Chapter 10
Sticking with tradition, Julia slept in the purple room that had been hers not long ago the night before her wedding. It wasn't going to be a big to-do. They were going to City Hall after to dinner to sign the papers and then they would have a small ceremony at home with Frida and Samuel.
On the way to City Hall Mortimer and Julia were silent. They were both nervous, but neither one wanted to admit it.
Once the deed was done, Julia felt much better. As they walked towards Julia's car, she bumped Mortimer with her elbow. “On the car ride back maybe we should just pretend that our wedding isn't today.” She said playfully. “On the way here it felt more like a funeral!”
Back at home Frida helped Julia into her dress. Frida stepped back and sighed. “You look lovely.”
Julia nodded by way of thanks. Her nerves were back with a vengeance.
There was not a cloud in the sky. Moonlight cast a pale glow over everything. Mortimer and Samuel waited outside. Samuel had arragned all the flowers. Julia was dubious about letting a senile ghost decorate for her wedding, but everything looked lovely. Julia trailed behind Frida until they reached Mortimer. Frida stood off to the side with Samuel.
“Ready?” Mortimer whispered. Julia nodded.
“Ready?” Mortimer whispered. Julia nodded.
Smiling, Mortimer began to say his vows. “I , Mortimer, take you, Julia, to be my wife, to respect you in your successes and in your failures, to care for you in sickness and in health, to answer your silly questions, and to grow with you throughout the seasons of life.
Mortimer reached into his pocket and pulled out Julia's ring.
“I give you this ring as a visible and constant symbol of my promise to be with you as long as I live.”
Mortimer reached into his pocket and pulled out Julia's ring.
“I give you this ring as a visible and constant symbol of my promise to be with you as long as I live.”
Julia could hear Frida blowing her nose. She took a deep breath before beginning her vows.
“I, Julia, take you, Mortimer, to be my friend, the father of my children, and my husband, loving what I know of you and trusting what I do not yet know. I will be yours in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow. Where you go I will go, though I cannot promise I will obey you. I promise to love you through whatever life may bring us.”
Frida pressed Mortimer's ring into Julia's hand.
“I, Julia, take you, Mortimer, to be my friend, the father of my children, and my husband, loving what I know of you and trusting what I do not yet know. I will be yours in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow. Where you go I will go, though I cannot promise I will obey you. I promise to love you through whatever life may bring us.”
Frida pressed Mortimer's ring into Julia's hand.
“Because this ring has no end and no beginning, it signifies the continuation of love. As I place it on you finger, I give you all I am and ever hope to be.”
As she slid the ring onto his finger, Julia looked up at Mortimer. Happy tears blurred her vision. She could see that Mortimer was crying a little bit too.
As she slid the ring onto his finger, Julia looked up at Mortimer. Happy tears blurred her vision. She could see that Mortimer was crying a little bit too.
“It's time.” Frida said softly, turning to look back at the house. Samuel nodded.
He cleared his throat. “Mortimer, Julia, a moment please.”
“What is it?” Julia asked.
He cleared his throat. “Mortimer, Julia, a moment please.”
“What is it?” Julia asked.
“It's time for us to go.” Samuel interjected, sounding more childlike than ever.
“Yes. We're done here.” Frida said.
“You mean you're not stuck anymore?” Julia asked. Mortimer looked at Julia in surprise. Stuck?
“You've done what we couldn't do for Mortimer. He was the last Goth. He isn't anymore now that he's got you. It won't be long before there's another one.” Frida continued, looking pointedly at Julia's abdomen.
Julia and Mortimer exchanged quick look. They were both equally shocked.
“We're not needed here anymore. Goodbye Mortimer. Goodbye Julia.”
“Yes. We're done here.” Frida said.
“You mean you're not stuck anymore?” Julia asked. Mortimer looked at Julia in surprise. Stuck?
“You've done what we couldn't do for Mortimer. He was the last Goth. He isn't anymore now that he's got you. It won't be long before there's another one.” Frida continued, looking pointedly at Julia's abdomen.
Julia and Mortimer exchanged quick look. They were both equally shocked.
“We're not needed here anymore. Goodbye Mortimer. Goodbye Julia.”
There was a flash of light followed by the sudden appearance of two gravestones.
Mortimer and Julia stood there for several moments. Jinx's barking broke the silence.
“I'll go check on her.” Mortimer murmured, leaving Julia alone among the flowers and the graves.
“I'll go check on her.” Mortimer murmured, leaving Julia alone among the flowers and the graves.
Mortimer rejoined Julia in the garden. “This has been quite a day.”
Julia nodded in agreement., twisting her wedding ring around on her finger.
Julia nodded in agreement., twisting her wedding ring around on her finger.
A small smile found its way onto Julia's face. Her life was not a Jane Austen novel. The story was not over now that she was married. Julia knew her adventures were only just beginning, even if the ghosts weren't around.
What Julia did not know was that her adventures were going to begin sooner than she expected.