Jamie's Momma comforts him, and then it's time to make his choice

Jamie was feeling rather dizzy as he staggered back into his home that afternoon, after a day of school that had somehow both dragged on way too long and slipped by impossibly quick. His Momma's promise to get him married had left him so distracted he wasn't sure he'd heard a word of his lessons. During one of his Home Ec. classes, he'd knocked a bowl of cookie dough off the bench and gotten his skirt all dirty struggling to clean it up, but where the mocking laughter of the other boys would once have made him sick with embarrassment, he'd been so out of it he'd hardly even cared.

Even the teachers had noticed something was up, where they usually just ignored him, but he hadn't even been able to stammer out an explanation. How was he supposed to tell anyone that his Momma was planning to marry him off when he hardly even knew how he felt about it himself yet? One moment he was sure he should be running back to Belle, jumping in her arms and telling her to take him away, the next he couldn't help but feel a tingling anticipation at the thought of being some older lady's blushing husband, to have and to hold. At least...it meant a woman paying attention to him at last, didn't it? None of the girls in school even noticed him, in his shabby, unfashionable clothes and stupid haircut, but Momma had told him there were lots of older ladies interested in marrying him somehow.

Maybe a friend or two could have helped him figure it out, just another boy his age to talk to about all this, but he didn't have any of those anymore either. The little group he'd shyly hung out with with when he was younger had gotten bored of him as soon as their conversations turned to girls, fashion and music over toys and stories. His old friends seemed so happy and confidant now in their stylish clothes, teasing the girls with bare legs and low-cut shirts, and they seemed to prefer to act like he just didn't exist. He doubted any of them were worrying about getting married off by their Mommas, or that they'd even let him talk about it to them without sneering and mocking him. So he ate his lunch alone, just like always, then spent the rest of the break huddled in a stairwell, trying to think this through and getting nowhere. At least getting married so young, looking after his wife's home for her, he'd have something to do with himself, right?

Now he was back home, already, with Momma waiting for him inside and the wedding she wanted for him looming. His heart was pounding like a drum as he stepped into the living room and slipped off his shoulder-bag. Was she waiting in her study? Should he just go there and...ask? Or would she let him think a little more in his room first? Maybe...he'd even have a chance to chat to Belle again if he knocked on her door. He wanted to talk to her again...hear that promise to help him run away one more time just to be sure.

"Jamie, honey, is that you? Come here, please." That was Dad's voice, coming from the tv room. It could only mean one thing. Momma wanted to talk to him now about his wedding. In just a few moments, she was going to expect him to pick the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. It all felt so surreal, and he stumbled over to the study feeling like he was walking through a dream.

Jamie stepped through the door, his nervous gaze finding his Momma sitting on the couch, wearing her usual smart collared shirt and trousers. Dad was settled beside her, in a long, flowery dress, a tense smile on his face. There was a laptop open on the table in front of them.

"Sit beside me, darling." Momma patted the couch. She was smiling too, still in a good mood at least. Biting his lip nervously, Jamie shuffled over to the couch and sat down, smoothing down his long skirt. He hoped Momma didn't notice the cookie stains or she'd snap at him for being sloppy again. A strange thing to worry about right now, but the whole wedding thing still felt so unreal he hardly knew what to think. "This is a very important time for you, son, one of the most important times in a boy's life." Momma continued, her strong, muscled arm wrapping around his slender shoulders. She pulled him gently against her, guiding his smaller body into her side. "Your Father's talked to me, and I know you're very nervous about this, but you don't have to be, I promise." Jamie's shocked gaze flickered past her to his Father and he got a small sympathetic smile in response. He hadn't even realized Dad had noticed how anxious he was. "Remember what I said." Momma went on, her big, warm hand stroking his shoulder. It had been a long time since she'd been this affectionate with him. It felt...nice, his chest going all hot and fuzzy, and Jamie found himself relaxing into her despite everything. He wanted to trust her. She was his Momma...she'd always looked after him, protected him. "You're still my precious little boy no matter how old you get, and I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you. These are the right sort of women I've chosen for you. I've spoken to each of them in person and made sure of that. They all know just how to treat a good boy like you, okay?" She glanced at him expectantly.

"Yes Momma." Jamie nodded. Somehow...all that did kind of make him feel much better. Just hearing her say those things, reassuring him that she did care, was very comforting. In the back of his mind though, he still knew that what Momma considered the right way to treat a boy was the same strict, old-fashioned way she'd always treated him and Dad.

"Good." Momma smiled again, giving his shoulder a firm little pat before her hand went back to stroking gently down his arm. "All these ladies are very eager to meet my cute son, so let's not delay another moment. There, on the laptop darling. I've made a list of the women I decided were right for you, with photos and everything."

Biting his lip, Jamie turned towards the computer. Just like Momma had promised, there was a document open with a short list of names and headshot photos of handsome older women staring back at him. Beside each, Momma had typed out a few details, mainly just the lady in question's age, job and hobbies. It didn't feel like very much to go on considering he was supposed to be choosing the woman who he'd be spending the rest of his life with, and he focused more on the photos, trying to guess which lady he could see himself marrying. There were a few he didn't like the look of too much and as he sat leaning on his Mother's shoulder, he settled on three of the photos which seemed to appeal to him most.

The blonde at the top seemed the kindest, her blue eyes soft and warm as she smiled in an almost motherly manner from the photo, like she was looking at her own son. Margaret Hampton, thirty years old, a family doctor at a clinic not too far from his house. She had some boyish hobbies too, like reading and painting. Maybe he could talk to her about those things if they did get married.

Then, right below her, a black-haired lady with sharp, brown eyes, her lips pursed into a thin little grin. She looked rather stricter, and Jamie felt a strange little flutter in his belly as he imagined her staring down at him that way, like he'd almost enjoy it. Eliza Sharp, working as a partner at an accounting firm. That meant she had to be rich...Jamie thought, if the nice suit she was wearing didn't give it away already. She was also a little older, thirty-five, but that meant she'd know better how to look after him, didn't it?

Finally, a tanned woman near the bottom with almond eyes and an easy smile. She looked strong just from the headshot, even under the collared shirt she wore Jamie could tell her shoulders were big and muscular. Miranda Walker, a former athlete who'd founded her own sportswear company and was doing rather well for herself. She was closest to his own age at twenty-eight. Jamie blushed faintly at the playful smile she was giving from the photo. She was very handsome...and he knew he liked strong women. Most boys did.

It still wasn't an easy choice of course. At least Momma was letting him meet them first before he decided, but he still sensed the one he picked now was going to end up his bride all the same. This was happening so fast already. As his gaze moved down the list, he found Belle's promise flickering back into his mind. His older sister said she'd save him from this, take him away and hide him in her dorm room until Momma couldn't marry him off. He could pretend to pick one of these women, then go to Belle instead. Was that what he wanted? Did he really dare run away now? Or was...marriage to one of these women what was right for him after all?