Anchor Line (61 page)

 
           “I think your coffee mug is broken.” Conrad said. “I threw it at the wall when you left.”

 
           “I can get a new one.” She answered shrugging her shoulders.

 
           “So ah…what’s up?” He asked shifting on his feet.

 
           Addie held the box out to him in the palm of her hand. “Here.”

 
           Conrad’s heart sank. He almost fell to his knees. His mouth fell open, not knowing what to say.

 
           Shaking her head, Addie explained. “It’s not what you think.” She tried to smile as tears filled her eyes. “I want you to put it on me.”

 
           Conrad huffed out a breath in relief. “Fucking hell Addie. Don’t do that to me.”

 
           Conrad took the few steps to her and took the box in his hand. “You want dinner and all that other shit that you girls seem to like?”

 
           She shook her head. “All I need is you.”

 
           Conrad opened the box and pulled out the engagement ring and saw that his band was missing.

 
           “Where’s the…my…”

 
           “Your band? I took it up the street to a jeweler while you were out.”

 
           “Why?” He looked confused.

 
           “I got it engraved.”

 
           Conrad smiled and took Addie’s left hand, sliding the ring onto her finger to the first knuckle.

 
           “Are you sure Addie? There is no going back.” He said seriously.

 
           She nodded. “Absolutely.”

 
           He slid the ring on her finger and looked at it for a moment before he grabbed her and kissed her passionately.

Epilogue

 
           “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.” The officiate announced.

 
           Cheers from family and friends went up, laughing and cheering as Conrad and Addie kissed. When they pulled apart, Conrad smiled brightly into Addie’s hazel eyes. “Love you Mrs. Renner.”

 
           “Love you too Mr. Renner.” She scrunched her nose and smiled. “Thank you for wearing your dress uniform.”

 
           “May I present to you…Sergeant First Class and Mrs. Conrad Renner.”

 
           Again more cheering went out from the small group. Addie and Conrad made it down the aisle waving to their friends and family. At the end of the aisle, on the South Plaza of Heinz Stadium Conrad kissed Addie again.

 
           “Congratulations man!” Nathan, his best man came up to congratulate them.

 
           “Thanks dude.” Conrad took Nathan into a man hug, shaking hands and slapping backs.

 
           “Let me get some of this man love.” Cal said as he handed his baby girl to Tracy, then man hugged Conrad and Nathan.

 
           More hugs and congratulations came from Talia and her husband and Addie and Conrad’s families. The wedding was small. Everyone joked that it was Conrad that wanted to get married quickly, not Addie. It was a miracle he didn’t just drag her off to Vegas. But their love for all things Steelers football had Conrad calling his dad and getting the stadium in only six months.

 
           Conrad wore his dress uniform with his pants bloused in his shiny jump boots and his burgundy beret as Addie’s request. He was a Sky Soldier for life and she wanted to make that a prevalent part of their lives. Her simple cap sleeved, lace dress had a foot long train was paired with heels that were dyed to match Conrad’s Infantry Blue cord that he wore on his uniform to show her support to his service. With his new promotion to Sergeant First Class, Conrad was running around trying to get his new stripes sewn on his uniform in time for the wedding.

 
           It was when the newly married couple had a few minutes to themselves as the photographer was changing his SD card that Conrad asked Addie what she had engraved on his ring. This whole time, she’d hidden it from him, wanting it to be a surprise.

 
           “Take it off and look at it.” Addie smiled.

 
           Conrad slid the ring off of his ring finger and brought it closer to read it.

 
          
Addie’s Jumper
.

 
           He grinned like a Cheshire cat and leaned in for a kiss.

 
           That moment, Conrad holding his ring, the smile on his face as he looked at his wife, that was the picture that Addie and Conrad framed and put in their bedroom.   

He was her jumper....she was his anchor line.