Chapter 55: Crossroads

Saturday, September 17th, 2005:

The remnants of dinner still lingered in the air, the smoky aroma of slow-cooked ribs mixing with the faint scent of coffee. The family remained gathered around the kitchen table, their post-meal conversation carrying an air of quiet contemplation. The night had been filled with warmth, but now, the weight of reality settled upon them.

A quiet tension settled over the table, the weight of unspoken thoughts lingering in the air. The warmth of the meal had faded, replaced by a sense of expectancy, as if everyone present knew they were standing at the edge of something significant. Without hesitation, Josh and Katie moved in tandem, rising from their seats to clear the table. Their motions were instinctual—Josh gathering plates while Katie rinsed and loaded them into the dishwasher. They maneuvered effortlessly around the kitchen, anticipating each other’s actions before they happened. It was second nature, a pattern of shared experience ingrained over years of partnership.

Because, in truth, they had been doing this for years.

Kirk, Judith, Dorothy, and Hannah observed the pair in silence, an unspoken realization settling among them. Words had been exchanged, stories recounted, but witnessing Josh and Katie in motion was irrefutable proof. There was an unpracticed ease to their synchronicity that could not be feigned, a familiarity forged through a life once lived.

Judith leaned closer to Kirk. “There’s no denying it now. Watching them, the way they move, how instinctive it is—it’s exactly how they described it. They really have lived this before.”

Kirk, arms crossed, exhaled through his nose. “It’s one thing to hear it, but to see it? That’s different. That’s real.”

Dorothy sipped her tea, watching them with quiet reflection. “I always knew Josh was different. He grew up too fast, but I chalked it up to responsibility. Now, I see it was something more.”

As Josh and Katie finished the dishes, Josh turned toward the table. “Anyone need a refill? Tea, water, coffee?”

Dorothy raised her hand slightly. “I’ll take some coffee.”

Katie stretched, rubbing her neck. “Me too.”

Josh efficiently poured drinks, distributing them before sitting down beside Katie, who curled her fingers around her warm mug. Kirk and Judith exchanged a glance, their eyes meeting in silent conversation. Judith gave a small, reassuring nod, and Kirk exhaled before finally clearing his throat. The air in the room shifted as an unspoken understanding settled among them.

“We need to talk about what comes next,” he said, his tone even but resolute. “Your future together.”

Josh placed his cup down deliberately, already anticipating where the conversation was headed. Beside him, Katie straightened slightly, her grip tightening around her mug.

Kirk exhaled slowly, meeting Josh’s gaze. “I’ve thought about this long and hard. It’s not easy to accept that my daughter has lived an entire other life, or that the man sitting across from me is, mentally, older than I am. But the way you two move, the way you interact—it’s undeniable. What you have is real. And I’d be a fool to ignore that.”

Judith nodded in quiet agreement. “That being said, this isn’t a decision we’re making lightly. Katie, you’re fifteen. Josh, you’re nineteen. There are legal and ethical complexities involved. But after everything we’ve seen and heard, we’ve made our decision.”

Josh and Katie both held their breath, anticipation crackling between them.

Kirk glanced at Judith once more before looking back at them. “We’re allowing you to marry when Katie turns sixteen.”

Katie let out a sharp breath, her chest rising and falling as she processed the weight of Kirk’s words. A whirlwind of emotions flashed across her face—relief, joy, disbelief—all merging into something raw and deeply felt. Her fingers trembled slightly as she gripped her coffee mug, grounding herself in the moment. Then, slowly, a brilliant smile broke across her face, bright and unwavering. Josh exhaled, tension easing from his shoulders as he reached under the table, squeezing Katie’s other hand in silent gratitude.

“However,” Kirk continued, his tone brooking no argument, “there will be conditions. This isn’t just about love. It’s about responsibility, stability, and ensuring you both have the foundation to succeed. You will prove that you’re ready—not just emotionally, but practically.”

Josh met his gaze with unwavering resolve. “I understand. And I swear to you, I will do everything in my power to ensure Katie has the life she deserves.”

Katie turned to her father, gratitude shining in her eyes. “Thank you, Dad. I know this wasn’t easy.”

Kirk sighed, rubbing his temples. “No, it wasn’t. But you two were always going to find your way back to each other. I’d rather stand by you than fight the inevitable.”

