Breaking Glass
Disclaimer: Once again, I only own Carmen, James, and their families.
Part 7: (This takes place about two months after the last one! It's October 24th, 2001. Bear with me people, once again, I'm not Jewish and don't know everything that would happen at a wedding, but I must say that the people on Beliefnet.com are very, very helpful!)
(Once again, I'm very sorry I haven't updated lately. School work and stress has probably made this one of my less-than-best chapters...)
*************************************************
"I can't do this!" Moaned Carmen.
"Yes, you can dear."
"No, I just can't! This is too soon! I'm too young! What if he's not the right guy?!"
Mrs. Keller grabbed her daughter by the shoulders and shook her softly, "Carmen, it's okay. You've just got cold feet, everybody gets them."
"So he's doubting marrying me too?" The female filmmaker flung herself onto her bed.
"I've never seen you act like this before! Calm down! Doubts are very normal. Hey, I almost ran away from my wedding!"
"You did?"
"Yes! My mother had to literally drag me back into the dressing room."
"I can't imagine grandma doing that!"
"Your grandma was quite the big, strong German woman. She picked me up with one arm, sat me down and told me why I was in that wedding gown."
"Why?"
"Well, because I loved your father! What other reason would there be? Half my family hated him because he wasn't Jewish, so there had to have been something else there. Plus, my mother wanted a grandchild to spoil."
Carmen laughed, Grandma Keller had spoiled her beyond belief. Always letting her do things that her mother had strictly prohibited, like watching late night tv when she was only 8 years old.
A tear slid down her mother's cheek, "My only baby is getting married."
"Don't get all mushy on me mom, please?" Joked the female filmmaker.
They laughed and playfully shoved each other, "Hey mom?"
"Yeah?"
"What do you think of Mark? Tell me honestly."
"Honestly? Well, I like him as a person. He'll be good to you and that's what matters."
"What don't you like about him?"
"Nothing dear, it's just that, well, he's a filmmaker. I know you are too, but you have a job - "
"Mark promised me that he was gonna look for a day job."
"Well, all right then. As long as you're happy."
"I am mom. I really am!"
Mrs. Keller hugged her daughter and smoothed Carmen's brown hair back from her face, "Get some rest dear, tomorrow's a big day."
*********************************************
Mark sat uneasily next to Mr. Keller. Both men were having a few drinks in the Life Cafe to 'get to know' each other before they officially became related. Carmen's father was nice, but she was the only child, and a daughter.
Unlike Mark's softer, gentler, icy blue eyes, Mr. Keller had those weird blue that started that, 'The eyes seemed to pierce all the way to the soul', cliché. The filmmaker, consequently, was unable to stay sitting still. It was unknown to him that Carmen's father thought he was okay, and was playing around with the poor boy's mind to keep him on his toes.
After an hour more of this torture, Mark was finally released to go. Carmen's mother had insisted upon the old tradition that a bride and groom not see each other for a week before the wedding. As a result, the filmmaker had to sleep on the couch at Mimi and Roger's apartment. Walking in the door, he was nearly tackled by an overjoyed Mimi.
"Markie's gettin' married tomorrow!"
Looking around her, Mark asked Roger, "Has she taken her medication yet?"
Mimi punched him in the shoulder, "Jerk!"
"Hey! Only joking!"
"I know!" She laughed and embraced him again, "I'm having a mood swing."
When the greetings were over, two of them ate dinner, but Mark couldn't. Fasting the day before the wedding was another tradition he'd heard of.
"So, do you guys have your clothes all picked out?"
"Well, yeah. I mean, Candy already helped me get my dress. You helped Roger with his tux, so, we're just fine."
"Hey Mark, do I have to wear that little hat?"
"The yarmulke?"
"Umm, yeah." Roger shifted his eyes back and forth, trying desperately to remember if that was the right word.
"It's respectful."
"I'm not Jewish."
"I know." The filmmaker put his hands behind his head and sat down on the couch with a groan of despair.
A concerned Mimi stood up, "You okay?"
"Nervous as hell."
"You ain't thinkin' of backing out, are ya?"
"No, I just, wanna make sure that this is the right decision."
