JJ stood over the bear for only a minute as I walked to his side. He actually felt sorry for the bear but he would not allow anything to hurt his family. Your Honor he had already requested me to marry him, and as I said yes he claimed my family as his.
He was more worried about my grandmother at this point than anything. He hurried us on down to ensure her that we were okay.
The judge interrupts Kathryn at this point. “Did anyone else witness John standing up to the bear?”
Michelle stands up and says, “Yes your honor, I had tripped and when I got up John was between me and the bear I was only about 50 feet from the bear at the time. If he hadn’t stopped the bear, I do not believe I would be here.”
Kara stands up and says, “When Michelle tripped, I look back Your Honor and I did see that JJ had stopped the bear. That gave me enough courage to help Michelle up and to help her down the hillside.”
The judge says, “The court recognizes that John Meyer is both brave and protective of Kathryn Edwards. Two traits that go into making a good husband, but the court would like to know if anyone could testify on his and her love for each other.”
Every single person in the courtroom stood, including his own son.
I have never heard of a judge actually laughing during performance of their duty, but Judge Thurgood did very briefly. “This Court recognizes by sheer weight of number John and Kathryn’s love and devotion for each other. I authorize the granting of marriage license to John J Meyer 18 years of age and Kathryn Edwards 14 years of age. Now, John and Kathryn step forward before the court.”
Mom hands me a small jewelry box that I recognize it as the other piece to Kathryn’s wedding set, plus the ring for me. With a surprised expression Kathryn and I look at each other, we’re standing in front of the judge as he begins, “We are gathered to unite the two of you in marriage, which is an institution ordained by the state and made honorable by the faithful keeping of good men and women throughout all ages, and is not to be entered into lightly or unadvisedly.”
The Judge says to me, “Do you, John J. Meyer take Kathryn Edwards to be your wife, to love, comfort, and cherish from this day forth?”
I answer, “Yes! I do!”
The Judge says to Kathryn, Do you, Kathryn Edwards take John J. Meyer to be your husband, to love, comfort, and cherish from this day forth?
Kathryn replies happily, “Yes! I do!”
We exchange rings. Placing my Love’s ring on her finger, my hand shakes a little I’m so excited, as Kathryn slides my ring on.
The Judge says, “Having thus pledged yourselves each to the other, I do now, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the state of North Carolina pronounce you husband and wife.”
That brought a cheer from the entire courtroom that spread into the hall. Those that were too late to be seated were standing in the hallway. The judge simply throws hand up with a smile he waved and left the courtroom. The court clerk come back in after leaving for only a minute, she rolled the bear skin back up and handed it to grandma. After the court begin to clear out she had Kathryn and I go back to the judge’s chambers. Mom, Helen, Grandma and the Coach came with us, once we walk in the judge shakes the Coaches hand. Judge says, “That’s the most excitement the courtroom had seen all year. Young man if you ran for mayor you probably would win. From all those people that showed up today you’re very popular.”
Smiling I say, “I treated everyone the way I would like them to treat me. I guess that’s what people respond to.”
The judge says, “Well young man, I’ve done some checking on you. I know that every holiday season you support a lot of activities around this county. I had four ministers and a priest asked that I go ahead and approve this marriage license for you two. They all said they owed to you.”
The judge joking says, “I didn’t want you two losing sleep over what’s coming up on the fourth. Other than that I just got a note about a couple like yourselves who after receiving a marriage license that jump the gun. An overzealous DA charged the young man for statutory rape for the two of them having made love three days before the wedding was scheduled. I would not want to see that happen in this county. Your future father-in-law here had me convinced even before this thing blew up. How in the world did you get so many people to show up?”
Finally getting my arm around Kathryn I say, “Maybe you should ask Marshall, I just requested him to speak to you. He’s been telling me the last three years that he could get you to give us a marriage license.”
Judge Thurgood says, “Yes he mentioned that this morning, and about once a month for the last three years. I didn’t act like I was going to…”
`
From the doorway we hear Marshall say, “So I called a couple people and have them call a couple more everyone that would like to see those two married.” He stands there hand-in-hand with Misty.
Misty can’t help but ask, “Is it really true you’re a bear killing billionaire JJ?”
“Yes, that’s what my business partner keeps telling me.” To which I get an elbow to my ribs. This brings a laugh from everyone in the room. I continue, “I mean my wife, but Kathryn doesn’t tell everybody that that $128 million is all cash, what we have in stock is a little over 300 million, and she owns half of that.”
