Chapter 46
Chantelle poked her head out of May Alice's bedroom and received the okay from Mrs. Carter that everyone was in place and ready. She, then, positioned herself behind May Alice's chair and pushed it out of the room, into the living room, where the family members were standing, awaiting the bride's entrance. The judge was posed in front of the Christmas tree, and Rennie and Jaxon were on his right, the girls all lined up on the left. The photographer was positioned in the kitchen entrance, facing the master bedroom, to capture the bride as she entered the living room. When the women arrived in the room, they were met with audible gasps, and big smiles from the girls, who had never seen May Alice looking so beautiful. Rennie was speechless. He couldn't take his eyes off her. He felt flushed and for a moment, weak in the knees. The judge, sensing the emotion, steadied Rennie with a small grip on his elbow. He smiled too, upon seeing such a lovely bride approaching.
May Alice, too, if she could have, would have been weak in the knees at the sight of Rennie. He was more handsome than she'd ever seen him before. His suit was exquisitely tailored to his trim body, his tanned face, and amber eyes were highlighted by the perpetual smile on his face, and she noticed a little moisture in his eyes as she approached. She reluctantly drew her attention away from her husband-to-be for a moment to acknowledge each of the people in the room. First, she saw Jaxon, who was the spitting image of his father in his little suit, and perfectly combed hair. He was smiling but looking down, bashful at being gawked at all morning, and maybe just a little surprised at how pretty 'Miss Malice' looked. Although she'd seen the girls earlier, she'd not seen them in their dresses since Christmas, and she noticed that under the velvet green, they each had a soft ivory petticoat that she didn't know had been added. They each looked older, and prettier than their tender years, and for a split second she feared, one day, being the step-mother of three, teenage girls. She then saw Mrs. Carter, and Dr. Blades, and realized she'd not seen them yet that day, so, she gripped their hands and whispered "good morning" to both, as she made her way toward the tree, the judge, and Rennie.
When they'd arrived in their spot, Chantelle locked the wheelchair in place, and took her position behind May Alice. She, too, noticed the mist in Rennie's eyes, which had progressed to the point he needed his handkerchief to dry them. Rather than replace it in his suit pocket, he held it in his palm.
The judge began his role, and, at Rennie's request, spent some time explaining to everyone the covenant of marriage, and why avowing, in front of loved ones, was so important. Rennie had cautioned that the audience was young, and the judge had assured him he could find a way to communicate effectively to them. He did not disappoint. He tempered his speech between formal and personable, hoping the formal would assure the kids something official was happening, and personable by presenting it with terms they could all appreciate.
He started by explaining how the "ceremony of wedding" served several purposes for families. There was the legal, which is why he was present. He explained he was an officer of the court, which enforced laws, and, in this case, made marriages legal. And there was the symbolic. "Now the legal part doesn't really concern all of you," he said pointing around the room at the kids, "It's boring adult-stuff that while important, is as interesting as watching paint dry." The kids all snickered at the thought. "Now, what is more important for each of you, is what we call the symbolic gesture of marriage. You see, you have all been asked here today to witness your father making a promise to Miss May Alice. He is promising to love her, to be her friend, and her protector. He is promising to always put this family first. Your needs, and her needs, will come before his, and in return, Miss May Alice will love him, care for him, and always put him first. By doing so, they form a partnership." He asked the kids if they understood partnership, and to clarify he used the analogy of burgers and fries, which made the kids laugh outright. He explained how you could have the burger without fries, but weren't they always just better together? The kids had to agree. He then clarified that marriage was a little more serious than a burger and fries, and they seemed to understand that as well.
He then continued, "By having you here with him today, your father is granting you some responsibility for making sure he, and Miss May Alice, always honor their promises to one another. You see, sometimes the busy nature of family life makes it hard to always remember those promises every day. You know, we all get annoyed with one another from time to time, don't we? Jaxon," he put the boy on the spot, "How many times have you, flat-out not had a clue why your sisters were doing something?" Jaxon shrugged his shoulders. "They can be nutty, can't they?"
That made Jaxon smile and he said, "Like, every day." That had everyone laughing again.
"Acadia, you've been angry with Sabine before?" Rennie was impressed with the judge's memory of everyone's name, having only ever met him, and May Alice one time.
"Probably, yeah," she said giggling.
"Why were you angry with her?"
"I don't know," she said nervously.
The judge clapped his hands together for effect, "You see?!" he said, excitedly, drawing the kids' attention, "It didn't last. You know you were distracted by something in life that made you angry, but right now, you don't even remember what that was; you let whatever it was go, after a day or two, and got back to the business of being family, isn't that right?"
"Yeah," she smiled, and looked at Sabine who was smiling back.
"Now, did you stop loving your sister when you were angry?"
"No."
