Page 2 of First Comes Marriage
Because most of my life I’d been alone.
So, it was better if I planned to stay by myself and in order to make sure I could live, I didn’t want to touch that money until I was much, much older.
“Then that’s what we’ll do,” Mrs. Hatcher replied. Smiling, she said, “Most kids your age don’t have their heads on as straight, Jolie. If there’s anything else I can assist you with, please let me know.”
“Thank you,” I said. “Can I go now?”
I was meeting Mindy, my best friend, after school, so we could go hang out at the mall. One of the few freedoms I was afforded. I’d have done anything to avoid heading to my foster home where I would be taunted and bullied. I had my babysitting money and wanted to buy a new pair of jeans and maybe a shirt. I wasn’t exactly sure, but as long as I got back to the group home before six when dinner was served, it didn’t matter what I did after school.
“Yes, you can. Thank you for stopping in to see me, Jolie,” Mrs. Hatcher said.
I didn’t reply as I picked up my backpack and headed out of her office to see Mindy sitting on the bench waiting for me. Her brother, Brock, was the one who was taking us to the mall, and he was there as well as his best friend, Dex.
They were several years older than us, probably more than that, but I had never asked. I was just grateful that Brock doted on Mindy and as her best friend, I reaped the benefits. “Thanks for waiting, y’all,” I stated as I closed Mrs. Hatcher’s door behind me.
“What was that all about?” Mindy asked as we followed Brock and Dex out of the school and toward his pickup truck. As we climbed into the back and buckled up, I grinned at her and put one of my fingers up.
Once Brock started driving, the music cranked up to a bone-jarring level, I leaned over and said, “She tried to talk me out of taking shop.”
Mindy rolled her eyes. “Yeah, like that’s gonna happen.”
I snickered then added, “But I’m also taking home ec andtyping.”
Somehow, Brock heard me because he said, “Great! Then you can type up all our college papers, Jo.”
I scoffed, because unless it benefitted him, he hardly spoke to me. “It would cost you too much,” I retorted.
“What? How’s that? I haul your ass around everywhere you want to go,” he rebutted.
“No, you haulMindy’sass around. I’m just her sidekick,” I teased, sticking my tongue out at him.
Chapter One
Dex
“Yo, boss man, there’s a call for you in the office,” Elliott yells, his voice sounding like a megaphone since the noise from my tool is loud while I solder.
I nod to show I heard him, shut down the mini torch I’m using to weld a fabricated part for a repair, then strip out of my safety suit and remove my welding helmet with the shield that protects my eyes from flying embers. Grabbing the rest of my gear and placing it in my toolbox, I head toward the office. This particular contract has been a pain in my ass, and I’m glad I chose to take some time off before I take on another long-distance job. Between having to assemble parts for repairs and then spending hours beneath the water to weld holes in the rig, I’m totally worn out. Sometimes, I feel as though it would be cheaper just to keep me here and put me on the payroll, but there’s something to be said about contract jobs. I receive top pay plus a daily per diem, which is somewhat of a joke since we’re out in the middle of the ocean. All that money just piles up in my account until I’m on land again and can move it around. Being an oil rig welder is ayoung man’s job, and I need to ensure I have enough saved to be able to pick and choose what I want to do when I decide to retire from this industry and do something else.
Setting everything down, I pick up the phone and speak into the receiver, announcing, “Armstrong.”
“D-d-dex?” My sister's uncontrolled sobbing meets my ears which has my body tensing and going on instant alert.
“Arya? What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” I ask my youngest sister, gripping the phone tightly enough that I worry for its integrity.
Even though I enlisted in the Navy at eighteen and have built an independent life for myself away and separate from my family and the town I grew up in, I visit frequently. Well, as often as I can depending on the contracts I’m given to complete. It still blows my mind that my parents pretty much started over again having kids so late in life, because all three of my siblings are young enough in age to be my own kids.
Except, I’m single. Sure, I find relief when I need it, but there’s never been a woman who has made me want to settle down and put down some permanent roots and raise a family of my own. Still, the house is chaos personified these days since both my grandmothers moved in when they became widows, needing a change of scenery where the memories of years gone by didn’t drown them in grief. I think I was around five when that happened, and all my memories involve them. With the culture clash, it’s anyone’s guess what’s going on right now and I need to get to the bottom of why Arya is calling me if I can manage to get her to calm down long enough so I can understand her words between the hiccupping cries.
“Mom and Dad are dead,” she wails, her heartbreaking sobs piercing in their tone.
“What happened?” I question, already mentally preparing to leave the ship and head home. Still, I need to know what I’m facing, which is why I asked. I have to set my feelings aside because as the big brother and eldest sibling, it’s my job to be strong for the younger ones. I have to be their rock even if I won’t have one for myself.
“Car accident. It seems that Dad had a massive heart attack while driving and lost consciousness, so he ended up hitting a tree head on. Mom died on impact,” she replies. She’s still crying but at least she’s calmed down enough that I can decipher her words.
“I’m on my way home, sweetie,” I promise her. “Tell Abuela and Nonna I’ll be there in the next day or so, okay?”
“I’m sorry,” she murmurs.
