I do again

This evening I received a text from Candice's mom, Estella.

Estella: "U busy"

Me (Curious...): "No. Just chilling. What's up?"

Estella: "Did Aaron text you"

Me (Stressed now. Something is amiss!): "No. What's going on?" 

I sit on the couch with the kids while I wait for her response. I know that something is going on, I just don't know if it's good, or bad. I mention my stress to the kids and then bust out in prayer! "Surround my family with the White Light of the Holy Spirit! Bless us! Bless us! Bless us!"

Estella: "He said they want a marriage license like to get married quick. They want nobody to know what's up but us."

Me (Stunned. I thought they were going to go slow. "Baby steps" he said! This is not slow! What do I feel? What should I feel? I have no damn clue! I can't even think.): "Where is Aaron?"

Estella: "They're out together."

Me: "Can I come over?" (I've already grabbed my purse and I'm sitting in the car with the motor running before I ever get a response from her!)

She was out on an errand and said that she'd let me know when she got home again.

This is good. I can't react. I'll just sit in the car here and process for a minute. Tears are welling up. Happy tears. Aaron and Candice pull up behind me and Aaron is already inside when I exit the car.  Candice is sitting in their car waiting. I knock on the window and she rolls it down. "Whatcha doing?" I ask. We make a little small talk and she informs me that Aaron had gone in to get me. I act as if I don't know what's going on. 

"Where were you going?" she asks. 

"Ohhhh. Just... over... to... your... parents'." I say ever so slowly. And a grin creeps across her face as she realizes that I know.

Aaron is walking towards the car now and Candice is grinning at him from ear to ear and shaking her head as if to signal to him. She tells him, "Ask your mom where she was going."

Secrets out.

I talk to them about it. Ask if they are really ready now. They both seem pretty good. I tell Aaron, "You know I love you." and I look at Candice, "but do you know that I love you?" I open the door as she looks away wiping a tear away. I lean in and hug her saying, "I love you Candice. Listen I get mad at my own kids but I still love them. And you're my baby too. I love you. I can't believe that I could love someone else's baby as much as I love you." We're both crying and hugging. 

I do love her. I love her so much. I really do want to keep her - for-ev-er!!

So wedding is on again.