And now, the chapter you've all been waiting for…
THE WEDDING CHAPTER! WHEEEEE! Please review and tell me how it was!
"Do you know what a Cinnabon is? It's bread! And cinnamon! And frosting! They heat it up!"—Jerry Seinfeld as Barry Benson, Bee Movie
Chapter 12: I Do, At Last
(One month later…)
It was the day of the wedding. The golden hour had come at last! Guests were being filed into the chapel by ushers; the band was standing at the piano to play the interlude; April was sitting inconspicuously in a middle pew while her men assembled along the walls. Alex was assembling the bridesmaids in the foyer room before the chapel and directing Cori in front of them. Cori had a cute little white dress with a wreath of white daisies in her hair and white socks and shoes. Her brick-red hair was in one braid down her back with white and gold ribbons put in with it and tied with a white bow at the bottom. She had white gloves on her hands and held a white basket of pink rose petals. Her star clamp hung around her throat on a choker.
Alex and the other bridesmaids wore matching dresses of a soft purple with a layer of translucent pastel blue veil over the purple. The shoulder straps made the dress look like it hung on Alex like a curtain, and the skirt flew out if she twirled; it would make a perfect dancing dress! (Remember that for later!)
Cindy was in the bridal room in her dress, veil, wreath of flowers, and the necklace that carried her pearl. Libby, Judy, and Sasha were with her.
"Darling, what's wrong?" her mother asked.
"Mom," she blurted, "What if I'm no good at it? Being a wife and mother, I mean?"
"It's all right, honey," Sasha smiled, "You're just nervous, that's all. You worry about motherhood later. Today is about two people only: You and the young man waiting to marry you."
As a matter of fact, the young man waiting to marry her was in another room with his father, Cindy's father, and his two Best Men. He was all decked out, spit-and-polish perfect, and nervous as heck!
"Your pre-wedding jitters remind me of Jet's," Sheen chuckled.
"Except I'm not under the hypnosis of a maniac," said Jimmy, "But still…" Hugh patted his son on the back with a smile.
"Relax, Jimbo," he said, "Marriage is a huge step for everyone! Just love your bride honestly and fully, and take care of her as you would yourself." Cindy's father smiled and nodded in agreement.
"I have no qualms about you marrying my daughter, Jimmy," he said warmly, "I've watched you two grow up and blossom in your feelings for one another. I know you'll be everything she needs; that's what I've always wanted for her."
"Thank you," Jimmy said humbly, "I'll try to live up to that." The two fathers each hugged him and left the room.
"What's the matter, Vortex?" Hugh asked.
"I know Sasha and I will have little Sherem coming to our home soon," he sniffed, "and it was a joy to raise Alex to adulthood as her surrogate family, but…Cindy is my child, my only daughter. I'm so afraid to lose her." Hugh laid a hand across his shoulders.
"Buck up, old boy," he said encouragingly, "You're not losing a daughter, you're gaining a son!" Then he added emotionally, "My son."
In the bride room, Cindy was now alone with Libby. The Maid of Honor was so pretty in her fuchsia dress; fuchsia was a hard color to wear, but Libby made it work.
"Libby," Cindy started, looking into her best friend's brown eyes, "I just want you to know that once Jimmy and I are married, we'll be focusing more on just each other than ever. But please remember that you are now and forever my best friend in the whole world and nothing will ever change that. You were there for me in more ways than any best friend, and I'll never forget it. I love you, Libby." Libby smiled mistily as she and Cindy hugged.
"I love you too, girl," she said, "and I'll never stop being your friend, no matter what! I'll always be there for you in every way possible, you and your entire family." They stood hugging while the prelude played from the chapel.
"I used to be afraid of change," Cindy confessed, "but this is one change I've been waiting for my whole life." Libby pulled back smiling.
"And I'm with you every step of the way," she said, "I promise." Alex knocked on the door and peeked in.
"Cindy," she said gently, "We're ready."
"Thanks, Alex," said Cindy as Alex walked in and Libby hurried out. Cindy went straight up to Alex and hugged her.
