The wedding was coming up quickly and everything was shaping up well. Pauline had ordered flowers to match her color scheme and sent pictures of how she wanted the decorations arranged. "I feel like we are working for her again," Liza teased. She thought back to when Pauline was one of their authors, and how hard she was to please.
"Let's just get through this for the girls. They are so excited, " Charles replied.
The girls' dresses arrived, as they would be junior attendants. Pauline sent the wedding playlist, which was delegated to Nicole, excited to be the DJ. The caterer was to drop off the cake and a small dinner selection to the house, arranged by Pauline. The event was getting more complicated than expected, but Charles and Liza accepted it hesitantly. They had made her a promise, after all.
The day of the wedding, Pauline and Tim arrived separately. "I just want to recreate the idea that we didn't see each other before the wedding. Please just humor me." Liza led Pauline into her dressing area in the guest room so she could get ready.
"You look beautiful, " Liza admired the dress Pauline had picked and helped her with her jewelry.
"You can't tell, can you? I'm about four months along. I know it doesn't matter. You all know about the baby. But you know what I mean. I want to be the perfect bride for Tim."
"No, I really can't tell," Liza said. "And you are the perfect bride."
"You can't imagine how hard it is to hide. "
"I've actually been in the same situation," Liza said, sharing about her first marriage.
They talked for an hour as Liza tried to calm Pauline's nerves. "I can't believe it. I'm more nervous today than I was at my first wedding. And that was far bigger and fancier. I guess because this time I know I found my perfect match! " Pauline said excitedly.
"I can imagine, " Liza said blandly.
"Gosh, I'm sorry. This must be strange for you. And for Charles," Pauline concluded.
"It is a little different. But we're okay or we wouldn't have agreed, " she said calmly.
The girls burst unexpectedly into the room. "Everyone is here, are you ready mom?" Nicole said. "I've got your music queued up. " Bianca took Pauline's hand and led her down the steps.
The ceremony started and Pauline and Tim exchanged vows, rings and then their first dance. They had a small meal together, followed by an exquisite wedding cake. The newly married couple thanked the family for letting them share their home for the wedding.
Pauline and Tim left for their honeymoon, which was simply time alone at home. They said their goodbyes and the girls eventually went to sleep, despite their excitement. Charles and Liza walked back out to the patio. It had been a beautiful ceremony despite being broadcast in video and with only four in-person guests who were also their attendants.
"I know that part got under your skin in their vows about overcoming their past mistakes in love. But one person's mistake is another person's treasure," Liza said, kissing Charles lightly.
"That was tough for me," he admitted. "But now I'm over it. I was thinking that if we hadn't made what Pauline called mistakes, we wouldn't have our children."
Liza thought of her own first marriage, and all she had learned since then about love and commitment. "Maybe we can think of our past marriages as lessons. Of what not to do."
She decided to change the subject. "Who knew Pauline and Tim were into country music and line dancing," she mentioned, trying to lighten the mood.
"That part was kind of fun. Especially us and the girls learning the steps together," Charles said.
She nodded. "I enjoyed that more than I thought. At least we didn't have to dress up to reflect that theme. " She pictured everyone in country western gear and laughed.
"I'm just glad the wedding went well. And now they are gone and it's just you and me," he said, pulling her into his arms.
"I'm going to play us a song," she said.
"Oh, our song," he assumed.
"A different one. Because this is a fresh start. "
The song 'I Want to Know What Love Is' by Foreigner started playing on the bluetooth speaker.
"You know," Liza said,"I used to think it was tacky to propose at someone else's wedding, but now I like it."
"What are you saying?" Charles looked amused.
"I think you know. "
"Do tell. I want to hear your rendition. You are probably less drunk than I was."
The words of the song she chose said what she was feeling but she decided to rephrase it. "For my entire life, it has been one heartache after another. I never thought I would find you, and then so many times I thought we had lost each other. Our love showed me what love really is. And I can't imagine not spending every day with you."
"My answer is yes."
"I didn't ask you the question yet, silly." Liza gazed into his eyes and asked, "Will you marry me?"
"Of course. Thank you for asking me this time. We could have told the minister to stay," Charles joked. "I'm kidding. What kind of wedding do you want?"
"Like Diana and I said at hers, the bigger celebration should be for when you finally get it right. I've had ideas of my dream wedding for years, so I'm taking my time to plan every detail. We should wait until the world goes back to normal to do it how we want. Not a rushed ceremony on a patio. But for now, you'll have to keep me as the unexpected guest you couldn't get rid of." She looked up at him as the song finished.
"Maggie and Diana are going to have to fight it out for maid of honor," he pointed out.
"Easy, that's why I will pick Caitlin. I've thought of it all. Now let's go to bed. We can clean this up in the morning." The newly engaged couple walked back into their home.
The next day, wearing her engagement ring that Charles had bought years ago and presented her with that morning, Liza felt complete. She sat with her coffee and the wedding magazines Pauline had conveniently left there. This time, they were going to get it right.