"That's right. Love is much stronger than the distractions of life. But sometimes, if we let that confusion, or that anger go on, and on, we can lose sight of our love, and the fact that we are supposed to be partners. Now, what you are being asked to do here today, is help your Dad and Miss May Alice keep those distractions from getting in the way of them loving one another. If you focus on the words they will be saying to one another here shortly, and if you remember the googly-eyed looks they're sharing right now, look," he turned everyone's focus to May Alice and Rennie, who were in face, only looking at one another. The kids laughed with acknowledgment, and relief, that they were no longer the ones on the spot. "If you remember that look, you will always be able to remind them of this day, and the promises they are making to each other. Does that make sense?" The kids all nodded. "Well then, I think we should get on with it," he finished with his own smile at the doting couple.
He took his position between the two, and opened a bible, and began the traditional introduction to the wedding ceremony. Within minutes, he arrived at the citing of the vows. Rennie gave Jaxon the signal to retrieve May Alice's ring from his pocket and have it ready. He then knelt down before May Alice, and nodded at the judge to begin. Chantelle removed the bouquet May Alice had been holding, to free her hands for Rennie. He instinctively took her hands in his and recited his traditional vows. He did well with his words, right up to sickness and health, at which time, he watched a small tear escape May Alice's eyes; following that, he had difficulty finishing with the steady, confident voice he'd started with. Nevertheless, he finished with "until death do us part."
The judge allowed just a small moment to pass before prompting May Alice for her vows. When he could see they were ready, he said her name. She asked him for just a moment, and turned slightly to Chantelle, who had passed the bouquet on to Acadia, then moved behind May Alice and bent to begin to lift her at her waist as May Alice used her arms to lift herself up. Rennie, then, realized what she'd wanted, and he, too, stood and helped her the rest of the way up. Once steadied, Rennie nodded at Chantelle to release her hold on May Alice, as he would steady her firmly, as she held his hands for support. She smiled brightly then, happy to be face-to-face with him. She took her eyes off Rennie only for a split second, as a gesture to the judge that she was ready, but just as she did, she felt a sharp movement within her belly that prompted an audible, Ooh, of surprise, from her. She blushed at her brief outburst, but quickly recovered, even though that particular kind of movement from the baby was something new. "We are ready," she said laughing at the timing of the unborn Boudreaux's movement.
She recited her vows flawlessly, filled with confidence, and eagerness, and she had no trouble getting through the sickness and health portion, that time. She lingered on her final vow, and said with conviction, "I will love, and honor you, all the days of my life."
The judge, then, looked to Jaxon, who had remained riveted on the scene before him. It was hard to say if it was so he'd not miss his cue, or if he was truly taken with exchange happening. Regardless, he produced the ring to the judge with surprising maturity. The judge then moved toward Chantelle and accepted the gold band she had been holding. He held up the rings for his audience. May Alice did a double take, convinced the ring he was holding was not the cherished ring Rennie had given her on her birthday. She gave Rennie a questioning look, that he completely missed, because he was doing his own double take, not having realized May Alice had a ring for him in return. When he met her eyes, he was smiling so happily, she put her inquiry to rest, trusting her ring was, surely, the same as it had been.
"I hold in my hand two beautiful rings, symbolic of a binding contract, to be given, and received, as bonds of never-ending love, and devoted friendship, circles of life, and circles of love. Let them always reflect the vows and promises you've willingly exchanged, in front of your family, and loved ones, here today." He handed a ring to Rennie, and invited him to repeat a traditional ring vow.
"May Alice, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and, with all that I am, and all that I have, I will love and honor you. With this ring, I thee wed."
As he removed his hand, having placed the newly altered ring on her finger, she viewed it for the first time. She recognized the intricate band, surrounded, now, by delicate, similar bands on either side. Rennie watched her carefully; hopeful she would appreciate the additions; but she'd stared at it longer than he'd expected, and the perpetual smile he'd been enjoying on her, lapsed. Just as he'd convinced himself he'd erred in an unforgivable way, she finally looked up at him and whispered "It's beautiful."
Before continuing on, the judge asked May Alice, in a hushed tone, if she was doing all right. He didn't know the level of her stamina for standing, and didn't want her to be uncomfortable, or forget her possible limitations. She assured him she was fine. He handed her Rennie's ring, and she repeated the same vow Rennie had, as she placed the gold band on his finger. Before she could remove her hand, he gripped it tightly with his, and squeezed it affectionately. He also, once again, had mist forming in his eyes as he looked at her. At some point she'd, obviously missed, he'd handed Jaxon the hanky he'd had at the start of the ceremony. She watched as Jaxon, unsolicited, returned the cloth to his father. As Rennie blotted his eyes, she realized her cheeks hurt from all the smiling she was doing.
