Uncle M and I spend several hours on the beach while ma and Me-Me search for a venue. After they accomplish the task, we part ways and head home. Me-Me and I are surprised to see her sister, Lia, standing outside when we arrive.
Melisa: Lia! What are you doing here? I thought you were back in Brindleton Bay.
Jamelia: I couldn’t leave things as we left them in Mt. Komorebi.
This sounds like my cue to give them some space, so I head around the side of the house so they can talk alone.
Me-Me leads Lia into the house.
Jamelia: This is a nice place, sis.
Melisa: Thank you! It will be a lot of work to maintain, but we’re happy with it.
Me-Me and Lia sit down in the living room.
Melisa: So what’s going on, Lia?
Jamelia: I’m sorry for turning you down when you asked me to be your sim of honor, Me-Me. It had nothing to do with you. It’s just – I’m struggling, and I just wasn’t ready to admit it.
Melisa: Struggling? What do you mean?
Jamelia: You and Jay have things so – together. You have a degree, and Jay is killing it with his media company. And now you’ve both met someone –
Melisa: But, you’re opening up a restaurant.
Jamelia: I wish. I’m just a caterer working for someone else. I’m not even as good a cook as I let on. I mean – I didn’t exactly lie about it. I just exaggerated a bit. It’s my long-term goal, but I made it sound like it was possible in the near future. At this rate, you and Jay will be retiring from your successful careers, and I’ll just be getting started.
Melisa: But Lia, you don’t have to be on our timeline. Life isn’t a competition. Things will happen for you when they’re supposed to. Your career will take off, and you’ll eventually meet someone, too. And there’s nothing wrong with working for someone else. It’s your opportunity to learn as much as you can from them and improve your skills to get them where you want them to be.
Jamelia: Yeah, I guess you’re right.
Melisa: Of course I am. And believe me, I don’t have everything together. A degree means nothing if I’m too afraid to put myself out there and apply for a job. I’ve done job searches, but what if I’m not smart enough to do the work?
Jamelia: Are you kidding me? You’re the smartest person I know.
Melisa: Thanks, but we both know that there’s always someone out there smarter and with more experience. A degree means nothing in that situation.
Jamelia: But it’s a damn good start.
Lia gets up to leave.
Jamelia: Thanks for listening and understanding. I hope you can forgive me.
Melisa: Done, but there’s still something you can do to make it all up to me.
Jamelia: What’s that?
Melisa: You can be my sim of honor at my wedding.
Jamelia: Absolutely! It would be my pleasure.
Me-Me pulls her sister into a hug.
Melisa: Thank you, sis!
Jamelia: I’d better go. Please send me a list of things you need me to take care of before tomorrow’s big day.
Melisa: Will do!
Lia leaves, and Me-Me couldn’t be happier that they had this chance to work things out.
I make my way back to the front of the house and see an older lady standing there.
Pastor Eleanor: Hello there! You must be Kai.
I have no idea who this lady is, but apparently, she knows me or knows of me.
Kai: Um, do I know you?
Pastor Eleanor: Not yet, but I’m here to get to know you and your fiancé. I’m Pastor Eleanor from the Church on the Hill here in Henford. Your mother, Prosperity, sent me.
Kai: For what? And how do you know my mother?
Last I checked, ma wasn’t very religious.
Pastor Eleanor: Your mother helped me out with an art piece I needed for the Church. She sent me to be the officiant at your wedding. But I currently have a zero percent divorce rate with weddings that I officiate, and I’d like to maintain that. There are too many people looking to get married for the wrong reasons. I need to get to know you and your betrothed first. I hope you two don’t mind answering a few questions.
Ma didn’t mention anything about asking someone to officiate our wedding. But maybe Melisa knows more about it.
Kai: Um, sure. My fiancé, Melisa, should be inside. Follow me.
We enter the house to see Me-Me is standing in the living room. I’m guessing Lia just left.
Kai: Me-Me, this is Pastor Eleanor from, uh –
Pastor Eleanor: *fills in* – The Church on the Hill, here in Henford.
Kai: Right! Did ma say anything about having an officiant at our wedding?
Me-Me seems just as confused as I am.
