How Sweet It Is
Norman and Rita swayed slowly to the music, each content to simply be with the other after the busyness of the day.
"I am so thrilled for them I could just burst!" Rita told her husband as she eyed their colleagues/friends dancing slowly, completely lost in one another. Their undying love for each other and immediate marital bliss was evident to anyone who witnessed just one small interaction between the two.
"Me too," Norman agreed, also observing the couple. "Well, I might not burst, but I am very happy for them."
Rita chuckled, then sighed dreamily as they looked back at one another. "They are perfect for each other."
"Yes," Norman concurred once again. "But so are we."
"Oh, Norman," Rita said with a giggle. "I'm glad you still think so."
"I'll always think so, Rita. Just like Shane and Oliver, you and I were meant for each other." Norman gazed at his wife adoringly. Tears glistened in her eyes and he leaned in to give her a brief but sweet kiss. "I'm excited for them, but I'm excited for us, too."
Rita nodded and remained silent, pondering for a few moments as they continued to step to the music. "Norman?" she finally addressed him.
"Hmmm?"
"When do you think we should tell them?" Rita looked at her husband with a worried expression.
"Well, obviously not now, or while they're on their honeymoon. But since it will affect the overall operation of the DLO, I'm thinking as soon as we can after they come home."
"Do you think they'll understand?"
"Of course, honey. Opportunities like this don't come along every day. Besides, it really won't affect them too much, except for us being gone."
"That's what I'm worried about, Norman. They will be gone for two weeks, and then shortly after that, we'll be gone. It's going to be a huge adjustment, and things will never be the same."
"No, Rita, they won't be the same. And yes, it will be a big adjustment. But this is a good thing. You'll see. Life changes, and when it does, we just have to hop on board that train and go where we're supposed to go. We don't want to miss the train completely, do we?"
"No," Rita answered with a chuckle. "I guess not. Who knows when the next one will come along." She thought for a moment. "Wait—we are still flying, though, right?"
Norman snickered. "Yes. I think that's the best option." He gave her a reassuring smile. "You're going to be fantastic at this, Rita."
"Aww, thanks honey, but I really think you are going to be the best. You've had experience and this is all new to me."
"The experience I have had doesn't make me an expert, Rita."
"But you understand it, and that will be your biggest asset."
"Maybe. But you have a lot to offer, too, Rita, and you'll always be unsquashable." He paused as they chuckled. "There was a reason they chose us. It's meant to be."
Norman drew her close and placed a tender, lingering kiss on her lips, which stunned her slightly, as he was not usually prone to giving such public displays of affection.
"Thank you, Norman, for being so sweet and believing in me the way you do. I love you so much."
"I love you, too, Rita," he said proudly, drawing his wife close to him once more as they continued to dance.
"Shane! Oliver! It's time to cut the cakes."
Shane stopped dancing and turned towards her sister's voice.
"We'll be right there, Alex." Shane looked back at Oliver. "Who put her in charge?" she asked, laughing.
"Maybe she was the only one willing to intrude on what we have going on here..." Oliver eyed her flirtatiously.
"That could very well be true," Shane agreed, grinning as she widened her eyes at him playfully. "Come on. Let's go cut the cakes."
Shane attempted to step away, but Oliver's strong arms held her firmly in place. She looked at him quizzically.
"Oliver?" Shane questioned. "Please don't tell me you think the cake cutting tradition is barbaric..."
"Oh, no. I don't have a problem with cake. However," he said, leaning in to her ear, his lips touching her earlobe, "I have all the sweet stuff I need right here."
"Oh, Oliver." Shane giggled as she placed her hands on his chest.
"I'm serious. Who needs cake?" Oliver whispered as he nuzzled her neck.
"It's your favorite," she informed him in a sing-songy voice.
"You're my favorite," he returned, cheek to cheek with her once again, and Shane closed her eyes as she melted.
"As much as I would love to stay right here and let you keep doing what you're doing to me, I think we should go check this off our list."
He reluctantly backed away and released his wife with a sigh, then smiled lovingly at her. "Okay. But I'm coming back to this at some point in the very near future."
"You better," Shane warned him, her lips pursed.
Oliver grinned and took her hand, leading her to the table set up with the bride's and groom's cakes. The band began playing a jazzy version of How Sweet It Is. The couple started with the bride's cake, which was a large, three-tiered lemon custard cake with white icing and decorated with small yellow roses scattered along the edges.
How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you
Shane and Oliver posed for the photographer, as Shane held the knife, Oliver's hand on top of hers, then they cut the first slice and placed it on their plate. They each pinched a piece of it and stared at each other. Oliver noted the mischief twinkling in Shane's eyes, and he began to feel playful himself, not the least bit worried about the onlookers.
