AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Top of Brompton Road,” Reed said, bundling Golden into the back seat and piling in after her. “A thousand dollars if you get us there in under ten minutes.”
“Ten minutes? Bleedin’ hell, guv. D’ye think this is a bloody jet?” The taxi driver’s voice was little better than a sneer.
“All right, fifteen minutes but a minute over that and you lose.”
The man gunned the gas pedal, slamming Reed and Golden back against the seat then with a screech of tires he shot off down the street, obviously determined to win the promised reward.
“Is that the judge’s home address?” Golden whispered.
“Yep.”
“But how do you know it? Do they usually give clients that kind of information?” Confused, she stared up into his face which was half hidden by the shadows.
“When you didn’t show up for the appointment I had a feeling we’d need his services after regular hours. I did my research.”
“Online?”
“No, I made friends with his receptionist.”
Golden gasped. “You didn’t. What did you do to make her give you her boss’s personal information?”
“Promised her a year’s supply of outfits, compliments of Davidoff Fashions.”
“Wow,” Golden whispered then she reached over and slipped her hand inside Reed’s. “I guess that was too good for her to pass up.” Then she smiled. “I don’t admire what she did but I’m glad she did it.”
He leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. “Me, too.”
Within thirteen minutes the taxi was pulling up in front of the judge’s house. “Wait here,” Reed told him as he flung the door open. “We’ll need about twenty minutes.”
“Hey, pay up or else I’m coming in there with you.”
“No problem,” Reed yelled back as he took Golden’s hand and set off. “I may need you as a witness. We’re getting married.”
They bounded up the steps and as Reed rang the doorbell Golden could hear the chimes echoing through the house. And then a thought hit her. “My God, it’s almost midnight. How can we wake the man in the middle of the night? We should have called ahead.”
Reed grimaced. “You’re right but it’s too late now. I just hope he doesn’t fling us off his doorstep.”
“Or call the police,” she whispered, eyes wide as that thought entered her mind.
“Or call the police.” Reed repeated her words with a sigh then he reached out and rang the bell again. And again.
“Who the hell is it, at this time of night?” The judge’s voice came to them loud and clear and then the curtains by the window were drawn back and he was peering out. When he saw the straggly group on his porch - a rain soaked woman, a man with hospital gown stuck to his body and a taxi driver with a look of bewilderment on his face – he frowned. Then he shook his head and Golden could see he was making a clucking sound with his tongue.
Suddenly the entrance light was flipped on and the front door opened. “Come in, come in,” he said, his voice half sleepy, half grumpy. “I hope you know I only opened this door because I recognized you, Mr. Davidoff.”
“I appreciate it, sir.” Reed grabbed his hand and shook it vigorously. “Sorry I had to disturb you in the middle of the night but due to the stipulations of a will we have to be married before midnight. Can you do this for us?”
“When I saw you on my doorstep,” the judge said, shaking his head again, “I guessed as much. I’ve had experience with some of the strangest wills ever written.” He glanced over at the taxi driver. “So this is your witness?”
Reed nodded. “One of. We’ll need one more, I think. Do you mind...?”
“I’ll get my wife. She’s already up anyway. With all that bell ringing you just did I’m surprised the children aren’t up, too.” Then he gave a snort. “Teenagers. They’re like bloody logs. God help me if I fall ill in the middle of the night and need their help.” Then he jerked his head toward an open door. “Go wait in the sitting room. I’ll be right back.”
“Quick, please,” Golden couldn’t help interjecting. “We’ve only got a few minutes before the deadline.”
“I’m well aware of that. I will be right back.” The judge didn’t seem too pleased at her attempt to hurry him along but at least he’d set off toward the stairway. Still, Golden would not breathe easy until she’d said, “I do.”
In the sitting room Reed paced the floor while Golden perched on the edge of an armchair and their impromptu witness lounged on the leather couch. The man pushed back his flat cap and looked at Reed then Golden then back to Reed. His eyes narrowed. “He called you Davidoff. Any connection to Davidoff Fashions?”
Reed gave him a curt nod. “The same.”
The man’s face broke into a toothy grin. “I’m not among the common folk, that’s sure.”
Golden turned to glare at him. Now that he knew who Reed was he was probably going to demand more money for his time. A whole lot more.
To her surprise, the man simply settled back in his seat and said not another word.
“What time is it?” Reed asked through gritted teeth.
She glanced at the cell phone. “Eleven forty-eight.”
He balled his hands into fists. “Where are they?”
Golden shook her head. “We have a few more minutes. We just have to be patient.”
Reed’s response was a frustrated snarl.
The sound of footsteps made Golden hop up from her seat. She went to stand beside Reed just as the judge walked in with his sleepy-looking wife, her hair adorned with colorful rollers.
“Now let’s get this party started.” Judge Sandowski directed them to stand in front of him then he had his first witness stand to the right and his second to the left. Then he glanced down at the paper in his hand. “Full names, please.” When they told him, he scribbled the information down then he looked up at his audience.
“Now, as we gather together to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony, is there anyone who objects?” Ignoring his wife, he glared over his glasses at the taxi driver. When the man gave a shrug and a bashful grin he continued. “Are you, Reed Warren Davidoff, free lawfully to marry Golden Lily Browne?”
“I am.” Reed’s voice was bold and strong.
When the judge looked at Golden and asked her the corresponding question she replied proudly, “I am.”
Judge Sandowski nodded. “By the powers vested in me I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
With a relieved sigh Reed reached out and gathered Golden into his arms. They were in the middle of their first kiss as a married couple when the taxi driver spoke. “What time is it?”
It was the judge’s wife who responded. “Eleven fifty-six. They made it just in time. Isn’t it romantic?”
After that, Golden did not hear another word. She was too busy losing herself in the kiss she’d been awaiting all her life. It was a kiss from her beloved husband, the kiss that had broken the evil spell. Reed was her knight in shining armor who had rescued her from a most pitiful fate.
It was the fairy tale ending she’d dreamed of all her life.