"Thank you, Alex," she said with humble sincerity.
"For what?" asked the redhead.
"For your faith," Cindy answered, "From the first time we met, you've always believed in me and Jimmy. Sometimes you seem more secure in our relationship than even we are." Alex laughed.
"It's all right," she said, "You showed me what your relationship is capable of the night we met. I know as well as anyone what it can do, and it amazes me: A love so strong, so deep, that even though anything and everything might try to separate you, nothing can keep you apart. I hope to find a love like that myself someday. In the meantime, your husband is waiting for you." Alex then left the room and Cindy's dad came in.
"Ready?" he asked. Cindy lifted her head and nodded confidently. "Ready!"
Jimmy stood on his side of the altar with Sheen and Carl behind him. Goddard stood somewhere nearby. Commander Baker was behind the altar, and Libby was beside it on Cindy's side. She looked at Sheen in his black tux with turquoise bow tie and matching cumberbunds! Carl's were pink. At the church piano, the band daughter Merlina was playing and singing Karen Carpenter's "Close To You" with her father and brothers backing her up. She caught Alex at the head of the bridesmaids out of the corner of her eye. At the redhead's signal, she quickly switched to the Wedding March as the men joined the guests in the pews.
Cori seemed to float (and she probably was) as she gently sprinkled the petals on the floor and sat in the front row. Alex and the other bridesmaids took their march and stood by Libby as the bride and her father walked down the aisle.
Jimmy's throat constricted and he had to swallow; who was that? It certainly wasn't the bad-tempered, headstrong 11-year-old who had tormented him as a child. What he saw was an angel with blonde hair and green eyes who loved him more than words could say.
Cindy stepped up to the altar while her father sat by Cori and handed her bouquet to Libby. The next thing she knew, she was holding hands across the altar (in front of it) with Jimmy.
Commander Baker cleared his throat.
"Well, friends," he began, "I never thought I'd live to conduct such a momentous, long-awaited wedding. It is now my honor and relief to seal these two together in wedlock (and quickly, before they change their minds). Jimmy, please repeat after me."
And Jimmy repeated after him, "I, James Isaac Neutron, take thee, Cynthia Aurora Vortex, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love, honor, and cherish, to defend and protect, for all the days of my life."
So beautiful were those words that Cindy gave up trying to protect her make-up and let the tears fall as she took her turn with the commander's prompting.
"I, Cynthia Aurora Vortex, take thee, James Isaac Neutron, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to love, honor, and cherish, to defend and protect, for all the days of my life."
Little Jamal stepped up with two gold rings on a red velvet cushion. Jimmy removed one and put it on Cindy's finger underneath her engagement ring. Still pouring silent tears, Cindy took up Jimmy's ring and put it on him.
"By the power vested in me," the commander announced, "and on behalf of the citizens of Retroville, I finally pronounced you husband and wife! Jimmy, I never thought I'd say this, but…You may kiss the bride!"
The crowd erupted into cheers and tears as Jimmy and Cindy sealed the deal. Goddard barked and howled joyfully as the little girls hugged each other and hopped up and down.
"To the reception hall?" Jimmy invited, then added, "…dear?"
"Right behind you…honey!" Cindy answered. They both burst out laughing.
"Man, y'all are both crazy!" smiled Libby. Cindy hugged her and they left the chapel with Jimmy as everyone dispersed for the church reception hall!
As Jimmy looked back, he saw another familiar woman standing by the wall in a short white dress with fat shoulder straps and no décor with her long jet black hair floating slightly, and just over her knee caps, her feet disappeared into the floor at the ankles. Her translucency explained no one noticing her, but Jimmy did. She smiled at him; it was Sneris! She'd come to see him be married, too. She placed her hand on her heart as she had the last time he'd seen her and bowed her head once. Then Captain Betty moved across his vision, and she was gone.
Author's Review:
Boy, don't you just love cameo appearances? I love Sneris so much! She deserves a prettier name than that…meh.
This chapter is special to me because this is the first wedding chapter I've ever written in a story! Hooray! Come and celebrate with me and leave a nice review!
