Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 OK everyone, here's what up.  * This is not a stroke story, though it does
get closer at the end of the chapter.  If you don't like that, stop
reading. * This story concentrates on the feelings of the main character.
If you don't like that, stop reading.  * All description in this story are
completely made up, none of it is real.  If you want a confession, stop
reading.  * I like stories where the right people end up together at the
end.  If you want heartache and pain, stop reading.

   If you are still here, I hope you enjoy.  But remember all rights are
reserved for the author who claims exclusive use.  Permission to repost or
print for profit is not granted.  Please contact the author with any
questions.

   Always With Me

   Chapter 8: Small Towns and the Big City By Secret DC Guy

   (mf, rom)

   * * *

   When I awoke the next day to the bright sun of a Virginia morning, I
could feel a wet spot on my pillow.  Out of reflex, I recoiled.  "Thursday
June 11, 1992, day one and he already finds her habits disgusting," Jenny
chuckled, as she lay next to me propped up on one arm.  "Well I know that I
drool, but I hope you realize that you fart in your sleep.  Oh well, I
should have realized that you couldn't be perfect." With that she popped up
out of bed and headed for the shower.

   Groggily, I sat up in bed and got my bearings.  Though it seemed unreal,
I had woken up in a Spartan hotel room somewhere in Virginia sharing a bed
with the woman that I loved.  As I looked out the window into the bright
morning, I saw Jenny's new Cabriolet sitting in the parking lot.  We had
driven it late into the night, seemingly to nowhere, missing graduation
parties and what would have been our first real night out as a couple.  Now
we were in a small city somewhere in the countryside, with no train or bus
out of town.  That new car was my only way home, but Jenny controlled where
it was going.

   I wasn't sure whether I should be angry or just happy to be with Jenny,
but it became irrelevant when I felt Jenny's still damp arms wrap around
me. She said nothing, but held me tight and purred like the most content
kitten one could ever see.  After a few minutes she stepped around me so
that the sun shown around her towel wrapped body.  "I need you to trust me
today, Brian.  Can you do that?" Though I wanted to say that I didn't know
if I could, my head nodded yes.  "Good.  Go get a shower, love," she said
as she kissed my cheek.

   * * *

   It was still early, about 8:00 AM, when Jenny and I were sitting in a
Waffle House eating sausage and eggs.  Seeing that I wasn't impressed by
the food, Jenny laughed and said, "It really is kind of disgusting, but you
should try Shoney's.  They're downright revolting.  Now try to force it
down; we have a big day ahead of us."

   As usual, I got into the driver's seat, and Jenny slid in beside me. 
However, today she didn't cuddle across the shifter.  Instead, she pulled a
map of Virginia out of the glove compartment.  When he loaded Jenny's car
Amos Jones either knew something I hadn't or had prepared for every
eventuality.  Knowing the man, it was probably a bit of both.

   I turned the car towards the interstate, ready to head back after our
adventure.  We were hours from home, and I knew that our parents would
eventually worry if we didn't come home and they didn't hear from us. 
However, I was shocked when without even looking at where I was going Jenny
told me I was going the wrong way.  "We're not done with our adventure, not
by a long shot," she said as we pulled a U-turn and headed south away from
the highway entrance.

   As we drove the back roads of Virginia, Jenny explained that we were in
the Shenandoah Valley and told me about Civil War battles.  She seemed
excited to explain everything she could.  We skirted a small city, but
mostly drove through farmland as we made our way south.  Eventually, we
passed through a beautiful small town called Front Royale and burst through
a last mountain pass.  The land on the other side was again mostly
farmland. Though it had some hills, it was a far cry from the mountains
where we grew up.  Jenny explained that it was called the Piedmont, like
the region of Italy.  This part of Virginia and that part of Italy were the
only two places in the world with land like this.  Something about that
made me smile.  It was as if we were sharing something unique, something
that only the two of us could share and understand.

   After about an hour and a half of driving, we pulled into another town.
This one was called Culpepper.  Though small, it was a county seat with a
stately old courthouse.  After directing me into a downtown parking space,
Jenny sent me to get coffee while she ran inside to get something.  Fifteen
minutes later, she had a large business envelope under her arm as she
jumped back into the car.  "I'd have to change my residence if I were going
to school in Virginia, now wouldn't I," she teased.