"Trust me, it is. You're just tired Markie. Go get some rest."
"All right. Goodnight guys." It was all he could do.
********************( Noon, Oct., 25 )******************************
Carmen was in a side room in the synagogue, she was waiting for the right time. Her hands were clammy and she fidgeted around a lot more than was normal for her. Mr. and Mrs. Keller were with her.
"We'll go out in a minute dear. It's almost time to sign the marriage contract."
"Ketubah."
"I'm sorry, I'm forgot." Mr. Keller apologized, he hugged his daughter, "Calm down, we'll be with you the whole time."
"Excuse me?" Came a female voice from the doorway and all three turned around. A woman with short brown hair and three children stood there. They were dressed for the wedding, but Carmen didn't have the faintest idea of who she was looking at.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I'm looking for my brother."
"What's his name?"
"Mark Cohen. Oh, you must be Carmen! I told him I couldn't come, but I changed my mind. He is my only brother, after all."
"Yes. I've been waiting to meet you." Carmen stepped forward and embraced Cindy. When she did, one of the children tugged at her dress. The female filmmaker knelt down to see the child.
"Hi sweetheart. What's your name?"
The little girl looked innocently at her and mumbled, "Caroline."
"Oh, aren't you just the prettiest little thing!"
Cindy smiled, "Yep, this is Caroline, that's Erin, and the boy's name is Samuel."
"Well, I think they're just darling. You're lucky to have them."
"Yeah, I guess. So, where is everyone?"
"They're at the party in the other room. The groom's table thing. I'm gonna go in soon."
"Okay, I'll see you in there." Cindy took her kids and walked through the door to the 'dining' room of the moment, as it were.
************************************************
Mark stood silently in the dining area while his friends and family talked and celebrated. He was dressed up, and he wasn't comfortable. The clothes were stifling hot and restrictive, but it was worth it. Roger walked over to him, "Hey Mark. How ya doing?"
"Pretty good."
"They told me to tell you that it's time to sign the marriage contract."
"Okay. Where are they?"
"At the table."
Drawing in a deep breathe, he exhaled slowly, "You're gonna sign it for me too, right?"
"I'm already married, Mark."
"I meant as a witness!"
"Huh? Oh! Oh yeah, yeah sure."
"You and James. Well, guess we better go over there..."
The two men walked over to the main table where the Rabbi and James were standing. James gave Mark a huge smile, and handed him the pen. The groom read through the entire contract in the presence of all the guests. Everyone seemed to stop what they were doing and watch.
"Do you understand the contract?" Asked the Rabbi, nodding his head slightly.
"Yes, I do."
"And you agree with it?"
"Yes, I do." With those words, the male filmmaker signed on the line indicated for such a purpose. Roger and James, having seen the event, signed without hesitation on the line for the two witnesses. Finally, the Rabbi added his signature, leaving only one space left.
Much to everyone's surprise, Mark's father had decided to show up. They guessed that he didn't want to miss his only son's wedding. He'd gone to Cindy's, but she'd been fighting with him at the time, and it had not made for a pleasant experience.
Now, here was the fathers of the bride and groom leading Carmen to her soon-to-be husband. Candy wore a thin white veil over her face. When she reached Mark, he lifted the veil and gazed at her. According to tradition, he had to make sure she was the woman he wished to wed. She was, she really was. A smile formed on her lips, and he returned it. They were both extremely nervous, and it wasn't hard to tell that, either.
Silently, Carmen picked up the pen, and filled in the last remaining line on the contract.
***************************( The Ceremony )*********************
Mark's parents escorted him down the aisle as he took his place under the chuppah, or canopy. Collins had told the group to call it a canopy after they'd butchered the word for the hundredth time, and caused the filmmaker to get up and leave the room in frustration.
Behind Mark, the rest of the group, excluding Carmen, followed. At this wedding, the bride and groom wanted all their friends to be standing under the canopy with their parents as well. It just wouldn't have been fair to make them take seats.
The room suddenly became silent, as the female filmmaker, with a parent on each arm, appeared at the door. Mark stared at her and smiled, but so was too far away to see if she was smiling back. Her soon to be husband however, guessed correctly that she was.