With a quick moment of the jovial returning, the judge addressed the kids again. "Here comes the good stuff," then he went right back to the authoritative, officer-of-the-court inflection, and continued, "Rennie, May Alice, in so much as the two of you have agreed to join together in matrimony, and have promised your love for one other, by these vows, the giving of these rings, and the joining of your hands, with the authority granted me, by the great state of Louisiana, it is my honor to declare you husband and wife. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up his countenance unto you, and give you peace." He smiled at them, but as usual, their eyes were on only one another, "Congratulations."
After a moment, Acadia, looking at the judge, inquired, "Didn't you forget something?"
He pretended ignorance, "Did I?"
"Kiss her, Pa!" Missy interjected happily, not waiting for the judge.
No one had to say it twice. Rennie gripped May Alice around the waist and pulled her, and her belly, in for a tight embrace, and a kiss as passionate as the judge had ever seen. The kids were speechless. They'd never seen their father kiss anyone like that, not even the first time they saw him kiss May Alice on the boat in the summer. Still, everyone watched, and no one made any remark, perhaps having reached a true understanding that this marriage, between their father and May Alice, was going to be far different from the one they'd known previously. As the couple parted, and Rennie helped Chantelle lower May Alice back into her chair, the judge encouraged the kids to welcome May Alice to their family. Never having realized 'Miss Ma' was not really a part of their family before that moment, a hush fell over each one of them. Rennie sensed the seriousness in the kids as they each approached and genuinely embraced her, happily, but quiet, and, maybe, a little overwhelmed by their own emotions. As he watched them, he felt confident that he'd made the right decision to include them the way he had. Jaxon was the last to approach the couple, and when Rennie embraced him, he whispered that Jaxon had been a perfect helper, and he couldn't have been prouder, which made Jaxon smile.
Dr. Blades and Mrs. Carter also approached the couple, as the kids all spread out around the living room, awaiting the photographer to set up for the rest of the photos that would, this time around, include May Alice and Chantelle. Once everyone had congratulated the pair, May Alice reached for Rennie's hand. She placed it over her stomach and let him feel as the baby produced a firm pushing movement just beneath the soft material of her dress.
"Do you feel that?" The look on his face answered. To then, he'd felt her belly out of desire, and solidarity for what was growing there, but he'd only occasionally felt a small lump, here or there, just beneath his hand. Now, he felt what she had earlier, pronounced movement. They smiled at one another and shared another meaningful kiss.
"You are more beautiful than I've even seen you before," Rennie said. "This dress, your hair, everything. You take my breath away," he said while placing a small kiss on the back of her hand.
"And you take mine," she said in response. His gesture reminded her about her ring. "Hey, what did you do to my ring?" she said with mock annoyance.
"Hey," he responded mimicking her tone, but ignoring her inquiry, and asking instead, "Where did you get my ring?"
"Oh, take it off; I want to show you something." He removed the band and they inspected it together. "It was my father's," she said while she pointed out the inscription. Upon reading it, he was visibly moved. He looked at her, incredulous. He knew what her father had meant to her, how much she adored him, and how lost she'd become after his passing. That she would share something, so personal of his, and knowing it had clearly been a gift celebrating her birth, it became one of the most poignant moments of Rennie's life. She'd believed Rennie to be the only other person who could appreciate the sentiment behind her wanting him to become the new bearer of the ring, and when she watched his reaction, she knew her father would have agreed, that she'd chosen the perfect recipient to perpetuate the event symbolized by the ring. Her father loved, and protected her at the beginning of her life, and Rennie would do the same for the remainder of it.
She felt the baby moving again, and as she acknowledged it with a rub across her stomach, she admired the child's sense of timing, producing irrefutable proof of new life, on the first day of a new year, and the first day of its parents' new life together.
Following many more photographs, the rest of the day saw the celebration continue with the amazing food May Alice, Chantelle, Rennie, and Mrs. Carter had all taken part in preparing in the days prior. The judge and the photographer, both, joined the family for the large lunch, and traditional sharing of the wedding cake, which was a half sheet cake, that Mrs. Carter had baked for them on Friday. It had been adorned with her homemade frosting and little sugar flowers that, in keeping with what was becoming a theme in the family, she'd allowed the kids to paint with food coloring of their choice.
Eventually, the judge and photographer were thanked, and they departed, leaving the families to unwind and relax a bit. Dr. Blades and Mrs. Carter decided they, too, would depart for a few hours to rest and change clothes but would return later that evening. Once they'd gone, the girls debated about changing out of their dresses. They felt so pretty in them, they hated to change, but admitted they'd never play in them, so off they went. Jaxon had changed an hour earlier and was happily entertaining himself with organizing lures in his new tackle box.
"I think I should get out of this dress too," May Alice said. "Care to help me?" she asked Rennie, in that familiar, low voice. Chantelle rolled her eyes, and said she hoped to see them again later.
