Episode Nineteen

Saint Matthews Cathedral - The Day of The Wedding

"You ready to be a married man again, Mike?" Laurence asked.

"Hell yeah," Mike replied.

"Dad, don't swear in church," Jamie scolded.

Julian stuck his head in then. "It's time for you to get up front, Mike."

Mike nodded and started for the door.

"Dad," Jamie said calling him back. "You need to learn how to do this," he said as he tied Mike's bowtie.

"I don't need to as long as you're around, kid," Mike teased.

"Go," Laurence ordered.

Mike walked up to the front of the church and took his place, while the others waited around for the bridesmaids to appear. Jamie fidgetted in his tux, feeling a litle uncomfortable.

"What are you nervous about?" Julian joked.

"Well, let's see, getting a stepmother and stepsister?" Jamie replied, rolling his eyes.

"What about your new stepbrother?" Laurence asked.

"I'm trying to forget about him," Jamie said.

"Remind me never to get on your bad side," Jenny said as she and the other bridesmaids, Catherine and Sarah, exited the Bride's chamber.

The music began playing and the Ushers and Bridesmaids lined up and started down the aisle. First Laurence and Catherine, then Julian and Sarah. Finally, it was Jamie and Jenny's turn, as Best man and Maid Of Honor.

Jenny smoothed the skirt of her coral colored Maid Of Honor Gown. "How do I look?"

"You look great," Jamie replied, holding out his arm and leading her down the aisle.

"I wonder how many weddings have a 16 year-old best man, a 15 year-old Maid Of Honor, and a 17 year-old giving away the bride?" Jenny said quietly.

"Not many," Jamie replied, smiling.

They reached the front of the church and parted ways, taking their places.

Jamie glanced at his dad, and smiled at the look on Mike's face. "Your last minute's as a single man," he said out of the corner of his mouth.

"Don't start," Mike replied, grinning.

The wedding march began and Rebecca started down the aisle in her wedding gown, David leading her.

"She's beautiful," Mike said.

"Pick your jaw up off the ground before she gets up here, Dad," Jamie joked.

Harris-Bowen House - The Reception

Jamie sat on the back porch of the house, watching the festivities.

"Good thing it's a bright and sunny spring day," Summer said as she joined him.

"I think Rebecca would have hunted down and killed mother nature if it had rained or snowed," Jamie replied, chuckling.

"You look really good in that tux," Summer said.

"Oh yeah?" Jamie replied, grinning.

"Yeah."

"I'm glad you came."

"Well, how could I miss the free food at the reception?" Summer joked. "Plus, I wanted to see your finished apartment."

"Well, I'll take you up later. After they cut the cake and stuff," Jamie said.

"So, I know we have a while yet and everything," Summer said. "But do you have plans for this summer?"

"Not really. I'll probably just hang around home. Except for going up to the lake for a few days. It's tradition," Jamie replied. "You and Matt can come too. The Montoya's rent a cabin that's a little ways away from my family's cabin and we all hang out getting tans."

"Sounds great," Summer replied.

Jenny ran over, lefting the skirt of her dress so it wouldn't drag in the grass. "Jamie! We've got an emergency!"

"What?" Jamie asked.

"Mike's car has a flat tire, and there's no spare!" Jenny replied. "Mom's car is still in the shop, so they can't take it for the honeymoon!"

"Okay, that isn't so horrible, Jen," Jamie said as he got up. "Do my dad and your mom know yet?"

"Yes, and mom is panicking!"

"Okay, come on, I have a solution," Jamie said. He turned back to Summer and shrugged. "I'll be right back."

He had Jenny take him over to where Mike and Rebecca were standing, trying to decide what to do.

"A tow truck could get over here with a new tire," Mike said, trying to calm his wife down. "Then we wouldn't have to delay leaving."

"I don't want a dirty greasy tow truck parked out front!" Rebecca replied.

