The Image: A Prophetic Birth

Raymond slowly paced back and forth as I descended the stairs with the poem in my hand. I was anxious to give it to him, but the expression on his face told me to wait. I sensed he was ready to leave minutes ago. This was not the time to delay him any longer. The poem would have to wait until a more opportune time. I hoped before the day was over.

"What took you so long?" Raymond asked with a sour disposition.

"I was getting your keys," I said, handing them to him as I put the poem in my pants pocket. "You are the rightful recipient since you are my husband. Don’t you agree?"

"Thanks," he said as he took them from my hand. "I’m really hungry. Let’s go get the kids, so we can eat," he said, putting the keys on his key ring.

"Don’t I get a kiss or a hug before we leave? This is our wedding day."

"Vanessa, I love you more than anything else on this earth. I am a very happy man at this moment. I’m also very hungry. Can we save the kisses for later," he said, walking to the door.

"Just one kiss before we leave, please. I am a new bride, " I said, standing in front of the door.

"Mrs. Miller, didn’t Reverend McCauley say our wedding kiss was the longest he had ever seen?"

"Yes."

"Well that kiss should stay with you for awhile. I’m all kissed out," Raymond said, moving me from the door.

"Raymond Miller, I demand that you kiss your new wife right now!" I said, holding my ground.

"Okay, okay Mrs. Miller, if a kiss is what you want, then a kiss is what you will get," he said, pulling me into his arms giving me a long passionate kiss.

"That’s more like it," I said when the kiss was over, "Now, I feel like a married woman."

"Mrs. Miller, can we leave now to pick up Francine and Raymond?" he asked, still holding me, looking into my eyes.

"Only if you promise to give me another kiss like that one when we come back home."

"I promise."

"Good. Now we can leave," I said, opening the door. We left embraced in each other’s arms. Raymond was my man, and I was his woman. His disposition had changed to the warm, loving man I loved and married. This marriage was destined to last until death do us part, I thought as we reached the car.

The ride over to the school was rather hurried. I wasn’t sure if Raymond was anxious to get to the kids or was really very hungry. I didn’t bother to ask. I figured it didn’t matter one way or the other. All that mattered, at this point, was that we were together. I did wonder, however, how the kids would take the news of our marriage. I would find out soon because we were ten minutes away from the school.

The ride to the school was quiet. Raymond seemed absorbed in thoughts. We barely spoke a word as he drove. Once he mentioned how happy he was that I was his wife. He also asked me where I wanted to eat. I told him it didn’t matter. Whatever he decided would be fine.

He released his hand from mine as he pulled into the school parking lot. I hoped he didn’t sense my nervousness when he pulled his hand away.

"Do you want to go inside?" he asked, turning, looking in my eyes.

I wanted to say, yes, but I said, "No. I’ll wait in the car. How do you think they will take the news?" I asked still nervous.

"I don’t know. You’ll find out soon."

"When do you plan to tell them?"

"As soon as possible."