Retroactive Romance by Everette Lemons

Author:Everette Lemons
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Science Fiction, Paranormal, Artificial Intelligence, Time Travel, Intimacy
Publisher: Everette Lemons
Published: 2015-12-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11: Surreptitious Ambitions

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As the guest attendees began moaning in disbelief, chattering softly amongst themselves in the process, the minister attempted to regain order so as to attempt understanding the man’s claim. Both Audra and Edward glared at the elderly man in disbelief, as neither one had ever seen the man before. Finally, Edward challenged the man’s claim.

“And just who is it that I’m married to?” he asked.

“My daughter,” the old man promptly replied with a sincere expression.

“Your daughter?” Audra asked while lifting her veil, still holding the bouquet of flowers in her hands. “Who is she?”

“It’s me,” a voice from the attendance stated. “Joyce Elaine Bethard.”

“Wha-a-a-t?” Audra proclaimed in amazement as her eyes widened in disbelief.

George Douglas shook his head as he plopped himself back into his rocking chair, for he simply could not take the drama any longer. Meanwhile Joyce approached the front where the minster stood along with Edward, Audra, and the elderly man. She paused briefly for a moment beside them, looking squarely into the eyes of Edward as everyone in attendance watched with intriguing interest.

“You really don’t remember me do you?” she asked him.

“Should I?” he asked. “And I ask that with the utmost sincerity,” he added.

“Yes Edward, I know you do,” she replied. “Nevertheless, I estimated that something like this may occur, and therefore I came prepared,” she added while glaring at her father.

“What do you mean?” Edward asked.

Before Joyce Bethard could answer agent Witherspoon suddenly interrupted and declared the entire matter a private conversation, and abruptly asked the minister to end the proceedings.

“Yes, quite right Mr. Witherspoon, at once,” the minister replied. “Folks, if you will, there is still plenty of food and drink on the front side of the house, shall we return there please.”

After everyone had left, to include Dorothy and the organist Witherspoon turned to Joyce.

“Alright, out with it. What’s the meaning of this? And I ask that of both of you,” he stated in a serious tone, pointing intermittently at both Joyce and her father.

“Here, read it for yourself,” Joyce replied, handing Witherspoon a document.

The document appeared to be a marriage license issued in June of 1931, indicating a request for permission to wed and signed by both Edward Odell Lewis, and Joyce Elaine Bethard. Witherspoon briefly peered at the document as his eyes then wandered away from it as he thought. He likewise noticed George Douglas still sitting on the back porch, but gave no concern to it.

“So you two were married in 1931?” he asked Joyce while handing the document to Edward.

“That’s right,” she replied.

“How come there’s no record of this with any courts? Surely we would have come across it investigating Edward’s case,” Witherspoon replied.

“I can’t answer that Mr. Witherspoon,” Joyce replied. “However, I considered it a fortunate thing and was perfectly willing to forget the matter until my untimely father showed up here,” she added, again glaring at the elderly man.

“Don’t try to put the blame of this on me young lady,” the elderly man snapped at her, wheezing in the process.

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