It was the day before the wedding. Frisco and Mac were actually getting along for a change, now that the Felecia thing was straightened out. They were both going to give Maxie away. The church was just down the street from the Floating Rib. The rehearsal was just about to get underway. Jason was the best man for Spinelli and Maxie had her mom, Felecia as her maid of honor. So much had changed since her mother had come to town and this was the best thing that happened for both of them. Robin and Lulu were her bridesmaids. Spinelli had Dante and Patrick as his groomsmen. The wedding was going to be a small intimate affair. This was so not Maxie but she had grown-up in the past couple of years and with the baby on the way it felt better for it to be on a smaller scale than a huge event.
Father Ryan was there to go over the details and help make suggestions for the ceremony. "Now, I want to make sure that I have this right. You and Maxie had a non-ceremony and now you want the real thing. I think that everyone is ready for the bride. Okay, let us get this show on the road."
Maxie walks down the aisle with both her dads. Frisco is on her left and Mac is on her right. They both look at Felecia waiting for their daughter to go down the aisle. Frisco was sure that he would be alright for the ceremony but now seeing Felecia at the end of the aisle he was having second thoughts. The details were told to the group that was there and before they knew it the rehearsal was over. Father Ryan thanked them and told them to be there for two the next day. The ceremony was to begin at three and he wanted to make sure there were no slip-ups.
The staff of the Floating Rib was getting things ready for the wedding party for the rehearsal dinner. Mac had a great staff of employees and they were prepared for the reception the next day. Mac was glad that it was almost over because having Frisco there was a bit too much for him and Felecia. They were glad that he came for Maxie but they were going to be happier when he left.
Mac looked at Maxie and Spinelli and started off the toasts. "I never thought that this day would come again and that I would actually be happy about Maxie and Spinelli getting married. The past couple of years, Spinelli has showed me and everyone else here how much Maxie means to him and how much he truly loves her. Maxie, you have shown me that happiness comes when you least expect and that just because things didn't work out the first time that you can go back and fall in love again. Seeing you and Spinelli gave me hope about your mother and me. I am happy for the both of you and proud for you Spinelli to be part of our family again. I love you both and wish you nothing but happiness."
Jason was next to speak. "I am not much of a speaker so this will be short. Spinelli, I think of you as my brother and wish you and Maxie all the happiness that you both deserve. I am also very happy that you both will be moving with us to California. I know that many exciting things are waiting there for us."
Felecia stood up and started her speech. "I am very proud of you Maxie. You have had a very tough upbringing because of your dad and me not being there for you and Georgie when you needed us. I am grateful that Mac was there to help you become the lovely woman that you are today. I am also very happy that you have such a wonderful man to be your husband. Spinelli, you have been such a sweetheart to me and I welcome you into our family. I know that the two of you will have a great and blessed marriage and that your children will have great parents. I love you both and wish you nothing but happiness."
Frisco looked at his daughter and smiled. "I know that I am a bit late to see the love that Spinelli and my daughter, Maxie have but I glad that I have got to see how happy they are for myself. I have spent my life going from place to place but being away from my daughters was the hardest thing that I have had to deal with in my life. I know that I have never really been there for Maxie but I hope that we can make up for that and become family again. I am very happy that Spinelli has become a part of Maxie's life and now a part of our family. I hope that you both have all the happiness that you both deserve and that your move out to California is what you both need. I am also blessed that now I am about to become a grandfather. I never thought that I could be around for that but I know that being around family is very important to me. I am just glad that I now have the chance to do that."
Everyone gave their speeches and soon it was time to go home. Maxie was tired from everything that was going on and then she got a shock. "Maxie, you want to have a traditional wedding so you can't sleep with Spinelli tonight. You are going to go home with Mac and me. You are going to sleep in your old bedroom and I am going to make sure that everything goes the way it is supposed to go. I also hope that when Mac and I get married that you will do this for me. Come on, Maxie. Let's go."
"Mom, I love you and Mac but I will not go home like I am a virgin bride. I have to sleep in my bed in my apartment. It's important for my baby and me to sleep in my bed with my fiancée. Everything will be traditional but not this. I will not be apart from him for anyone or anything. Please understand this. You can spoil the baby and me all day tomorrow. I just need to be with Spinelli tonight."
"Okay. I see but expect me tomorrow morning. We have a lot to do before going to the church. Love you both. Sleep well tonight."
Spinelli waved at everyone and took his bride to be home for the last time as a single man.
The next day everything was bright and sunny. There were no clouds in the sky and the birds were chirping happily in the trees. Spinelli was so happy that the day had finally come and that Maxie was about to become his wife. Spinelli had a lot to do before the wedding. He had a meeting with Jason about their new homes in California. He also had to get a haircut and then pick up his tux. Jason was picking him up in the limo to bring him to his place to go over the deeds for their new homes. The will was being written up so he was sure that Maxie and their future children were taken care of in case something should happen to him.
