Chapter 29

Regaining Control

XXX

March 23

I was supposed to be studying for my test, but the small square calender on the corner of my desk kept peeling my eyes from the textbook in front of me. A little over six weeks till graduation and a few more days past that until marriage. Man, the butterflies were flying and every time I really thought about it, I felt like I was gonna puke. Everything was just happening so fast now in stark contrast to the last 10 months, where things just took their time.

It was just last week that I got Darry's nod for best man. Yesterday I went and was fitted for my tuxedo, and Ashley and I are going down for the blood tests tomorrow after classes. After numerous requests from Mrs. Benning for my list of family and friends to invite to the wedding, I was finally able to come up with a list of nine. Nine! Ashley's mother just looked at me, confused as usual, but took the list with a smile. Their list had a hundred and ten people.

"We'll have the invitations ready to mail in the morning, Ponyboy. Are you sure this is it? You can invite as many family and friends as you wish, you know. This is your wedding too." She just couldn't understand that the hoods I grew up with weren't necessarily friends. Not that Steve or Two-Bit were hoods....them I considered family, just not related by blood.

"No ma'am, that's it." I said. Besides, I remembered something Mr. Roberts once told me, the wedding ceremony is for the couple, but the wedding itself is for the bride. How true. I went to Ash's house earlier today to finally hand over my list of guests with their addresses on it when I saw their lists of guests, musical selections, menu choices, and seating charts laid out on the counter. Ever since then, my brain has been wrapped around how big a production this was turning into and I haven't been able to breathe right or think clearly since. Good grief... this was a wedding, not a damned coronation!

I looked at my books one last time and gave up. Putting my pencil away, I headed outside to the barn where Zeus came trotting up to me.

"Hey, big guy." I cooed, giving him the carrot I snagged on my way through the kitchen. I was fastening the cinch on the saddle when I noticed his ears turning as they picked up a noise. When I turned to find it, I saw Ashley's car coming up the driveway.

She got out and came over to my side.

"Hey Ash." I wrapped my arms around her. "What brings you out this late in the afternoon?"

"Just needed to get away from the house for a while."

"Want to go for a ride?" I offered her a hand and settled her in the saddle, then straddled myself on Zeus's bare back behind her. She looked at me quizzically.

"Doesn't that hurt?" She asked.

I smiled at her. "As long as you don't put him in a canter, I'll be fine."

Hera was locked in the other paddock so I wasn't worried that she'd get loose. We set out over the grounds not saying much for a while. I could tell she wasn't her usual happy self.

"What's wrong, Ashley?" I gently pried into her thoughts.

"This whole thing has gotten out of hand. Now I can't do anything about it. Soda's wedding seemed so nice, ours will be such a nightmare."

"You still want to marry me?" I asked, nearly afraid of the answer. I shouldn't have been worried.

"Of course I do, Ponyboy. It's just... both my parents have taken over... it's not even my wedding anymore! They have a guest list with at least one hundred people, most of them Dad's co-workers at the college. Mom is planning some massive menu with lamb.... I don't even like lamb!"

She sounded close to tears. I wrapped my arms around her as she loped Zeus along. I figured it was time I stepped into the wedding plans.

"Take Zeus back to his paddock. I need to have a talk with your parents. Do you want to come with me or stay here?"

"I don't want you getting on their bad side.. they like you too much."

As I dismounted then helped her down, I saw the frazzled look on her face. "You are the woman I love and the one I care most about. It's time I had a say in this, this is your wedding... I want you to enjoy it. Now, are you coming with me or staying here?"

"I should go, but I just don't want to."

"Then stay here. I'll be back in an hour or so." I walked her to the house and headed for my car.

XXX

It was dusky when I pulled into their driveway. I knocked, Mrs. Benning answered.

"Ponyboy! Ashley's not here, honey, I think she went to the store."

"She's at my house, Mrs. Benning. Is Dr. Benning in? We need to have a talk."

She looked taken aback, but I stood my ground. "He's in the study, go on in. I'll get you some tea."

I cringed....tea.... uggh. I wasn't here for that battle though. I went to the study door and knocked. I heard him say come in, and went inside.