Melisa: Not that I remember.
I lead Pastor Eleanor to the couch, and we all sit down.
Kai: Um, so you said you had some questions?
Pastor Eleanor: Yes. Your mother says that you two are getting married tomorrow. Is there a reason why you’re in such a hurry?
Kai: Um, no. We want to get our lives started.
Pastor Eleanor: *not convinced, turns to Me-Me* You’re not expecting, are you? That’s the most common reason for hurried weddings.
Melisa: *shocked* No, ma’am. It’s like Kai said, we want –
Pastor Eleanor: *completes the statement* – to get your lives started. Got it
Suddenly, I feel like Me-Me, and I are on trial. I’m unable to read the pastor’s expression. I have no idea if we are passing her test.
Pastor Eleanor: So, how did you two meet?
Melisa: We met at Foxbury College.
Pastor Eleanor: So you attended college in the area? Are you believers? I’ve never seen you at any church services.
Kai: Well, we’re new to the area. We never even knew the church existed until now.
Pastor Eleanor has a unique way of asking a question without saying a word. She stares at me until I feel compelled to expand on my answer.
Kai: But I’m willing to admit that my family was never very religious.
Pastor Eleanor turns back to Me-Me, once again expecting an answer.
Melisa: Um, no ma’am – I didn’t grow up in church.
Pastor Eleanor: Okay
Is that a good okay or a bad okay?
Just when I’ve convinced myself that we’ve failed the Pastor’s test, she gives me some reassurance.
Pastor Eleanor: Being religious is not a requirement for me to officiate your wedding, by the way. I appreciate your honest answers – the ability to answer truthfully, even when under pressure, is essential in a marriage.
I breathe a sigh of relief, and I can see a similar expression flash across Me-Me’s face as well. We await the next question.
Pastor Eleanor: Have you two ever discussed children and whether or not you will have them?
Pastor Eleanor turns to me first.
Kai: Yes, we have.
Pastor Eleanor: And?
Does she expect me to tell her our plans or what? I answer her without giving her the details.
Kai: We agree about how many children we’d like to have.
Pastor turns back to Me-Me.
Pastor Eleanor: And do you have a plan on how you will support yourselves? Disagreements about finances are one of the main reasons for divorce.
Melisa: Well, I have a degree in Physics, and I’ll be seeking a job soon after our wedding. Kai still has another class to finish before he earns his degree.
Kai: Yes, I’m a Biology major.
I don’t know why I added that. I just felt like something more needed to be said there. I immediately regret it when Pastor Eleanor jumps up suddenly. My heart makes the same motion, finding its way into my throat.
Pastor Eleanor: I’ve heard enough!
I slide over closer to Me-Me to offer her some emotional support if need be.
Kai: So, does that mean we failed the test?
Pastor Eleanor: This wasn’t a test. I just wanted to get to know you a little as a couple.
She begins walking as if she’s about to leave. I get up and step in front of her.
Kai: But, what about the wedding? Will you be our officiant?
Pastor Eleanor: I’ll be glad to, dear. You are a charming couple, and I predict that you’ll have many happily married years ahead of you.
I never even thought about having an officiant at our wedding, but I’m so relieved by the Pastor’s words that I impulsively pull her into a hug.
Kai: Thank you so much!
Pastor Eleanor: My pleasure
After the somewhat awkward hug…
Pastor Eleanor: Now, I’m not going to pressure you two to become church members or even attend services. But I want you both to know that we serve everyone. We have a community garden there, we host a marketplace from time to time, and we even serve as a maker’s space depending on what the community wants. It’s all by vote. But when none of that is going on – we have a community room with games and lots of family activities. So I hope to see your faces around. Welcome to Henford-on-Bagley! I’d better be going.
Melisa: Thank you! I’ll walk you out.
Me-Me disappears upstairs after seeing the Pastor out. It’s all so real now; tomorrow is the big day. I grab a quick bite to eat, thinking about it and hoping that it all goes well. After I clean up, I go upstairs and see that Me-Me is already in bed. I watch my soon-to-be wife sleep for a few moments before laying down myself. We both need to be well-rested for a long day tomorrow.
(Generation 3 Chapter Summaries)
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