It was a perfect day for a wedding. The sun was shining in the sky, the flowers of May were in full bloom, and the temperature was a temperate 65 degrees. It was a day made in heaven for Lauren and Scott's wedding, it was certainly a day made in love.
Helen and Gerald Davis had transformed their home into a hotel and their yard into a reception hall, for the occasion, making sure that everything was perfect for their little girl's wedding day. Most of the Winslow High staff had attended the rehearsal and the other pre-wedding festivities, so they took advantage of the Davis' hospitality and stayed in their home until the big day.
It was noon on that Saturday, the day of the wedding. Scott was preparing in Daniel's old bedroom, while Lauren prepared in hers. They were both nervous, but both were dealing with their nerves uncharacteristically well.
Lauren was standing before the full length mirror in her bedroom, while her mother secured the sacred family veil on her daughter's head. "There," she said, "Now you are ready to get married. Do you feel ready?"
"Of course she does," commented Laura, "Look at her, she never looked better."
It was true. Lauren, even with her advancing pregnant looked elegant in her full skirted wedding gown. She had chosen a dress that would highlight her assets while hiding her condition from the public eye. It was the type of gown that an antebellum bell might have worn to her wedding. The underlay of the gown was silk, and over it were layers and layers of cream colored lace, adding to its elegance and regal ness. The bodice was firm fitting, but tasteful, revealing just enough of her bosom to be alluring. To further add to the perfection of the wrapping, Lauren wore a single strand of pearls around her neck. Her mother had bought them especially for this occasion, and they served as "something new."
Lauren turned around once and surveyed herself in the mirror. She had the veil, "something old", the pearls, "something new", a pair of Marilyn's pearl earring, "something borrowed," and her garter, "something blue." She really was ready to become Mrs. Scott Guber.
"Yes, Mama, I think I am."
Scott on the other hand was not so confident. He was in Daniel's room, George on one side, Steven on the other. Both men were attempting to contain their laughter as they watched a man who never in his life had difficulty tying his tie, attempt to do so for the fifth time.
"I'm glad you find this so amusing. I'm dying here."
"No," Steven said, glancing at the clock on the wall, "But you will be if you take any longer tying that blasted tie. It's almost time."
"Here, let me," George offered. It took only a minute for George to tie the tie, and begin to usher his brother out the door.
"Do you have the ring?"
"Yes, Scott."
"Because, if we don't have the ring, he may not marry us."
"Oh, yeah, George, he's lost it."
The first sight of the Davis lawn would take anyone's breath away. The trellis where the priest waited was decorated in greenery and Lily of the Valley. The chairs, the end one, also held a bouquet of white lilies and peach rose, just like Lauren's bouquet. This wedding had to touch of elegance that any proper wedding should, but it was not gaudy or overblown, it was perfect.
Scott approached the trellis with Steven and George, and took one more deep breath in effort to calm his nerves. He was used to Lauren her moods, her habit, but this was a new experience for him, and he was scared. Thanks to the impeccable timing of the organist however, his fears were squelched by the slow strains of Canon in D, and the view of Daniel Davis, walking his mother to her place at the front of the yard.
Laura Davis was next, followed by Marilyn in her role as Maid of Honor. Both women were visions in their peach gowns carrying bouquets of peach roses and baby's breath.
As Marilyn took her place across from Steven, the music changed to the traditional wedding march, and Lauren accompanied by her father, began her journey from Daddy's little girl, to his mature wife.
Father Sean smiled as father and daughter approached him. Then it began the ceremony that would bide his life to Lauren's forever.
"Who gives this woman in marriage?" the priest asked.
"Her mother and I do," Gerald replied, lifting Lauren's veil for a kiss on the cheek.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God and these witnesses to join this man, Scott Guber, and this woman, Lauren Davis, in holy matrimony. Marriage is a sacred union, and should not be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but deliberately and solemnly. It is into this sacred union that these two people come to be joined. Will you join your right hands please? Scott, do you take Lauren to be your lawfully wedded wife. DO you promise to be true to her, in good times and in bad, in riches and in poverty, in sickness and in health? Do you promise to love, honor, and cherish her, and forsaking all others live only unto her for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," he replied, squeezing her hand.
