I didn’t know I was going to do it until I did it. I just couldn’t stand the idea of her getting her hooks into him. Why couldn’t he see that she was just a whore? She was willing to sell her body just to get citizenship status, which as far as I could tell, she didn’t deserve. She hardly spoke English, at least not so you could understand her. So I had to stop it. When the minister asked if anyone knew why these two should not be joined in the bonds of holy matrimony, I couldn’t help myself. I stood up, and in a calm and steady voice, I stated, “I object!”

Well, that got everyone’s attention, as well it should have. If they’d been awake before this, they would have seen this wedding for the farce it was. Justin looked pale. I hoped that that meant that he was realizing what a big mistake he’d almost made. That girl – I can’t even pronounce her name – why can’t they have American names when they come here? It’s disrespectful to our country – anyway, that girl didn’t cry or even look upset. Her expression never changed. Who would want to marry a robot like that?

—-

My mother can be quite the harridan. And, yeah. She’s racist AF. So we knew how she was going to be. Uncle Kevin was supposed to be keeping an eye on her, sitting next to her, but there she was, getting up and yelling, her face turning red. I looked at him, and he shrugged. Yeah, I don’t know what he could have done, short of physically holding her down and gagging her, but that wouldn’t have gone over too well, either. 

I was really impressed by Reverend Poole, though. I suppose he must have had to deal with situations like this before, but he handled it really well. He asked Mom and us to meet with him in his study to discuss her objection in private, and he had the deacon do a bible reading followed by the choir leading everyone in a couple of hymns. I don’t think they made it through the second hymn, though, before we were back, ready to say our I dos. 

The thing is, I know Mom would really like Mindy if she just would spend a little time with her. She wouldn’t even have to learn how to pronounce her name – Mindy would be fine. 

Reverend Poole had the four of us sit down in a circle and hold hands and said a prayer for understanding. I was sitting across from Mom, and I could tell she didn’t want to hold Mindy’s hand, but she bows to the authority of the church, so she kind of had to. 

So I’m not big on prayers anyway – we were just getting married in the church because I figured it would make my mom happy, and see where it got us. But this prayer seemed to go on and on. There was a fly buzzing on the window, trying to get out, and that sound combined with the reverend’s voice, and I feel like I must have nodded off, though it couldn’t have been for long. I looked over, and Mom had her eyes half-closed, too. Then they snapped open, and she was alert again. But I guess the nap must have done her some good, because she looked more relaxed.

“Mrs. Trent, I understand you have some things you would like to say about Justin and Mindy’s wedding.” He looked at her kindly.

“Yes,” she said forcefully, and I couldn’t see how we were going to get around her. “I want to make sure that Justin really loves her, and that she loves him.” That was a surprise.

I squeezed Mindy’s hand. “Yes, Mom, I really love her.” 

Mindy spoke at the same time, quietly, in her adorable accent, “I really love Justin.”

The minister looked at each one of us earnestly for a moment. “It sounds to me as if this will be a good marriage. Mrs. Trent, do you withdraw your objection?”

Mom looked pained for a moment, and then her forehead smoothed out. “Yes, of course I do. I wish you all the happiness in the world.”

The wedding proceeded without any further interruptions, and Mindy and I were husband and wife. That was the happiest day of my life. 

People say that, but I don’t think they realize that means that things just go downhill from there.  I loved Mindy, but I always felt a distance between us, probably because of the cultural differences. I don’t know. I really don’t blame her, but it broke my heart when she told me she had to go back to her people. I wondered why they hadn’t come to the wedding and I had never met them. I don’t know anything about the customs in Kyrgyzstan – I can’t even spell it. I offered to go with her, but she said it would be too difficult for me, not knowing the language. Somehow, I knew she wasn’t coming back, but if she ever does, I would welcome her with open arms.

—

The operation was a success. I was able to return with enough twenty first century genetic material to help repopulate our time period. I doubt whether I can generate the oocytes to create a zygote internally, but I have enough spermatocytes for multiple in vitro fertilizations. I am grateful to Justin for helping save humans in his future from extinction. He was a nice man-boy, and I wish him every success in life. I hope he never decides to look for me in Kyrgyzstan. His mother will comfort him – I altered her brain just enough so that her fear would be outweighed by her love of her son. I like to think that if they could ever know, they would not mind.