Act 15 Goin to the Chapel and We're Gonna Get Married

Amanda leaned over Lee so she could look at the famous Vegas Strip as they landed. "I can't believe we're flying so close to the tops of those buildings! Look how big those hotels are! Oh gosh, I can see snow on top of those mountains there on the horizon! I didn't know it snowed here. Look! There's the Eiffel Tower and there's the roller coaster and there's a sphinx and a green buliding, I think that's called the "emerald city"! And Lee, I don't even gamble! Wow!"

Lee smiled, now he knew for sure that Amanda rambled even more when she was nervous AND in love.

After they landed and collected their bags, Lee hailed a cab and they took off for the short ride to the Belagio. He had heard it was a very romantic hotel and wanted the best for his...wife! Lee liked saying that to himself. Mrs. Stetson! Yep! Had a really good ring to it!



Amanda and Lee decided to split up after they registered for their honeymoon suite so that they could both get ready for this afternoon. Amanda stood in the lobby and couldn't get over the beauty and heady scent of the thousands of flowers there. Immense hand blown glass flowers hung over her head at the Belagio's registration desk. She looked up and gasped. Amanda was amazed and...very happy!



Lee had been able to schedule their wedding for 3 o'clock that afternoon at Wee Kirk Wedding Chapel. Amanda thought that she would barely have enough time to find a dress and get her hair done but she didn't care! She just smiled and told Lee, "Remember, no Elvis!"

"No? But honey, he's the one that inspired all this!" Lee jibed as he took off to find a tux.

***

Three o'clock came around soon enough and Amanda anxiously made her way to meet Lee at Wee Kirk's.

Elvis greeted her at the door.

"Oh no!" she said. "Uh..."

"Hey there little lady, don't be cruel! We have traditional weddings too!" Elvis toned musically.

"Oh, thank you." Amanda said as she made her way past Elvis, to the ladies room to freshen up one last time. As she walked by the chapel, she could see another couple celebrate their nuptual vows.

Amanda smiled. She didn't just have butterflies in her stomach, she thought by now they must be hummingbirds but, she was excited and ready!



Lee watched as Amanda returned to the lobby. He stood in awe of Amanda's ravishing beauty. She stood there wearing a champagne colored dress with a 'V' neckline. The spaghetti straps showed off her toned arms and delicate shoulders. Lee wanted to treasure forever how stunning Amanda looked. A single Golden Stargazer lily was placed behind her right ear. It offset her deep chocolate mane beautifully.

"Lee," Amanda said as they stepped into the chapel, " I just wish the kids could have been here for our wedding..." and as they stepped past the threshold, "Oh!"

There, standing in the chapel, waiting for Amanda to arrive were....

Phillip, holding Joey, Delores, Jamie, holding Marnie, and Mandy holding two huge boquets of lilies!

"Hello Mom, Lee! We're all so excited for you!"

Amanda ran over to hug her kids! She couldn't believe it!

"Lee! How were you able to do this!" Amanda gushed.

"Hey! What about us darling? Are we just chopped liver?"

Amanda turned around and there, to her surprise, was her mother Dottie, her mother's husband Captain Kurt, and Lee's Uncle Col. Clayton!

"Mother!" Amanda ran to embrace Dottie. "Lee!?" She said, wondering how on earth he had accomplished all this in only a few hours.

"Let's just say I'm glad we had the three o'clock time slot! But, we better get going, we only have an hour and the minister is already here!" Lee replied.

Amanda also saw Elaine there and looked at her askance.

"Hello again Amanda," Elaine as she came up to greet Amanda, "I didn't have a chance to really meet you at Spy Camp but Lee and I are old friends. I just came down from Carson City today."

"Oh, thank you!" Amanda said. She was still a bit uneasy that Lee had a female wedding guest. At least what Elaine said seemed to be true. Lee didn't cause her to be jealous, she could see that Ele was just a very good friend.

"By the way," Ele said, "Happy Valentine's Day!"

Amanda stood shocked! She met eyes with Lee. They hadn't even realized it was Valentine's Day!



Lee ushered Amanda gently to the altar as the minister began, "We are gathered here today to witness....."

During the ceremony, a song kept going through Amanda's mind. She had heard it on the Christian radio station in Texas. It was a song by Rebecca St. James. Amanda just smiled as she enjoyed the happiest moment in her life and thought about the lyrics to I'll Carry You...

I know that look in your eyes

I see the pain behind your smile

Please don't hold it all inside

Together we can run

To the finish line

And when you are tired

I'll carry you



I can't walk this road without you

You cannot go it alone

We were never meant to make it on our own

When the load becomes too heavy

And your feet too tired to walk

I will carry you and we'll be carried on



I will listen

And when I'm weak

Will you hold me to the truth

That we can go on, for we are carried

Three strands of chord

Cannot be easily torn...



I can't walk this road without you

You cannot go it alone

We were never meant to make it on our own

When the load becomes too heavy

And your feet too tired to walk

I will carry you and we'll be carried on



Before I say one more word

Hear me say I love you

My love comes from a heart that overflows

With love Who fills me

Comforts me

Comforts you,

With arms stretched out He said,

"I'll carry you"



I can't walk this road without you

You cannot go it alone

We were never meant to make it on our own

When the load becomes too heavy

And your feet too tired to walk

I will carry you and we'll be carried on

****

As they approached the threshold of their hotel room, Lee went to scoop Amanda up in his arms. As he bent over he felt a sudden pain and said "Unh!"

"Oh no, no!" Amanda exclaimed, "Don't pick me up Mr. Stetson! I need you in tip top shape for the rest of the evening!"

"Yes, Mrs. Stetson, please allow me to open the door for you instead!" Mrs. Stetson, Lee thought, yes it definitely had a ring to it!

A maid was milling outside their room as they began their private nuptual ceremony.

As Lee kissed Amanda passionately, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that their door was ajar and the maid was watching them!

Lee sauntered up to the door, and as he slammed it shut, he told the maid "Use your imagination!"



Tag comin'!