Happiness For H: Something In White
January 31 (part 5)
Frank had arrived at the church and found the Reverend Obie waiting for Horatio.
Deciding that playing up the detective angle might distract the Reverend, he looked around the empty altar and said confidentially,
"Horatio will be here soon, Reverend. He's been worried about Emily's safety after what happened in Miami. He wants to make sure no unexpected "guests" will spoil her day." Frank had no idea if the Reverend had a clue as to what had happened in Miami, but the man nodded solemnly and murmured that of course Emily's safety was important. After asking Frank to let Horatio know the Reverend would like to speak to him, he wandered off, murmuring about how dangerous the world was becoming these days. Watching him go, Frank sighed in relief, telling himself Horatio now owed him a BIG favor. He went to the back of the church and called Eric.
There was a knock at the door and Jean looked at Emily.
"I'll get it. You stay here. If it's that husband-to-be of yours, I'm sending him on his way! No peaking!"
When she opened the door a crack she found Grandma Estin outside. She quickly ushered the older woman inside, after looking up and down the empty hallway.
"Hi Grandma." Emily stood carefully and went to hug her grandmother.
"My dear, you look beautiful! Just like your mother on her wedding day," her grandmother added softly.
"Do you really think so?" Jean heard the catch in her friend's voice and came over quickly.
"Emily, don't you dare cry until after you walk down that aisle! You'll mess up all my hard work!"
"Jean, the flowers arrived. I've left them in the back of the church. Could you run and get your bouquets? I've got my corsage here. Emily dear, could you pin this on for me?" After reminding Emily not to open the door for anyone, Jean went down the hall to retrieve the bouquets.
Eric, Calleigh, Ryan, Alexx, Yelina and Ray Jr. were just arriving as she was heading back to Emily.
"Calleigh, could you do me a favor?" She pulled her away from the group. "The boutonnières and corsages are here. Could you make sure Horatio and Frank get theirs? The other corsages are for you, Alexx, and Yelina. The extra boutonnieres are for Eric, Ryan and Ray Jr."
"Of course," Calleigh answered with a smile. "How is Emily?"
"Nervous," Jean said, adding quickly, "not about marrying Horatio. Just the usual things – tripping, falling, fainting, you know. I better get back to her." With a quick wave of her hand, she headed back down the hall, leaving a bemused Calleigh to watch her.
Horatio was ready to leave for the church. A quick glance at his watch told him that he had roughly twenty minutes. As he was walking to the SUV his cell rang.
"Horatio where the heck are you?"
"On my way Frank." Horatio hung up and hopped in the SUV. Frank was standing there looking at the phone in his hand when Calleigh walked up.
"He says he's on his way."
"Good. It's getting late. I think Grandma Estin is in with Emily. Horatio needs to be at the altar before they get out to the back of the church." Looking around at the people coming through the church doors, she said,
"I think half of Grand Marais is here. I wonder if Horatio and Emily know about this?"
"Right now, I'm more concerned that Horatio gets here." Frank said.
Emily was pacing in the small room.
"Did you see Horatio, Jean?"
"No, Em. I didn't. I ran into Calleigh and she's taking care of the flowers."
"Oh," Emily said quietly.
"Don't worry Em," Jean soothed. "I'm sure he's here. He doesn't strike me as the type that would leave you standing at the altar if he had a change of heart."
"Jean, do you think he might change his mind? Do you think I could call him? It wouldn't be like seeing him."
"No, Emily. You will be seeing him in 15 minutes. Don't you dare pick up that phone! Now, let's take one last look in the mirror and get your veil fixed."
Grandma Estin gave her granddaughter one last hug and went to find the Reverend Obie. Ten minutes later, Horatio was pulling into the small parking lot of the church. Sprinting from the SUV, he headed for the church doors.
At the same time, Jean and Emily were carefully making their way up the long hallway to the back of the church. Emily was looking down to make sure she didn't slip, her hands full with her bouquet of red roses and trailing pine, fern and ribbons and the train to her gown. They had just arrived and Jean was carefully arranging Emily's train when the doors opened in a blast of cold air. Both women were startled and turned to see who was running late.
Emily glimpsed red hair.
"Horatio!" Her hand flew to her mouth. He couldn't see her face because of the veil and before he had a chance to say anything, Jean was pushing him past Emily into the church. He heard her hiss in his ear,
"I'm sure you have a good reason for being late, Horatio, but now is not the time. You get up to that altar and pray that I can keep Emily from bolting out of here. I may have to walk her up the aisle myself." With that Jean turned and went back through the doors to make sure Emily was still inside. Horatio looked toward the altar and saw more people than he had ever imagined. When he heard Jean shout Emily's name, he turned and went back through the church doors.
A murmur went through the crowd. Calleigh reached for Eric's arm murmuring,
"Oh, no." Frank hurried down to the back of the church to see what was up with Alexx hot on his heels. When they went through the doors, they saw Emily disappearing down the hall, Horatio and Jean hurrying to catch up with her.
TBC