I needed the shelter of someone's arms and there you were
I needed someone to understand my ups and downs and there you were
With sweet love and devotion
Deeply touching my emotion
I want to stop and thank you baby
I wanna stop and thank you baby, yes I do
"Be nice, Oliver," Shane warned, realizing that the wheels were turning in his head.
"You set the bar, my dear," Oliver informed her with a grin, which caused her to rethink her intentions.
She smiled slyly at him as they each took their pieces and reached up to feed one another simultaneously. They laughed as they took their bites, excitement dancing in their eyes, which were glued to one another. The guests, especially the ladies, chuckled and gave their approval of the respectful, sweet sight before them with dreamy sighs and murmurs. A couple of the men encouraged them not to play so nicely, but the couple laughed and Oliver waved their suggestions away with his hand as he shook his head. He had every intention to maintain his gentleman status, and there was no way he was going to spoil Shane's dazzling look.
How sweet it is to be loved by you, feels so fine
How sweet it is to be loved by you
"Oh wow, this is delicious," Shane said, taking a napkin from the table and dabbing at her mouth.
Oliver nodded. "Yes, it is delectable."
"A chunk of that has to go with us, wherever we're going," Shane
commented. "Let's try the chocolate cake."
"Of course," Oliver agreed.
I close my eyes at night
Wondering where would I be without you in my life
Everything I did was just a bore
Everywhere I went it seems I'd been there before
But you brighten up for me all of my days
With a love so sweet in so many ways
I wanna stop and thank you baby
I just wanna stop and thank you baby, oh yes
They walked over a few steps to the groom's cake, the small crowd of guests following along to observe, and the happy couple posed once more for the photographer. Then Oliver cut a small piece, Shane's hand resting on top of his, and they fed each other once more.
As they took their bites, Oliver laughed. "I would know this taste anywhere, but I've never had it in cake form." He eyed Shane questioningly. "Did you really have the caterer make a Yoo-Hoo cake?"
"Yes, I did," Shane said, grinning proudly.
"You thought of everything," Oliver remarked. "You amaze me."
How sweet it is to be loved by you, it's just like sugar sometimes
How sweet it is to be loved by you, oh yeah
"Well, it wouldn't be a proper celebration for Oliver O'Toole without Yoo-Hoo." Shane laughed. "It's here in liquid form, too. Right over there by the chocolate fountain." She pointed to the tables lining the other wall. "By the way, the Yoo-Hoo cake is fantastic, but I can't leave here without trying some serious chocolate." Shane took Oliver's hand and led him over to the array of fruit and other food items beside the chocolate fountain.
"You have to feed each other chocolate-covered fruit, too," Alex raised her voice so that her sister and Oliver would hear her over the music and the crowd.
Shane laughed and told Oliver, "That sounds like a mess, but we can try. Are you up for the challenge?"
"Absolutely," he replied. "Would you like a strawberry?"
"I would love one," Shane answered.
Oliver smiled as he stuck a strawberry with a toothpick and rolled it under the stream of chocolate cascading over the side of the fountain. He then took a plate and held it just below her chin as he offered her the delicious sweetened fruit.
"I cannot take any chances and ruin your beautiful dress," Oliver explained as he continued to hold the plate for her so that neither the chocolate nor fruit juices dripped on her gown.
You were better to me than I was to myself
For me, there's you and there ain't nobody else
I wanna stop and thank you baby
I just wanna stop and thank you baby, oh yes
"Wow. This is to die for." Shane finished that bite, then said, "I do love this dress so much. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it makes me kind of sad to think that this is the only time it will ever be worn."
Oliver's expression was soft as he watched his wife. "Well, you never know. Perhaps it will be used somehow in the future. We could renew our vows one day and you can wear it again. I certainly think you should keep it."
Shane was quiet, contemplating as she dipped a strawberry in the flowing chocolate.
"Have I mentioned how positively stunning you look in that wedding gown?" Oliver's compliment broke Shane free from her thoughts and she turned to look at her husband. "I have never seen a more beautiful bride."
"Oh, Oliver. It is getting awfully sweet over here," she said with a giggle. She offered him a bite of fruit drizzled with chocolate, and just as he had done for her moments earlier, she held a plate under his chin.
He could not hold back his grin as he chewed the strawberry. "You're right. Maybe a little too sweet."
"I didn't say it was too much," Shane said, her eyes twinkling.
Oliver leaned in and pulled Shane's waist so that she was against him.