Mimi elbowed Roger slightly, "Where's the wedding march?"
Roger shrugged, "I don't know. Shh!"
"Oh shh! Yourself."
Shooting a glance out of the corner of his eye, Roger checked to make sure that his buddy hadn't heard the conversation. Lucky, all was well, for now.
Carmen walked slowly to the canopy, her white shoes didn't even click. When she finally reached the others, she stood for a moment, almost unsure of what to do. Her mother gave her a small tug on the arm and she circled Mark once, before taking a place to his right.
The parents moved to the sides, the fathers on the left, mothers on the right. The Rabbi began to recite the traditional blessings, his hand held over the glass of wine. Carmen tapped her foot under her dress. With every passing moment, she grew more and more nervous. She could only thank God that she hadn't broken into a cold sweat. Stealing a quick glance at Mark, his eyes caught hers, if only for a brief second.
The rabbi then handed the ring to Mark, it was gold, with no breaks or markings, and consequently, no gem. With trembling hands, he placed the ring onto Carmen's right index finger and recited the words he'd been practicing in his head since the ceremony began, "May you be consecrated to me according to the laws of Moses and Israel."
Mark's glasses slipped a little and he pushed them back up, feeling a small bead of sweat near his eyebrow. The rest of the ceremony passed by so quickly. The reading of the ketubah, another glass of wine, and finally, the ending. Dragging himself back to earth, Mark saw the rabbi place a glass on the ground before him, and, when given the nod, the groom smashed it with his foot.
The approval of the crowd was instant, as a shout of, "Mazel tov!" ran through the synagogue. Carmen smiled out of pure happiness. The ceremony was over, and it had only seemed like five minutes to her. Soon, her smile turned to an infectious laugh that got the wedding party in a mood of such hilarity that many jaws began aching.
"Carmen?" Whispered a soft voice, and she looked at Mark, her new husband. Husband - the word seemed so different now to her. Before it had always been someone else's husband, and now, she could use the word to its full extent of the meaning.
"Yes?"
"C'mon, we have to sit together before we can party."
"I know." She leaned over and gave him a playful kiss on the lips, her eyes looking in the direction they were to go in.
**********************************************************
With brisk steps, they retired to a small room for their yichud. Someone had placed a few items of food on the table for them. Sounds and music outside indicated that the party had already started.
Mark drew his bride in for a long kiss, "You look beautiful."
She giggled, her face growing red, "You don't look to bad yourself. All cleaned up, and what was the word that James used? Oh yeah. Spiffy."
"He actually said I looked spiffy?"
"Yeah, it's very 8th grade, don't you think?"
"Well, James is very 8th grade I - ouch!" He was cut short by a playful punch to his shoulder. Feigning injury, he leaned back against the wall, betraying his performance with laughter.
"Starting our marriage by insulting my friends, why I never!" Carmen made a dramatic actress gesture of waving her hand, "You'll need to be punished for that!"
"I already am."
"Oh you!" Chasing him, she managed to pin him down on a chair and gave him a passionate lip-lock session, "Punishment enough?" She was breathing hard.
"No, I think I need a little more." This time it was him who initiated the kiss. When they broke apart, they sat there, her on his lap, their arms wrapped around each other. Silence enveloped them, each lost in thought.
"Mark, do you think the words husband and wife sound different now?"
"Yeah, I mean, of course. Not when you think about them so much, but when you use them."
"Uh-huh. Mark, you know something?"
"What?"
"I'm glad we got married."
"So am I."
"I think there's one more thing we should agree on, before we leave this room though."
"Name it."
"No nicknames, well, none except Candy and Markie."
"You are talking about those really silly and occasionally stupid names that couples give each other?"
"Most definitely."
"You have my full agreement on that." They snuggled together for a few more minutes before finally looking at the clock.
"Think we should go out there now?"
Carmen pouted in jest, "You don't wanna stay in here with me? I'm hurt."
"Trust me Candy, we've got the whole night to look forward to."
"The whole night? Oh..."
"C'mon, dear wife, let's go party." With that, the left the room and entered the hall, arm in arm.