Kathryn grins and says, “Until it’s sold it’s only worth the paper the stock is printed on, just asked the people who own Enron stocks.”
The judge chuckles, “Yes, I’m one of them, not worth the paper is printed on. Fortunately it was only a small percentage of my portfolio.”
The judge signs the order written by the clerk. A marriage license is granted to Kathryn and me despite the fact she’s only fourteen years of age. The order also declares Kathryn as a legal adult. The clerk brings in marriage license then we both sign. Now Kathryn is Mrs. Kathryn Meyer.
Kathryn has to ask, “Does the order also allow me to get a driver’s license?”
The judge chuckles, “Sorry Kathryn you’ll just have to do like most of the other kids around here. Get a farm license, just like JJ did when he was fourteen. I’m sure JJ would drive you anywhere you would like to go.”
Kathryn groans, “If I have to wait I have to wait. I just wanted to give JJ a break your honor, he has driven me since he had his license.”
One of the sheriff’s deputies comes in, “Your honor, there is quite a large crown still outside the courthouse.”
The judge says, “I’m going out on a limb here, but I bet they’re waiting on you two. A lot of people are mistrustful of the courts nowadays. Now that you two are married, and immune from prosecution I feel I need to send you on your way. See you on the fourth, so we can provide the wedding of her dreams.”
The crowd deftly was waiting on us, a loud cheer went up immediately after the sheriff on a bullhorn announced, “I would like to present Mr. and Mrs. Meyer.”
It took Kathryn and me quite a while to shake hands with and/or hug most of the people there. By this time our local paper shows up and we give a quick interview. Most of the questions are centered on our income. The reporter wisely avoids the question of sex between the two of us. Being in the Bible-Belt that’s a question you don’t ask of a married couple in public. I would’ve ended the interview if the reporter had asked any questions along those lines.
It’s nearly 1 o’clock by the time we make it home. I’ve arranged for Kathryn’s birthday present to be delivered that morning while we were in court. Kathryn loves the water so I bought her a speed boat so we could spend some time skiing on the lake. I know Kathryn has to wait until she is sixteen to legally pilot her new boat, but that doesn’t mean she has to wait to enjoy it. Seeing the red boat in our driveway with a large red ribbon on it Kathryn asks, “Is that my birthday present?
Smiling I say, “I think you have enough jewelry for now, so I got you something we can both enjoy.”
Kathryn throws her arms around me and says, “I love you JJ.” The whole family takes the boat for a ride early that afternoon. Of course Kathryn is at the wheel the second we are out of sight of the city docks. Kathryn is grinning ear to ear as she brings the boat up to full speed across the open water. Kathryn has piloted boats over the last few years, first my bass boat, and then her father’s.
She’s quite good at it. This is the fastest boat she’s ever been on and she loves the speed it has. From our boat house to the city dock only takes around twelve minutes in one of our bass boats. Kathryn covers the entire distance in eight minutes flat. Pulling the boat to the dock Kathryn only waits long enough for us to tie the boat, before she jumps into my arms and showers me with kisses.
Mom and Helen laugh from the docks. Helen says, “Apparently JJ she really loves the boat.”
Later on that afternoon Kathryn and I are relaxing by the pool, and a few of our friends from school come by to visit. Most of them have not been here since the party over year ago. When they ask Kathryn what college she plans on attending she gives me a slight squeeze of my hand. Kathryn finally says, “I’m not going to go to college. Like I said before I already have over 128 million in the bank. For me going to college would be, would be like JJ going to high school. It was fun for him, but he could’ve made a lot more money by skipping it. Besides that I plan on starting a family soon. We can do that now that we’re married.”
Marshall and Misty are there, Marshall graduated with us and Misty would be a senior this fall. Marshall says, “Dad hit the ceiling, when I told him I am taking a year off before beginning college.” He glances at Misty before continuing, “Now that I have Misty in my life I don’t want to take a chance with us being separated. So this fall we will apply to the same college’s together, and the one that accepts both of us we will attend.”
From my tutors I learned a lot about campus life, plus the two years that I spent taking classes at UCLA. I remember a few fights and breakups during that time. It’s easy for a couple to be tempted into doing something they both regret. Campus life is not conducive for most married couples. Kathryn and I don’t require additional schooling to continue with what we are currently doing.
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