Pop said, "Moira, darling, you're not just doing this because ... because...."
"No, Pop. I'm doing it because I want to. Because I love Red and he loves me. It's been that way since the day we met. We—we've been meeting secretly for the past six weeks. We meant to break the news sooner or later. And now seems to be about the best time."
"Particularly," pointed out the groom-to-be, "since our marriage turns two families into one family. And I think that will spike your guns, Mr. Wade?"
Wade was no longer crimson. He was purple. "You can't do this, Colonel!" he screamed. "It's illegal. Anyway, they won't be truly related. The two families will just be in-laws—"
But there was an open, admiring grin on the lips of Lieutenant-Colonel Travers, S.S.P. He said, "Maybe I can't do it, Mr. Wade—but by the Pleiades, I'm going to! And as for the law—according to all decisions I've ever read, in-laws are valid relatives. You're the one who was yelping about the law providing many loopholes for ingenious men. Well, here's a big, juicy loophole. How do you like it?"
Wade, howled, "I protest! It's unfair! I refuse to allow—"
Red Wilkes looked at his father hopefully. "Shall I, Pop?" he asked.
And Sam Wilkes shook his head. "No, son. It ain't fittin'. Not on your wedding day."
Which gave Dick an idea. He rose, grimly.
"It's not my wedding day!" he said. "Wade—"