   Suddenly, my world came crashing in again.  We had driven for hours,
missed the parties, and shared a night in a hotel just so Jenny could pick
up paperwork that would seal us being apart.  Not able to hold in the hurt
anymore I started to cry.  Then Jenny's arm was around my shoulder. 
Tenderly she said, "If we're going to make it you need to start listening
to me and trusting me.  I said 'if'.  Now drive." I did as I as told and
soon we were heading east out of town.

   * * *

   It was about 11:00 AM when we pulled into a small country church outside
of Brandy Station.  The sign read, "Gilead Baptist Church, Reverend Anthony
Jenkins, Pastor".  I realized that it had to be Jenny's uncle's church.  We
pulled past the entrance and into a small parking lot in back.  Beyond was
a field cut by tire tracks.  Her uncle must have had a strong following,
one too big for the parking.

   As we pulled in behind the church, a somewhat frumpy woman a little
beyond middle age came running out of the parsonage.  "Aunt Tilly!" Jenny
yelled as she jumped out of the car.  They hugged and squealed with glee on
seeing each other.

   "You two!  It's only been a few weeks.  You act like it's been years," a
man in a suit said as he walked out the door and hugged Jenny.  "Reverend
Anthony Jenkins, pleased to meet you, son," he said coming over to shake my
hand.  "I guess we need to have a little talk.  Ladies, you head inside and
get ready.  Brian, let's go into my office.  It's over in the church." As
we walked away, I saw Jenny standing with her aunt.  For the first time on
our trip, she looked nervous.

   A few minutes later, the Reverend Jenkins was sitting behind an old
wooden desk alternating between sizing me up and looking at the large
envelope Jenny had handed to him before we parted.  "Son, do you love my
niece?" he asked suspiciously.

   I thought for a minute.  Did I love her?  I know I did, but how did I
love Jenny?  Was it the teenage love I had for her last night?  Or could it
somehow be the mature love that I saw in her eyes?  I started to answer
several times, but was never able to say more than the word 'I'.  Then I
realized something.  The love I had seen in her eyes last night wasn't just
Jenny's love for me.  It was her love indeed, but amplified by my love for
her.  The love between us was stronger than the sum of each of our loves.
Knowing that, I sat up straight and replied, "Yes sir, I love her."

   "Spoken like a grown man," he said with a wry smile.  "OK, sneaking
around like this is against my better judgment, but I'll do anything for
Jennifer.  Take a look in the closet, son.  You have a decision to make. 
Don't take too long." With that he pulled what looked like academic robes
off of a coat hanger and left the room.

   Curious, I walked to the closet and peered in.  Hanging in the middle of
some coats and other garments was a tuxedo.  It was like the one I had worn
to prom, but with a black vest instead of a cummerbund.  Suddenly, it
dawned on me.  The signature on the document Jenny didn't let me see, the
drive to Virginia, the thing to 'pick up' at the courthouse, and stopping
here at a church.  Jenny didn't have any intention of going back home, and
she didn't have any intention of me going back without her.  Her plan was
for us to get married.

   I slumped back in a chair.  Jenny wasn't lying when she told the motel
manager that we had eloped.  She had just said it before the wedding, not
after.  Now here I was, 18 years old with someone who was possibly the
perfect woman waiting for me to commit to always being with her. 
Committing to let her live out her promise.  At the same time, I knew that
we would be apart in just a couple of months-her at the University of
Virginia and me at The Capitol University.  Could we survive that distance
for four years?  Would I end up divorced at 20?  I didn't know what to do,
so I started to panic.

   I needed someone to talk to, so I reached across the desk and grabbed
the phone.  I was going to call my parents, by my fingers had a different
idea.  Without thinking I dialed the number of the person I really wanted
to talk with.

   "JJ, is that you?" Jenny's mother called into the other side of the
line. My hand was smarter than my brain.  The only person I wanted to ask
about whether I should marry Jenny was Jenny.

   "No, Mrs.  Jenkins.  It's Brian," I responded nervously.  "Jenny wanted
me to call everyone and let them know we're having a good time and will be
out later than we expected." Lying never felt so natural.

   "Where are you?" Mrs.  Jenkins asked and I heard my mother asking if it
was us in the background.

