Prologue
Josie
The mid-day sunshine reflects across the lake in front of me.
“Breathe,” Jackie, my older sister reminds.
My dress fits like a glove. Full length, mermaid with lace sleeves matching the pattern of my cathedral veil. I inhale as my sister adjusts the thin material, spreading it out across the grass as the photographer snaps away.
Today is the day I commit to my high school sweetheart, Jonah. How we got here still seems like a dream. From that first dance in ninth grade to now, a month after my graduation getting married with our family around.
Jonah is a year older than me. Everyone said it wouldn’t last once he left. I wanted to laugh then and even more so now. Tell me again how it couldn’t work. Because here we are.
Immediately after his graduation, he went to BCT- Basic Combat Training, or boot camp for the Army. He went on to his advanced training before finding his first duty station in Fort Liberty, North Carolina. I’ve never left Arkansas, but here Jonah is seeing all kinds of places. All because he made a decision at seventeen. In order to join, he had to have his mom sign off on it or wait until his eighteenth birthday. Waiting has never been Jonah’s strength, so his mom signed and off he went.
He lives in his dorm or barracks, basically his crash pad. It isn’t the best place. Jonah is an only child. He hasn’t had to share a room ever, most especially one this size. Close quarters force him to get to know his roommate in ways I know he would prefer not to. He doesn’t mind his bunk mate generally speaking; however, the other gentleman is a slob.
Jonah is constantly picking up after him and doing the right things for the inspections they get. Who knew the military is so particular on how their soldiers keep their quarters? If we get married, that takes him out of bachelors’ quarters.
Honestly, I don’t understand how the military can say someone can’t live on their own unless they are married. Jonah is an adult. Why does the Army get to tell him who he lives with and the conditions he will live in? To me, he can go to war and risk his life, but he doesn’t get a say in where he lives as a single male … someone make it make sense to me. It doesn’t bother Jonah. He constantly reminds me he signed up for this. He is the property of the United States Army and he’s proud to be a soldier. In the end, as long as Jonah is happy, then I’m happy. The Army makes him his best self even if I don’t understand it all.
For example, I will be his “dependent”, which is a term my independent self struggles with. However, if we continue without me marrying him then I need to stay here to go to college. I can’t afford to go to school and pay for my own place to stay near him in North Carolina. It also means my residency status will make me have to pay out of state tuition until I’ve been a North Carolina resident long enough. As a military dependent my life in Arkansas isn’t held against me. That isn’t the only factor in our decision to get married now. We have been doing this long-distance relationship for a year, and it’s not been easy. I miss him. While I could live in my own place there near him, it makes me nervous. More than anything, I don’t like the idea of living in a strange town without him being there too. He doesn’t have a high enough rank to live out in town without a dependent. That is how he keeps explaining it to me.
I don’t exactly understand rank other than it matters to him. Somehow his rank gives him more freedoms as he works his way up. All of this is foreign to me. My dad did not serve in the military. In fact, he’s been the bread man my whole life, distributing loaves of bread and boxes of snacks to the grocery stores in our area.
We could wait. I could stay here and go to school while Jonah focuses on his career. Except, I don’t want to spend four more years apart from Jonah. It’s not like we haven’t wanted to be married one day. We have talked about it since forever it seems. This last year apart was hard enough, I don’t want to spend another year like this. When Jonah proposed on his weekend liberty after graduating boot camp, it gave us a new drive to stick it out even though the distance is hard. Immediately, I said yes, and I knew this is the life for us. Wherever he goes, I want to be by his side.
I must admit, the being a military spouse, well, it’s all complicated and a little overwhelming. There are rules. As he explains it, I’m a representation of him. Plus, I’m leaving everything I know from small-town Arkansas behind to go to what Jonah calls ‘a place that is barely a dot on a map’. Which is saying something since we aren’t from a big city ourselves. Apparently, Fort Liberty or Fayetteville isn’t really all that big. Compared to the surrounding towns, it is the city, but it’s not a busy hub like one imagines a city to be.
This is Jonah’s dream, to be a soldier in the United States Army. He swears it began with his first pack of GI Joe action figures when he was five. Whatever sparked the goal, we are here, and I support him one thousand percent.
With our budget and time constraints, today is the day we will commit our forever together. We have planned a small ceremony and I’m grateful for it. I don’t like to be in the spotlight. I like privacy and I love the intimacy of a smaller event. I am more than ready to be Mrs. Jonah Schneider.
The day passes in a blur as pictures are done individually and then I’m whisked away until time to proceed down the aisle. Being in the moment now, I wish we had done a private first look. I miss Jonah and could use a small hug or kiss to calm my nerves. He is my person, my safe space always.
My aunt who is acting as our coordinator gives me the thumbs up that it’s go time.
I embrace the love and support given to us both as I take each step closer to him. Jonah keeps his tear-filled eyes locked to mine as I make my way closer. My hands are placed in his by my father as Jonah quickly leans in and kisses my forehead. Instantly, I calm. I have waited all day for this simple gesture. Something Jonah has always done the first moment he sees me every single time without fail.
I smile as the officiant begins. Jonah enlisted the aid of his cousin Brian, who is an officer in the Army, to officiate our nuptials. Who knew getting a license to hitch people was as simple as an online course in Arkansas? I didn’t, but I am impressed. Brian has embraced this role, and we have all had fun together planning. While Jonah isn’t a seasoned soldier, with the help of Brian we have planned an Army themed nuptial. We both think it’s a cute take on vows and this new journey we are going to have together. I have waited for this day and it’s everything I dreamed of and more.
Jonah and I decided to forego traditional vows and embrace his new life as a soldier as part of our theme. I’m more nervous as to what others might think of this unconventional agreement. Everyone is quiet as Brian clears his throat signaling the music to end.
“Dear family and friends,” Brian starts with a smile, “we are gathered here today in the sight of God and the Department of the Army, to witness this exchange of vows, and see the love that these two dedicated, loving people have for one another.”
I hear mild murmurs, no doubt our guests wondering what we are doing adding the Department of the Army to our opening lines.
Brian wastes no time in getting right to it.
"Wilt thou, Jonah, take Josie (who will now be referred to as the ‘dependent’), as your family member, to dwell together in so far as the Department of the Army will permit?"
Everyone laughs as I beam with pride at my soldier.
Brian moves on without missing a beat. "Wilt thou love her, comfort her, via the postal service or over the phone, wilt thou make sure she knows where the commissary, BX, and church are from your post-assigned housing? Wilt thou inform her of the time she is scheduled to use the laundry room the day she arrives, wherever you are stationed?"
Jonah gives a proud nod before looking to me with a pause, “I do.”
Brian continues, "Wilt thou attempt to warn her more than 24 hours in advance that you will be leaving for two weeks? Preferably you don’t leave this information as a passing by, I’m on training beginning the next morning. This especially applies to the years you will live in a foreign country!”
