As the sun tried peeking through the gray clouded sky, the after effects of the early morning rain continued to be felt
As the sun tried peeking through the gray clouded sky, the after effects of the early morning rain continued to be felt. The last persistent rain drops fell on the leaves of the oak trees, almost sounding tropical. The window to the hotel room was open and a slight cool misty breeze was coming through. Even with the small amount of natural light in the room, there was enough to see the two happily sleeping, snug and warm, under the white lacey down comforter.
He was the first to stir as the clock on the nightstand flashed 10:03 AM. Believing he was still asleep, he noticed a tuft of blonde hair poking out from the covers beside him. Closing his eyes again, he leaned over and took in a deep breath of her hair. He found as in all his dreams before, that the scent he was taking in was hers, his favorite scent. As he exhaled, the emotional roller coaster ride that had been the last nineteen hours zoomed through his lingering dream. Opening his eyes once again, he prayed that the dream was not over. To find her beside him in his waking hours, made him want to pinch her to see if she was real. Instead, he opted for a kiss.
As he placed his lips on her cheek, she sighed as his stubble tickled her.
"Good morning, Mrs. Micelli."
With the return of the newlyweds from their impromptu wedding and honeymoon, the family threw the couple a modest reception in one of the Fairfield Inn's smaller ballrooms. As the crowd was seated, Jonathan announced the couple's arrival and they made their way to the center of the dance floor to enjoy their first public married dance together.
From out of the shadows, eight people appeared taking their places at the side of the dance floor. They watched the twosome with pride, several of them grinning from ear to ear. In their heavenly state, none of the guardians could be seen by the other guests, but their love was felt by all.
"We finally did it." Joseph said as he ran his fingers up and down his gleaming white robe. "And it didn't take that long."
"What do you mean that long?" Marie said incredulously.
"I meant. .when you look at it in the eternal. . .scheme of things." Joseph said trying to save his pride. Looking out at the dance floor, Joseph realized the happy couple was no longer dancing alone. Sam and Hank had now joined them along with several other guests.
"Hey, I don't get out as much as I used to, why am I wasting my time just standing here?" Joseph walked over to Lena. "May I have this dance?"
"Hey! Howa jou say, 'get a girl of jour own.' She's a taken." Matty said, taking Lena out to the dance floor.
"Don't a look at a me." Grandpa Mateo said as he walked over to an empty table to take a seat.
With a wave and a wink, Marie and her father, Nick, left to join the others.
Left standing alone, Joseph made his way over to the table where Grandpa Mateo was seated.
"All dressed up and no one to dance with." Joseph said as he watched the happy couples out on the floor.
"Speaking of all dressed up, Josef. Why of tings are you dressed in white pajamas? What de heck were jou doing when jou died dat caused jou tu have tu spend de rest of eternity in pajamas?
"Oh that." Joseph said with a little embarrassment. "Well, if you have to know. Remember how I told you that I went to the psychic to find out where my wife had hidden the key to the refrigerator?"
"Jes."
"Well that night, I used the key to open the frig for one of my late night snacks. My wife came up behind me with cold cream on her face and scared the willies out of me. I dropped dead right there."
"Jou are joking?"
"Sadly, I wish I were. I have to say, pajamas aren't the most elegant way to spend eternity, but definitely the most comfortable. Mona had bought 'em for me. Do you like 'em?"
"Jou are such a joker, Josef." He said patting his friend on the back. "By de way, where is a Mona?"
Joseph turned around the room and found his target. "She's over there." Joseph said pointing her out in the crowd to Mateo. "Get a room you two!" Joseph yelled to his daughter and her husband as they leaned in for yet another kiss. "Don't those two ever come up for air?"
"They're ghosts, Joseph." Mateo said nudging him. "I think air is the least of their worries."
Since Mona's arrival in Heaven, a year ago in "Earth" years, she and Robert only had eyes for each other. Getting them to pay attention to anything else was nearly impossible.
"Well, what are you and I going to do at this shindig to keep ourselves occupied?"
"I've a got my own plans, but for jou, I found someone for jou to dance a wit. Jou remember my friend, Carmella?" Grandpa Mateo stood to introduce Joseph to the twenty-something version of Mrs. Rossini. As this version of Carmella approached, Joseph's jaw hit the floor and he shook his hand in front of his chest. In her heavenly state, she truly was "heavenly." Long brown hair, a 26 inch waist and a voice as soft as lilies.
He let out a whistle. "No, not in this lifetime." He said without thinking.
"Mateo tells me you're Mona's father." She said a wink.
"Why yes." He said as he kissed the top of her hand.
"Shall we dance?" She said taking his arm.
"After you."
"Uh-na-der match made in de Fairfield," Grandpa Mateo said as he pulled out his cards for a game of Solitaire.
Across the room, there was another couple who hadn't yet taken the floor. It wasn't that they couldn't. It wasn't that they didn't want to. It was just that at that moment, they were soaking in the new future of the couple that was dancing before them.
"Remind you of someone," she said smiling at the gray haired man sitting next to her.