"And do you, Lauren, take Scott, to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to be true to him in good times and in bad, in riches and in poverty, in sickness and in health? Do you promise to love, honor, and obey him, and forsaking all others live only unto him for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Scott and Lauren would now like to seal these vows with some they have written themselves."
"Lauren, I love you, with all my heart. And from this day forward, everything I do will be because of you. We'll be each others strength, family, lover, and best friend. You have completed my life, now I will do what I can to complete yours."
"Scott, I'm proud to be your wife. I will try to make each day special, and live up to your expectations. I will try to remember how much you love me, and I will return that love ten fold. You are the only man I need, and I as long as I have you, I'll never need anyone else."
"The rings, please?" Father Sean asked, as Steven handed him Lauren's and Marilyn, Scott's.
"Scott, place this rings on Lauren's finger, and say with this ring, I thee wed, and pledge my troth."
"With this ring, I thee wed and pledge my troth."
"Lauren, place the ring on Scott's finger and say, "With this ring I thee wed, and pledge my troth."
"With this ring, I thee wed, and pledge my troth."
"Now that Scott and Lauren had sanctified their union before God and this company by the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of rings, I, by the power invested in me and the law of this state, pronounce that they are husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride."
Scott leaned over and sealed the vows, and deep in each of their hearts they knew what Father Sean was saying was true, "Those whom God has joined together, no man could put asunder.
They were Mr. and Mrs. Scott Guber now, neither one of them could believe it. As they stood in line accepting the congratulations of family and friends, they both tried to adjust to the awkwardness of the moment. When they were finally alone in Lauren's old room, Scott moved behind her and encircled her waist, a task that became increasingly difficult as time passed.
"So, how does it feel?"
"How does what feel?"
"How does it feel to be an old married lady?"
"It feels wonderful. I love you."
"Me too. Now, what do you say we fix ourselves up and go get the pictures taken so we can get the party over with?"
"Why do you want to get it over with, that's the best part?"
"No, the honeymoon is the best part."
"It's not like we're going to have a real honeymoon, with me pregnant, I'm so out of..."
"Sash. You are not out of shape, you are in shape, a different shape, come on, there's bound to be plenty of pregnant ladies there."
"In Hawaii?"
"Who ever said we were going to Hawaii?"
"Steven said that we weren't going to another country, and where else do people go in the states on a honeymoon."
"You'll see, now come on."
Lauren tucked some out of place hairs back into her bun, and then turned to straighten Scott's tie. Helen had ordered these huge packs of pictures to send to various relatives and such. Lauren and Scott walked back outside and stood while this large unshaven photographer moved them in every which way to find the perfect pose.
When the pictures were taken, Lauren and Scott took their place at the end of the line of people in the wedding. The band leader was about to introduce them.
"Ladies and gentleman, on behalf of the Davis and Guber family, I would like to thank you all for coming to celebrate this joining of their families. I would like to introduce to you, your host and hostess, the parents of the bride, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Davis."
The Davises walked out on to the dance floor and smiled at their guests. The rest of the bridal party followed suit until it was Scott and Lauren's turn.
Arm in arm they waited until the band leader announce them as "Mr. and Mrs. Scott Guber." When he did, they walked out on to the dance floor too, but instead of smiling then stepping aside, they turned to one another and as the strains of their song began to play, Scott took her in his arms and they began to dance to these words:
I never had no one that I could count on,
I've been let down so many times
And, I was tired of hurtin', so tired of searchin'
Til you walked into my life
And it was a feelin' I've never know
And for the first time, I didn't feel alone
You're more than a lover
There could never be another
To make me feel the way you do
And oh, we just get closer
I fall in love all over, every time I look at you
I don't know where I'd be without you here with me
Life with you makes perfect sense
You're my best friend
You're my best friend
You stand by me
And you believe in me, like nobody ever has
And when my world goes crazy, you're right there to save me
You make me see how much I have
And I still tremble when we touch
And oh, the look in your eyes when we make love
Lauren laid her head on Scott's shoulder as the chorus repeated a second time and whispered into his ear, "I hope nothing will ever take this feeling away from us."
"I won't baby, I won't let it."
He held her close as they finished the dance, then turned to face their family and friends. Chants of kiss her, kiss her, rose up, and Scott leaned over to do just that.