Disclaimer: Once again, I only own Carmen, James, and their families.
Part 7: (This takes place about two months after the last one! It's October 24th, 2001. Bear with me people, once again, I'm not Jewish and don't know everything that would happen at a wedding, but I must say that the people on Beliefnet.com are very, very helpful!)
(Once again, I'm very sorry I haven't updated lately. School work and stress has probably made this one of my less-than-best chapters...)
*************************************************
"I can't do this!" Moaned Carmen.
"Yes, you can dear."
"No, I just can't! This is too soon! I'm too young! What if he's not the right guy?!"
Mrs. Keller grabbed her daughter by the shoulders and shook her softly, "Carmen, it's okay. You've just got cold feet, everybody gets them."
"So he's doubting marrying me too?" The female filmmaker flung herself onto her bed.
"I've never seen you act like this before! Calm down! Doubts are very normal. Hey, I almost ran away from my wedding!"
"You did?"
"Yes! My mother had to literally drag me back into the dressing room."
"I can't imagine grandma doing that!"
"Your grandma was quite the big, strong German woman. She picked me up with one arm, sat me down and told me why I was in that wedding gown."
"Why?"
"Well, because I loved your father! What other reason would there be? Half my family hated him because he wasn't Jewish, so there had to have been something else there. Plus, my mother wanted a grandchild to spoil."
Carmen laughed, Grandma Keller had spoiled her beyond belief. Always letting her do things that her mother had strictly prohibited, like watching late night tv when she was only 8 years old.
A tear slid down her mother's cheek, "My only baby is getting married."
"Don't get all mushy on me mom, please?" Joked the female filmmaker.
They laughed and playfully shoved each other, "Hey mom?"
"Yeah?"
"What do you think of Mark? Tell me honestly."
"Honestly? Well, I like him as a person. He'll be good to you and that's what matters."
"What don't you like about him?"
"Nothing dear, it's just that, well, he's a filmmaker. I know you are too, but you have a job - "
"Mark promised me that he was gonna look for a day job."
"Well, all right then. As long as you're happy."
"I am mom. I really am!"
Mrs. Keller hugged her daughter and smoothed Carmen's brown hair back from her face, "Get some rest dear, tomorrow's a big day."
*********************************************
Mark sat uneasily next to Mr. Keller. Both men were having a few drinks in the Life Cafe to 'get to know' each other before they officially became related. Carmen's father was nice, but she was the only child, and a daughter.
Unlike Mark's softer, gentler, icy blue eyes, Mr. Keller had those weird blue that started that, 'The eyes seemed to pierce all the way to the soul', cliché. The filmmaker, consequently, was unable to stay sitting still. It was unknown to him that Carmen's father thought he was okay, and was playing around with the poor boy's mind to keep him on his toes.
After an hour more of this torture, Mark was finally released to go. Carmen's mother had insisted upon the old tradition that a bride and groom not see each other for a week before the wedding. As a result, the filmmaker had to sleep on the couch at Mimi and Roger's apartment. Walking in the door, he was nearly tackled by an overjoyed Mimi.
"Markie's gettin' married tomorrow!"
Looking around her, Mark asked Roger, "Has she taken her medication yet?"
Mimi punched him in the shoulder, "Jerk!"
"Hey! Only joking!"
"I know!" She laughed and embraced him again, "I'm having a mood swing."
When the greetings were over, two of them ate dinner, but Mark couldn't. Fasting the day before the wedding was another tradition he'd heard of.
"So, do you guys have your clothes all picked out?"
"Well, yeah. I mean, Candy already helped me get my dress. You helped Roger with his tux, so, we're just fine."
"Hey Mark, do I have to wear that little hat?"
"The yarmulke?"
"Umm, yeah." Roger shifted his eyes back and forth, trying desperately to remember if that was the right word.
"It's respectful."
"I'm not Jewish."
"I know." The filmmaker put his hands behind his head and sat down on the couch with a groan of despair.
A concerned Mimi stood up, "You okay?"
"Nervous as hell."
"You ain't thinkin' of backing out, are ya?"
"No, I just, wanna make sure that this is the right decision."
