The Wedding Week

Caroline and Kate woke in their own bed on their wedding day. Like so many wedding traditions they had ignored, they refused to give credence to any superstitious nonsense like being apart for a whole night just because it was before their wedding day. Waking first as she often did these days, since Kate slept so fitfully and sometimes had her best sleep of the night in the early hours of the morning, Caroline relished the delicious warmth and comfort she found in the body and person of Kate McKenzie. Considering all of the madness they would need to endure before this day ended and they could lie like this again she exhaled deeply, then caught herself, hoping she hadn't wakened Kate. She would need all of her rest to get through today.

Reflecting on the week just past, meeting Kevin for the first time had been daunting after all she had heard about him. She was relieved that she genuinely liked him and he seemed to like her. At least they wouldn't need to pretend with one another. In fact, he had pulled her aside one day at Edie's and handed her a fat envelope with everything she would need to keep in touch with him or contact him in case anything happened to Alistair or Edie or, God forbid, Kate. Telling her that Edie and Kate had all of this information too but in an emergency Caroline might want it where she could find it easily herself. It was clear that he loved Edie and Kate and Alistair very much. She was touched that he trusted her and sobered by his recognition that in time of need it would likely be her message that brought him home.

Last Saturday, shopping with her mother had been both better than she expected and worse. Better in that her mother seemed to have dropped her obsession with organizing the wedding and worse in that while Caroline found a dress that suited her perfectly in the second shop they visited, her mother had been satisfied with nothing for herself and after exhausting the shopping options in Harrogate had finally decided at 4:00 in the afternoon, to simply wear the dress in which she'd been married to Alan.

Sunday had been a McKenzie family party in honor of Kevin being home again. That is what Kate said. But she knew it was also a chance for the McKenzie's to meet her before the wedding. Margo and Graham had hosted this gathering in their lovely spacious home just north of Leeds. Much to Celia's delight, she and Alan had been invited as well. With all of the wedding excitement she hadn't been looking forward to returning to the bleak farmhouse above Halifax in the dead of winter. So, they had kept their Harrogate hotel room for another night and followed Caroline's Jeep to Leeds for the Sunday luncheon.

Caroline, her boys, Celia and Alan had been introduced to Kate's family and made to feel very welcome. Margo and Graham's son David had been home from university and following luncheon had taken the boys to his games room along with his cousins, Kirsty, Doug and Kim. William and Laurence had a grand time with the McKenzie's and since there was a snack bar in the lower level were not seen again that afternoon until it was time to leave.

Caroline, rather than feeling overwhelmed by this large family as she had feared, had been warmly engaged in conversation and somehow had never found herself stranded or alone. She had, in the thorough gentle way of the McKenzie's, been made to feel so comfortable that it wasn't until almost the end of the affair that she realized she had been quietly but skillfully vetted to determine if she were worthy of their Kate.

Celia and Alan too had been drawn into one group after another and she suspected been subjected to the same scrutiny whether they realized it or not. She had no fears for Alan but wondered what Kate's family might think of her outspoken mother. Celia appeared to have a good time and had spent a good half hour next to the fireplace with Edie having what seemed like quite a lovely talk. They had laughed frequently, glancing around for sight of one or another of their children, so Caroline surmised that they must have been exchanging stories again.

In fact, the two mothers had exchanged guarded views on the relationship between their daughters. Celia allowing that she couldn't remember seeing Caroline as happy as she saw her now that she was once again with Kate. She had carefully omitting her initial reaction to the news that Caroline was seeing this woman's daughter. Edie shared that she had begun to worry that Kate was too alone and now that the two had found one another, how Caroline's care for her pregnant daughter had moved her. She had also candidly sketched the challenges she and Alistair had faced in their early days together. Edie, not fooled by Celia's omissions had looked Celia in the eye and told her how hurtful it had been to them both and how it had only served to bring them into a special closeness that she hadn't observed in other marriages around her. Celia had listened. The intelligence she had allowed to stagnate into bitterness and sarcasm, until she met Alan again, was given a new and very personal perspective to consider.

Toward the end of the afternoon Caroline found herself next to Kevin as he stood a little apart surveying the various groupings, enjoying them without being part of them for the moment. "How does it feel to be home?"

Looking into her face for a moment, he saw genuine interest in the sharp blue eyes. She was not simply making conversation, still he was a bit guarded. "It's always a bit of culture shock when I come back to Europe. Very different to the way I live much of the time."

Returning his gaze, "I can only imagine what your life must be like." Embarrassed then, "Well, I can't really imagine it." Looking at him speculatively, "One day I truly would like to hear about your work, what you do, what it means to you." Seeing his eyes on her as he said nothing, "Sorry, I don't mean that in a weird way. It's just that this week, meeting you and the rest of Kate's family for the first time, I realize how little I really know about any of you." Being completely honest, "It makes me wonder if I really know her."

Giving Caroline a quiet reassuring smile so like Kate's "I'm sure you know all the important things or you wouldn't be getting married on Saturday evening."

