My Journal

By Harriman Nelson

17

The exam was over. I felt sicker from the Barium I’d had to swallow than before the test.

“Would you like me to tell the captain?” the PA asked, after putting all of the printouts into my folder. “Or would you rather I wait until the duty MD goes over these? It might be awhile, depending on his appointments and walk-ins.”

“Yes, inform the captain of what you think it is, while I finish buttoning up.”

Naturally he thought I was just being efficient. But I knew otherwise.

I was a coward.

I gave him a little more time than strictly needed before peeking out from the doorway, hiding from the boys.

“How could you recommend that charlatan? That fraud?” Lee was shouting at Ron.

“He’s a licensed M.D. and he said his tests didn’t show anything!”

“I find that hard to believe. Mighty convenient, isn’t it, that fire today, destroying the records just when we needed them for comparison? I wouldn’t be surprised if Winesap withheld results from Harry in order to keep him coming back! My God, a possible  ulcer is nothing to fool with! They can be dangerous!”

“Now look who’s guilty of slander! He had nothing to do with the damn fire! It was a freak accident, that’s all.”

“Excuse me, Skipper,” Frank, one of Seaview’s corpsmen on rotation said, approaching, “I couldn’t help overhearing. A lot of gastrointestinal tests come back negative. Even doctors get preliminary tests wrong sometimes.”

“Very well,” Lee replied and turned to the receptionist, “see to it that I’m informed immediately with duty doctor’s diagnosis.”

I felt it was time to join my boys and emerged from the swinging doors.

“Father…”Ron said, concerned, embracing me, “I’m so sorry. I should have suggested a second opinion right away.”

“Never mind that now. By the way, boys, there are also some forms you’ll need to fill out for the Coast Guard's jet ski classes and operational licenses.”

“I swear we’re destroying too many trees for something that could be digitized,” Ron complained with a chuckle as he took my arm, “that’s something we really need to work on, Father. Making NIMR a ‘green’ business. Great PR as well.”

“Good idea, son. And it’s NCIMR now, remember.”

“How could I possibly forget?” he said sarcastically while glancing at Lee.

“Play nice, both of you,” I ordered as we made our exit, a golf cart waiting.  At least Ron had forgotten, at least temporarily, about the HIPPA form.

Emily was waiting for me when I went  to the office.

“I couldn’t stand not knowing, so I called in sick,” she said, immediately embracing and kissing me. “Well?”

“They’re not sure yet. Possibly an ulcer.”

“Captain, Mr. Nelson?” Angie was saying, handing Lee and Ron the Coast Guard forms she’d acquired.

“How do you do, Mr. Nelson,” Emily said.

 “Ron. Can I call you Emily?”

“Of course. Harry, I don’t suppose you’d let me take a jet ski class as well? I’d just love to learn how to ride one. You’re going to take classes as well, aren’t you? Maybe we can take them together…if letting me use institute property isn’t against policy?”

“Of course you can. The purchase is for both Seaview and staff recreation. And that includes families.”

“We’re not exactly legal, Harry.”

“Then let’s call a justice of the peace and make it so.”

“You’re…you’re not serious, are you?”

“Actually,” I said, surprising myself, “yes. Well, will you marry me?”

“Oh, Harry,” she flung her arms around me again and engaged in a heavy kiss.

“Hey, you two,” Ron said. “Get a room, okay?”

“Congratulations,” Lee said, giving her a kiss on the check and me a bear hug.

“Oh, Admiral,” Angie said, clapping her hands, “I’m so happy for you both! Does it have to be a justice of the peace? Can’t it be a real down the aisle kind of wedding? I helped my sister with her wedding….”

“Well,” I said, “I think this is more Emily’s decision than mine.”

“Hard for me to imagine a wedding gown at my age.”

“Age makes no difference to true love,” Lee said.

“And it would give me,” Ron said, “a chance to stand up for my father, if he’ll have me as best man.”

Silence.

“Why not have two best men,” Angie quickly said, seeing Lee's scowl, and  breaking the impasse.

“Perhaps a justice of the peace would be a better idea,” Emily said. "Save a lot to time and trouble setting up a traditional wedding."

“Well, it would be quicker,” I agreed. Otherwise I’d be damned if I chose Ron for Best Man over Lee, and damned if I chose Lee, who I preferred, over Ron. Oh gawd, the press would have a field day scoffing at one over the other.