"Ponyboy! What brings you out this late?" He smiled and came to shake my hand, pointing to a chair by his desk. I didn't sit, figuring I'd be thrown out before getting comfortable anyway. He remained standing too.

"Ashley does, sir. She's upset, and I have a problem with that."

He looked at me, confused. "Go on, son."

"I haven't said a word about anything you and Mrs. Benning are planning for her and the wedding. You are her parents and deserve to enjoy that day too, but things have gotten out of control and now she's not enjoying it one bit. I also haven't said a word because you insist on paying for the whole thing and I didn't feel it my place to complain, but when Ashley comes to me with tears in her eyes at how overblown this whole thing has gotten... well, I have to say something. I'd rather have you and your wife be upset with me than have one tear roll down her cheek at something I can perhaps fix before it gets too late. I'm sorry if I seem rather bull headed right now, but I love your daughter too much to see her hurt on what is supposed to be the happiest day of her life."

He looked at me, then walked over and closed the study door as Mrs. Benning was coming in with the tea. "Not now, Eleanor. Ponyboy and I have to talk."

He came back over and finally sat down on the sofa in his study. He patted the spot next to him, and I relented. He said nothing for the longest time, just looked at the pencil drawing still hanging on the wall I made for them two Christmases ago.

"I'm actually glad you came to me, Ponyboy. I let Eleanor have too much room with the wedding details, that was my fault. As department head, I've been too busy with the college to check on what's going on with the fine details of the wedding. Scheduling and finals aren't just a pain in the student's backsides, you know. They take a toll on the instructors too. What do you think we need to do with the wedding?"

I was actually surprised he asked my opinion. "Filter the guest list, let the lamb live while serving something less ostentatious, and cut out the fluff. Ask Ashley what she wants then listen to her. That idea has always worked for me."

He was silent for a moment. "You know, Ponyboy, I'm glad Ashley met you. I know it took real guts to come here and say that to me. I admire a man who will stand up for his lady, even to his future father- in- law. Now I have to find the same courage to tell Eleanor to knock it off. Have you got any left over courage you're not using?" He said in a half joking tone.

I smiled, relaxing a bit. "I have all the courage in the world when it comes to Ashley, but I'm afraid I can't help you with your wife, sorry."

"Well then, I guess I'll have to find my own. Thanks, son, for telling it to me straight. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to have a chat with my wife. You can tell Ashley her wedding will be back on track when she gets home." He escorted me to the front door. "Good night, Ponyboy."

"G'night, sir." I said as I made my way off the porch steps.

XXX

She was sitting on a porch chair when I pulled up, one of my jackets wrapped around her. I sat next to her, pulling her into my arms so that she nearly lay across me.

"All taken care of. Your wedding is back in your control again." I said, smoothing her hair from her face.

"Seriously?" She asked, looking at me with surprise all over her face.

"I'm pretty sure even the lamb will live, too." I grinned. We sat there in the nighttime darkness for a while, feeling the soft breeze blow across the land, only mildly rustling the new leaves on the trees. The only other sound heard was the occasional hooting of an owl in the distance. I looked down at her and was totally captivated.

She seemed to be studying me, her eyes glowing in the moonlight. I brushed the few strands of hair away and leaned closer to her, impulse guiding me, thought processes gone. My lips brushed against hers, and I felt her hand creep to the back of my neck, pulling me even deeper to her. It was instinct that sent my hands to wander, down her neck and over her shoulder. Her tongue played with mine while my hands found the buttons of her shirt. Sense returned then, and I pulled away.

"Is this what you want to do?" She asked me. God, what a question to ask. The heat burning within me was enough to set the house on fire.

"More than anything. But not now. I won't do this now. You need to go home, study for classes and convince your mother that chicken will be just as good as lamb chops."

She gently ran her fingers through my hair, which did nothing but keep the fires burning, then walked off the porch to her car. I got up and walked to the edge of the steps, watching the brake lights of her car fade in the distance.

My body still ached for hers. Six more weeks. God, that was an eternity.

XXX

Calla Lilly Rose