Part fifteen: A big surprise

After their class were finished Johnny went to Max.

Johnny: Max, I need your help!

Max: In which way?

Johnny: I asked Babe yesterday if she will marry me. She accepted. We are going to marry at the resort. But her parents don't know about it.

Max: And what should I do?

Johnny: I need to use your phone to call them. But before would it be possible to get a priest to the resort?

Max: Sure, why not. It will be the first wedding here.

Max called the priest and asked him for a appointment. He made one on the last saturday before the season would be over. Now Johnny could make some planes. First he called the Houseman's.

Johnny: Hello Jake. I would ask you for Babe's hand. I will marry her.

Jake: Oh, you will? You can take her. I have learned in the past year that she is very happy with you and that nothing is going to change this. Go and ask her.

Johnny: Actually she had accept my offer. I asked her yesterday. It was the anniversary of the day we first met. And we have a wedding day, too. I'm going to surprise her. She thinks that we will marry without any family just the two of us. But I plan to invite our families and friends. So would it be possible for you, Marge and Lisa to come to Kellerman's on the twenty- third of august? You can stay her for the rest of the season. I will check this with Max.

Jake: Okay, I will try. See you.

After this, Johnny called at the school. Billie was answering the phone.

Johnny: Hi Billie, how are you doing?

Billie: Anything's fine here and you?

Johnny: Babe and me, we are going to marry and you are invited. It will be on the twenty-third of August. You can close the school for some days. The students will sure understand. After all it's my wedding.

Billie: I will come.

Billie: Great, you are going to be my best man. Now give me Penny.

Billie get Penny to the phone.

Penny: Hi Johnny.

Johnny: Penny, you and Terry are invited for my wedding. It will be on the twenty-third of August. I hope you are coming. The school will be closed for some days because Billie is coming too.

Penny: Sure, we will come.

Johnny called his uncle at Mandy's house. But Mandy was answering the phone.

Johnny: Hello Mandy. Would you and Tony like to come to the resort?

Mandy: Sure why not.

Johnny: There will be a wedding you have to take part.

Mandy: Wedding? Babe and you are going to be married?

Johnny: Yes, we are going to be married. It will be at the twenty-third of August. Babe doesn't know that her family and friends are invited. It should be a surprise for her.

Mandy: Okay, Johnny. I won't say a word and of course we are coming.

Johnny hung up and went back to Babe. She was waiting for him in his bungalow.

Babe: Where had you been?

Johnny: I had something to plan. I had spoken with Max. Will are going to have a wedding on the twenty-third of August. One week later the season is over and we can go on honeymoon.

Babe: I don't think that we need any honeymoon. We have a great time here. And besides that we have to go back to the school. We can't leave Penny and Billie alone with the whole work. It's not fair.

Johnny: Okay, but we will make a honeymoon next year.

Babe: Okay, we have some time before the wedding and we need to call my parents. They need to know the fact that we will be married when we get back. I don't think that they will be able to come, but it would be nice. And I need to buy a dress.

Johnny: You are going to be the most beautiful bride of the world, no matter what you are wearing.

Babe: Thank you but I think I will go shopping. I think I'll taking Debby with me. I'll need a second opinion.

Debby was the girlfriend of a musician of Tito's band. Babe and she had spent some time together.

Johnny: Okay, you and Debby go shopping and I will make some plans. Should I call your parents?

Babe: Yeah, why not. Tell them, I said hello and they should try to come.

Babe left the bungalow and went to Debby. Then the two women went in the near city for shopping. They went to a shop for wedding dresses. Babe looked trough the shop and found about five dresses she like the most. She tried each on and Debby told her what she was thinking. The fourth dress was the best one. It was white and ankle-length. It had little embroidery and no back. Babe looked great in it. She bought it and a veil.

Debby: You are going to be a beautiful bride. Johnny will be impressed when you walk down the aisle.

