Chapter 38
I woke up the next morning, feeling a tapping on my nose. Looking up drearily I saw that it was Sandra, sitting by the edge of my bed and tapping my nose.
"What are you doing?" I asked, snuggling back into my pillow.
"You're getting married today," She reminded me gently.
I sat bolt upright in bed and squealed. "Oh my God, I'm getting married today!"
"Calm down," She laughed, patting my shoulder. "You have a few more hours yet."
"Phew," I said, relaxing. "Wow, that was a deep sleep last night."
"Really?" She said, unconvinced. "I heard you tossing and turning all night. What was wrong? Nerves?"
"No, not nerves," I said, ready to spill the truth. "Bill said he might not come."
"What?!" She exclaimed. "But they RSVPed! Plus, he's the best man! How can he not show up?!"
I looked at her.
"Oh, right," She said, snapping out of it. "Why wouldn't he come?"
"I went round to visit Carla, but she wasn't in, it was just him and the baby. Anyway, he started telling me that they aren't getting on so well and then started talking about the way things were with us and how he missed it," I explained.
"That bast…bad man," She tutted. "So he said he isn't going to come?"
"He said he didn't think he could watch it," I said. "Am I wrong for thinking that he owes it to me to watch it?"
"Of course not," She said, kissing me forehead and standing up. "But if he comes he comes, he doesn't he doesn't. I'm sure he'll do the right thing, and if not, who cares? You're spending the rest of your life with the right man."
I chuckled. "I know Babe's the right man."
"Just wanted to stress that," She smiled. "Don't want you doing anything dramatic on your Wedding day! Now come on, your mom arrived at 7.30 a.m. this morning and she's bossing everyone around. Now, I love your mother and I'd never say this to her face but- if nobody knew Hitler died in Germany, they'd think he was sitting right out there in the sitting room in the form of you mother. Get your butt out there and help me!"
I laughed, tossing the covers to one side. "I'm coming, I'm coming."
………………
After a long soak in the tub, I emerged fresh-faced and ready to be beautified, if that's a word. I walked out to find Sandra arranging bouquets on the sofa, and my mother pacing up and down the room, scrutinising her To-Do list.
"Ok, I'm ready to be…," I said, but was interrupted by the sound of sharp knocking on the door.
"That'll be Helen Heffron here to do your hair," Sandra said, not looking up from what she was doing.
My mother literally "harrumphed" from the corner as I went to open to the door for her. "Be nice, Mother."
"Morning, Sweetheart," Helen greeted me with a big smile, holding up a bag. "Big day!"
"Come in, Helen," I said, kissing her on the cheek.
She walked inside, greeted Sandra warmly and looked at my Mother. "Moira."
"Helen," My mother replied curtly, nodding her head to acknowledge the new guest.
"O…kay," I said, trying to keep the mood upbeat. "So, Helen. What did you have in mind for my hair?"
"Curls," She smiled. "I thought I could have curls near the top of your head…so that the floral headband could sit on the top of them."
"Now you just…," My mother started.
"Oh, oh, oh!" Sandra sat, interrupting my Mother and standing up, walking over to a drawer. "I hope no one minds, but I took the liberty of I had an idea about the headband/veil issue."
She opened the drawer and pulled out the artificial floral headband…that had my mother's veil attached to the back of it.
"Oh my God!" My mother exclaimed. "Is…is that permanent?"
"No, no," Sandra reassured her, demonstrating. "It's just clipped, see!"
"See now, isn't that nice?" I said, exaggeratedly. A knock came at the door. "Oh, that'll be James's mom."
…………………
Hair done, I slipped the dress over my head and slowly walked back into the sitting room.
"Well?" I asked.
"Lovely," Sandra said, smiling.
"Very beautiful, Sweetheart," My mother said, clapping her hands together.
"My son'll flip his lid," Helen said, smiling emotionally.
"Your father's outside with the car," James's mother said, looking out of the window. She turned to me. "Well kid, I always hoped you'd marry my James but, I think it's a very nice man you've chosen there."
"He's the best," Helen cried out, as we all shuffled out of the door.
……………………..
Outside the church, I stood nervously next to my father.
"Nervous?" My father asked. "That big church, all those people…"
"Trying to make me nervous, Daddy?" I joked.