Smiling up at him, grateful to be understood, "No, you're right. We do know the important things."

Celia came up to her just then, Alan in tow. "Caroline, we are going now. We know the way back from here." Peering up into Kevin's face, characteristic Celia, saying whatever came to her mind, "You're very like our Kate and yet you aren't, are you?" Giving him another scrutinizing look as Kevin, a twinkle in his eye, simply bowed slightly to her. Celia, unsure whether she had just been disrespected or not, kissed Caroline's cheek saying, "Right, we're off then."

Alan shaking Kevin's hand, "Very nice to have met you, Dr. McKenzie, we'll look forward to seeing you again at t' wedding." Kissing her on the cheek, "Caroline, love." With that they were off saying their goodbyes to Edie and their hosts.

Caroline gave Kevin an apologetic look as Kate joined them, "Sorry about that."

Kevin just grinned, "Oh, I'm well used to the outspoken matriarchs. Wherever we go we find them."

Kate taking Caroline's hand at Kevin's last comment, said simply, "Celia?"

Caroline and Kevin in unison, "Celia!" All three laughed together and Caroline added, "Oh and by the way you're are 'our Kate' now."

"It would seem you've both passed the tests then," said Kevin. "I've never seen Uncle Donald talk so long to a visitor."

Amazed, "Long! We only spoke for 5 or 6 minutes."

"Yes, and that is double the usual time. Everyone in the family is remarking on how taken Uncle Donald is with you," laughed Kate.

Looking from one twin to the other suspiciously, "You're both having me on now. It must be time to go. Where have the boys gotten off to?"

The rest of the week had been mostly work for her, getting the school ready for the mid-term break, the usual discipline issues, parent conferences, consultations with the board on the new school and coming home to a joyful Kate, happy at being able to spend time with her brother. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, as usual now, Kate had gone with Edie and Kevin to see Alistair. Kevin had appointments with the head of the facility and his father's doctors this week to get detailed reports on progress of the disease and to let them know that he was continuing to monitor his father's care albeit from afar.

On Wednesday evening, Kate had cooked dinner for Edie, Kevin, Celia and Alan. This had given Laurence another chance to ply his new hero with questions. Kevin treated Laurence like an adult, which further endeared him to the boy. But more than that, he was every bit as good a teacher as his sister and while he answered questions he also gave them a glimpse into the affairs of the world from a first hand perspective. It was a view they hadn't heard before. Laurence's guileless questions led them all to become better acquainted with the work Kevin and his associates performed. He was an accomplished storyteller and took them from tears to laughter and back to tears. Caroline could see from Edie's face that mostly these were stories she had not heard before and was pleased that they could provide a venue for this mother to learn more about her son.

Friday evening had turned out to be one of the rare nights when Edie had a standing dinner with friends, business associates from before her retirement. She was loath to go but both Kevin and Kate urged her to keep her date, knowing how important the support of her friends was to their mother now she had so little of Alistair left to her. Kate invited Kevin to dine with them and as he and Kate had only had one afternoon to visit just between them he was glad to accept. Laurence had made plans to go out with his friends and was so disappointed to miss Kevin that he was ready to give his friends a pass but Caroline had insisted that he go out, wanting to give Kate this evening with her brother. Grudgingly, he left before Kevin arrived.

Kevin knocked and hearing the called out 'come in' had pushed the door open to find the two women in a peaceful family setting. Caroline was cooking tonight, working in the kitchen with her apron tied on and Kate seated at the piano playing whatever came to mind, whatever she thought would please Caroline. He choked up a bit and knew he would remember this scene many a hard lonely night, picturing Kate loved and happy in this beautiful home.

Caroline dropped her utensils and came to take his coat. Kate, walking with that cute waddle she had begun to develop as her pregnancy advanced, came smiling to greet him as well. Caroline urged them to go, sit and visit, enjoy the view from the window but they only went as far as the breakfast bar, watching her elegant figure move gracefully in the kitchen as they talked with her.

The simple family meal completed, they did all sit then, admiring the view over coffee. They talked of many things, parents, the boys, Kate's child and the dangers of her pregnancy, the courtship of Caroline and Kate and the reactions of family and co-workers. Kevin talked about his work, more openly this time without elders or children present. When Kate asked about his personal life, Kevin admitted that he'd had a few affairs, but with the demands of his work and the transiency of his stay at any one place these had died a natural death. He said he kept so busy that he didn't have time to think of such things very often but Kate could see that part of him envied her this home and her spouse and her child and her heart broke a little for him.

Before it got too late, Kevin took himself off, knowing Kate's need for rest and the excitements of the day ahead for both women. Goodbyes tonight were emotional. Even though they would all see one another tomorrow and Sunday the days would be crowded with loving family members and they knew this was their real goodbye.

Caroline had held Kate until she cried herself to sleep last night. She hoped these feelings would not carry over into today. Despite all of her grumbling about the wedding, she wanted nothing more than for this to be a very special day for Kate.