"I love you, Mrs. O'Toole," he told her.
"And I love you, Mr. O'Toole," she returned, her heart swelling with so much admiration and joy that she was overwhelmed.
How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you
"Would you like to go back to the dance floor? Or do your feet need a break?"
"Well, my feet are a little tired, but I could dance with you all night, Oliver."
"I hate to burst your bubble, my dear, but as much as I love dancing with you, that is not going to happen." His eyes bored into hers. "There are other priorities on the agenda."
"Like a foot massage?" Shane's eyes twinkled.
"Perhaps we can fit that in somewhere." Oliver's eyes sparkled in return.
Shane gazed back at him with laughter in her expression.
"Let's go sit for a few minutes and give your feet a rest. I can't actually see your shoes, but considering the fact that your height is almost comparable to mine, I imagine those new heels might be a bit painful."
"Well, I broke them in, so it could be a lot worse." She chuckled.
"That was good planning," Oliver commented, as he led her to the table where their families and the wedding party were seated, indulging in pieces of the bride's and groom's cakes.
"Actually, it took a couple of real-life experiences for me to learn my lesson." She grimaced and he laughed.
There were two extra places at the table, so Oliver pulled out a chair and helped Shane with her dress. He sat down beside her as the group began chatting animatedly with the newlyweds.
"Mr. and Mrs. O'Toole," Becky spoke up, "that was the most magnificent wedding I have ever attended. And I've been to a few."
"Thank you, Becky," Shane answered with a grin. "I am just so relieved that everything went as smoothly as it did, and that I didn't trip over my dress going up those steps at the altar."
They chuckled and Rita spoke up, "That was one of the best things about my wedding dress. I didn't have to worry about tripping over it."
The ladies laughed and discussed more details from the ceremony and the reception so far, while the men talked quietly about honeymoon plans. Oliver had revealed some of his agenda to Joe and Norman during their lunch earlier that day. The ladies were too distracted by their own conversation, and the music was loud enough to drown out the talk among the men.
"That's gotta be a good bit of flying time, son."
Oliver sighed. "I know, Dad. Which is why I planned a two-week honeymoon, to account for the extensive travel time and any jet lag."
Joe nodded, deep in thought.
"Sounds like you two are going to have a very memorable adventure," Norman spoke up.
"I hope so, Norman," Oliver responded.
Rita turned to Norman and said something, then he excused himself as they got up and headed over to the cakes.
"So..." Joe pondered quietly to Oliver. "Exactly how long is the flight?"
Oliver gave his dad a slightly frustrated look but answered, "Well, I don't know exactly, but it's around fourteen hours."
Joe widened his eyes. "Wow. That's... Wow."
"Dad."
"Oliver, I know you've thought this through." He cut his eyes toward Shane to make sure she was still preoccupied in her conversation with the ladies. "But that's an awfully long time for you two to be restricted...on your honeymoon."
"I do know that." Oliver glanced toward Shane before continuing. "Which is why we will have plenty of time at a stop tonight and tomorrow before boarding the plane. I think we can handle fourteen hours on a flight."
Joe laughed. "Oliver, you couldn't handle two minutes after the ceremony was over without whisking her away."
Oliver blushed and sighed. "Dad, you're starting to sound like Alex."
"Okay, okay." Joe chuckled. "So your flight leaves tomorrow evening?"
"That is correct," Oliver replied.
"And where will you go tonight?"
"Now you're starting to sound like Shane. Maybe the McInerney family is not such a good influence on you." Oliver smirked and decided to turn the tables on his dad. "Speaking of McInerneys..."
"I'm going to go get another drink," Joe stated abruptly as he stood, knowing where Oliver was going with the conversation. He chuckled and patted Oliver on the back, venturing off to the beverages and leaving Oliver to his own curiosity.
Norman and Rita came back to the table with a plate of cake and fruit with chocolate and drinks, setting them down in front of the newlyweds.
"Oh!" Oliver exclaimed, looking at the food before them. "Thank you, Rita, Norman."
"Absolutely!" Rita replied. "We figured you could share a plate. Is that okay?"
"Of course," Shane assured her, picking up a fork and taking a bite of the lemon custard cake. "Thank you. That bite a few minutes ago only made me want more."
Oliver sat to her right and ate from the plate as they conversed with their friends and family, but he could not keep his hands off Shane. He rubbed her back and then placed his hand on her lap. She smiled delightedly at his desire to touch her, to maintain some contact with her while they were not carrying on a conversation directly with each other. They shared brief, flirtatious glances as they chatted for a while with their family and wedding party, then mingled with a number of guests on their way back to the dance floor.