He chuckled. "Of course not. It's good that you're not nervous. You know you're doing the right thing when you don't feel nervous about it."
"When you married Mom did you know you were doing the right thing?" I asked, curiously.
"Oh, yes. I marched into that church like a regimental soldier," He said, reminiscing fondly.
Suddenly strains of music flowed out from the church.
"Ready, kiddo?" He asked.
"Ready, daddy," I said, confidently.
The doors opened and I stared down the length of the church. Left-foot forward, we began walking down, past all the faces of my family and friends. Approaching the altar, my mouth broke into the largest smile ever…to see the men I loved standing at the end of the altar. Bill stood in his rightful place next to Babe, just the way I'd hoped he would.
"Thank you," I whispered to him as I walked past.
"knock em dead, kid," He whispered, smiling back at me.
Kissing my father on the cheek, I let go of his arm and stood next to my future husband. The man I'd promise to love together. We smiled at each other, before taking a deep breath and turning towards the Priest.
………………….
The ceremony passed quickly in a haze for me, and before I knew it I was in the Church Hall at the reception, watching everyone guzzle down champagne and canapés. Escaping from the dance floor, where family members had been pinning me down to dance with them every time I tried to leave, I managed to make my way over to the champagne table.
"So, Mrs Heffron, was I right or was I right?" A voice sounded out behind me. I recognised it instantly.
"Why whatever do you mean, Mr Luz?" I joked, turning around.
"About you and Babe," He laughed. "I knew it would happen. Didn't I tell you he was a ten?"
"Yes, you did," I laughed, jokingly. "The All-Seeing, All-Knowing George Luz, ladies and gentlemen!"
He laughed. "It's a victory I'll cherish."
"So, Luz, are you enjoying the party?" I asked.
"Yeah although, is it me or does everyone suddenly have a kid?" He asked.
"Yup," I laughed. "I've been introduced to so many babies tonight, I can hardly remember their names."
"It'll be your turn next," He smirked at me.
"Say what?" I giggled.
"Heff'll see to it that you're squirting out the kiddies next," He laughed crudely.
"George!" I laughed at his bluntness. "Me? A Mommy? Scary, huh?"
"Not really, I think you'll be a good Mom," He smiled genuinely.
"You do?" I gushed.
"Of course. You took care of us over there and we're alright," He laughed. "How hard can it be with a kid?"
"You'd be surprised," A voice came from behind us. I turned round to see Bill, standing with his hands in his pockets. "Good to see ya again, Luz."
"Hey Bill," Luz shook his hand. "Congratulations on the little one, she's a real looker."
"He, Luz…he," I whispered.
"Mind if I borrow the bride for a dance?" Bill asked, offering out a hand.
"The Bride would be honoured," I smiled, letting him lead me out onto the dance floor.
"You look a million bucks in that dress, kid," He said as we began to sway to the music.
I beamed. "Well, actually, I ripped it a little during the first dance. I don't know if that knocks anything off of the value…"
"Well," He laughed. "You look at least $999,999.99…and no, I'll never be able to say that number correctly again."
I laughed, enjoying the witty repartee I'd previously enjoyed with the old Bill. "Thanks for coming."
"You kiddin me? Was the least I could do after the way I behaved the other day," He said, embarrassed.
"Bill…"
He cut me off. "I was just tired and so happy to see you again after all that time. I'd heard all about the engagement but I guess it wasn't until I saw you that it really sunk in. I didn't realise how hard it was gonna be to see the woman I love marry someone else."
"Bill, I know how that feels," I said, pointedly. "I understand."
"Guess I had it comin then, huh?" He laughed uneasily.
"It's not like that," I said. "It's not about scoring points. It just is what it is, we don't have a say in anything. But what you do have, is a beautiful little boy and a wife who loves you so much. You know how I feel about you, Bill, but apparently we're not meant to be together. But, we've been given two amazing partners. I'm going to love Babe with all my heart, and you should do the same with Carla."
"I will," He whispered in my ear. "I promise."
"So you're happy for me?" I asked.
"I'm…," He pondered. "I'm…contented in the fact that you'll be well taken care of, since I can't do it."
"I'll take it," I smiled.
………………………………
"Hello there, Stranger," I smiled, sitting next down to Carla, who was cradling baby Henry in her arms.