Shortly before 6:00 PM, Rennie woke from an impromptu nap he'd succumbed to following,g his sleepless night prior, an amazingly emotional ceremony, a reception of sorts, and an afternoon lovemaking session, the likes of which he'd never performed so well in. He watched his partner from that afternoon, also sleeping contently, and hated having to wake her. He had heard the door shortly before, and knew the Doctor and Mrs. Carter had returned to the house. As he debated how much longer to let May Alice sleep, she began stirring. She opened her eyes and presented him with the smile of a Cheshire cat. "As honeymoon's go, that was a hell of a start, Mr. Boudreaux." I'm a dead man, he thought, hearing her say it was only the start.
As the families visited more that evening, and snacked on the leftovers from lunch, the subject of Dr. Blades and Mrs. Carter's dancing, from the night before, came up. Denita reminded her grandpa that he had once started to teach her to dance like that, and he, of course, was happy to revisit the memory by escorting her into the living room for another lesson. As everyone watched the couple fidget with steps, and the obvious height difference, May Alice settled by Sabine, who was sitting in a chair by the Christmas tree. Sabine looked sleepy and May Alice asked if she'd taken a nap that day. Sabine answered that she had tried but she couldn't fall asleep so she read instead. "Did you know how to dance, Miss Ma?" Sabine asked her quietly.
"I did, I used to dance all the time, in New York. It's a lot of fun," she answered, thinking Sabine was cultivating an interest in it.
"Who taught you?"
"Well, I learned some things at dance class. Ballet and tap, and then, that kind of dance," she gestured to Denita and Dr. Blades, "came a little later, in a special type of class I took in school." She didn't feel up to explaining finishing school to Sabine, hoping the girl would never be subject to it, even being a fine Southern gal herself.
"I wish you could still dance, Miss Ma," Sabine said with a sorrowful look on her face. "I think Pa would have really liked to dance with you." Then Sabine took May Alice's hand and held it in hers. May Alice could do nothing but smile at the girl.
Eventually Dr. Blades summoned Rennie to help him with giving the girls lessons, and by the end of the evening, everyone had danced with everyone, except of course, Jaxon, who found the whole idea of holding girls that close revolting. He accommodated staying and watching, however. They'd even broken out the ancient stereo in the living room, and played actual dance music on the turntable that, remarkably, still worked. May Alice surmised maybe the music is what kept Jaxon engaged in the festivities, since it was obviously not the dancing. As they sat together, May Alice told him the weather should still be nice the next day, and maybe they could get some fishing in. He smiled brightly at the thought. She, then, risked telling him that he looked very handsome that day in his suit and tie, and she said he did a fine job standing with them, and she thanked him for doing it. He was again, bashful but he accepted her compliments. A few moments later he stood up from the couch where he'd been sitting and whispered into her ear, "You are the prettiest girl I've ever seen, Miss Malice." She raised her hand to her mouth, to obscure her smile, and keep from giving him up to the others, and before she could say anything, he'd run off to the kitchen.
Chantelle had been choosing the music for the unexpected dance class, and noted to May Alice that her family had some great albums in the old cabinet. She had found, and set aside, a particular selection in case an opportunity presented itself to play it. In the meantime, the choreography of actual dances had all fallen into nothing but a free-for-all, with kids moving spastically to whatever songs Chantelle had been choosing. By 8:30 p.m., everyone had tired from the activities, and had all begun filtering in, and out of the kitchen, and living room. As the crowd in the living room had dwindled, Chantelle seized the opportunity to play the particular album she's set aside, and started a song on the turntable; she, then, quietly departed the room, turning off the main lights on her way out, leaving only the Christmas tree lights to illuminate the space that Rennie and May Alice were left alone in. Hearing the soft, gentle song, Rennie moved to May Alice, and gently picked her up from the chair. She wasn't sure what he had in mind, but followed along as he placed one of her arms over his shoulder and gripped her other arm with his, while he held her in place around the waist, and started to sway to the song with her snugly against him. She smiled, recognizing the song, and nestled her head against his, and slow danced with her husband in the only way she could now.
As the music played, each of the kids had become curious about the beautiful melody they could, only slightly hear, coming from the living room. It was not like any of the other songs they'd all been dancing to. In curiosity, they moved quietly to the doorway, and peered into the dimness of the living room, to see Rennie and May Alice, standing, embraced, and moving to the music in a pseudo-dance of their own.
Honey, you, are my shining star.
Don't you go away.
Wanna be right here where you are
until my dying day.
Feels so good when we're lying here next to each other,
lost in love.
Baby, when we touch, love you so much.
You're all I ever dreamed of.
As the song continued Sabine watched, she smiled, and thought to herself, looks like Pa got his dance after all.
