Ch. 25 – Language of Flowers
"Leigh, you look so beautiful!" Jennifer smiled.
"Well, if we had waited much longer for this wedding...I'd have to walk down the aisle in a white maternity dress," I admitted sheepishly as I looked in the mirror.
As it was, I did look beautiful in the designer silk ivory wedding gown. With a hoop skirt and a low neckline, the gown looked like something Scarlett O'Hara would have worn. My aunt Renee would have been proud. My hair was pulled back with flowers and pearls, curls streaming down my back. Diamonds sparkled on the expensive necklace at my throat. It was a dream look for a dream wedding.
Tony would settle for no less than the very best for our big day. He insisted on all of the extravagance and elegance that Salem could muster up for this occasion, renting out Tuscany for the entire week beforehand in order to prepare for this evening. And he was truly in his element, directing and creating this spectacle for everyone to see. I am sure there were real royal weddings that were not nearly as ostentatious.
I swallowed nervously.
"Is everything okay, Leigh?" Jennifer asked, sensing my concern. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Yes, thank goodness," I laughed. "The baby is being well-behaved today. It is just pre-wedding jitters, I guess."
"I know what you mean," she smiled. "Hey, at least your bridegroom is accounted for. I have it on good authority from Jack that Tony is practically wearing out the carpet with all of his restless pacing around. But when Jack and I got married the first time..."
Jennifer related to me the craziness of their first wedding when Jack had laryngitis and had been held up by a bunch of cowboys from a Wild West show. Everyone was worried that he wasn't going to show up. Her story had me in stitches.
"After that tale, I imagine my wedding will be pretty tame..."
"I don't know," Jennifer said. "I can't recall any weddings this grand in recent history. Not since Bo and Hope got married in England. Oh, and then there was the Justin and Adrienne Kiriakis wedding in Greece. Man, that was a big production!"
"I guess I should just be glad that Tony didn't insist on flying all the guests to Italy and marrying in some huge cathedral out there."
"Ah, I don't know. That would have been kind of fun!"
"Maybe..." I admitted.
With all of the Dimera notoriety combined with the scandal of my pregnancy, I would have been just fine to have a quiet little contract signed at City Hall. I still felt that way. I wanted Tony, not all of these fancy trappings.
"I definitely could have gone for a vacation in Italy!" Hope Brady called out as she entered the dressing room, accompanied by Marlena.
As uneasy as I was about all of the fanciness, I had to admit that I loved seeing my bridesmaids all together, garbed in elegant red gowns of satin and lace. They all looked fabulous. Of course, you could put those three ladies in potato sacks and they would still look like a million bucks.
"Oh, my gosh..." Hope raved. "Leigh, you have really outdone yourself. I'll be this bridesmaid's dress costs more than my wedding dress designed by Lee Smith."
"You'd have to ask Tony about that," I answered. "We have an arrangement. I pick the stuff and he pays the bills. He doesn't even want me to know how much anything is costing!"
"Hmmm..." Hope nodded with approval. "Seems like this marriage is already getting off on the right foot. A carte blanche wedding, followed by a romantic honeymoon in Venice. I never thought I'd say this, but maybe there are some perks to marrying a Dimera, after all."
"Hope..." Marlena chided. "Be nice."
"Sorry..." Hope said sheepishly. "That was tacky of me. This is your day and I shouldn't...well, I apologize."
"It's okay," I nodded.
I knew that my bridesmaids all had their reservations about Tony Dimera. They were there to support me more than anything else. In fact, I suspect that all of the wedding guests present were only there to support me.
"I'm just glad you all are here," I smiled.
"I just saw Tony a few moments ago..." Marlena volunteered. "I have never seen him look so handsome. And he is so eager to see you walk down the aisle."
I smiled with thanks. Marlena, as usual, always seemed to know the right thing to say to keep me calm.
There was a knock on the door. After answering, Hope returned with a large bouquet of flowers.
"For the bride..." she announced.
"Wow!" I gasped, looking at the elaborate bouquet. "How odd that I should get this. After all, most brides arrange for their own bouquets. Is there a card?"
"Yes..." Hope fiddled around through the stems. "There is an envelope here."