"Trust me, it is. You're just tired Markie. Go get some rest."
"All right. Goodnight guys." It was all he could do.
********************( Noon, Oct., 25 )******************************
Carmen was in a side room in the synagogue, she was waiting for the right time. Her hands were clammy and she fidgeted around a lot more than was normal for her. Mr. and Mrs. Keller were with her.
"We'll go out in a minute dear. It's almost time to sign the marriage contract."
"Ketubah."
"I'm sorry, I'm forgot." Mr. Keller apologized, he hugged his daughter, "Calm down, we'll be with you the whole time."
"Excuse me?" Came a female voice from the doorway and all three turned around. A woman with short brown hair and three children stood there. They were dressed for the wedding, but Carmen didn't have the faintest idea of who she was looking at.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I'm looking for my brother."
"What's his name?"
"Mark Cohen. Oh, you must be Carmen! I told him I couldn't come, but I changed my mind. He is my only brother, after all."
"Yes. I've been waiting to meet you." Carmen stepped forward and embraced Cindy. When she did, one of the children tugged at her dress. The female filmmaker knelt down to see the child.
"Hi sweetheart. What's your name?"
The little girl looked innocently at her and mumbled, "Caroline."
"Oh, aren't you just the prettiest little thing!"
Cindy smiled, "Yep, this is Caroline, that's Erin, and the boy's name is Samuel."
"Well, I think they're just darling. You're lucky to have them."
"Yeah, I guess. So, where is everyone?"
"They're at the party in the other room. The groom's table thing. I'm gonna go in soon."
"Okay, I'll see you in there." Cindy took her kids and walked through the door to the 'dining' room of the moment, as it were.
************************************************
Mark stood silently in the dining area while his friends and family talked and celebrated. He was dressed up, and he wasn't comfortable. The clothes were stifling hot and restrictive, but it was worth it. Roger walked over to him, "Hey Mark. How ya doing?"
"Pretty good."
"They told me to tell you that it's time to sign the marriage contract."
"Okay. Where are they?"
"At the table."
Drawing in a deep breathe, he exhaled slowly, "You're gonna sign it for me too, right?"
"I'm already married, Mark."
"I meant as a witness!"
"Huh? Oh! Oh yeah, yeah sure."
"You and James. Well, guess we better go over there..."
The two men walked over to the main table where the Rabbi and James were standing. James gave Mark a huge smile, and handed him the pen. The groom read through the entire contract in the presence of all the guests. Everyone seemed to stop what they were doing and watch.
"Do you understand the contract?" Asked the Rabbi, nodding his head slightly.
"Yes, I do."
"And you agree with it?"
"Yes, I do." With those words, the male filmmaker signed on the line indicated for such a purpose. Roger and James, having seen the event, signed without hesitation on the line for the two witnesses. Finally, the Rabbi added his signature, leaving only one space left.
Much to everyone's surprise, Mark's father had decided to show up. They guessed that he didn't want to miss his only son's wedding. He'd gone to Cindy's, but she'd been fighting with him at the time, and it had not made for a pleasant experience.
Now, here was the fathers of the bride and groom leading Carmen to her soon-to-be husband. Candy wore a thin white veil over her face. When she reached Mark, he lifted the veil and gazed at her. According to tradition, he had to make sure she was the woman he wished to wed. She was, she really was. A smile formed on her lips, and he returned it. They were both extremely nervous, and it wasn't hard to tell that, either.
Silently, Carmen picked up the pen, and filled in the last remaining line on the contract.
***************************( The Ceremony )*********************
Mark's parents escorted him down the aisle as he took his place under the chuppah, or canopy. Collins had told the group to call it a canopy after they'd butchered the word for the hundredth time, and caused the filmmaker to get up and leave the room in frustration.
Behind Mark, the rest of the group, excluding Carmen, followed. At this wedding, the bride and groom wanted all their friends to be standing under the canopy with their parents as well. It just wouldn't have been fair to make them take seats.
The room suddenly became silent, as the female filmmaker, with a parent on each arm, appeared at the door. Mark stared at her and smiled, but so was too far away to see if she was smiling back. Her soon to be husband however, guessed correctly that she was.