   "Funny story about that.  We'll tell you later.  Got to go," I said as I
quickly hung up the phone.  I thought we were busted, but it was too late
for either of our parents to do anything.  Jennifer Jenkins and I were
getting married.

   It only took me a few minutes to wash up a bit in the adjoining bathroom
and put on the tux.  When I stepped out of the office straightening my
jacket one of the church deacons was waiting for me.  He nodded his head
and I followed him into the sanctuary.

   Jenny was at the altar wearing what looked like a hand sewn wedding
dress.  It was old, but it was still pure white and still beautiful.  At
first she had a worried look on her face, but soon it turned to a smile. 
She began to cry, and put her arms around my neck.  Through the tears she
said, "I was afraid you wouldn't say yes."

   "I'm always with you," I quietly responded.

   "Now children, we have a ceremony to do before you can kiss," the
Reverend Jenkins said in a severe voice as he held the Holy Bible in his
hand.  Jenny smiled at me as we turned to face him.  There was no
procession into the church, no organ music, no friends, and no immediately
family, not even Jenny's five cousins who were at school.  Besides the
minister, the deacon as best man, and Jenny's aunt as matron of honor, we
were alone.  The focus was on the most important thing-our love.

   The ceremony was short but beautiful.  We stood before the altar as the
Reverend Jenkins read from First Corinthians, then from the Gospel of John.
We stood as he gave a brief sermon about marriage and honesty.  Looking at
Jenny he told us that we should never deceive or manipulate each other. 
Though her makeup covered it pretty well, I could tell that Jenny was
blushing.

   Finally, the Reverend Jenkins said, "Do you Brian Schaffer take this
woman to be your lawful wife?" I replied that I did.  Turning to Jenny he
asked, "And do you Jennifer June Jenkins take this man to be your lawfully
wedded husband?" Jenny beamed when she said that she did.  Jenny's uncle
then sighed and continued, "As you have conveniently prevented anyone who
might object to this wedding from knowing about this wedding, Jennifer, I
won't even ask.  Instead, I will say that by the power vested in me by the
Lord Jesus Christ and by the Commonwealth of Virginia, I now pronounce you
man and wife.  Son, please kiss the bride."

   I kissed Jenny, but it wasn't passionate.  It was empty, though not in a
bad way.  It was like an empty bottle that needed to be filled with love
and memories.  No matter what happened next or how long we might be apart
it would be filled, even overflowing.  Pulling apart, I knew the first drop
had fallen in.

   As we stood there it occurred to me, I had never heard Jenny's middle
name before.  I had thought that JJ stood for Jennifer Jenkins, but it was
really her first and middle initials.  Jenny must have sensed what I was
thinking and asked me, "How would you feel to have all your initials the
same." We both laughed.

   The deacon took a quick picture of us at the altar, posed like we were
exchanging our vows.  Jenny's aunt insisted on one in front of the church,
but as we walked out I heard the phone ringing from the office.  In the
brief time I had forgotten that both of our parents knew we were somewhere,
but not where we actually were.

   Jenny saw the fear on my face.  "Who did you call?" she sighed.

   "You," I replied in a timid voice.

   "But I'm not at home," my new wife said pronouncing every syllable.

   "I know?" I said, not knowing why made it sound like a question.

   "Where did you say we were?" she asked looking as if she could rip off
my head after about 15 minutes of marriage.

   "I didn't tell them," I said trying to sound confident.

   "The worst possible answer," Jenny enunciated through her teeth.

   The Reverend Jenkins broke in, "Jennifer, what's done is done.  It shows
how well your parents know you that they are calling here.  I won't lie to
them and say you that weren't here, but I won't say that I married you. 
That is for you to tell them.  I will simply tell them that we saw you and
that you are OK.  But before I do that, I think we need to celebrate."

   As we took a picture outside of the church, I could still hear the phone
ringing.

   * * *

   Jenny's aunt and uncle treated us to a wonderful lunch of trout and
steak at a small inn overlooking the Rappahannock River.  They gave advice
on marriage, but mostly wanted to listen to our story.  They were of course
concerned when they heard about how I had been abused like Jenny, but
smiled when Jenny talked about how we had supported each other over the
years.  Finally, when it was time for us to get back in the car they hugged
Jenny.  Jenny's aunt hugged me too, but her uncle only shook my hand and
told me to take care of her.  When I said I would, he said, "From your
mouth to God's ears."