Babe: I hope so. But I could wear a worn-off rag and he wouldn't mind.

Debby: He loves you really.

Babe: Yeah, he does. And nothing is going to change this.

After the two women had finished in the shop Babe went to a drug store. There she got something that she hide from Debby.

In the meanwhile Johnny was at Max' office again. He was calling his parents.

Johnny: Hi Mom. I would like to invite you for the twenty-third of August to Kellerman's. I'm going to marry Babe.

Betty: You will marry?

Johnny: Yes, I will and I'm going to marry her. It would be nice if you could come to see it. Anthony and Billie will be here, too. And Penny with her husband. A lot has happened since we saw last time. And you could meet Babe's family.

Betty: I'll do my best. Can I call yo there?

Johnny: Well, Babe doesn't know that our families are invited. It should be a surprise. But you can call the main office. Max can get me a message. I am going to call you back then. Bye.

Johnny hoped that they would come. Then he called Jimmy, his uncle.

Johnny: Hi Jimmy.

Jimmy: Johnny, boy. Do you have something to renovate for me?

Johnny: Not this time, sorry. Actually I was going to invite you for Kellerman's.

Jimmy: Why this?

Johnny: Well, Babe and me are going to get married on twenty-third of August. Billie will be my best man.

Jimmy: I think I will be coming. A little lovely family reunion.

Johnny: Reunion? I think you can say so. Everyone will be here. Even Tony and some new family member you don't know about yet. So see you soon.

After Johnny had called his family he went to Max to arrange the ceremony and the party after it. Max promised that he would manage everything.

Johnny went back to the bungalow to wait for Babe who came a few minutes after him. He saw no bags.

Johnny: So you haven't found a dress for you?

Babe: I have found a dress. It's beautiful. I think you will like it. But it's with Debby. You are not going to see it before the wedding. So have you called my parents?

Johnny: Yeah, I have called them. They are happy for us but they don't think that they will be able to get here on time.

Babe: That's bad. But we can have a second wedding when we get back. And you could invite your family, too.

Johnny: Yeah, we could make this. But you need for our wedding at Kellerman's a maid-of-honor.

Babe: Well, I think I would have asked Penny but I don't think that she will be able to be here, too. I don't know who I could take instead of her.

Johnny: I'll think I can do something. But you are not going to know about it.

In the next weeks Johnny planned everything for the wedding. Max helped him with this. Babe had no idea what he was doing. He spent a lot of time with Max. So Babe used the time alone to make something. She had noticed that she was some weeks late and she thought that it could be possible that she was pregnant. When she was shopping with Debby she had bought a pregnancy home test. She made the test and waited for the result. After the time was over she went to the bath room and took a look.

When Johnny returned about an hour later he found no hint for Babe's activities. She was the same.

One day, Johnny had a dance lesson Babe was strolling trough the resort. She met Neil who she hadn't seen since the day he had met Johnny.

Babe: Hi Neil. How are you doing?

Neil: Babe? Where is Johnny? Have he left you? I knew that this won't last long.

Babe: Well, Johnny is working. And he definitively haven't left me. Actually we are going to marry in about a week. You haven't heard of it. It will be the first wedding at the resort.

Neil: What? You are going to marry this loser? You can't do this. He's not good enough for you. Take me!

Babe: Neil, you have to accept that I'm in love with Johnny. We are going to marry and nothing can change this. You are a great guy but I don't love you.

Neil: Why not? He has nothing! I owning two hotels and it will be more in some years. I can buy you everything you want.

Babe: I don't need money. I have found the real love. Johnny and me we are going to marry. You will find a girl that you love the way I love Johnny. And then you will know that it's no matter of money or other things you have. It's only a feeling that you can't describe. I hope you will come to the ceremony, too. You are a friend and I don't want to lose you. You have to accept that we are never going to be a couple. Sorry Neil.

