Skye was happy to see Ash taking the time to write the woman’s son a lengthy note.
“Does it matter where we stand?” Skye asked.
The woman shook her head. “Not really.”
Ben and Edna stood in front of the desk. Ash went to Ben’s side, and Skye stood beside Edna. The justice of the peace gave them a strange look but said nothing.
“What now?” Ash asked.
She looked between the four of them. “My part is a formality. I just need to make sure the parties do indeed wish to be married. Is this so?”
Ben and Edna nodded.
Skye spoke up, “I’m sure Ben and Edna want to say their vows, right?”
Ben did more than that. He bent to one knee, adoration and the purest love radiating from his face. “Edna, I never proposed to you in the right way, so I’m fixing that now.”
Skye joined Ash, nudging him to remind him to snap those photos for Ben and Edna’s children and grandchildren.
Ben wobbled, and his knee popped loudly into the silence.
Edna’s hand shook, and her eyes misted as he slid a diamond anniversary band over her ring finger to nestle beside her wedding ring.
She accepted his proposal with a whispered, “Yes,” and a flutter of her hand over her heart.
Ash helped Ben to his feet, and then Ben and Edna exchanged vows, fifty years to the day from when they had eloped.
When they were finished, the justice of the peace turned to Skye and Ash. “Do either of you want to say anything?”
Skye glanced at Ash. “Yes. I’m really honored to be here.” She wiped a tear from her cheek.
Ash gripped her hand. “Yes. Me, too.”
The woman looked back to Ben and Edna. “Well then, it’s official. You’re married.”
Edna clapped her hands. “This is so exciting.”
Ash snapped a photo of Ben laying a smooch on Edna’s lips.
Once the ceremony was over,Ash hurried their party to the limo. Less than an hour later, they dropped the newly re-wed couple at their car parked near the Niagara Falls observation deck.
Ben shook Ash’s hand and had him sign autographs for his grandchildren saying, while he had no idea what band Ash played for, he was certain his grandchildren would, and there was no way he would return home without proof. Ash indulged the couple, tossing an arm around Ben’s shoulder and even gently dipping Edna to kiss her cheek.
Skye snapped several pictures before they were able to say their good-byes. Watching the easy grace with which Edna and Ben moved warmed her heart. After fifty years, love still held them deeply in its grasp.
On the ride back to the hotel, Skye’s alcoholic buzz slowly wore off, and her thoughts turned to her future.
Ash put all of himself in everything he did. When they parted ways, she prayed his free spirit would have rubbed off on her. She wanted to give Ash something memorable, a tiny piece of herself, something she could offer without complications.
Sitting so close together, his woodsy scent filled her nostrils, and her thoughts turned in salacious directions. Her eyes drifted to the soft swell beneath the zipper of his pants. She wanted to feel him quiver in her hands as an orgasm ripped through his body. All she had to do was slip off her seat and free his cock.
“We need to get back to the hotel,” Ash said. His leg bounced with nervous energy.
She slid forward to knock on the divider separating them from the driver.
When the smoky divider lowered, the driver met her eyes via the rearview mirror. “Yes, ma’am?”
“How much farther to the hotel?”
