Kylie Cantrall's Arc

Chapter 59 of 78

The music was ready. But that morning, Kylie read the marriage license at the kitchen table and stopped. Kara had flown it in, clean and legal. At the bottom sat two lines for witnesses. One was enough for Kara, who would officiate. The second line stared back at her, blank. A license needed a witness to sign. Kara couldn't officiate and witness both. Without one more trusted person on the island, the wedding wouldn't be legal. Kylie counted the people who knew. Kara. Arianna. Herself. Her mother thought they were resting. The label thought they were unreachable. She had built this whole weekend on secrecy. Now the secrecy left her short one signature. She carried the kitten into the front room and set it on the couch. It kneaded the cushion and watched her pace. She could call no one. Every name she trusted lived on the mainland. Every stranger was a leak. Then a door opened down the hall. Dr. Emily Carter came out with a mug of tea. She held Arianna's ring box in her other hand, still guarding it a day early. Kylie had trusted her with the ring because Arianna trusted her with their future family. She was already here. She already knew. "You look like you lost something," Dr. Carter said. She set the mug down and studied Kylie's face. "A witness." Kylie held out the license. "The license needs one more signature. Kara marries us. Kara can't witness her own ceremony. I don't have anyone else on the island." Dr. Carter read the two blank lines. She set the ring box on the table between them. "You have me," she said. "I'm standing right here." Kylie hadn't let herself ask. Dr. Carter had come for the family plans, not the paperwork. "You'd sign for us? This makes it real on paper. Your name goes on a legal record with ours." "I already keep your secrets." Dr. Carter picked up a pen from the counter. "I've kept the ring. I've kept the plans you two want after this. Signing my name is the easy part." Kylie found Arianna in her room and told her. Arianna came to the kitchen and looked at Dr. Carter, then at the license. "You're sure?" Arianna asked. "I'm sure." Dr. Carter smiled. "I want to be in the story, not just holding the ring." On Saturday, after the vows, Dr. Carter would sign the second line. The wedding would be legal. No stranger, no press, no leak. Kylie set the license in the ring box for safekeeping and closed the lid. The last hole in the plan was filled. Every piece now sat on the island: the altar, the music, the rings, the license, and the one witness who could make it hold. "Then we get married," Kylie said.