Laura's cheeks were sore from laughing by the time the waiter brought the check.

"I'll take it," three voices said in unison as three hands reached out.

The waiter stood still for a moment, hoping the ladies would work it out amongst themselves.

"I invited the two of you to lunch," Laura said forcefully.

"But we're celebrating your impending wedding," Bernice protested.

"She's right, Mrs. Steele," Mildred said.

"Mildred, please," Laura said. "I thought we'd been over this… it's Laura. Mrs. Steele' is fine in the office, but I think we should be on a first name basis by now, don't you?" She turned her attention back to the waiter. "I'll take that," she said, holding out her hand. Before Mildred or Bernice could say anything, she stopped them. "No arguments. I invited you to lunch. It's my way to say thank you' for all your help with the wedding."

"I didn't do anything," Bernice said.

"Oh yes you did," Laura told her. "You kept me sane. This week would have been so much harder without you, Bernice. I'm really glad you're here."

"Well, you're welcome," Bernice said. "I don't feel like I've done anything, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. I'm really happy for you, Laura."

"Thanks, Bernice," Laura said with a smile. "And I'm really happy."

"It looks good on you, honey," Mildred added.

Bernice looked down at her watch.

"Oh wow," she said. "I didn't realize it was this late. I need to call Eddie before he leaves for the club. I'm going to head over to the loft."

"You're coming tonight, right?" Laura asked.

"Laura, it's the rehearsal dinner. I'm not in the wedding."

"Bernice, I want you to come. Please?"

"Oh all right," Bernice said after a long sigh. "When is it again?"

"The rehearsal starts at six," Mildred offered.

"Right," Laura said. "The reverend said to plan on at least an hour, but I don't think it will be much longer than that. IF it takes that long. Why don't you meet us at the church around seven?"

"Will do," Bernice said. "And thanks for lunch."

"You got it," Laura said with a smile as Bernice got up and left. "Now what?" she asked Mildred.

"Well," Mildred answered, suddenly seeming nervous. "I promised Mr. Steele that I'd make sure you didn't stay out all afternoon. But I did have something I wanted to give you. I thought about doing it tonight, but I thought it might be better when it's just us."

"Oh, Mildred," Laura said, deeply touched. "You didn't have to get me anything."

"I didn't exactly get you anything," Mildred said, reaching into the oversized tote she used as a purse.

She took out a small box and handed it to Laura.

Laura looked at Mildred tentatively as she took the package from her. She was quiet as she opened it slowly. As she took off the top of the box, she looked up at her friend.

"Oh Mildred, this is beautiful," she said, holding up a blue lace handkerchief.

"It belonged to my great- grandmother," Mildred said, smiling through tear-filled eyes.

"It's lovely," Laura said.

"I thought you might like to carry it during the ceremony…you know, something blue," Mildred offered. "I don't have a daughter to pass it down to…"

"Oh Mildred, I'd be honored to carry it… but I couldn't possibly…"

"Consider it your something borrowed and something blue,'" Mildred said, understanding.

Laura smiled brightly.

"Thank you, Mildred," she said, standing to walk over and hug her friend. "This is incredible, it means so much."

"Bernice was right," Mildred said, breaking up the emotional moment. "It IS getting late. We'd better get you home. The boss is gonna be antsy."

Laura gave her a questioning look.

"Do you know something I don't, Mildred?"

"No," she said, innocently. "I just know that he wanted to spend some alone time with you before the rehearsal."

Laura smiled at that. She knew just exactly what kind of "alone time" Mr. Steele was hoping for, and the idea sounded great to her. It was going to be a long evening with her family, and an even longer night in separate beds… in separate apartments.

--

"Remington," Laura called out as she entered the apartment. "I'm home."

"Ah, so you are," he said, walking out of the bedroom.

He looked absolutely delicious in her favorite dark blue silk pajama pants. His robe hung open and he wasn't wearing a shirt.

"Why, Mr. Steele," she said. "Pajamas in the middle of the afternoon? That's positively decadent."

"You don't know the half of it, Mrs. Steele," he said, taking her into his arms and kissing her as if his life depended on it.

"Wow," she said dreamily as the kiss ended.

"Darling," he said. "We have exactly three hours before we have to be at the church for our wedding rehearsal. Leaving time to shower and travel, that gives us barely enough time to…"

She stopped him with another kiss.

"To what, my love?" she asked with a wicked grin.

"To do it right," he said, taking her hand and leading her to their bedroom.

"Lead on, Mr. Steele," she said. "But believe me, right' is the only way you do it."

--

Lying tangled in each other's arms after a quick but thoroughly satisfying romp, Remington and Laura were both breathing heavily.