Dorothy, silent until now, finally spoke, her gaze lingering on Josh and Katie. “Well then,” she said, her voice carrying a mix of acceptance and quiet contemplation, “looks like we’ll be planning a wedding for next July.” She paused for a brief moment, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her coffee cup. “It’s hard to wrap my head around it all, but I see it now. You two really do belong together.”

After discussing wedding plans for a while, Josh suddenly thought of something. He excused himself from the table, heading to his bedroom. Picking up the phone on his nightstand, he dialed a number he knew by heart. After a few rings, a familiar voice answered.

“Josh? Calling me at home on a Saturday? This must be something serious,” Colleen Bell’s voice teased.

Josh smirked. “Well, Miss Bell, it’s not every day a man starts planning his future marriage.”

Colleen gasped dramatically. “Oh no, Josh! Don’t tell me it’s finally happening!” She paused. “I swear, if you’re about to propose, I need a second to prepare myself. I’ve already had a few drinks, and my heart might not take the excitement.”

Josh chuckled. “Colleen, as much as I appreciate our ongoing ‘will-they-won’t-they’ saga, you know your father would have me strung up by my balls if he thought I so much as looked at you the wrong way.”

Colleen cackled. “Fair point. Dad’s got that whole ‘old-school lawyer who might make you disappear’ energy. Definitely keeps my dating life interesting.” She took a sip of her drink. “Alright, groom-to-be, what’s up?”

Josh’s tone turned serious. “I need you to start looking into marriage requirements for a sixteen-year-old.”

A pause. Then, her tone turned playful again. “Excuse me? You’re calling me about marriage laws, and it’s not for us? Josh, I am devastated. I thought we had something special.”

Josh shook his head, grinning. “Colleen, we both know you’d never settle for me. You’d get bored, and I’d be stuck dealing with the aftermath.”

“That’s true. I do enjoy my chaos.” She sighed theatrically. “Alright, spill it. Who’s the lucky girl? And should I be jealous?”

Josh hesitated for a second. “Remember when I told you I had my eye on someone?”

Colleen scoffed. “Yeah, I figured that was just your polite way of turning me down.”

Josh smirked. “Nope. I’ve been waiting for her, and now I’ve found her. The only issue is that she’s fifteen, and I’m nineteen, so we need to get everything legally squared away. I already have her parents’ approval, but I need to set up the legal framework and add her to the trust.”

Colleen let out a low whistle. “Damn, you’re serious about this. Who is she? And why do I feel like there’s a novel-length backstory you’re not sharing?”

Josh chuckled. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Just know that she’s the one.”

“Mysterious.” She hummed thoughtfully. “So, legal research on teenage marriage laws. Should I go ahead and draft prenup paperwork too?”

Josh’s voice turned firm. “No prenup.”

Colleen laughed. “Oh, we’ll revisit that later. I’ve been a lawyer’s daughter too long to ignore contingencies. But fine, we’ll table it for now. I’ll start gathering what you need and let you know what legal hoops you’ll have to jump through.”

Josh exhaled, relieved. “Appreciate it, Colleen. I owe you one.”

“Damn right, you do. And I expect a fancy dinner for my troubles. No fast food—I want steak. A good one. Medium rare, with all the fancy sides.”

Josh chuckled. “Fine. But you’re paying for your own drinks.”

“Ha! As if you could stop me from ordering top-shelf cocktails.”

Josh grinned. “Tell Jim I said hi and that I miss our talks.”

“Will do, Romeo. And congrats. I can tell this means a lot to you. I’m happy for you.”

Josh felt the sincerity in her voice. “Thanks, Colleen. Talk soon.”

They exchanged goodbyes, and Josh returned to the living room, where the conversation had shifted. He apologized for stepping away and explained that he needed to ensure everything was legally in place for the wedding.

Kirk raised an eyebrow. “You called your lawyer on a Saturday night?”

Josh nodded. “Yep. I’ve had the same lawyer for years. Leonard introduced me to Jim Bell back in the day, and his daughter Colleen has been handling my account for the past two years since Jim’s health declined.”

Kirk looked impressed. It was clear that Josh wasn’t just talking about marriage—he was already making the necessary moves to ensure there were no legal obstacles. Things weren’t as simple as they had been in Kirk’s time, when parental approval was all that was needed.