Mimi elbowed Roger slightly, "Where's the wedding march?"
Roger shrugged, "I don't know. Shh!"
"Oh shh! Yourself."
Shooting a glance out of the corner of his eye, Roger checked to make sure that his buddy hadn't heard the conversation. Lucky, all was well, for now.
Carmen walked slowly to the canopy, her white shoes didn't even click. When she finally reached the others, she stood for a moment, almost unsure of what to do. Her mother gave her a small tug on the arm and she circled Mark once, before taking a place to his right.
The parents moved to the sides, the fathers on the left, mothers on the right. The Rabbi began to recite the traditional blessings, his hand held over the glass of wine. Carmen tapped her foot under her dress. With every passing moment, she grew more and more nervous. She could only thank God that she hadn't broken into a cold sweat. Stealing a quick glance at Mark, his eyes caught hers, if only for a brief second.
The rabbi then handed the ring to Mark, it was gold, with no breaks or markings, and consequently, no gem. With trembling hands, he placed the ring onto Carmen's right index finger and recited the words he'd been practicing in his head since the ceremony began, "May you be consecrated to me according to the laws of Moses and Israel."
Mark's glasses slipped a little and he pushed them back up, feeling a small bead of sweat near his eyebrow. The rest of the ceremony passed by so quickly. The reading of the ketubah, another glass of wine, and finally, the ending. Dragging himself back to earth, Mark saw the rabbi place a glass on the ground before him, and, when given the nod, the groom smashed it with his foot.
The approval of the crowd was instant, as a shout of, "Mazel tov!" ran through the synagogue. Carmen smiled out of pure happiness. The ceremony was over, and it had only seemed like five minutes to her. Soon, her smile turned to an infectious laugh that got the wedding party in a mood of such hilarity that many jaws began aching.
"Carmen?" Whispered a soft voice, and she looked at Mark, her new husband. Husband - the word seemed so different now to her. Before it had always been someone else's husband, and now, she could use the word to its full extent of the meaning.
"Yes?"
"C'mon, we have to sit together before we can party."
"I know." She leaned over and gave him a playful kiss on the lips, her eyes looking in the direction they were to go in.
**********************************************************
With brisk steps, they retired to a small room for their yichud. Someone had placed a few items of food on the table for them. Sounds and music outside indicated that the party had already started.
Mark drew his bride in for a long kiss, "You look beautiful."
She giggled, her face growing red, "You don't look to bad yourself. All cleaned up, and what was the word that James used? Oh yeah. Spiffy."
"He actually said I looked spiffy?"
"Yeah, it's very 8th grade, don't you think?"
"Well, James is very 8th grade I - ouch!" He was cut short by a playful punch to his shoulder. Feigning injury, he leaned back against the wall, betraying his performance with laughter.
"Starting our marriage by insulting my friends, why I never!" Carmen made a dramatic actress gesture of waving her hand, "You'll need to be punished for that!"
"I already am."
"Oh you!" Chasing him, she managed to pin him down on a chair and gave him a passionate lip-lock session, "Punishment enough?" She was breathing hard.
"No, I think I need a little more." This time it was him who initiated the kiss. When they broke apart, they sat there, her on his lap, their arms wrapped around each other. Silence enveloped them, each lost in thought.
"Mark, do you think the words husband and wife sound different now?"
"Yeah, I mean, of course. Not when you think about them so much, but when you use them."
"Uh-huh. Mark, you know something?"
"What?"
"I'm glad we got married."
"So am I."
"I think there's one more thing we should agree on, before we leave this room though."
"Name it."
"No nicknames, well, none except Candy and Markie."
"You are talking about those really silly and occasionally stupid names that couples give each other?"
"Most definitely."
"You have my full agreement on that." They snuggled together for a few more minutes before finally looking at the clock.
"Think we should go out there now?"
Carmen pouted in jest, "You don't wanna stay in here with me? I'm hurt."
"Trust me Candy, we've got the whole night to look forward to."
"The whole night? Oh..."
"C'mon, dear wife, let's go party." With that, the left the room and entered the hall, arm in arm.