WhenNolanapproached,Jazielquicklystubbedouthiscigarette.
Yourehere?IboughtticketsfortheearliestflighttoNewOrleans.Weregoingtogethermorepeople,morehope.
Nolandidnthavetimetothinkandimmediatelynoddedinagreement.
Theyjumpedintothecar,andNolan,notcaring aboutspeedlimits,drovelikeitwasarace.
Racingthroughthestreets,thetworeachedtheairportwithnothingbuttheclothesontheirbacks,theirmindssingularlyfocused:findingCharlotteinNewOrleans.
Theyfearedthatiftheydelayedevena moment,somethingirreversiblemighthappen.
Astheirplanepreparedfortakeoff,thefirstlightofdawncreptacrossthehorizon.
NeitherJazielnorNolancouldcalmthestormofurgencyintheirhearts.
Meanwhile,inNewOrleans,Charlottealsohadarestlessnight.

Shehadbeenupearly,dressingandputtingonmakeup.
TodaywasthedayshewouldregisterhermarriagewithTheodoreWashington.
Evennow,shecouldcountononehandthenumberoftimesshehadmetTheodore.
CharlotteneverimaginedthatthemanherfamilyhadarrangedforhertomarrywoueTheodore! HisnamehadalwaysbeenastapleintheMurphy familysconversationspraisedasastandoutamongtheir generation.
Charlottesmotheroftenspokeofhimwithadmirationduring theirphonecalls.
TheonlymemoryCharlottehadofhimwasfrom childhood:acoldanddistantboywholovedpinchinghercheeks.
Yet,evenifhergroomweresomeoneelsetoday,shewouldstillfeelthissamenervousness.
Afterall,itwasaonceinalifetimeevent.
Standingbeforethemirror,Charlotterepeatedlycheckedhermakeupandoutfit,makingsureeverythingwas perfect.

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Astheclockstrucknine,shehurriedlygotup,tookTheodoresarm,andheadedtothemarriageregistrationoffice.
Sensingherunease,Theodoresuddenlyproducedahandfulofcandiesfromseeminglynowhereandplacedthem inherhand.
Ifyourenervous,havingsomethingsweetcanhelp,hesaid,hisgentlegazefixedonher,steadyandreassuring.
09BloodylashesAndABulletToHisHeart 88.1% Chapter13 Charlotte,captivatedbyhiswarmth,foundherselfmomentarilydazed.
Withoutthinking,sheunwrappedacandyandpoppeditintohermouth.
Thecandymeltedinstantly,itssweetnessseepingintoherheart.
Foramarriagearrangedbyherfamily,thiswasturningoutunexpectedlywell,shethoughttoherself.
Therestofthemorningfeltdreamlikeherbodyfeltlight,herstepsunsteadyasifwalkingonclouds.
Theodoreguidedherthroughtheprocess:signingdocuments,takingphotos,pressingfingerprints.Shesimplyfollowedhislead.

Watchingherstiff demeanor,Theodore couldnthelpbutsmile.
Finally,withthesealstamped,twobrightredmarriagecertificateswereissued.
Charlotteheld hersin disbelief,feelingasthoughshewereinadream.
Butbeforeshecouldfullyprocessthemoment,twofranticvoicescalledouthernameinunison.
Charlotte! JazielandNolanstoppedinfrontofher,theirchestsheavingastheystruggledtocatchtheirbreath.
Thesightofthevividredmarriagecertificatesinherhandwaslikeaknifetotheirhearts.
Theirvisionnarrowed,shrinkinguntilonlythatpiercingredremained.
Jazielsvoicewashoarse,hisfaceetchedwithdisbelief.
Charlotte…you…youremarried? Theydidntwanttobelieveit,buttheway sheclungtoTheodoresarmand thematchingringsontheirfingerssaid itall.