   For the first time since Jenny got the car we put the top down.  We
didn't drive back the way we came.  Instead, we drove to the northeast.  I
didn't know the geography of Virginia, and as I was driving I couldn't look
at the map.  When I asked Jenny where we were going, she matter-offactly
said, "Home." When I repeated what she had said about not intending to go
home, she looked over and said, "We're going to OUR home." I had no idea
what she was talking about, but didn't see any need to question her.  My
wife had had a plan so far.  Why wouldn't she have something else in mind?

   Eventually, we hit a town called Manassas.  The name sounded familiar,
but it didn't hit me as to where we were until I saw a sign for Interstate
66 to Washington, DC.  We were headed for the city where I was going to
college.  Jenny didn't take us to the highway, but directed me though the
suburbs.  We passed Fairfax and Falls Church, traveling further into the
suburbs of Washington.  The green of the country side gave way to houses
and strip malls.  As we got closer to the city, high rise buildings began
to appear.  Finally, as we came down a hill in Arlington the monuments of
Washington, DC rose before us.  "Our new home," Jenny said smiling at me.

   Traffic was terrible in the city, as we crossed the bridge at the start
of afternoon rush hour.  It took us half an hour to travel less than two
miles.  The heat was stifling and I wished we had left the top closed so we
could turn on the air conditioning.  When she saw me pulling the sweaty
tshirt away from my chest, Jenny laughed and told me to wait for a humid
day.  That didn't make the DC weather sound all that attractive.O

   After winding through some of the streets, we pulled up in front of the
Hay-Adams Hotel, which Jenny said was one of the nicest in the city.  From
the front door you could look across Lafayette Park and see the north lawn
of the White House.  When we stepped out of the car, a bellman came to
unload our trunk.  The big suitcase I had seen the night before was lifted
onto a cart and wheeled inside.  Another bellman came up to us and asked if
we wanted to valet the car.  Jenny said yes and handed him the key.  This
was luxury like I had never seen before and my head was spinning.

   When we got to the front desk, a young woman with some sort of accent
asked if we had a reservation.  When Jenny nudged me in the back, I took it
as my cue to respond.  I said that it was under Mr.  and Mrs.  Brian
Schaffer.  I looked back at Jenny.  Her smile had never been so big.

   When the woman asked if we had a credit card, I got scared.  I didn't
have one, and didn't think Jenny had one either.  However to my surprise,
she pulled one out of her purse along with her driver's license. 
Apologizing, she told the woman that we had just gotten married and the
name on the card was different from the name on the reservation.  After
congratulating us, the woman asked if there was anything we would need. 
Before we were led to the elevator, Jenny asked for reservations at a nice
restaurant and a list of good jewelry stores, as we didn't have rings yet.

   Immediately when we got to the room, Jenny insisted on taking a shower
to freshen up.  I, on the other hand, took the opportunity to look around.
The view was great; from our window you could look over the trees and see
the White House.  Standing behind it as a sentinel was the Washington
Monument, which I assumed would look beautiful at night.

   I must have lost track of time staring at the view because I was
startled to feel a hand as it gently pulled mine behind me.  I tried to
turn around, but Jenny's face was on my shoulder, "Don't look now," she
teased.  Her hand led mine to her thigh, then ran it against her skin until
I felt the soft hair between her legs.  She guided my hand across her until
she let out a soft yelp.  I had apparently hit the right place.  On my own
I began to feel around a little, and could feel how wet my wife already
was. I hadn't even noticed that I was getting hard, but now I could feel
myself straining against my shorts.  I wanted to have sex with Jenny more
than I had ever wanted anything.  However, as I turned to face her, her
hand was over my eyes.  "I said don't look yet," she whispered, "I'll lead
you to the bathroom.  Take a shower.  You stink."

   A few minutes later, warm water was running over my body.  I was
beginning to calm down physically, but I was otherwise really frustrated.
The night before, I could understand why Jenny had been teasing me.  She
obviously didn't want to have sex until she was sure I was going to be with
her, but there was no reason for it now.  As I dried myself, I worked up my
nerve to tell Jenny she wasn't being fair.  We had been married for less
than twelve hours and I was ready for our first fight.

