Janet and Eddie's New Life - Chapter 14
Janet and Eddie's moment of quiet was shattered when four cars with about twenty Sullivan cousins came pulling up. They were followed by three trucks loaded with tables and chairs, a bridal arch and an altar. All compliments of Sully's previous planning according to Conor. There was no detail left to chance. Tents in case of rain right down to the dress the bride would wear and the groom's outfit. Sully had provided a wedding band to go with the brides heirloom ring and a plain band for Eddie. The only thing he left up to Janet and Eddie was to have them inscribed as they chose after returning to Knight's Ridge.
While Janet when out to check on the flurry of activity in the garden, Eddie headed for the kitchen to check out the food that was being prepared for tomorrow's dinner. Eddie could hear Janet's laughter through the open kitchen window. He'll make sure he gets to hear her wonderful laugh everyday, Eddie thought.
Later on after a late dinner with the Sullivan's and Aunt Rosheen, Eddie and Janet kissed in the hallway and went to their separate rooms to sleep. Eddie whispered sweet, sensual details of what he planned for their wedding night and Janet giggled. "I'm going to hold you to that!" she promised. As she slipped into her room Eddie slapped her on the bottom. "And that is only going to be the beginning!" Eddie replied.
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Janet was so nervous the next day she couldn't even eat breakfast. That and the fact that Eddie kept making "googlely eyes" at her. She swatted at him when he made her choke on her orange juice beause he made her laugh. "Is this the kind of influence you're going to be for our son?" She tried to sounded scolding but couldn't pull if off. "Our son" how wonderful that sounded to both Janet and Eddie.
Janet went into her room and began to get ready for her wedding. She placed the garment bag on the bed and opened it. Sully had picked out the most beautiful dress Janet had ever seen. It was made with an overlay of Irish lace with a silky white sheath underneath. It had a scooped neckline with a lace collar and tiered lace three quarter sleeves. The empire waist had a lace fringe and it had a train of lace. Janet sat on the bed gently touching and admiring the workmanship when there was a soft knock on her door. She was getting up to make sure it wasn't Eddie when the door opened slightly and in walked Hannah and Thad.
Janet jumped up and rushed to their arms. "How did you get here? I can't believe you're here? "
"Surprise" Hannah and Thad announced together. Hannah said that after they had spoken the other day, Conor Sullivan gave her a call and filled her in on the rest of Sully's grand plan. "We had tickets and a passport for Thad and everything waiting for us at the airport. Sully must have known that Nick and I wouldn't have missed this for the world. Nick is talking with Conor now and then he'll help Eddie get ready. "
"This is great, huh, mom?" "I can't think of a better wedding present, Thad. I'm so glad you're here. And Hannah I'm so glad that now you can be my maid of honor and Nick can be Eddie's best man. Oh, God, I think I'm going to start crying."
"Don't do that Janet or I might cry with you. But we need to get going, we have a wedding to get to. Thad you go get ready, while I help your mom ok."
"Wait, Thad, I want to ask you something," Janet said. "Sure, mom." "Thad, would you walk me down the aisle and give me away?" "You got it, mom." Thad added, "As long as it's Eddie Latteka you're marrying, sure I'll give you away." Janet tousled her son's hair. He sure was something, she smiled.
Nick knocked and then entered Eddie's room without hesitating. When he got a look at Eddie standing in his wedding outfit in front of a full length mirror, he stopped dead in his tracks and let out a howl.
Eddie saw Nick in the reflection of the mirror and growled back at him without turning around. "Nicky if you so much as say one word, I'll throw you through another window and it won't be an accident this time!"
Nick tried to control the humor in his voice, "I guess Sully thought that if you were going to marry Janet, he wanted to make sure you were serious about it."
"I want to marry Janet so bad that I'd probably stand buck naked up there for all to see if that's what it would take, but this!! This I don't know about!!"
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As a mandolin and a pennywhistle played the "Shepherd's Serenade", Thad proudly walked his mother down the garden path. Janet carried a porcelain horseshoe that was incorporated with her bouquet of flowers from Maggie's garden and had a flowered wreath for a head piece. Also, per an old Irish tradition she carried the "magic hanky". All of Sully's family and friends from Ireland stood by their chairs and watched as Janet slowly walked toward the altar. She didn't get a good look at Eddie until she was close to the front and he stepped out to meet her. She took a good look at him from head to toe and back again. She gave Eddie one of her thousand watt smiles. "Sully you devil" she mouthed. Janet saw Eddie in his Irish waist coat with a tartan kilt, complete with a sporrans and pipe brogue shoes. The outfit was completed with a white shirt, black bow tie and knee socks.
Eddie had forgotten all about what he was wearing when he saw how beautiful Janet looked. Nick coughed to cover his amusement however. Hannah just smiled at the happy couple. Eddie did think that it was kind of funny and couldn't resist the urge of hamming it up for everyone's sake by playing the Irish gentleman. Eddie put his left arm behind his back and his right arm across his waist and bowed to Janet before offering her his arm.
Father Donovan started the ceremony with a traditional Irish poem and then turned to Eddie for the vows. "I, state your full name, do take thee Janet." "I, Edward Thaddeus Latteka, take thee Janet."
Janet was stunned. Thaddeus? That Sully sure was a sneaky one.
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After the ceremony was over, Janet and Eddie drank from the special goblets the traditional "honey mead" . Conor Sullivan told them that tradition says that the couple were to drink from the goblets for one month or the cycle of one moon. Thus the term, honeymoon. Janet loved all the Irish traditions, she couldn't have planned a more special wedding if she had done it herself. She wished that she could have thanked Sully for everything that he had done for her and for Eddie.
After much eating and dancing and laughter, the wedding party and guests along with Father Donovan piled into their vehicles to go to the Cliffs of Mohr to spread Sully's ashes. The sun was beginning to set and the winds had died down somewhat as Eddie and Janet said goodbye to the man who had brought them together again.
As a bagpipe was playing a lovely Irish tune in the background, Father Donovan recited the poem: I'm not gone, just in a different place I am always around you surrounding with grace ... Please don't cry for me, as I am alive in your heart always.
As everyone else headed back to their autos, Janet and Eddie stood side by side looking out over the cliffs. "I'll always miss Sully", Janet said. "And I'll always be grateful for what he's done for us." "For us," Eddie added "and for Thad." "Speaking of Thad how come you always lead me to believe that the "T" stood for Thomas?" "A guy has to have some secrets, Edith." Eddie laughed. "Oh, is that right Mr. Latteka? And are you going to let me find out what an Irishman wears under his kilt?" Eddie turned Janet toward their waiting car and put one arm around her back and his other arm across her front and locked his hands on her shoulder. "I'll do better than just tell you Mrs. Latteka. I plan on showing you!!" Janet wrapped her arms around his waist as they walked off and laughed. "Well, let's get to it then!!"