Mr. Fix-It
Chapter 53
"Grandma, you know the pearls Grandpa gave you for your birthday? Do you have them here?" Stephanie asked calling the Plum house in Point Pleasant.
"Yes. I'm wearing them for church tomorrow?"
"Could I borrow them tonight to wear for our Christmas Eve party?"
"Sure, Baby Granddaughter, I'll bring them with me."
"Thank you. I'll see you later."
"Does she have them?" Mary Lou asked getting ready with Stephanie.
"Yes," nodding.
"Good, that takes care of that," Stephanie's best friend said.
She and Lenny came from Trenton for the Christmas Eve party. Her mother-in-law was keeping the boys giving the two of them a free evening to themselves.
There was a tap at the door, "Babe, how are things coming in there? Guests are arriving."
"We're almost ready. Are my parents here yet?" putting peal erring in her ears.
"Just pulling in. I'll send them up."
"Almost ready, Girls?"
"Yes," Mia and Kayla nodded in their long pale blue dresses with fake fur trim around the collar and cuffs. Their hair pulled back tied with long blue ribbons.
Mary Lou was wearing a cocktail length dark blue velvet dress with rounded collar.
There was a knock at the door before it opened.
"I got the pearls for you," Grandma said stopping in the doorway.
Frank looked at his daughter, "Pumpkin, you look beautiful."
"Stephanie," was all her mother said.
She was standing there in a long ivory off-the-shoulder chiffon wedding gown with sheer sleeves. Her hair was in a twist tied with a matching ivory scarf to trail behind her.
"We're not dressed," Ellen said looking at her.
"We just wanted to do it our way in our house. It doesn't matter how you're dressed. You look fine."
Ellen had on a black and white pant suit. Her father was wearing khaki pants with a green sweater. Grandma had on a cream colored pant set.
"Daddy, will you do me the honor on walking me down?"
"Always, Pumpkin."
"Let's get this wedding going," Edna said as she clasped the pearls around Stephanie's delicate neck.
Mary Lou pinned a boutonnière on Frank's sweater and corsages of white roses to Ellen and Grandma.
"Barney, let's get this on," Stephanie put a white bow tie around his neck.
"Mom, why don't you and Grandma go down so Ranger knows we're ready."
"Look at Mia and Kayla. Our adorable princesses," Frank said tickling a cheek of each girl.
They had little bouquets of blue daisies. Mary Lou handed Stephanie hers of white roses. Ellen and Grandma kissed her before going down the steps. They heard soft instrumental Christmas music when the door opened. Stephanie handed Barney a small white wicker basket with a satin lining to carry the wedding rings. Mary Lou picked up her bouquet of pale pink tea roses heading down the stairs where Tank was waiting as the best man.
The living room was lit by candles, a fire in the fireplace, and the Christmas tree with family and friends all gathering in the living room.
"Go ahead, Barney,' Stephanie told him. He carried his basket down the steps. Tank patted his pant leg and Barney sat beside him. Mia and Kayla were next and stood in front of Tank and Mary Lou beside the Christmas tree. Once the twins were in their place, Stephanie heard 'Here's Comes the Bride' as she and her father descended the steps.
Ranger never took his eyes off Stephanie as she came down the steps, "Babe." knowing she never looked more beautiful. His beautiful bride. His everything. His Babe.
Frank gently laid Stephanie's hand in his open one saying to Ranger, "You make her happy. I couldn't ask for more"
"Always, Frank."
Stephanie and Ranger turned to face the minister. A thin, older man in a black robe.
"Family and friends. We are gathered on this most Holy Night to join Ricardo and Stephanie in marriage."
"A good marriage must be created.
In marriage the "little" things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say, "I love you" at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is having a mutual sense of values, and common objectives.
It is standing together and facing the world.
It is forming a circle that gathers in the whole family.
It is speaking words of appreciation, and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is not only marrying the right person -- it is being the right partner."
Stephanie and Ranger turned to each other their eyes never leaving each other as they said their vows.
"Stephanie, I love you. You are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage. I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle. I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort. I promise to cherish you, and to always hold you in highest regard. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life."
"Ricardo, I love you. You are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage. I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle. I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort. I promise to cherish you, and to always hold you in highest regard. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life"
"As a token of their love Ricardo and Stephanie have rings for each other," the minister said.
"Stephanie, this ring I give you, my personal gift and my personal promise, of love and trust, and pride that you are my wife. We will wear these rings, and the world will know that I am yours and you are mine."
"Ricardo, this ring I give you, my personal gift and my personal promise, of love and trust, and pride that you are my husband. We will wear these rings, and the world will know that I am yours and you are mine."
"Having thus pledged yourselves each to the other, I do now, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the state of New Jersey, pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."
Ranger gently kissed Stephanie's lips, her arms going around his neck, and deepening their kiss as he swung Stephanie around.
"I love you, Mrs. Manoso."
