Disclaimer: See chapter 1
The newly married Dr. and Mrs. Reid arrived at the Ambassador Hotel ballroom a couple of hours later after what, Spencer considered, was an extremely long session with Mitch Lovell, wedding photographer extraordinaire, according to Allie. He now knew what it must be like to be a model constantly posing for pictures. He had no idea why they needed so many that only made the final decision that much more difficult. He finally got Evan alone outside the ballroom before they went in. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be," the boy replied brightly.
"Because, I could tell you were a bit, shall we say, upset at the photographer's. Maybe because he wanted to take a picture of Allie and me with my family and there was only you," Reid surmised.
"Yeah, well look at Allie, she's got a brother and sister, her parents, two sets of grandparents and a busload of aunts, uncles and cousins and all you've got is me."
"Well, it's impossible for my mom and dad to be here and since they were both only children," Reid explained, "I'm kind of short on the aunts, uncles and cousins. My grandparents are all dead but I do happen to have something no one else does. True, I have only one lone brother so I'm lucky that he just happens to be the best brother in the world. I wouldn't trade you for Joan, Lloyd, Chelsea, Dylan and the whole busload."
"You weren't feeling a little deprived when there was just me," Evan asked skeptically?
"Nope, because a couple of years ago I didn't even have that and you maybe don't realize what you've brought to my life. It's like I feel like a leaf on a branch now, where before I was just a leaf floating aimlessly in the air. There may only be one other leaf on the branch but that's okay because that branch is connected to something solid and sturdy. It was like finally I belonged to someone and something. That means more to me than you know."
"Really," his brother asked? He'd never considered it from that point of view.
"Uh huh, looks like," he saw Allie motioning him over, "We have to get in the receiving line and meet all these people." He put his arm around his brother as they went to join the others.
Allie glanced sideways at her new husband in the receiving line as they were nearing the end of what had seemed to be, at times, a never ending stream of guests. She had to admit, Spencer had been a trooper. Despite his social ineptness, he'd smiled, shaken endless hands and allowed himself to be hugged and kissed by total strangers without complaint. Allie thought he might lose it when her great aunt Rosie from Michigan, a very loud, plump, grey haired former army nurse, kept pinching his cheeks and saying how cute he was. She had turned to her husband and proclaimed loudly enough for the entire ballroom to hear, "Isn't he just the cutest thing Marvin." A couple of Allie's friends from Stanford, who were waiting to congratulate the couple, conceded that Aunt Rosie did have a point. Allie's new husband was fine indeed. They remarked that if mothers always wanted their daughters to marry doctors then Allie had hit the jackpot, marrying three in one and it didn't hurt that he looked like a fashion model. And if that wasn't enough, he was an FBI agent. How exciting must that be for Allie they wondered?
The meal, blessed by Reverend Pinsent, was enjoyed without incident and afterwards the couple was toasted by numerous guests. Morgan offered a toast from the team. Some of Allie's friends from school went into elaborate speeches giving Reid a glimpse of the college girl she had been, after which Allie had sworn murder on a few people. Sean Quinn had again offered an Irish blessing although this time he did not insist that Reid partake of Irish whiskey with him. Reid was content to stick to the nonalcoholic champagne in front of them. Although he knew it was there mainly for Allie and Chelsea's benefit, after Evan's description of his actions the night before, he definitely did not want to go there again.
After the toasts had, at last, concluded, the servers wheeled out the cake, a four tiered masterpiece. With icing that looked like white lace, it was adorned with white roses and ribbons of royal blue icing. The crowd was delighted by an excited utterance when Jack yelled, "Daddy, that's the biggest cake I ever seen! Can I have some of the blue stuff?" Reid and Allie both assured the boy he definitely could. Reid thought it was a shame to cut into all the work someone had gone to. Cut into it they did but not until a few dozen photographs had been taken of the couple standing behind it with the knife, decorated with white and blue ribbons, in readiness. As expected the newlyweds had to share the first slice and barely avoided getting it all over their wedding attire. Luckily the servers took over the cutting and distributing of the remainder of the cake while Allie and Spencer slipped out to the restrooms to clean their faces.
Looking in the mirror, Reid realized he had lipstick on his face from the various kisses he'd endured in the receiving line. He scrubbed away at it and it reminded him how children would wipe their mouths in disgust when someone of the opposite sex kissed them on the playground. Not that it had ever happened to him but he'd seen it when he'd look out the window at recess while he was helping the teacher, ostensibly for extra credit but in reality to avoid the bullies. Why was he thinking of that now, he asked himself. It was just like this morning when he thought of playing chess with his father.
Reid exited the men's room and waited for Allie who came out of the ladies' room a few moments later. "You didn't have to wait for me honey," she said as she took his hand.
"I didn't want to make an entrance without you," Reid replied.
"What's the matter, you look shaken," she asked.
"No, not really." He told her about the memories when he was cleaning the lipstick off his face. "That's the second childhood memory I've had today. I must be overly emotional or something," he remarked and recounted his memory in the morning about playing chess with his father and digging out his parents' wedding picture.
Allie took both his hands in hers. "It's totally understandable. You're starting a new phase of your life today and that's bound to trigger reflection on the past." Reid smirked and Allie asked, "What's that smirk about?"
"I was just wondering which of us is the genius psychologist?"
"It is you my darling. Should we get back to the ballroom?" She turned in the direction they'd come, still holding his hand.
"Truth be told," he said, "I'd rather you and I take off and be alone together."
"If we did that," she said, playfully swinging their joined hands as they walked. "I'd never find out what song you chose for the first dance."
Reid groaned, "I'm not looking forward to this. I'm a lousy dancer to begin with and now everyone will be watching me."
"Don't worry about it. I'll be right there with you," Allie reminded him.
"Believe me, that's the only reason in the world I would ever do this."
They entered the ballroom which had been cleared of all the dishes to a chorus of, "Finally," from the crowd.
"We thought you guys had taken off on us," Morgan said.
"No such luck Morgan, no such luck. You and all these poor souls are about to be subjected to my appalling dancing ability." Reid headed over to the music man and they spoke for a few moments.
"Do you know what song he picked," Allie asked Morgan.
"I have no idea. I offered to help but he said he had to do something that would be special to both of you. He chose Garcia for a best man, it's anyone's guess what he chose for the first dance."
Spencer came walking across the ballroom toward her as the music man began to speak. "We're going to get the dancing underway with the first dance by the bride and groom to 'When You Say You Love Me' by Josh Groban." The piano intro started playing.
"Josh Groban, that was our first date," Allie said tearfully. "Oh honey, it's perfect," she said as she took his hand and he led her to the dance floor. The singer began to sing as Allie and Spencer began to sway to the music.
As the song ended and the tenor's voice faded out, Allie clung tightly to Spencer, her arms wound around his neck and her head on his shoulder. "Allie," he said when she didn't move, "You okay?"
"Uh huh," she nodded into the shoulder of his wool tuxedo.
"The song's over," he said.
She looked into his eyes, the rest of the full ballroom forgotten, her cheeks wet with tears. "That was so beautiful. It's everything I feel. How did you know?"
"Because it's everything I feel," he told her as he claimed her lips.