She handed it to me with a smile.
The envelope looked strangely aged, although the flowers were fresh and new. Dying of curiosity, I opened it up and studied it. The card was written in a florid script unfamiliar to me.
"For the bride," I read out loud to the bridesmaids. "Each flower has a meaning all its own. The daisy is for innocence. The myrtle is for love. The fennel is for strength. The silver dollars are for honesty. The fern is for fidelity. And..."
My heart pounded loudly as my words trailed off.
"Leigh," Marlena asked, worried. "Are you all right?"
"Yes," I nodded, feeling inexplicable tears come to my eyes as I continued to read. "And the white roses stand for purity. The language of flowers say 'I am worthy of you'. This bouquet is to represent your love for Tony. Think of all of these things as you are being married."
"That is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard..." Jennifer sighed. "Who is the bouquet from?"
"There is no card."
"Well, that's funny..." Marlena mused.
"Funny and weird," Hope agreed.
I nodded silently. Deep down, I knew that the white roses were no coincidence. Perhaps this was another one of Renee's messages. But there was something else I felt. A deep loss...not grieving for Renee and her death...but for someone else. And I didn't understand.
"The organist has started with the intro music," Marlena said. "Are you ready?"
I took a deep breath and nodded, unable to speak lest I burst into sobbing.
As we hurried ahead towards the banquet hall, I met up with Jack. He looked very dashing in his tuxedo as he smiled at me with boyish charms. Although he wasn't one for throwing out compliments, I could tell that he approved of how I looked. He smirked grimly with an attempt at good humor. And I couldn't help but feel my spirits return to normal as I stood by my friend.
"Well, shall we get this spectacle over with? The vampire is eagerly waiting for you in his coffin..."
"Oh, Jack!" I huffed with feigned disappointment. "Don't do this to me today of all days!"
"You know," Jack whispered, leaned over to me conspiratorially. "There's still time to make another escape. I can get you back to London lickety-split if you want. I've got the fire truck just outside. Just say the word."
"You're supposed to give me away," I reminded him with a sigh. "Not take me away. Be happy for me, Jack. Please? I do really love Tony, you know. It would mean so much to me if you gave us your blessing."
Jack melted at the sight of me.
"Well, I'm always a sucker for a beautiful glowing bride. And you are really very lovely today, Leigh."
"Thanks, Jack."
I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
"I hope Dimera appreciates you," Jack said. "He's getting a helluva wife. And I'm losing a helluva reporter."
"Who says I'm quitting?"
"Well, chasing after a lead story with a diaper bag, stroller and toddler in tow will be a pretty neat trick."
"You may be right about that," I acknowledged with some frustration.
Silently, we walked down the hallway towards the ballroom. I could hear the beginning strains of The Wedding March playing in the background.
As I entered the grand banquet hall of Tuscany, I could hear the stunned sighs of exclamation at the sight of me in the elaborate wedding dress. It was surreal seeing all of the guests turning to watch me. The Bradys, the Hortons, the Carvers, the Kirakis', the Blacks, the Johnsons...and others. Some of the faces were familiar. Some were not.
As a Dimera wedding was a major media event, there were tons of photographers flashing cameras at me, blinding me. But through all of the chaos and flash and razzle dazzle, I saw Tony across the aisle, grinning at me with pride. Marlena was right. He had never been so handsome. Attired in black tie and tails with a wide white and gray-striped cravat, he looked as if he had come from another time...an age of elegance and grace. Slowly, I made my way down the aisle...unable to take my eyes off of him.
Tony had wanted a Catholic ceremony with as much Italian heritage and tradition as possible. While I could not understand the Italian phrases that the official would occasionally say, the words in their lilting tones sounded like music.
Finally, we exchanged simple gold rings as we made our vows to each other.
"You may now kiss the bride..."
I was now truly a DiMera, by blood and marriage...
---------------------------------------
At last, my love has come along...
Chloe Black, especially flown in from Europe for this command performance in Salem, began to sing for us in sultry tones. Her husband, Brady, was beaming at her from his table in the reception hall. And her voice was perfect for this wonderful night.
My lonely days are over...and life is like a song...
