Lymber craft's Arc

Chapter 34 of 70

Saturday came clear and bright. Lymber stood in the bedroom while Polly zipped the beaded gown up her back. The dress closed on the first pull. Polly stepped back and nodded once. Paul knocked on the door in a borrowed suit, Jett in one arm, the puppy tangled around his ankle. Violetta pushed past him in a pink polka-dot dress, her hair brushed flat, white shoes already scuffed at the toe. She stopped and stared at Lymber. She said, Mommy pretty. Lymber crouched carefully and kissed her cheek. Twenty-one months old, and already saying the word like she meant it. They had moved the ceremony to the backyard eight days ago to keep it off phones. But that morning Polly said the girl from the old class had left town for the weekend. The gazebo was open again. Paul looked at Lymber. He said, your call. Lymber looked at Violetta in her pink dress, at Jett squirming in the suit, at the beaded skirt spread around her knees. She said, the park. Nineteen guests stood on the grass around the wooden gazebo when they pulled up. Polly carried Jett. Paul held Violetta's hand, the puppy on a short leash in his other fist. Someone had tied white ribbon around the posts. A friend of Polly's stood inside with a folder and a small book. Lymber walked the path alone, holding the skirt up off the dirt. The stones on the bodice threw light on the wooden floor when she stepped up under the roof. Paul took her hands. His were warm. He said his vows in the short sentences he always used. He said, I'm here. I stay. I love you. Lymber said hers back and did not cry until she got to Violetta's name. Violetta tugged on the skirt from below and said, Mommy. Paul lifted her up between them. The officiant smiled and kept going. Rings went on. The puppy barked once at nothing. Paul kissed her, and the small crowd clapped, and Polly held Jett up so he could see. At the end the officiant said their names together. Mr. and Mrs. Craft. Lymber said the name in her head twice. Craft had been Paul's name, then Violetta's, then Jett's. Now it was hers too. She signed the book on the little folding table. Polly signed under her as witness. Paul signed last, slow and careful, and set the pen down flat. They took photos on the gazebo steps. Violetta sat on Lymber's lap in her pink dress. Jett slept on Paul's shoulder. Lymber felt the dress still fitting, the ring still new on her finger, the four of them held together in one frame. Then a small cramp moved low in her stomach, and she pressed her hand against the beading and did not say anything yet.