"You know they do remind me of someone, but I just can't think of who." He said without a second thought.
"Tony!" She looked at him, a little playfully as he took her hand in his.
As the familiar spark of her touch warmed his hand, he began to turn the wedding band that held on so desperately now to her slim, delicate fingers.
"Do you ever regret--"
"Waiting?" She said finishing his thought as she so often did now a days. "At the time I did. . .but I think time is what made us. I don't think we'd have been as happy as we are now, if it hadn't been for the waiting."
"But we could have had a few more--"
"Kids? You know, I always knew that there would be one for us out there, waiting to come into our home. I guess that's why I was so willing to take in Billy. Who knew he'd be the reason we had Kate?" She said, thinking back to the time when she thought she'd lost Billy and knew for sure that she wanted a child with Tony.
"And still we get to keep them both." Tony said admiring the young newlywed couple on the dance floor. "They look so happy, don't they?"
"They sure do."
As the couple's first song ended, Jonathan and Samantha joined the DJ on the stage. Sam grabbed the microphone and tried to get the crowd's attention.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. My little sis Kate and my kid brother, Billy—"
"Boy, am I going to need some therapy after this." Jonathan said interrupting Sam.
The crowd laughed at his try at humor.
"Sorry, guys." Sam said elbowing her brother. "They've asked to say a few words, but before they do. I'd just like to tell them how happy I am that they've carried on the long family tradition -- of cheap weddings. I love you, both."
"Love you, guys." Jonathan quickly said into the mike.
"Thanks, Sam. .. Jon." Billy said taking the mike, as Jonathan and Sam kissed he and his bride. "As you all know I'm a very familiar fixture in the Bower-Micelli household. I have been on and off since I was four. I lived with Tony and Angela for a year when I was young and as a teenager, they helped keep me on the right path. But I can't lie and say that Tony's cooking was the only thing that kept me coming around."
He turned sweetly to his new bride and kissed her cheek.
"Kate, if love at first sight is possible at age six, then I guess it happened to me. I have never pictured anyone in my life but you. I know we've had our share of struggles and I can't promise that they're over, but I can tell you this. I know with all my heart that our love was written on the stars. I love you."
She took the microphone from him. "I have just five words to say to you, my love. Shut up and kiss me!"
They stood kissing each other once again to the roar of the audience. And the DJ started the music once again.
Kate broke their kiss and silenced the crowd. "Before everyone one goes back to dancing, I wonder if you'll indulge Billy and I for a moment." The DJ quickly stopped the music.
"There are two people in this room who never got a chance to have a reception like this when they were married at the spur-of-the-moment, oh about 25 years ago. Now we've tried for years to get them to settle on "their song," but they had way too many favorites to choose from. So we picked one for them. And for those of you who know their story, we think it fits them perfectly. I think it's their turn to have their 'first' dance. Mom and Dad, the floor is now yours. DJ, hit it."
"May I have this dance?" Angela looked up and saw Tony standing next to her with his hand extended.
As she took his hand, "After All" began to play over the loud speakers. As the first few words were sung, a sweet, familiar electricity ran down her spine.
He lead her onto the floor and let the words to the music move them. The magic of this "first" dance was there just as it had been all those years before at the carnival, but this time there was no doubt, no hesitation. Tony knew she wasn't going anywhere, so he allowed himself to dip, spin and caress her as long as the music played.
As the closing line of the song was sung, Angela looked teary eyed at the sea of on-lookers. "Tony, I wish our parents could be here tonight. Mother would have loved this."
"They are Angela, they are." Tony leaned in and kissed his bride of twenty-five years, happy in the thought that no matter what, love and families are forever.
The End
Well, here we are again;
I guess it must be fate.
We've tried it on our own,
But deep inside we've known
We'd be back to set things straight.
I still remember when
Your kiss was so brand new.
Every memory repeats,
Every step I take retreats,
Every journey always brings me back to you...
When love is truly right
(this time its truly right.)
It lives from year to year.
It changes as it goes,
Oh, and on the way it grows,
But it never disappears,
Always just beyond my touch,
You know I needed you so much.
After all, what else is livin for?
After all the stops and starts,
We keep coming back to these two hearts,
Two angels who've been rescued from the fall.
After all that we've been through,
It all comes down to me and you.
I guess its meant to be,
Forever you and me, after all.
--After All written by D. Pitchford and T. Snow
There, There was a Time I knew
That NO Matter come what may,
love would prevail
And then inside the dreams I knew
Came the question lovers fear
Can true love fail?
Then I would miss the childhood wish
And haven't I sung to you
Of the knight in armor bright
Faithful and true to you. . .
I know in my heart and mind
That no matter, come what may,
love will survive
And love, the author of space and time
Keeps the galaxies and each sparrow alive
And the love that heals the wound
After the war is through
Is the knight in armor bright
Faithful and true to you
Darling, after all
I will be the one to hold you in my arms
After all
I will be the one to hold you
I will be the one to hold you in my arms,
In my arms. . .
AFTER ALL sung by Al Jarreau