Tony and I whirled around the large ballroom, engaging in our first dance as man and wife.
"So how does it feel to be a Contessa?" Tony asked me with a gentle smile.
"I guess I am a Contessa now, aren't I?" I mused. "Well, I have to get used to the title, but as for being Mrs. Antony Dimera...I am so deliriously happy. I'm not used to feeling this way. I'm not sure I can take it."
"You'll simply have to get used to it..." Tony grinned, spinning me around into a dip. "Because I am never going to let you go."
"Promise?"
"You have my word on it."
We kissed sweetly, causing a little applause to erupt throughout the room.
"I do have one complaint though..."
"Really? And what is that?"
"This reception is taking too darned long!" I pouted playfully. "I'm ready to go on to the wedding night and the honeymoon now. Why can't we just send all of these people home?"
Tony roared with laughter.
"Or we could make an early exit? I'd be okay with that."
"Whatever happened to that innocent little Pollyanna in the bunker?"
"She met up with a terribly attractive stranger who taught her how to tango. Ever since then, she has become quite insatiable..."
"Mmmm...insatiable, is she?" he purred. "Soon, my bride. Just remember, a little anticipation can go a long way..."
I licked my lips with the dreamy prospect.
"And then there will be the honeymoon when I have you all to myself in Venice...naked in the moonlight..."
I closed my eyes dreamily, relishing the image as Tony kissed me sweetly on the mouth.
"Jeez, why don't they get a room?"
I giggled as I heard the snide comment as we danced along.
"Who was that?" I asked.
"Sounded suspiciously like Kate Roberts to me," Tony answered with a nonchalant shrug.
"Oh," I smiled. "Well, I'm not surprised. She's been glaring daggers at me all night. I think she's horribly jealous. Sami Brady looks pretty envious too. Lots of women here have been glaring at me, wishing they were in my place. And I don't blame them one bit."
"Well, too bad for them. I'm spoken for now."
"Yes! And don't you forget it!"
Leaning my head against Tony's shoulder, I happily took in the sight of the other guests as we whirled around. Bo and Hope and Jack and Jennifer and...just a quick glimpse of...
No!
"What is wrong?" Tony asked, feeling me stiffen against him.
"EJ..." I gasped softly. "I saw EJ! He's here!"
He shook his head resolutely.
"That is impossible," he said. "The security here is impeccable. There is no way he could get in. What's more, he would not dare disrupt my wedding."
Even so, Tony glanced about quickly.
"It was just a flash..." I said. "And then he was gone. Maybe you're right. Maybe I just mistook someone else for him."
"I am sure that is the case."
"Okay, you lovebirds..." Maggie interrupted, always the gracious hostess. "We need to get you two to cut your wedding cake before the dance floor spontaneously combusts from all of those kisses!"
Tony indulgently smiled as he took me by the arm, escorting me to the table with the huge cake. For a moment, we posed for the photographers, kissing once and then again.
"Hey, enough mushy stuff!" Will Roberts called out. "Cut the cake already!"
We laughed as we both put our hands on the cake cutter, sliding it down into the thick white icing...
A loud deafening boom resounded throughout the banquet hall. The impact of the explosion caused both of us to collapse onto the floor. Everything seemed to move in surreal slow motion as Tony rolled over so that he was shielding me with his body as debris rained down from the ceiling. The air was thick with smoke and dust. I could not seem to stop coughing.
"Leigh, are you all right?" Tony asked frantically.
"Yes, I think so."
Miserably, I looked around, helplessly seeing the happiest day of my life metamorphose into a bloodbath. There was chaos everywhere with people screaming and running. There was a fire in one part of the room. Part of a wall collapsed in another section.
"EJ will pay for this..." Tony swore. "He will pay with his life!"
"We'll worry about him later," I said. "Right now, we just need to make sure that..."
My words trailed off as I saw a limp female hand underneath a collapsed piece of Tuscany ceiling.
"Oh, my God!"
Roman Brady, John, Jack and Tony all worked to move the piece of collapsed ceiling off of the victim.
"Oh, my God!" Jack cried out frantically. "Jennifer!"
When I saw my dear friend broken and helpless upon the ground, I could not stop sobbing.