"See?" she said. "Even with time restraints, you're amazing."

"No," he said, brushing her hair back from her face. "You are amazing. I'm just incredibly lucky."

"I suppose we should get up and get ready to go," she said, almost sadly.

"Laura?" he asked, alarmed. "Are you all right?"

She nodded against his chest.

"Never better," she said. "I'm just not looking forward to spending the night without you tonight."

"You don't have to," he said, softy caressing her back.

"You know I do," she said. "Tradition, remember?"

"Yes, I do. And remember to whom you're talking. I've never met a rule I didn't break."

She smiled.

"Just one of the many things I love about you," she said. "But we can do it. It's only one night… and it will just heighten the anticipation of our wedding night."

"Ah yes," he said. "The wedding night. It took us almost two weeks to get to that the last time."

"But that was before we knew what we'd be missing."

"True, Mrs. Steele," he said with a smile. "Very true."

"We really do have to go," she said.

It took a few minutes longer before they finally climbed out of bed and went to get ready to meet their friends and family at the church.

--

"Thank you all," Laura said, raising her glass. "It means so much to us both that you're here and that you're sharing in this incredible experience with us."

"Here, here!" Monroe said raising his glass in toast with Laura as the others followed suit.

Laura looked across the table at her family and their friends. Each member of her family had a role in the ceremony. Remington had his friend Monroe to stand at his side as best man. Mildred was not only part of the candle lighting, but she was their biggest supporter. Having Bernice there just made it that much better. She wanted to pinch herself; could it really be true that she was about to marry the man of her dreams?

Remington took Laura's hand in his as he looked out at the family…Laura's family... their family. He loved the woman sitting at his side to distraction. He found it almost impossible to believe that she was really about to become his wife. He was part of a family. A real family. For all their faults, the Holts loved each other. He was more than honored to be included in this company, and it was even better for him having one of his oldest friends by his side.

"Aunt Laura," Mindy said. "Did I really do okay?"

"You were perfect, sweetheart," Laura answered. "Thank you so much for helping us. You're going to be absolutely beautiful in your dress tomorrow."

"Do I really have to wear that suit?" Danny asked.

"Oh yes, Daniel," Remington answered. "But it's not just a suit, it's a tuxedo and every man should know how to wear one." He leaned conspiratorially toward the youngster. "It drives the ladies wild," he said with a smile.

"Gross!" Danny replied as the adults laughed.

"Danny!" Abigail said. "Mind your manners."

"He's all right, Mother," Laura said.

"Absolutely," Remington said with a wink toward his nephew. "And one day you'll change your mind, young man. Trust me," he said, with a meaningful look in Laura's direction.

They all looked up as Claude appeared in the doorway of the banquet room.

"Mrs. Steele," he said. "You have a telephone call."

Laura looked at her husband.

"Who could that be?" she asked.

"Let me handle it, Mrs. Steele," Mildred said as Laura glared at her, "…uh, Laura."

"Thank you, Mildred," Remington said as Mildred got up to take the phone call.

Donald began asking Monroe about his business and Remington took advantage of the situation by spiriting Laura away. He took her by the hand and they slipped out of the room, unnoticed.

"What are you doing?" Laura whispered through her giggles as Remington pulled her into a quiet alcove.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" he answered, laughing along with her as he brought his lips to hers.

"Mmm," Laura sighed as he nuzzled her neck. "This is wonderful…" she said.

"…but…"

"But we have to get back," she said.

"No we don't."

"Remington…"

"Laura…"

"I'm serious."

"So am I. And if you can't tell that, then I'm doing something wrong."

"I thought we settled that earlier," she said, breathless. "You can't do it wrong."

"Then let's get out of here."

"We can't," she said with a mischievous smile. "Can we?"

--

"What happened to Laura and the boss?" Mildred asked as she walked back to the table.

Everyone looked around, seemingly realizing for the first time that the happy couple had disappeared.

"Well," Abigail said. "We have to find them."

"Oh Abigail," Bernice said. "Let them be. Tomorrow's a big day, and they're playing by the rules. Laura's staying with me at the loft tonight. She promised."

"I don't know," Monroe said with a chuckle. "Mick's never been one to play by the rules."

"No, but Laura is," Donald chimed in.

"Donald's right, Mother," Frances said. "Laura is determined to have a traditional wedding. I don't think we need to worry. But it is getting late; we should be getting the children home."

"Oh, Mom!" three voices whined in unison.

"Mom's right gang," Donald soothed his brood. "Tomorrow's a big day. We all need to get some rest."

As the Pipers and Abigail readied themselves to leave, Mildred grabbed Bernice by the elbow.

"We've got a problem," she said.