"Rebecca, calm down," Jamie said. "If you'll let me use your car while your gone, Dad, you two can borrow my jeep. I can go get it gassed up now and be back in maybe 15 minutes, then we can switch your luggage over. I can get a new tire on your car tomorrow."

"You're a lifesaver, kid," Mike said.

"Anytime," Jamie said. "I'll go get it gassed up and be right back, allright?"

"Thank you," Rebecca said.

"No problem," Jamie said.

"Can I come with you?" Jenny asked. "Please?"

"If it's okay with your mom?" Jamie replied, looking at Rebecca for permission.

"Go ahead, just hurry back."

"Thanks mom!"

"Come on, I want to tell Summer where we're going," Jamie said.

Out Front

Everyone was so distracted by inspecting the new house and the activity in the backyard, they didn't notice Pete sneaking up to the jeep and popping the hood.

"This'll teach him to mess with my girl," Pete muttered as he started looking in the engine. He found what he was looking for and pulled out his pocket knife to slice threw it.

"Stop kissing your girlfriend and come on, Jamie! We've gotta go get the jeep filled up!"

Pete stopped what he was doing and slammed the hood shut quickly, running to hide behind a tree as Jamie and Jenny ran out of the backyard and got into the jeep. "Damn it!" he growled. "I'll just have to finish later. He won't get away with keeping Summer from me."

Later - Harris-Bowen House

Mike and Rebecca climbed into the jeep and were getting ready to drive off. Rebecca stood and waved her bouquet at the people gathered. All the single young woman rushed forward as Rebecca threw it up into the air.

Summer stayed back, not interested in the old tradition. But when the bouquet flew right at her head, she reached up and caught it. "Great," she said, making a face.

Jamie laughed. "It's not that bad!" he said.

Summer smacked his shoulder with the bouquet. "Oh shut up!" she said, laughing.

Jamie grinned and wrapped an arm around her as the jeep drove off. "I'm just glad Jenny didn't catch it!"

Summer nodded. "Yeah, that would have been worse."

"Come on, I'll show you the finished apartment," Jamie said.

"Now, now, we don't want to break the rules," Summer replied. "You don't wanna lose it as fast as you got it!"

"I'll get Jenny and Laura to come with," Jamie said, spotting his cousin and new stepsister talking. Jamie and Summer walked over to them. "Hey, you guys want to see my partment? It's all finished and liveable."

"Sure," Laura said, smiling. "Anything to stay away from my grumpy boyfriend for another half hour."

"David's being a jerk again," Jenny said, rolling her eyes.

"So what else is new?" Jamie replied. The four walked up the stairs and entered the apartment. "What do you think?" Jamie asked.

"Nice," Laura said, looking around. "I can now report to my dad that you're not living in a filthy place!" she said, laughing.

"Uncle Laurence was worried?"

"Very," Laura replied. "He told me to make sure you knew that you were welcome to stay with us if you wanted to."

"Nah, I'm good here. It's near dad, but away from David," Jamie replied. "Anybody want some non-fancy food?"

"Oh god yes!" Jenny said, laughing.

Highway 275 - Just Inside The Colorado Border

The lights on the police cars flashed by the side of the road as paramedics loaded a gurney into an ambulance. Another police car arrived and Malcolm climbed out, a sense of dread washing over him. "What have we got?" he asked as he approached the state trooped who seemed to be in charge.

"A jeep went off the road, two passengers, newlyweds it looks like," the tropper replied.

"Black jeep with Wyoming Liscense plates?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

"Two of my officers got married today, they were heading to Denver for their honeymoon," Malcolm replied sadly. "Are they all right?"

"They were both seriously injured," the trooper said. "The woman should be alright, but the paramedics said the man might not make it."

"Damn it," Malcolm said. "I gotta get back to Heaven Falls, his son needs to know."

"How old's the son?"

"16. I don't know how I'm going to tell him he's going to lose the only parent he has left," Malcolm said as he turned and started back for his car.

End Of Episode Nineteen