Chapter 17 - OUR WEDDING WITHOUT PERMISSION
Caleb and I married when I was twenty-four.
Courthouse first.
Garden celebration two days later.
Why courthouse?
Because after everything, I wanted the legal act to happen quietly.
No family audience.
No inheritance trigger.
No dramatic announcement.
We signed a prenuptial agreement.
Separate lawyers.
My trust remained separate.
His future earnings remained his subject to ordinary marital law.
Shared assets would be shared intentionally.
No spouse became trustee.
No family company access.
The document took six weeks.
Romantic.
Boring.
Perfect.
Before signing, Caleb asked:
“If we divorce, do I get half the scandal?”
“You get one aunt.”
“Which?”
“Rebecca.”
“Deal breaker.”
At the courthouse, I wore a pale blue dress.
Not white.
The engagement ring remained.
We added a plain wedding band beside it.
Dad attended only the garden celebration after I invited him.
Mom did not.
Still too soon.
She sent no card.
I appreciated that.
Olivia came.
Thomas too.
Rebecca and Daniel were not invited.
Boundary.
No punishment speech.
My choice.
During the garden ceremony, the officiant said:
“Marriage is entered freely.”
I almost cried at the obviousness.
Caleb noticed.
He squeezed my hand.
No one asked permission.
No one slapped anyone.
No cake injuries.
May you like
We had cupcakes.
Safer architecture.