   I came storming out of the bathroom, to see Jenny lying back on the
double bed, legs spread, completely naked.  "It's really comfortable you
know," she sighed.  "It almost makes me want to go to sleep." I tried to
smile, but inside I was deflating fast.  On our wedding evening and Jenny
wanted to go to bed early-it was inconceivable.  However, in a moment she
looked very serious.  "But there isn't time for that now.  We have an
appointment at Jan van der Beek's Diamonds in an hour and a half, and
dinner reservations at some Italian place at eight.  And before that you
need to come here and fuck your wife!"

   My heart shot back to life, as did something a bit lower down.  With a
smile so big it hurt, I glided onto the bed and on top of Jenny.  Her mouth
was waiting for mine as our bodies touched.  The kisses were magical, love
was in each one, but the lust from years of waiting sat like the cherry on
a sundae.  Our bodies slid against each other, sweat letting our movements
to grow faster.  I was as hard as I could ever remember being.  Love and
lust became desperation.

   Other than the kissing, there was no foreplay; our bodies had no need
for that.  Eventually, those bodies knew what they were supposed to do.  My
cock slid between my wife's legs and stood ready at the opening.  I was
just about push forward, when Jenny stopped me.  "You've seen into my room
just about every night for over a decade.  You know I'm a virgin.  I saved
it for you, Brian.  It was always for you.  But I need to you realize that
this is going to hurt like hell.  It's OK because I love you, and I know
you don't mean to hurt me.  I hear it feels good after a while anyway, so
just keep going until you finish, even if I tell you to stop." With that
she started to pull me forward.

   I met more resistance than I thought was possible.  But I did as my wife
had told me to do, and pushed against it.  Suddenly, she pulled me down
onto her chest.  As I pushed forward some more, I felt her mouth gripping
my shoulder.  When I finally pushed through, it was me who screamed because
Jenny had bit my shoulder from the pain and was holding on like a shark.

   In a moment the pain was gone though.  Instead, Jenny's bite had
released and she was breathing fast.  As I looked into my wife's eyes, they
seemed to be gigantic.  "Oh my God, Brian," she panted, "It feels good
already.  Keep going, I'm close."

   As the pain in my shoulder subsided, I realized that I was close too. 
It was my first time, so it was impossible that I would last long.  For
Jenny, it must have been the same because as I started to shoot inside of
her, she grunted and pulled me closer.  Her legs wrapped around my back and
squeezed, her hips thrusting against me, trying to work every last drop out
of me.  Finally, she collapsed back on to the bed.  "That was
a-fucking-mazing, Brian.  I can't wait to do that again...  and again... 
and again." She squeezed me tight against her.  The desperation and lust
were gone.  Left was another drop of love and memory for our bottle of
life.

   Though I was hoping for a second round, Jenny said we didn't have time.
Though we both felt sweaty and gross, she said there would be no cleaning
up.  "I want to have that 'just got fucked' smell whenever anyone sees me
with my new husband," she laughed.  I had a feeling that my wife had a bit
of a perverted side.

   * * *

   It was 7:30 and my new wife was rushing me to get out of the shower.  We
had just finished our second round of sex, a quick one against the door of
our hotel room when we got back from a longer than expected trip to the
jewelry store; and hence, we were running late for dinner.  When I stepped
out of the bathroom, still drying my hair, I saw Jenny wearing a beautiful
gown and putting on makeup.  She rarely wore any, but today she was putting
it on for a second time.  There were two special occasions in one day; two
special occasions that I was sharing with her.  I don't know if anyone on
earth could have been happier.  But when my wife turned and faced me, I
knew there was one person who was just as happy.

   "Your suit's over there," Jenny said, pointing to the bed.  Sure enough,
there was the suit I couldn't find before commencement.  Though it was just
over 24 hours ago, graduation seemed like a lifetime away.  When I looked
through my closet yesterday, I was a teenage boy afraid of being separated
from my girlfriend.  This evening I was a married man with a wife to take
care of.  I should have been worried, but there should be no time for that
tonight.  I was going to enjoy a night on the town with the woman I loved.

