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Heroes

James Bates

    “I wish you could swim,” Camden told Megan. “Like the dolphins.”
    They were downtown, sitting outside having just finished lunch at a favorite cafe. She sent off a final text to her mother, set the phone down and looked at him like he was nuts. “Camden, what in the world are you talking about? I can swim, you know that.”
    “I know. It’s just that I was thinking about after we’re married and how much I was looking forward to getting away with you, especially from your parents. I know they don’t care for me. They’ve said more than once that they thought nothing could keep us together.”
    “I know, honey. I’m sorry about that. And them.”
    “Me, too. But it is what it is, even though we’ve been a couple for over five years. I was thinking we could go to the Caribbean for a few days, maybe ride on one of those catamaran’s and go swimming with the dolphins. I’ve got some money saved up. It’d be fun.”
    “What brought this on all of a sudden?”
    “Look, I know your parents wanted you to marry some rich guy lawyer or doctor or someone like that. Not...”
    “Not a guy who teaches fifth grade at a hundred-year-old building in the dark and dirty inner city,” she interrupted, finger quoting around dark and dirty.
    Camden grinned, “Well, yeah, something like that. I just want me and you to do something special after we’re married, that’s all. Just the two of us.”
    Megan looked at him, her eyes dark and sensual, eyes he never tired of looking into. “Look, Cam, it’s you I love, and it’s you I want to spend my life with.”
    “You’re saying that together we can beat them, forever and ever?”
    “Yes, that’s what I’m saying.”
    “What about your parents? They’re paying for the wedding.”
    “I know...”she sighed. “We’re just going to have to compromise, somehow, be nice and try to get along.”
    “Remember they also wanted to take us to Paris. Show us that new Monet exhibit.”
    “Which would be fun to see, I can’t lie, but we’re kind of stuck going there with them.” She sighed and shook her head, “I have to say, though, traveling with my folks was not how I pictured us spending our honeymoon.”
    “I’m glad to hear you say that.” Camden smiled at her, reaching out to caress her hand. “How about when we get back, you and I go to the Caribbean by ourselves?”and I go to the Caribbean by ourselves?”
    Megan snapped her fingers and looked at him, and idea suddenly forming. “How about if I tell my parents that it’s time for them to let me live my life the way I want? How about if I tell them that we’ll do our own wedding, on our own terms? How about that?”
    Camden stood up, excited and pointed, “You know, the courthouse is right around the corner. We could get married there. Right now. What do you think? Let’s do it.”
    Megan stood up, grinning from ear to ear, “Lets.” Just then her phone beeped a text. She glanced at the screen. “It’s from Mom.” Camden watched, waiting, wondering what she’d do. It didn’t take her long to decide. She put the phone in her purse without answering and turned to him. “Screw it. Let’ go to the courthouse. I’ll call her tomorrow. It’s our life, not my parent’s.”
    Camden knew exactly what that call tomorrow would entail. Megan liked her things. She liked to travel. She liked Monet. More than anything he was certain the big wedding would take place and the trip to Paris would happen. But that was all right. Today it was just the two of them with a dream of the traveling to the Caribbean and swimming with the dolphins.
    “I could be king and you could be queen,” he said, smiling wide.
    “That’s right,” Megan agreed, “No matter what happens, we could be heroes.”
    Camden, hugged her tightly, not caring about anything except being with her. He paid for their lunch and they started walking toward the courthouse, arms around each other, happy and in love. He looked at her and smiled, “That’s for sure, Megan. We’ll be heroes. Even if it’s for just one day.”

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