Page 125 of The New Place

Ned pulls in a long breath. As he lets it out, he smiles. “Well, then. Marry me?”

26

ABBOT

Abbot stands in the kitchen once Ned’s left to get Peggy, going over their hastily made list.

Their IDs, yes, they both have those. Ned’s certified divorce decree, which he thankfully had on hand. It’s with him and Baxter, and soon Peggy will be as well when he retrieves her from school. Abbot has the confirmation of the appointment at Portland’s city hall for this afternoon, one of the few available today just before the office closes.

He reads the instructions again. They’ll fill out the Intention of Marriage Application, then sign the license and give it to the officiant, who will legally marry them, get the signature of two witnesses, and return the license to the clerk within seven days.

In the end, it’s all very straightforward. How very simple to get married, it turns out. All this time Abbot has waited, and it’s a set of signatures and paperwork.

And apparently, Ned calling Beverly. He checks his phone again, but there’s no word from Ned, or from her, and he’s left wondering if they’ve connected yet.

And said what? He doesn’t even want to imagine.

It would be something, certainly, to miss his own wedding. To skip out on marrying Ned.

He won’t, he knows, but the itch at the back of his neck that started last night has yet to subside. A shoe will drop, and every time he pictures it, it’s one of Ned’s.

Dan comes down the stairs, buttoning his dress shirt. “What a day,” he says. “What a day today is. I just can’t believe it. What a day.”

“I’m so sorry for the lack of notice,” Abbot says. “And that you’ve had to leave work.”

Dan’s eyes are shining. “I used to be called out of work because Ned was sick and I had to pick him up early from school. This is such a treat. Such a surprise.”

“And really, I apologize that there’s no time to invite more family.” And that Ned’s marrying him, he nearly adds.

Yet today is Ned’s idea.

Abbot still can’t quite understand how Ned hasn’t up and left him yet.

“You have your lives to plan a big wedding.” Dan comes over to hug him yet again. “But it’s about what you two want. Not me, not Cheryl, not your father. This is you and Ned.”

“And Peggy,” Abbot says.

Dan squeezes him, hard. “And Peggy,” he whispers before he finally lets him go.

And Newbury, Abbot thinks.

Does Ned want this? No, he can’t.

But he said he did, and he’d kept his arm across Abbot’s waist all last night, and kissed him and kissed him.

And today is very much happening. Abbot straightens his shirt, looking down to see if it’s marred by Dan’s tears. It’s not, and though he has other clean shirts at home, he’s not entirely certain he has time to stop by his house.

So he’s wearing this to get married in, a light blue dress shirt and brown slacks he already had packed, and Ned was in a sweatshirt, though he’d hurriedly thrown a change of clothes into a bag.

Abbot’s father will have something appropriate to wear, of course. Peggy will be in her cape, Abbot assumes, and Liesl can put on whatever she’s brought that she likes the best.

And that’s that. Again, simple. Easy, nearly.

Abbot’s stomach flips over and he wonders if he’s going to be sick.

Or maybe that’s happiness. He’s marrying Ned and Ned is marrying him. Now. Today.

He pauses, letting the thought fill him before he shakes himself. He’s only getting married if they’re on time and have made it through this list. He pulls out his phone to call Pat, since Ned hadn’t crossed that off before he left. It’s written beneath Sign and send offer letters.