"I love you, Mr. Manoso."
Cheers and applause broke out in the living room. Ranger picked up Mia and Kayla, "You two look beautiful."
"Stephanie help us find these. We're really a family now," Kayla told him
"Yep," Stephanie said hugging them. "We all have the same last names."
Mia and Kayla each had an arm around Ranger's neck and their other arms around Stephanie's.
Mia giggled, "Goodie."
Lester laid his head on Ranger's shoulder and Bobby's on one of Stephanie's, "This is one of those fuzzy moments, Brother Bobby."
Ranger started laughing, "You're still misfits."
"But we're your misfits," Bobby kissed Stephanie's cheek. "Mom loves us."
Stephanie looked at the two of them, "Of course."
"White Girl, I can't believe you pulled this off," Lula hugging her. She was in a conservative Kelly green sweater top and skirt with black boots. It had white fur trim with black spots on the cuffs and collar and blinking snowflake earrings.
"We just didn't tell anyone, Lula. It was going to be simple and a surprise."
"You surprised me!"
Mary Anne, Cliff, with Mattie congratulated them along with her parents and Cliff's who came with them to the party.
"I bet you are looking forward to tomorrow," Stephanie hugged her friend.
"Oh, yes! Cliff has his screwdriver ready hoping Santa Claus brings Mattie something that needs put together."
Jim and his wife, Patrice, congratulated them. Tracy came with her children.
"You invited us to your beautiful wedding and you don't know us," the young mother told them.
Stephanie laughed explaining, "We were having a party. I didn't say it was a wedding party. It's just family and friends. Old and new."
"Thank you for inviting us."
"You're welcome."
"Congratulations Stephanie and Carlos," Mark said as he was standing behind Tracy.
The doorbell rang. Frank went to answer it, "Come in," everyone heard him say.
In stepped Santa Claus, "I hear there was a wedding here tonight. This is the night Mrs. Claus and I were married," shaking Ranger's hand.
"Thank you, Santa," he said back.
"I wanted to stop and congratulate you as I continue my sleigh ride."
"Bye, Santa," everyone waved as he went out the door.
Lester hustled over to Ranger, "Santa was here!"
"Santos, I would take you to the clinic so someone could examine your brain, but I'm afraid they wouldn't find anything."
"He was really here," ignoring the comment Ranger made to him.
Stephanie whispered something to Tank. "Foods ready!" he yelled in his deep voice.
They had a buffet of manicotti, salad, roast beef, parsley potatoes, garden and broccoli salads, vegetables with dip, rolls, green beans, cookies, and wedding tiramisu. Ranger had bought Dom Perignon Champagne as surprise for Stephanie. They also had punch, coffee, tea, and of course, beer.
Once everyone had their food and drinks. There were extra tables set up between the kitchen and dining room for their guests to sit.
Tank made his best man toast, "To Carlos and Stephanie. From the moment he met her, Carlos didn't stand a chance against her 'Burg' attitude and we knew it had to be love, Stephanie blew up his Porsche and he gave her another car."
Everyone was laughing.
"But, if you people belonged together it's them. They compliment each other. And, I know my best friend has found his home here in Point Pleasant with his woman from the 'Burg', Mia and Kayla, and Barney. And, he is so looking forward to his other two children leaving the nest. You deserve all the happiness you have now and in days to come."
'To Carlos and Stephanie," went around the room as Ranger kissed his bride.
After Stephanie and Ranger fed each other tiramisu, Mary Lou and Lenny left to head back to Trenton.
Mary Lou told Stephanie, "I wouldn't have missed this for anything, but I will miss you in Trenton."
"We're only 90 minutes away. And, just think, the beach is at our back door."
"But I may never get Lenny and the boys off the beach."
"There's a really nice mall south of Point Pleasant and antique stores in Avon-by-the-Sea."
"I may not leave," hugging both Stephanie and Ranger.
Stephanie nudged Ranger, Samantha was feeding Lester tiramisu by the fireplace. Melody was kissing Bobby under the Mistletoe. Mark and Tracy were talking with Jim and Patrice.
"I'd say love is in the air, Babe," Ranger kissed her. He walked over to the CD player and hit a button, coming back and taking her in his arms, "It's time for our wedding dance." Dancing in fron of the Christmas tree as their guests watched.
The Everly Brothers started singing 'Let It Be Me'.
I bless the day I found you Don't take this heaven from one So never leave me lonely Each time we meet love So never leave me lonely
I want to stay around you
And so I beg you, let it be me
If you must cling to someone
Now and forever, let it be me
Each time we meet love
I find complete love
Without your sweet love what would life be
Tell me you love me only
And that you'll always let it be me
I find complete love
Without your sweet love what would life be
Tell me you love me only
And that you'll always---let--it be--me
"I'm am the luckiest man, Babe. You let it be me," kissing his wife under the mistletoe.
