Nathan Jones - Shortage

Trev had his own regrets about that, especially wondering how everyone felt about him after Mandy, but he didn’t dwell on it much aside from when Lewis brought it up. Ultimately here was where they were and where they’d be, unless they wanted to brave snowdrifts over their heads trying to get down the mountains. At least in the hideout the main thing they had to worry about defending against was snow piling up in front of their door or over the icehouse and outhouse. Considering the alternatives it was a foe he was happy to face.

Still, as January passed into February with March looming on the horizon Trev grew more and more restless, spending increasing amounts of time exercising or striking out along the snowy slopes around them even on the coldest days just to escape the dim confines of the hideout.

In spite of all the ways of producing light they’d brought they were running out, of batteries and kerosene and candles, and more and more he wished Lewis’s foresight had included a window. Or maybe a bank of south facing windows like Lewis talked about as the ideal setup for an underground house in winter, although he hadn’t had a chance to do it for the shelter or the hideout.

Either way Trev was more than ready for winter to be over. Whether they made their way back to Aspen Hill or stuck around in the mountains spring couldn’t come soon enough for his tastes.

The wedding took place one week before Christmas.

Matt’s parents and April all thought having it just three weeks after his proposal was a bit rushed, considering how before the attack weddings usually took months to plan. But it wasn’t like there was a venue to book, a cake to order, decorations to plan, coordinated tuxedos and dresses to rent, and guests on both sides of the family from all over the country to invite. No need to plan a DJ or a band, apply for a marriage license, sit through a surprise bachelor or bachelorette party, or any of the other things that went into weddings these days.

More than that, though, in their long discussions together on quiet nights Matt and Sam had both agreed that the world didn’t wait for things to be ideal anymore, and with an uncertain future it was all the more important to live the present to the fullest. Not that they considered their timing to be rushed, either: both agreed on what they wanted and couldn’t see any reason to delay.

Although even with a simpler wedding there was a lot to prepare in those two weeks after returning from their trip to get the cache. They planned the wedding to be in the town hall’s auditorium with the ceremony itself limited to family and friends, which still made for a packed room, while the reception was open to the town. That meant the auditorium had to be decorated somehow, which meant a bit of scrounging around town finding things Sam, his mom, and April found suitable. While he was doing that Matt did his best to find something more formal to wear than a white shirt, tie, and slacks.

The days of feeding all wedding guests were well behind them, unfortunately, since even with the meat they’d butchered the town’s supply of food was long gone and nobody was about to donate from whatever individual stores they might have, not even for a wedding. His mom had suggested doling out what few cans of peaches, pears, and sweet corn they had as a little treat, but after Sam had asked everyone to picture how doling out a spoonful of food to each of a roomful of guests would go over they’d agreed to take food off the menu.

At the very least Mayor Tillman offered them a container of powdered Gatorade as a present, and between that and good spring water the guests wouldn’t go thirsty.

Things weren’t going well for the town as the days got colder and food got scarcer, but in spite of that Matt was almost certain the wedding was improving people’s moods. When he was at the storehouse, the town hall, or even on the way to or from patrols people constantly came up to him offering their congratulations, and he quickly learned that he wasn’t the only one who’d formed a high opinion of Sam during her short time in town. He passed on to her a great deal of praise about her cheerfulness, kindness, and willingness to help.

The people around him all seemed to get just a little bit more cheerful when he was around, especially when Sam was with him, even when those people were obviously hungry and even sick, desperate for any pleasant distraction to latch on to. Matt and his fiancee spent most of their time around other people fielding questions about the wedding, quite honestly answering that yes, they were lucky to have found one another, yes, they were very excited about getting married, and yes, they did love each other very much.

It was almost a relief to escape the flurry of wedding planning to wade through ankle deep snow patrolling the town. Sam even started going with him, since between sleeping in the shelter and wedding plans it was one of the few chances they had to spend time alone together. Matt felt bad about forcing her to tramp through the cold, but he certainly couldn’t ask for better company.

Finally the day of the wedding arrived, with Matt nervously standing in the changing room to one side of the stage trying to piece together the tuxedo he’d borrowed from Carl Raymond. As he understood it Sam, in the other changing room across the stage, had no less than four women helping her fix her dress, hair, makeup, veil, shoes, and everything else just right. Not that he needed or wanted anyone to help him dress, of course, but it would’ve been nice if someone had thought to tell him how to put this thing on. He’d had no idea it was going to be this complicated.

Finally, though, he thought he managed to get it right and did some last minute comb work on his hair, which April had cut for him last night. He also ran a hand along his jaw, although if he’d missed a patch shaving this morning it wasn’t like he’d be able to do anything about it now. Less than a minute later there was a soft rap on the door and he was ushered up to stand at the front of the auditorium. Ben Thompson started playing the wedding march on the piano and the noise in the auditorium died down to an expectant hush, as Matt turned to look anxiously down the aisle searching for his first glimpse of his bride to be.

Although he did pause to glance at the first row in the audience and smile at his nephews, who were both standing on their chairs waving wildly and yelling helloes to him as an embarrassed Tam tried to get them to sit back down. Behind him he heard Terry making shushing noises, and on the opposite side with the maids of honor April finally broke away two steps to sit them back down and furiously whisper reprimands.

When he looked back down the aisle it was in time to see Sam step into view on his dad’s arm, starting toward him.

Matt felt his breath catch when he saw the woman he loved. His mom had lent Sam her wedding dress, which was a bit big on the petite woman even after the two of them and April did their best to make adjustments, and April had lent her a pair of her nicest shoes stuffed with a bit of cotton at the tips so they fit. Her dark hair shone from brushing, hanging loose down her back with two simple clips holding it away from her face.

He didn’t think she’d ever looked more lovely, especially when her eyes met his through the veil and her smile became radiant.

Catherine took their vows in her position as Mayor, and Matt hoped Sam could glean his sincerity among the nervous fumbling of words that didn’t seem adequate to express his true feelings. Her own words were quiet and fervent, as if for his ears only, leaving everyone on the benches leaning forward and straining to hear. Anything left unsaid was expressed in their first kiss as man and wife.