For KiwiSWfan, who was determined to get Mrs Finkelstein to the wedding.


Chapter Fifty-Five

Saturday 3rd August

The doorman, his lover and a nonagenarian neighbour

"It is true isn't it?" Anne asked excitedly as she opened the door to her son, that Saturday.

"Yes, it's true," he smiled, giving her a hug.

"Nikki, Congratulations! I'm so happy for you both," she kissed Nikki and hugged her too. "I'm so sorry I didn't listen when you called me the other night. I had no idea things were going so quickly. Harry didn't waste any time then…"

"Depends who you ask…" muttered Harry.

"Have you chosen a ring?"

"No, not yet." Nikki explained. "We might just stick to wedding rings; I'd be forever having to take off a ring that could tear the surgical gloves we use. It's probably safer not to bother."

"That's not very romantic," Anne said with a pout.

"Neither is hepatitis, MRSA, HIV, ebola …"

"Alright!" Anne interrupted. "I get the point. You're happy?" She looked Nikki straight in the eye, with the same intense stare that her son had. She remembered how much Anne had reminded her of Harry when he was away.

"I'm very happy," she replied.

"I brought the house details," Harry chipped in, aware he was being ignored. "Do you want me to check your computer?"

"Oh that can wait, Harry. Let's have lunch and you can tell me your plans."

"Before Christmas!" Anne spluttered when Harry mentioned the suggested time. "Are you crazy?"

"A couple of my friends from New York will be in London at the beginning of December. If we have it then, they'll be able to come." Harry explained.

"I didn't think you had that many good friends there?" Anne said. "A string of girls…"

"Thanks, Mum."

"I'm sure I told you about Jorge, we used to go out to pubs together, talk about the day…"

"Wasn't he your doorman?"

"That's the one."

Anne shook her head, "You always were a little peculiar. Have you met these friends?" Anne turned to Nikki.

"Oh yes!" Nikki said with a smile.

"And you want them at your wedding?" Anne asked.

"OUR wedding," interjected Harry.

"Yes I do!" Nikki replied with a laugh.

"Anyone else you want to ship in from New York?" Anne asked sarcastically.

Harry met Nikki's gaze across the lunch table and passed the bowl of salad to her.

"There can't be many people you both know, it's not as if Nikki was there for very long…"

"Mrs Finkelstein!" they both said together.

"The elderly neighbour with the annoying dog?" Anne exploded. "I get the feeling there's a lot to this story that the two of you haven't told me!"

"She'd never be able to come," Harry explained.

"She must be in her nineties at least," Nikki suggested.

"We'd have to offer to pay her fare," Harry began.

"But she wouldn't come all that way on her own, would she?"

"All the more reason for inviting her," Harry said. "She'll not be able to come but she will be overjoyed at the news!"

"Can you ring her now and ask?" his mother suggested.

Harry shook his head. "Not on a Saturday, she wouldn't answer the phone, she's Jewish."

Anne raised an eyebrow but kept her thoughts to herself for a while. Then added, "So on the list so far we have your doorman…"

"And Beto…" Nikki insisted.

"And Beto is?"

"Jorge's partner," Harry replied easily.

"Beto; it's not sounding like a girl's name."

"No, it's not." Nikki agreed.

"So on the list we have your old doorman, his gay lover and a nonagenarian neighbour." Anne clarified.

"Who won't be able to come," added Harry.

"I think you two, had better spend some time thinking about this," Anne laughed. "Am I invited?"

"Of course you are Mum!"

"Good, I'm looking forward to it and to meeting your friends Harry. Who are you going to invite Nikki?"

Nikki swallowed and for the first time in that whirlwind of a week, she actually thought through the details of a wedding. She would be expected to have a bridesmaid, someone to give her away. Her lip began to quiver. Although she'd never allowed herself to indulge in silly fantasies, it had always been there in the back of her mind all these years. That if this day ever did come, Leo would be the man she would chose to walk her down the aisle.

"How am I going to do this without Leo?" she asked, her fork clattering to her plate.

"Oh Nikki, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. Is there someone else? An old family friend? Someone else at work? One of Harry's friends?" Anne suggested touching the younger woman's arm.

"You can walk in with me." Harry suggested. "We haven't even decided what kind of wedding to have."

"I can't walk in with you, and out with you. That would just be weird."

"Nikki, nothing about this wedding is going to be traditional. I can tell you that from the start. Look at your guest list to start with…" Anne retorted.

"Jorge might give me away?" Nikki suggested.

"I'm not sure. I think if you walked into church on Jorge's arm. He'd do everything in his power to make sure he would walk out with you on his arm too!"

"You really don't trust him!" Nikki laughed.

"Not with you, I don't." Harry laughed back.

"Jealousy suits you," she smiled thoughtfully. "You said we'd walk into church together. Do you really want a church wedding?"

Harry shrugged. "I guess I thought you would, I'm not fussy about the location. Maybe somewhere less traditional would fit our less than traditional wedding."

Nikki nodded. "I seem to only go to church for funerals." Anne started clearing the empty plates.

"We'll think of something."

"It's not as if planning a wedding in less than six months is impossible," scoffed Anne.

"It's not impossible when it's possible," they both giggled, they'd both answered at exactly the same time and with the same words. Anne looked from one to another. She didn't understand exactly what was going on. But she knew her son and she knew that for the first time in years that he was happy. Really happy. She smiled at the pair. She'd worried for months that her interference in their relationship had backfired, but seeing them both sat at her table, broad smiles on their faces more than made up for it.

"Congratulations, it is going to be the best day ever, whatever you choose to do." She said graciously. "Let me know if there's any way I can help."

"Thanks Mum."

"I'm looking forward to it already! Now Harry, you said you had those house details. Didn't you say it was near Kew. Kew Gardens are beautiful, that would be an interesting location…"