"Hi!" She said, kissing me on the cheek. "Great party. Sorry I haven't had a chance to come over and say hi, but I've sort of had my hands full with the little man here. You haven't met little Henry yet, have you?"
"No, I haven't," I lied. There was no reason for her to know. "Hello there."
"Say hello, Henry," She purred to her baby.
I smiled at how besotted she was with her baby. "He's beautiful, Carla. He's the spitting image of Bill."
"Isn't he just," She gushed.
"Listen, Carla, I just wanted to thank you for the wedding dress idea," I told her.
"Oh, don't even worry about it, it was my pleasure," She reassured me. "I didn't really do anything. Your mom asked me if you could wear my wedding dress and of course I had to step in. How could I let you get married in the dress I wore to marry the man you once…you…well, you know….sorry."
"It's okay Carla," I smiled awkwardly, looking down at the ground. "You're right. That dress is about you and Bill. I needed memories of my own."
"See, that's exactly what I thought," She cried, smiling from ear to ear.
There was an awkward silence. We'd said all we had to say. Luckily this is the moment that Babe chose to step in.
"Hey there, Carla," He said. "Little Henry, too. Mind if I borrow my wife for a dance?"
"Not at all," She smiled, immersing herself in cooing at Henry.
Babe and I walked to the dance floor, and I wrapped my arms around my new husband as we began to sway in time to the music.
"You know, Sweetie, it's our wedding and I've hardly seen you all night," He laughed as we swayed.
"It's all the relatives," I said. "Although I may not have spent any time with you, I have met several of your aunts and uncles."
"Probably more than I've actually met anyway," He chuckled. "Big family."
"I noticed," I laughed, move closer into arms and purring in his ear. "Thanks for marrying me."
"It takes two to tango. Thank you for marrying me!" He whispered back. "Is it me, or does everyone have a baby?"
I laughed. "It's been noticed, yes. George was asking when you and I were going to start squirting out kids."
"Hmm, well," He joked. "How soon can we get out of here, Mrs Heffron?"
"One step at a time, Soldier," I laughed.
He winked at me. "So…I think we need to cement this marriage, and I think you know what I mean?"
"Oh," I said, blushing. "Well later, obviously, of course."
"That's not what I mean, although later of course," He chuckled. "I mean the other thing."
"What thing?" I asked, confused and then opened my eyes as I realised what he meant. "No, not in front of all these people."
"Sorry, honey, I have to. Every marriage should end with a Hollywood kiss," He said, dipping me backwards and planting a kiss on my lips. The room erupted into applause and wolf whistles.
……………….
The next morning the sun shone through the window, so bright that it woke me from my sleep. Rolling over, I looked at the sleeping Babe. My new husband. He opened his eyes to look at me, giving me a bashful smile.
"Morning Mrs Heffron," He said, groggily.
"Good Morning yourself, Mr Heffron," I whispered, stroking his cheek.
"That was some night," He said, stretching and yawning. "Any chance of a repeat performance?"
"Again?" I asked, shocked. I laughed, adding jokingly. "What stamina you have, Mr Heffron."
"Well you should be used to it by now," He joked, leaning in to kiss me. "But it's okay, because we're not living in sin anymore."
I laughed as he wrapped his arms around me, deepening his kisses.
Knock knock
"Ignore it," He whispered between kisses. "I didn't hear anything if you didn't."
Knock knock.
"If we answer it they'll go away faster," I groaned, throwing on my robe and walking over to the door. I opened it to find a man in a Chauffeur Uniform. "Can I help you?"
"I'm here for a pickup," He said, looking at his clipboard. "A Mr. and Mrs Heffron, to be taken to the Honeymoon Suite at the Philadelphia Excelsior?"
"I, uh," I scratched my head, confused. "We didn't make any such arrangement."
"Compliments of a Mr. William Guarnere," He said, indicating to his clipboard."
I clapped my hands over my mouth. "What?! How…how could he ever afford this?"
"I guess he had a little windfall," The Chauffeur said, winking. "Plus he got some of it for free…I'm his brother."
A massive smile spread over my face. "I can't believe it."
"I'll wait in the car, take your time," He said, dipping his hat at me and walking off.
Dumbfounded, I closed the door and ran back to the bedroom. "Babe!"