   As we rode downstairs in the elevator, Jenny held up both our left hands
and looked at our brand new wedding bands.  They were simple gold rings,
for which she had negotiated a good deal.  Originally, the Jan van der Beek
tried to sell us something really expensive.  When that failed, he tried to
get us to over pay for the rings.  But as she had proven in the past two
days, Jenny was a good manipulator.  She all of a sudden 'got distracted'
by a large diamond, saying how beautiful it was.  All of a sudden van der
Beek dropped the price on the wedding rings by half, as long as we promised
to come back the next afternoon for a ring fitting.  There wouldn't be time
to do that this late.

   * * *

   The taxi cab left downtown DC and headed up hill.  Embassies flew past
on both sides as the lights of the Washington that everyone knew were left
behind us.  A few minutes later we were in a quaint Italian restaurant
behind a shopping center abutting one of the most expensive neighborhoods
in the city.

   As I looked across the dining room, I could see that the description the
concierge gave for the place, "a neighborhood restaurant for rich people",
was true.  However, as I studied the people there, it dawned on me that the
excitement and luxury of today could not last.  Tomorrow we would have to
figure out how we were going to build a life together.

   Jenny must have seen something was weighing on me because she looked
softly into my eyes and asked what was wrong.  When I told her that I was
nervous about the future and scared of being apart even though we were
married, she smiled at me and told me we would never be apart.  In that
moment she sounded like a foolish teenage girl to me, too smitten to
realize that love didn't actually conquer all.  Needless to say, I was
disappointed.

   However, every concern that I had, Jenny put to rest.  It turned out we
wouldn't be apart.  She reminded me that the day I got my acceptance to The
Capitol University, she had received an acceptance envelope too.  It turns
out it was to the same place.  Without telling anyone, Jenny had applied
hoping that we both would get in.  She would be attending the same school
as me, but on full ride, a half scholarship for academics and a half
scholarship for cheerleading.  Hence, her tuition would not be an issue for
us.  When I asked her if she was really going to give up going to the
University of Virginia, her dream school, she looked at me both seriously
and lovingly and said, "For you, yes."

   I asked about where we would live.  Shrugging Jenny replied that she
hadn't worked that one out yet, but that Cap U had married student housing.
It was probably too late to get into it for this year, but she had a
connection and had scheduled a meeting for us with the vice-president for
student life the next day.

   Finally, I brought up money.  Jenny just laughed and said that even
though we grew up in modest houses didn't mean we were poor.  I had never
thought about it, but in reality Jenny's family was filthy rich.  If mine
wasn't, we were close.  The only thing we had to do according to Jenny was
to somehow avoid getting disowned when our parents finally found us.

   Suddenly things looked up again.  It was crazy to think so, but somehow
I believed we might be able to make it.

   After dinner, we took a cab to the Monuments.  We walked from the
Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument.  The darkness in the
surrounding trees was ominous, but I felt safe with Jenny beside me.  Next,
we walked around the Ellipse to the White House.  At the other side, we
strolled through the park towards our hotel.  It had been a beautiful
night, but I was tired.  I could tell Jenny was exhausted too.

   As we held hands waiting to cross the street, I looked over at my wife.
I was expecting the beaming smile that I had seen all day.  However, now
there was a sly grin.  I knew that despite the fatigue we would have at
least one more time tonight.

   * * *

   At nine o'clock the next morning we were dressed casually but neatly
sitting in the waiting room for the Vice-President of Student Life. 
Apparently his name was Dr.  Amos Martin, and was some kind of
administrative wonder kid.  According to his secretary, he was the third
highest ranking person at the university, but still hadn't turned forty. 
Several times she wondered out loud how two incoming freshmen could have
gotten an appointment with him.

   When we were finally ushered into his office he somehow looked familiar,
but I couldn't decide why.  He was tall, fit, confident looking, and
obviously of mixed race.  While I knew people who matched the first parts
of that, I didn't know biracial people.  Still, there was more than a
feeling of familiarity.

   After he asked how he could help us, Jenny started to tell our story.  I
thought it would sound fantastic, even unbelievable, to the man, but
somehow it seemed as if he already knew it.  Finally, Jenny asked if we
could get married housing.

   The answer was not encouraging, but was also interrupted.  First, Dr. 
Martin told us that married student housing was meant for graduate students
or 'non-traditional' students with children.  And anyway, it was filled
over a year in advance.  As he was finishing that sentence his phone rang.
Suddenly silent, it seemed as if he counted the rings.  There were five.