“That’s a great idea, actually, sir,” Angie said. “California law lets you marry the same day you get the license. No blood work requirement either. All you have to do is show up with your ID’s. And not be married to anybody else at the same time.”

“How and when is really your decision, Emmie,” I said.

“I just thought of another idea,” she said. “How about aboard Seaview?” she asked, “there must be someplace aboard that’s useable. Lee, as captain, can perform the ceremony, that way you can have both your boys in the ceremony.”

“Afraid not,” Lee said, “the power to perform weddings was removed from the Navy and that includes the Reserves, in 1913. And no US civilian ship captain’s are allowed to perform the ceremonies now either.”

“I’m sorry, Lee,” Emily sighed, “I so want the day to be something special for the man I love, and sons he loves.”

“Hold it!” Angie yelped from her computer. “It says there that in California, you don’t have to be a justice of the peace or some religious person to perform a marriage ceremony. All anyone has to do is apply to be a ‘deputy commissioner of marriages’ even for one day! Just fill out the application and pay the fee! I’m sure we can call in a few favors to hurry the process along, Admiral. That is…if Lee wants to officiate.”

I grabbed Lee by the shoulders.

“I’d consider it an honor if you’d perform the ceremony, Lee. Doesn’t even have to be aboard Seaview.”

“There are a few other things that have to be checked,” Angie interrupted, “legal residence, check, legal voter, check, oh…background check…well security can handle that…a few other things. I don’t see any problems. We’ll have to decide on the date, though, as the authorization to officiate will only be for a day. ”

“Well, Lee?” Emily asked Lee.

“I’m honored.”

 “Very well,” I said, “Angie, you check my calendar against Emily’s work schedule and get things moving.”

“Just one thing,” Lee said, hesitant.

“Yes?” I answered distracted by the whirlwind of activity around me, as Angie called in all the girls on staff to assist Emily with preparations.

“Suit, tux, or…dress whites?”

“Ohhh!” Emily cooed, clapping her hands. “Oh, you men look so heavenly in those! Yes, yes. With all your medals and things,” she said running a hand over my  shirt.

“I think you have your answer, Lee. At least for some of us. Ron, I assume you have a tux?”

“Of course.”

“That would be lovely, dear,” Emily said before she was yet again surrounded by chattering females and trying to decide on the reception, dishes, etc.

“The earliest date you both have free is for next Wednesday,” Angie said.

“What about the honeymoon?” Miss Hale asked.

“Oh, we’ll settle for a delayed wedding trip,” Emily said,“for now, the most important thing is simply tying the knot.”

“Very well,” I said. Next Wednesday you become Mrs. Harriman Nelson.”

“Lee,” Angie said, “you’ll need to go to City Hall in person, ID in hand to put in the application. You have $75 in cash on you? That’s the fee.”

As Lee dug around in his pockets fruitlessly, Ron pulled out a wad of cash before I could, and handed it to him, “my treat, bro.”

“Thanks,” Lee said, in utter surprise, then added, “…bro.”

To say that I was flabbergasted by both Ron and Lee and by today’s events was an understatement.

Later, a kind of utter contentment washed over me as Emily and I escaped the institute via her car, and the delighted uproar over our coming nuptials. Mentally exhausted, we simply sat together on the sofa, the TV tuned to an especially good Masterpiece Theatre period drama. I don’t think either of us paid much attention to it as our minds contemplated the sudden change to our lives.

No doubt the press is going to have a field day with the news, and the fact that Lee will be merging Emily and me into wedded bliss. A bit ironic, when you think about it. How many parents are joined together in matrimony by their son? Though I’m not sure what the legality will be regarding Lee’s new relationship with Emily. She can’t very well be his mother as he already has one. Nor a stepmother. I guess she’ll simply be the wife of his father.

And I’m not sure if Emily realizes all that she’s getting herself into. It’s one thing to take on a husband, quite another to take on that husband’s two sons.

I suddenly realized in all the hoopla, I didn’t know if the boys had filled the Coast Guard forms out.  Oh well, Angie will make sure they do if they forgot.

Angie.

We owe her a great debt for all her help regarding the wedding, and for solving the problem of me having to decide between Ron and Lee as best man. While Ron might have the titular honor, Lee will have the better one.