Chapter 35
July 4th, 1975 - Mill Valley
Janie woke up and yawned, "That was some party last night."The girls all slept in Erin's unoccupied room that was now a guestroom. Erin got a job in Wyoming as a veterinarian but came home for her brother's wedding. She was also one of BJ's bridesmaids.
"Who knew our moms could actually sing like that!?" Kimmie laughed sitting up in her sleeping bag.
"I know! My mom can hardly hold a tune most of the time, but last night was awesome!" The bride to be also sat up from where she slept on the twin size bed that was in the room. (Erin had insisted that she take the bed since she couldn't have back pains the day of her wedding). Last night at BJ's bachelorette party, the mothers of the girls had given a little 'show' and sang a few tunes. They had dressed up in their crazy disco clothes from not too long ago and had a blast singing for the party. They didn't even sound half bad! The party consisted of the bride, the bridesmaids: Honoria, Kimmie, Erin, and Katie; the maid of honor: Janie; a couple friends from Crabapple Cove High School and a couple from the University of Iowa, and of course the 'singing mothers'.
"So, everything's set up for the wedding, but it's not 'till tonight. What are we going to do all day?" Erin asked.
"I told Mom I'd spend some time with her today." BJ got up and threw on some clothes.
"Do we want to go to the beach then?" Honoria questioned anxiously, wanting to get back to the ocean.
"I guess we could do that. It'll be pretty busy though." Erin laughed. "Can I see if Leo wants to come?" Leo was Erin's fiancée. They were going to get married after he was done with med school.
"Sure! I'd love to see that guy in a Speedo!" Kimmie blushed after sharing her thoughts. "Was that out loud?"
All of the girls laughed as a couple of pillows were thrown in fun.
Later
"Mom, what is it?" BJ sat with her mom at a small sidewalk café in San Francisco. She could see that Margaret's eyes were growing foggier and foggier.
"Oh, it's nothing Sweetheart." Margaret chuckled, quickly dabbing at her eyes.
"Mom…" She knew something was bothering her.
"Okay fine!" The blond laughed and reached over to take her daughter's hand that was on the top of the table. "I just can't believe that my little girl won't be living at home anymore."
"Me neither." BJ shook her head. "What will you do with my room anyway?" She asked, jokingly.
"Oh well, we were thinking about making it a rec. room. We'd put a pool table up there…maybe a foosball table…" The girl's mother laughed. "I'm just kidding," she added, seeing the stunned look on her daughter's face.
"Phew!" The bride-to-be sighed with relief. "I was afraid you'd been thinking about it for awhile!"
"Oh Honey, we probably won't be doing much with your room. We'll be too heartbroken about your leaving for awhile." Margaret looked a little sad.
"Mom, you know how Benji and I told you that he probably had a job in Boston already?" She asked. The future couple had talked to BJ's parents about where they would live and they thought they'd be living close by.
"Of course I remember!" BJ's mother laughed. "You couldn't believe you were going to have to live in Boston again!"
"Well uh…he didn't get that job." The girl with the dark black hair shook her head. Benji was interviewed for an office job at one of the big banks in 'Bean Town'.
"He didn't?" Margaret sounded surprised. "I thought that job was pretty much guaranteed for him."
"They decided that he'd be better here. In San Francisco…We're moving here." She dropped the bomb.
Margaret's shoulders drooped, hearing that her daughter would be living clear across the country. "Well that's good though, isn't it?" She tried to sound excited for her.
"It is a nice city…" BJ looked around at the buildings. "We've already looked at apartments and we picked one out that's about a block down from here. Benji was taking care of the paperwork for it last night. We'll be moving in in about two weeks." She took a set of keys from her pocket. "But, I have the keys if you want to go see it."
"I'd like that." The girl's mother put the money on the table for the coffee they had had and followed BJ down the street.
"It's this one." BJ opened the door to a large building. The foyer was small with granite floors. The walls were yellowed with age and the staircase spiraled to the center of the room. Looking up the stairs, you could see the first floor of apartments. Behind the stairs were a couple chairs, metal mailboxes that were built into the wall, and an elevator. "Come on." The two women went over to the elevator and stepped inside. "It's on the eighth floor so I thought we should take the elevator instead of the stairs." She laughed.
"Probably a good idea." Margaret laughed. "So how do you feel about all this, living so far away from home…?" She broke the silence at the fourth floor.
"I guess I'm okay with it…Makes me pretty nervous though." She shrugged, putting her hair behind her ears. "I didn't know how I was going to do it when I went to college, but this time I'll have Benji, so I'll still be with family."
"Just remember that there's a phone you can use." The older woman gave her daughter a supportive hug.
"I'll remember." The 21-year-old hugged her mom back. The elevator doors opened to a bright colored hallway and they went over to a door that had 812 in black letters.
"This is nice." They looked around the small, one bedroom apartment. Margaret smiled reassuringly at BJ who was biting her lip like she did whenever she was nervous.