   Next, he told us that as first year students we were required to live on
campus, so off campus housing was not an option for now.  However, the
freshmen dorm was coed, so he could probably get us on the same floor.  The
phone rang again, now three times.

   Finally, he said that we should consider off campus housing for the next
year.  He even suggested that we look for a place now, rent it, and then
sublet it for the year.  I was disappointed and confused.  I could not live
with Jenny for a year, and I had no idea what subletting was.  My mind
started to drift off.

   However, in a few seconds I was pulled back to the present as Dr. 
Martin's phone rang one time the stopped.  The man across the desk seemed
to have ESP when he asked our pardon to take a call right before the phone
rang again.

   "I'm in a meeting with two incoming freshmen talking about housing right
now," he explained into the phone.  After waiting for a few seconds, he
continued by saying, "It's a bit of a complicated situation.  Not the kind
of thing I deal with every day." After about a minute of listening he said,
"I think I'll need about 20 more minutes with them." He listened for a few
more seconds then hung up the phone.

   After apologizing for a few minutes and explaining about meetings that
'just come up', Dr.  Martin started to tell us which neighborhoods near
campus were worth living in.  As we couldn't move off campus for a year, I
thought the lecture was premature.  I looked at Jenny to see if she felt
the same, but I was surprised to see a look of concern on her face.

   Something told me that I should get the two of us out of the office. 
Something bad was going to happen; I could sense it.  However, my parents
had trained me to respect authority, so I waited to find an opening in the
conversation where I could politely excuse us.  However, Dr.  Martin kept
talking.  It was as if he were intent on keeping us in the room.

   I could tell Jenny was looking for a way out too.  Finally, she
interrupted the vice-president, and said we would think about what he said.
Unfortunately, as we both stood up to excuse ourselves, I heard the door
burst open behind us.  I didn't need to hear a voice to guess who it was,
but I was still startled to hear Jenny's father scream, "Jennifer Jenkins,
I'm gonna to kill you."

   Jenny's response, "Hi, daddy," didn't seem to help.

   * * *

   A few minutes later we were sitting in a conference room with Jenny and
me on one side of a large wooden table.  On the other side were two angry
fathers and two crying mothers.  At the head of the table was a nervous
looking Dr.  Amos Martin.  At the foot sat a man who could have passed for
his father, his uncle, a smug looking Amos Jones.

   "So you say you're married?" Mr.  Jenkins snarled.  He seemed to be the
only one of our parents really capable of speaking at the moment.

   "Yes, daddy, we are," Jenny replied holding up her left hand.  She made
a point of admiring her ring.

   "Just like that!  Just on a whim you ecide to elope?" her father shot
back.

   It may not have been a good time to chime in, but I thought it couldn't
make the situation any worse, so I interjected, "Actually, Mr.  Jenkins,
Jenny had it pretty well planned out, so I don't really think it was a
whim."

   Completely ignoring me, Mr.  Jenkins continued, "What did I...  What did
any of us do to deserve this?"

   "What you did," my wife said looking lovingly at me, "was to give me a
good home, a bit of a weird home, but a good home with lots of love and you
taught me to make decisions and live with the consequences.  But more than
anything, you let me be friends with a boy who promised to always be with
me no matter what happened.  That boy became my best friend and my soul
mate.  Now he's the man that I made that same promise to." Looking back at
her father, she said, "All of you did the best you could, and it turned out
to be everything that was right for Brian and me."

   For a moment, I thought Jenny had convinced her father that this
craziness was actually a good idea.  However, after a pause he said, "I
simply won't allow it."

   Jenny must have been expecting this because she shrugged and replied,
"Oh well, daddy.  I should add that I might be a little pregnant."

   With that the room erupted.  Our mothers were hugging each other and
crying.  My father was telling me how he was going to rip my balls off and
shove them in a place that sounded rather uncomfortable.  Jenny's father
was being held back by Dr.  Martin and Amos Jones.  Admittedly, I was
confused.  Jenny and I had sex for the first time yesterday.  How could she
think she was pregnant?  Reflectively, I said "We only did it once!"