Next it was Lauren's turn to dance with her father, and Scott danced with her mother.
"Lauren loves you very much."
"I know, Helen."
"Please, she is going to need you a lot in the next year or so, please take care of her."
"I will. I married her didn't I?"
"Yes, you did. I couldn't be happier for my daughter."
The dancing and partying continues until dinner was served. The meal of Surf and Turf began with a champagne toast to the bride and groom by Steven.
"I've known Lauren Davis a long time; I've known Scott Guber even longer. A man never had two better friends than these two, and I wish them every happiness. Cheers."
"Cheers," chorused everyone else.
"What is all the toasting?" a new voice asked.
"Robert?"
"Lauren, who's Robert?"
"Never mind Scott."
"So this is Scott, so Scott, why didn't Lauren here invite me to the wedding."
"Because I don't know you."
"Scott Guber, this is Robert Mitchell, my ex-fiancé."
Scott looked shocked at first, but his sense of etiquette won out, and he managed to extend a steady hand to the man in front of him.
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Mitchell. I must apologize for Lauren's oversight; you are of course welcome to stay."
"No, no sir, you are not welcome to stay. Daniel."
Daniel's face was darker than a storm cloud, as he approached his sister and the crowd around her. Laura was directly on his heels, hoping to control her husband's temper.
"Scott, excuse me, if you knew the half of this, you would be beating the tar out of this man right now. I don't want to subject my sister to that on her wedding day, so if you'll excuse me, I'll just ask the best man here to help me escort this man off of my parent's property."
"No, no, Daniel, I am Lauren's husband now, and I have the right to know what is going on here. Although, I do not want to make a scene in front these good people, so I will speak with my wife privately. Steven, would you please help Daniel remove Mr. Mitchell from the area. Mr. Conrad, please play..."
"Something romantic," Lauren said, "I want to dance with my husband again."
The band leader whispered something to his musicians and they started performing the duet version of Beauty and the Beast. Scott held Lauren a little closer, he smelled her hair, and he felt her tears on his jacket.
"What is it baby? What happened between you two?"
Lauren shook her head, but Scott pushed on, "Lauren, there is nothing that you can't say to me."
"I don't want to talk about it now Scott. I wanted this day to be perfect, perfect. And it isn't, and now, it's all ruined."
"What, sweetheart? What it ruined?"
"Our wedding."
"No, darling, no, nothing could ruin this day for us. This has been a dream of mine for a long time, and I know how happy you've been the past few months. This is perfect, honey, no matter what Robert Mitchell did or said, no what anyone does or says. All right, now, now more tears, and Lauren, I want to know what Daniel was talking about. Not now, later, but I want to know, Lauren."
"All right, Scott. Hold me, now."
"I am holding you."
"No, really hold me."
"In front of all these people?"
"It is our wedding, it's allowed."
Scott pulled Lauren closer and their audience applauded at the display of affection. Scott could tell that for the rest of the night, Lauren's heart was not in the motions of the wedding.
When they cut the cake, she followed tradition and fed him, making sure she got a little on his nose. She laughed when he did the same to her, and sealed it with his kiss. But he knew the heart wasn't entirely in it.
The rest of the day, she laughed and danced to various ethnic songs and performed country line dances and two-steps. She danced with her brother, danced with Kevin, and Steven, and of course Scott. She appeared to be enjoying herself, but Scott knew better.
He couldn't wait until the band leader said those fateful words, until her could be alone with his wife and find out what Robert Mitchell did to her. Then he heard them.
"Ladies and gentleman, in just a few minutes, Mrs. Lauren Davis Guber will be tossing her bouquet, then she is off on her surprise honeymoon, planned by her loving husband here."
Everyone laughed, and moments later Lauren turned around and tossed her bouquet of roses and lilies over her shoulder to be caught by Marilyn.
Then he took her by the hand and instead of getting into his car, he led her to Daniel's Jeep. The back of the car was decorated with signs reading Just Married.
"Why are we taking the Jeep?"
"Because where we're going, the Jeep will be better."
"Where are we going? Let's just say that this is something you've never done, that you've always wanted to do."
With that, Scott tied a black blindfold over Lauren's eyes then helped her into the car.
"What is this?"
"This, sweetheart, is the surprise of your life."