"Really?"
"Of course! And that view!" The blond went over to the big window and pulled the curtains back.
"That's what made me want this place." BJ grinned, folding her arms and looking out at the view of the Golden Gate Bridge. "Benji wanted it because his office will be right there." She pointed to the building across the street.
"You excited to start moving in?"
"Very much so." With that, the two women talked for a long time about BJ and Benji's future in San Francisco. At about five o'clock, they made their way back to the Hunnicutts' house, to get ready for the wedding.
Four Hours Later
Janie, Honoria, Kimmie, Erin, and Katie were all ready and waiting in the living room with the ushers, Charlotte (the flower girl), and Hawkeye. The bride and the bride's mother were upstairs in the guest room, still getting ready.
"Okay, let me look at you!" Margaret eyed her daughter, excitedly. Tears were welling up in her eyes again. "You look beautiful."
"Thanks." BJ smiled back. She wore a beautiful, strapless, dress with a long veil and train. "Doesn't seem like it's been that long ago that I said that to you." She laughed.
"Doesn't seem possible that it's been over eight years." Margaret shook her head, drying the happy tears that slipped out of her eyes.
"Well, looks like everyone's ready." BJ went over to the window and looked out at the backyard, where everything was set up. Benji and Charlie were at the alter with Father Mulcahy and the guests (mainly the 4077th's former staff members and their families) sat in the white chairs.
"But are you ready?" The girl's mother asked.
"Sure am!" The bride smiled excitedly. "Let's go." With that, the two women walked down the stairs.
"I'll see you out there Honey." Margaret kissed her daughter on the cheek and gave her a hug.
"See ya!"
"Doodlebug, you look beautiful." Hawkeye held his arm out for her to link onto.
"Thanks Dad."
The ushers and bridesmaids lined up and Charlotte was the first one out the door, down the porch steps, and down the aisle, dropping rose pedals on the ground. Soon, the others walked down the aisle and waited at the alter before everyone stood as the wedding march began. The eyes were all focused on the door before BJ and Hawkeye appeared on the porch.
"So I was right: Hawkeye did get to pay for the wedding between those two." BJ Hunnicutt leaned over and whispered into his wife's ear. Peg reached up and patted her husband's cheek.
"Who would've thought that I'd get to see my granddaughter's wedding?" Daniel sighed.
Margaret turned around to look at the older man, "Oh don't say that, you're still young." She smiled.
"Oh I know that." He winked, "Just," he thought carefully about his words, "who, a little more than eight years ago, would have thought that I'd even have grandchildren!?" Margaret smiled and looked back at her daughter and husband. Hawkeye's smile showed just how proud and happy he was.
After a couple minutes of slowly walking down the aisle, the two finally made it to the alter.
"Who gives the bride away?" Father Mulcahy was really kind of showing his age, his hair completely grey.
"I do." Hawkeye smiled. His pitch black hair had a few more grays in it than before. He jokingly said it was because of the kids. Father Mulcahy nodded and Hawkeye let go of his daughter's hand and kissed her on the cheek before taking a seat next to his wife and kids. Margaret's eyes were a little red with joyful tears so he reached over and squeezed her knee with affection.
"We are gathered here today for a little case of Déjà Vu." The padre smiled in amusement while the rest of the crowd chuckled at the statement. "We are here to witness the unity of these two, wonderful, inspirational people."
The proud mother of the bride watched in astonishment. Soon, the words began to run together as she got lost in thought…
"Mommy, Mommy!" Eight year old BJ Houlihan ran into the kitchen where Margaret was working on some paperwork late at night.
"BJ what are you doing up?" She asked, wondering if there was something wrong.
"I figured out what I want to be for Halloween this year!" The girl in her feet pajamas exclaimed excitedly.
"Well, if you needed to come tell me at midnight it must be good!" Margaret laughed.
"It is! I want to be a bride for Halloween!"
"A bride?" The girl's mother laughed. "That's a great idea sweetheart." She got up from the dining room chair and bent down to the girl's height. "You will be a beautiful bride…when you are one for real too!" She messed up BJ's black hair before grabbing her hand. "What do you say we get you back to bed?"
"Can I have some water first?" BJ asked.
"Sure." Margaret got a small glass of water and handed it to the little girl.
"Thanks!" She smiled sweetly before drinking the water. "Now I can go to bed."
"Okay, let's go." They walked up the stairs and into the small room. BJ crawled in bed and Margaret tucked her in. "Someday you really are going to make a beautiful bride, you know? And the other boys are going to be so jealous of the man you marry." She smiled and gave her daughter a kiss on the forehead.
"Eww! Boys have cooties!" BJ stuck her tongue out in disgust.
"Yes, yes they do." Margaret nodded and walked towards the door. "Just promise me one thing." She told her daughter.
"What's that?"