   "No, love," Jenny said to me in her teasing voice.  "We've done it six
times-once when we got to the hotel, once before dinner, once before bed,
twice in the middle of the night, and once in the shower this morning.  Six
wonderful times in less than a day of marriage.  Not bad for two virgins,
don't you think?"

   Everybody else in the room was gone.  The conversation was now between
Jenny and me, between a husband and wife.  When I asked about how she could
be pregnant, she smiled and said that it had been about a week since her
last period and she could very well be fertile.  I asked her about birth
control, but she admitted that it was one thing she had not thought about.
We started talking about what we would do if a baby came along sooner than
we planned.  These were hard issues, but we needed to talk about them.

   "Now don't those two sound like two responsible adults who chose to get
married," Amos Jones chuckled.  "Remember, Mr.  Jack.  Amos Jones is from
DC and has had many friends in Virginia.  Once a marriage is consummated,
the Old Dominion won't annul it.  And these two have to consent to a
divorce.  Now, Mr.  Jack, neither you nor any power on God's Great Earth
can get them to agree to that.  Now I think we might need to find some
other solution."

   With that Dr.  Martin took over.  Over the next few minutes I began to
understand how a man that young could get to such an important position. 
He questioned everyone about what really bothered them and started to
negotiate a solution.  Quickly, there was agreement that all the adults
thought that Jenny and I were a good couple.  Our mothers had even hoped we
would get married someday.  The real problem was how we did it.  Jenny's
father was upset that I hadn't asked his permission and was afraid that she
was giving up her future to run off with me.  My father was upset that I
hadn't let him know that I wanted to get married and that I felt that I had
to sneak off to do it.  Our mothers were really only upset that there was
no wedding.

   Once that was worked out, Dr.  Martin started to negotiate with finesse
that rivaled his uncle.  After about half an hour several things were
decided.  First, Jenny and I would come home for the summer and would each
live with our respective parents.  Second, we would not tell anyone at home
that we were married.  Instead, we would announce our engagement.  A
wedding ceremony and reception would be planned for the end of the summer.
Next, as we were going to say that we were engaged, I would buy Jenny a
ring later that day.  My father had set aside five thousand dollars to give
me for my freshman year and I could use part that for the ring.  A caveat
was that I would have to buy it myself without Jenny's help.  It was kind
of a test as to whether I really knew her.  At the same time, our mothers
would be accompanying Jenny to a 'women's doctor' to start the birth
control pill.  Finally, Jenny and I could stay at the hotel until Sunday
when we had to report to the university for orientation.  After that we
would drive home together-accompanied by Amos Jones who again had business
to take care of in DC.

   As we all walked out of the university's administration building, Jenny
stopped and asked her father how he was able to track us down.  He
responded that he needed to be a cosignatory on the credit card so Jenny
could get a higher limit.  When the card was used at two different hotels,
one of which was very expensive, within two days, the credit card company
called to see if the charges were valid.  As he started to explain more
about how they tracked us to Dr.  Martin's office, Jenny hugged him and
asked, "How high is my limit, daddy?" Everyone laughedexcept for Mr. 
Jenkins who looked worried.

   * * *

   Two weeks before school was to begin, Jenny and I stood before another
altar with the Reverend Anthony Jenkins giving a sermon on marriage. 
Beside me were my cousin Tony as best man, Amos Jones, and Jim Parker as
groomsmen.  Beside Jenny were two of her cousins as co-maids of honor and
Meghan the cheerleader rounding out the bridal party.  Behind us were our
families and our friends.  It turned out that Jenny wasn't pregnant, so she
still fit into the wedding dress she had worn back in June, which turned
out to be Mr.  Jenkins's mother's, which ironically had been hand sewn by
my great-grandmother.  Over the years I had forgotten that Jenny's
grandparents had lived in the house that Jenny and her parents had moved
into years later.  It was as if the lives of our families had come full
circle.

   After the reception, I was driving the car that Jenny insisted belonged
to both of us now as she reclined in the passenger seat, admiring how well
her engagement ring and wedding ring looked together.  Making conversation
I noted that we were going to be able to make a fresh start and leave
everything behind.

   Jenny stretched, then told me not to be so confident, finishing by
saying, "Old problems have a nasty habit of popping back up."

   Today, I couldn't see how.

   --end chapter 8-

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