"Let's go Spinelli. We are running late and there is a lot to do before two o'clock. Elizabeth and the boys are getting ready for today at her grandmother's place. They are all excited about your wedding to Maxie today and ours next week. You are going to have to do this for me next week. I am fine now but who knows when next week arrives. Diane is going to meet us at Sonny's coffee shop. We will go to the barber from there. Our tuxes are going to be delivered to the church so we can change there." Jason ushered Spinelli into the limo and they were off.
Maxie woke up just as Spinelli was leaving with Jason. She had a smile on her face and for a second could not believe that today was finally here. It was her wedding day and she actually was excited and wanted to be married to Spinelli. Her life was so full and now with the baby and the move to California, she finally got the happiness that she had always craved. There was a knock on her door and she went to answer it. Felecia, Robin, Emma and Lulu were waiting outside her door to start the wedding preparations. Maxie smiled when she saw everyone waiting for her. She let them in and Robin said that she had a surprise for her. She had the blue garter for her to wear. Felecia had the earrings that she wore to her first wedding with Frisco for something old. Maxie's wedding gown was new. Lulu had a beautiful pearl cross necklace to wear as something borrowed. Felecia looked at her first born with tears in her eyes. "I wasn't there for your first non-marriage to Spinelli but I am so thankful that I am here today for you. I have missed so many things that you and Georgie have done and now that you are getting married it just seems wrong that your sister is not here to enjoy this day."
"I know that mom but she is here in spirit with us. I can still feel her around and so does Spinelli. Although he says with the way people come back from the dead around here that she is probably living on the other side of the world wondering where everyone else is like a parallel universe or something. Okay now that I have everything that tradition calls for I say we make a toast for today. There are going to be mimosas at the spa but I will stick with straight juice. I am so blessed to have you all here today helping me and I am also glad that your memory is back Lulu. I say we get into the limo and off to the spa. We all deserve some pampering today."
The girls all got into the limo heading to the spa. Robin and Emma were excited that the day was finally here but also sad because in a couple of weeks everyone was leaving for California. Emma looked at Maxie and asked if she knew whether she was having a boy or girl. "Auntie Maxie, am I finally going to have a girl cousin to make up for all the boys around here? Mommy told me that you and Spinelli are coming back for your mom's wedding to Mac. Do you know if you will have your baby by then or not?"
Maxie smiled and said, "Emma, the baby is due in October so I will be back before the baby is born but I heard that you will be coming to visit in California when the baby is born. You don't have to worry about missing anything. I promise that we can call each other or Skype at least once a week. Then you can see the changes that I am going thru with your cousin."
The made it to the spa and the relaxation began. Everyone went their separate ways but knew that soon the relaxation was going to be over and the wedding was going to begin. Maxie went in for a massage that was great for pregnant women. The care that they took on her made her feel like a queen. She relaxed and then went for a manicure and pedicure. Once her nails were done in a fine pearl color she went to get her hair and make-up done. Everyone was in awe when they saw how beautiful Maxie looked. They all gathered back into the limo and headed for the church. The dresses and tuxes were waiting for everyone to try on. Elizabeth brought Jake in for his tux because he was the ring bearer. Emma put on her new dress because she was the flower girl. The two of them looked so cute together but behind the scenes all they did was fight. Elizabeth was laughing at Robin. "I can see them in about ten years. If they are not separated they will be dating each other for sure. I guess it is a good thing that we are moving huh."
"Well I always thought we should be family. I guess that is one way to do that. Let's get the couple separated so the wedding can begin. I guess I have to do that since you will be safe watching everything from a distance and not right on top of them."
"Remember next week we get to do this all again and I will be in the thick of things then. I can't believe how fast this time is flying. Then Jason and I are off to Italy. I wonder where the lovebirds are going on their honeymoon. I know that Felecia, Mac and Frisco have a surprise for them. I guess we will see in a little while. I guess I better get going. Jake, you be good for Auntie Robin and be nice to Emma."
As Elizabeth was leaving she saw her middle child stick out his tongue to Emma. Jake was up to his old tricks and Emma was going to make him behave if it killed her. She took Jake by the hand and told him that he had to walk her down the aisle to Maxie and Spinelli. The groom was anxiously waiting for his bride at the end of the aisle and the music then started to play.
Lulu went down the aisle looking at her amazing husband standing there. Robin walked down next smiling while holding her breath that the two little ones behind her did what they were supposed to do. Emma was the perfect flower girl and helped Jake walk straight towards his dad. Felecia followed behind Emma and Jake to take her place as Maid of Honor. The tears started to flow as everyone turned to see Maxie being escorted down the aisle by both her dads. Mac was on the left side of Maxie and Frisco on the right side walking her down to her future. Maxie made a beautiful bride and Spinelli was spellbound by her. Some things never change between them. He was always spellbound by the little vixen but now she was going to be his wife and mother of his children.
The ceremony went by in a blur. The photographer got a lot of great shots of the two of them and the wedding party. Soon they were all on their way to the wedding reception at the Floating Rib. Soon everyone will find out where the two newlyweds are going on their honeymoon.