“Oh, you,” Famke chides him.“Bristling with jealousy because your best friend is marrying your wife.”
Crane laughs.“Well, when you put it that way.”
Once Famke was able to leave Sleepy Hollow and join us in Manhattan, she quickly realized how special the relationship between the three of us was.I think she always suspected, butbeing with us she was exposed to it openly.There would be no hiding with us, no pretending that Brom was just a good friend of ours and that’s it.And she went along with it.She protected our relationship from the outside world, telling people what they wanted to hear, while she knew how deep our feelings for each other went.
Which is why when I asked her to be my maid of honor for my wedding to Crane, she was happy to take part, and when I asked her to be a witness to my marriage with Brom, she wanted to be a part of that too.
Of course, legally I can’t be married to two men at once, but we figured since my marriage to Crane took place in the state of New York, and this marriage to Brom will take place on international waters, it will still be honored.If not by the world, then by us, and that’s what really counts.
“Let’s go,” Crane says, putting his hand on my lower back.
We step out into the hall of the great ship, Famke’s room right across the way, and head through the corridors until we end up near the top deck beside the navigation bridge.I get a few appreciative nods as I go past some of the passengers, some of whom I’ve already seen a few times during the last week at sea.They probably don’t know who I’m marrying at this point since I’ve been seen around Brom and Crane equally.
Crane and I haven’t been wearing our wedding rings during the crossing, but I’ve been keeping mine on a necklace chain, right next to the protective amulet Famke gave me, which is hanging in our cabin.
We enter the captain’s stateroom right beside the bridge, a small space lined with maps and books and teak furniture and,standing right beside the captain with a large window overlooking the gray Atlantic is Brom.
He’s never looked more handsome.His beard is neatly trimmed, his dark eyes seeming brighter and lighter than they’ve ever been, and he’s wearing a dark tailored suit that fits him perfectly.He grins at me, dimples flashing, and I’ve never felt more in love.
Even Crane’s breath hitches from beside me.“Jesus, he’s pretty.”
Famke takes my arm and leads me toward them as Crane goes and stands to the side of Brom, acting as his best man, which he well and truly is.
“I have to admit,” says the captain, a grizzled older gentleman with a kind smile.“I don’t get asked to officiate many weddings.I hope you know you will still have to file all the paperwork when you arrive in England.”
“That won’t be an issue,” Crane says, and the captain gives him a queer look, wondering why he’s speaking for us.
“Well, with that said, let’s get this started,” the captain says, and gestures for me to stand beside Brom, which I do, the two of us turning to face the captain.
Brom clasps his hands at his front, gives me a sidelong glance and a quick smile, checking in on me, and I can’t help but beam up at him in return.
It’s been a long time coming.
