Isolation by Jones, Nathan (the first e reader .TXT) 📗

Ellie approach, he must've thought the same about her. That sent a warm thrill through her.

There were three groups of guests watching as she did her best to move across the soft dirt in a graceful glide, the gathered guests positioned so they almost made a triangle around their campsite; oddly enough, its spot at the quarantine camp's entrance was actually the best place to host the wedding if they wanted as many of their loved ones as possible to attend.

Or at least, gather as close as they could under the circumstances.

Nick and Tallie and their other friends in the survivors' camp were all along the patrol route fronting Ellie's camp, crowding the borders of the narrow area to fit in; her daughter waved wildly as Ellie and Ricky passed, making her smile as her son waved back just as eagerly.

Nick gave them a thumbs-up, which was an odd greeting for a formal wedding. She guessed it was his unspoken reassurance that Denny and the survivor patrols were all out in force right now, being extra vigilant so everyone else could celebrate without worrying.

Or at least, worry less.

Johnny, Starr, and their friends in the larger camp were just on the other side of the fence beside Ellie's campsite, standing atop the berm so they could observe the proceedings. As for Stanberry, Gen, Billy, the Norsons, and some of the other citizens had risked exposing themselves to the virus and Jay's attacks by crowding into the Zolos-vulnerable visitor's area at the western end of the main camp. Including Mayor Darby and a plump, stern-faced woman Ellie assumed was his wife.

Ellie had to be honest, she was glad Darrel had spurned her invitation. She'd only grudgingly offered it, more as an olive branch than anything, and had secretly dreaded his abrasive attitude souring the festive mood.

The last man in the Stanberry group, waiting as close as possible near where Hal stood, was the man who'd be taking their vows and officially tying the knot.

The formal system for obtaining a marriage license was obviously not functioning at its best at the moment, especially with Stanberry isolated, and the number of people in town who could officiate a wedding were few and far between. Neither Ellie or Hal were particularly religious, but they had no arguments with the minister of a local congregation performing the ceremony.

In fact, Bruce and Winn both insisted that the kindly middle-aged man had done an excellent job for other weddings, with a reputation for giving reserved but heartfelt speeches before the exchanging of vows.

As Ellie came to a stop facing Hal, leaving Ricky waiting a step behind her, the minister cleared his throat and began speaking in a surprisingly loud and carrying voice, easily reaching all ears in the expectant hush.

True to the Norsons' word, the minister's talk was lovely: hopeful and energetic. He spoke of taking steps into the future in these difficult times, and that there was no disaster that people couldn't recover from. And that it was refreshing to see good people living and loving and celebrating life for a change.

Ellie spent most of the speech staring into Hal's eyes, basking in the warmth and love she found there. She was so grateful for so many things, that her children had survived Zolos, and that they'd found a place to move forward through the pandemic, and had everything they needed to survive at least the next few months.

In this special moment, though, she was grateful she'd found this wonderful man to be with her through all this. She hadn't thought she'd find love again after her divorce, certainly not in some random fellow passenger on an airline flight.

But here was proof that it could come at the most unlikely of times and in the most unlikely of places. And be all the more wonderful for that.

Finally, the time came to exchange vows. Ellie knew Hal had spent hours preparing his, but even so found herself tearing up at how eloquent, heartfelt, and above all passionate his words were.

She hoped her own vows, also carefully prepared, did as good a job of expressing the sheer depth of her feelings.

Finally they exchanged rings, Hal slipping his rose-carved silver ring back on her finger and Ellie slipping a plain silver wedding band their friends in town had scrounged up onto his.

Then the minister solemnly but warmly announced the newlyweds could kiss, and almost before Ellie knew it her new husband had swept her up in his arms to give her the sort of kiss that made her knees feel weak.

As they parted the three groups of guests all cheered, Tallie's delighted shouts rising above the rest. Ricky was whooping and jumping up and down, as were Hal's siblings, and even Cara clapped politely.

Hal took her arm, and together they walked along the berm doing their best to greet their guests. It wasn't exactly a formal wedding reception line, but it was the best they could do under the circumstances. And in some ways it was very sweet, how hard everyone tried to make the event special in spite of the difficulties.

Obviously it was impossible to hope for gifts from friends in the main camp, and doubly so for the survivors' camp. But Gen had made up a big basket meal full of delicacies, at least the best that could be whipped up under the circumstances, including slices of the wedding cake she and Winn had baked for everyone in Ellie's camp, and a bottle of champagne for the adults.

People in all three groups had prepared their own lunches to share out, and everyone settled down to eat and bask in the celebratory mood. Ellie and Hal pulled up camping chairs to sit on, her new husband seated on one side of her and Ricky cuddled up on the other, with Cara on Hal's other side and Todd, Lenny, and Den clustered around Ricky.

Ellie hoped the kids would all treat each other like brothers and sister now, since in many