"You won't grow up too fast." The nurse smiled and blew a kiss that BJ 'caught'. "Goodnight." She turned the light off and closed the door so a little light would shine through…
"Do you Beatrice Jane Pierce, take this man, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?" Father Mulcahy's question brought Margaret back into reality.
"I do." BJ smiled up at her (almost) husband.
"And do you, Benjamin Franklin Hunnicutt, take this woman, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?"
"Definitely." Benji chuckled along with everyone else.
"Who has the rings?" The priest asked.
"Here you go Father." Charlie Hunnicutt handed the Padre the rings and, after he blessed them, Francis gave BJ's to Benji and vice versa.
"Repeat after me:" he looked at the man, "with this ring, I thee wed."
Benji did as instructed and repeated the phrase, "With this ring, I thee wed." He then slipped it on BJ's finger, the diamond shining.
"And Beatrice, repeat after me as well: with this ring, I thee wed."
"With this ring, I thee wed." BJ's smile was a mile wide and she was becoming a little breathless as she was closer and closer to becoming Mrs. Hunnicutt.
"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. Benji, you may now kiss your bride." Father Mulcahy closed his bible and smiled as the happy couple kissed…and kissed…and kissed.
"Like Mother like daughter." Hawkeye whispered in his wife's ear.
"My little baby…" Margaret cried, but had a proud smile on her face.
"My baby…" Peg was also crying with joy. Her husband wrapped his arm around her and kissed the side of her head.
Before the newlyweds were done kissing, a huge firework went off overhead. Beatrice Hunnicutt pulled away a little, "It seems like there's always fireworks when I kiss you!"
"There are for me too." Benji dipped her low and kissed her some more. When they 'came up for air', they walked down the aisle hand in hand.
Everyone had a wonderful time at the reception. There was lots of dancing (along with the traditional father-daughter dance), singing, eating, some drinking, and the usual Independence Day festivities. The cake was cut at about midnight and before Benji and BJ went off on their honeymoon, the bride had one more thing to do.
"Where are you going with that?" Janie asked as the newlyweds started towards their new car. (A very nice wedding gift from BJ and Peg).
"You know, it's really not nice to call my husband an 'it'." BJ teased her best friend.
"I'm talking about your bouquet. You can't leave with that! You have to throw it to us!" Janie laughed.
"Oh yeah!" The brand new bride smiled and got up on a chair. "Okay bridesmaids, gather 'round!" She called. "Ready?" She asked when they all stood behind her.
"Come on! Throw it!" Kimmie called impatiently.
"Alright, alright!" BJ laughed. "Here goes!" And with that, she threw her bouquet behind her, then turned around to see what she thought would be a big cat fight. Instead she laughed when she saw that Janie had caught it and was now running from the others.
The grooms best man started running after the bride's maid of honor. When he caught her, he asked, "Got any plans for that?!"
"Not that I know of!" Janie laughed, looking up at the tall, single, Hunnicutt twin that she had always had a 'fancy' for.
"Good." And with that, Charlie dipped the red head down and gave her a kiss that she would not soon forget. Everyone laughed as they watched, but soon directed their attention to the happy couple that would be leaving for the San Francisco International Airport where they would catch the red eye flight to London, England for their honeymoon.
"You take care of her, okay?" Hawkeye hugged his son-in-law.
"Will do sir." He smiled. When his father-in-law gave a small groan, he corrected himself, "Sorry, Hawkeye."
"That's better." Hawkeye grinned as he switched spots with his best friend to hug his daughter. "You have fun kiddo."
"We will Daddy." BJ hugged her father back. "I love you."
"I love you too." He hugged her tighter, not sure he really wanted to let go of his daughter. Even though he knew it wasn't forever, he still felt like she was slipping through his fingers. When he finally let go, he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see his former colleague/best friend. "Guess we're family now, huh?" Hawkeye had considered BJ a brother for years but now they really were like family.
"We sure are!" BJ laughed, "So uh…later, who's going to have the 'spoiling grandpa' job?"
Hawkeye's eyes grew wide, "I hope that can wait awhile!"
"Just wanted to get some business out of the way…" He laughed, "No, I'm sure it'll be a while before they have kids. At least I would hope. They need to settle down a little first! Plus, we're not even close to being old enough to be grandparents!"
"My sentiments exactly!" Hawkeye chuckled.
After everyone said their goodbyes, the newlyweds were off to the airport. A month later, they were all moved into their apartment. Benji was doing great at his job, and BJ (who was now being called Beatrice since there 'couldn't' be two BJ Hunnicutts in the same state!) had a great job at a publishing house. And all was going well…
Sadly, this story is coming down to it's final stretch! Stay tuned for the finale sometime this week! Hope you've liked the story so far! Thanks for the wonderful reviews! I would however like some more! CLICK! Oh and sorry if BJ's bachelorette party sounded like the one in 'Mamma Mia'. I am on SUCH a 'movie high' right now and couldn't stop thinking about it!