Neil: We will see. In some years Johnny will leave you and then will I be there for you. You can come to me with your problems. I know this kind of person Johnny is. He can't stay with only one woman a long time. He is going to hurt you. Don't make a mistake. Leave him and come to me.

Babe: I will not leave him. He loves me and I love him. Nothing is going to change this. You have to accept this. Otherwise I'm not going to speak to you again. Don't risk our friendship because your are jealous. You will find a girl how loves you and you love her.

Babe went back to the school where Johnny had finished his lesson. Babe was very infuriated.

Johnny: Darling, what happened?

Babe: Oh, I only met Neil. He said that you would hurt me and that I should leave you. He was so jealous.

Johnny: He is in love with you. Now he knows that he had lost you to a loser. And he can't accept this. He thinks that he is the best person on earth.

Babe: I told him that he have to accept the we are going to get married or I won't speak to him again.

It were only a week before the wedding. Johnny and Max had planned everything. The menu was ready the guests were coming and they had bungalows were they would stay. The priest was hired. The place for the wedding was found and would be decorated a day before. Tito would play the music. The dancers and the other staff would dance a little performance. The wedding bands and flowers were bought. Babe had her dress. Johnny had an tuxedo. Penny knew that she would be Babe's maid-of-honor.

On the day before the wedding day...

Johnny had managed that Debby would spent the whole day with Babe out of the resort. So she would not notice when her parents and the other guests would arrive. The resort was big so that there was not the risk that they would see each other before the wedding would be. Billie and Lisa were staying in a staff quarter while the Houseman's, the Castle's and the Kostecki's were staying in guest's bungalows. Some staff member were decorating the gazebo at the sea for the ceremony. Everywhere you were looking you saw white flowers and white ribbons.

The big day...

The wedding would be at twelve o'clock. Just after waking up Babe went to Debby where she would get ready for the wedding. Johnny went to the gazebo and told Max that he should tell the guests they should be ready about five past twelve. Johnny was going to get them with the staff members. Max was going to lead Babe to the altar. Johnny had spoken with Jake about this. Since Babe didn't know that they were here he was okay with this.

At twelve o'clock everyone was ready. Debby brought Babe to the main house were Max would pick her up. She was wearing her white dress with the veil. She had white flowers in her hair and a bouquet of red roses.

Max lead her to the altar but Johnny wasn't there.

Babe: Max, where is Johnny?

Max: I don't know. But some minutes ago he was at the gazebo. I'm sure he will be here any minute.

Max went down to the chairs and sat down. Babe was standing in the gazebo waiting for Johnny. Some moments later she heard the first sounds of "Time of my life". She turned around and saw at the top of the hill a large group of people. They were lead by a man in a black tuxedo. They were dancing in her direction.

When they come closer she recognized the leader as Johnny. The group behind him were some staff member she had seen here. Finally they reached the chairs, but the staff didn't sit down. Instead of they stand in a circle around the chairs and the gazebo. Some of the staff went along the path to escort the persons among them. They sat down on the chairs. Babe looked around and recognized that it were all of her family and friends. Johnny's family was among them, too.

Johnny danced with two other persons in Babe's direction. When they reached the gazebo, Babe saw that it were Billie and Penny.

Finally Johnny stand next to his Babe.

Babe: Johnny, what they are all doing here? I thought they wouldn't be able to come.

Johnny: Well, I have arranged this. I though it would be a great idea to marry with the whole family.

Babe: Thank you Johnny. That's a great gift.

The priest held the ceremony. Lisa, Marge and Mandy cried all the time.

After the ceremony they went to the main house were Max had prepared the dinner. He congratulated first.

Max: Well, after the trouble you made last summer I never thought that you could bring so much joy. It was the first wedding here. And I hope this will last forever. Congratulation Johnny and Frances Castle. And I hope that you will come again next year to teach my guests.

Babe: We will see, Max. But it would be nice to spent our honeymoon here. After all Kellerman's had brought us together.

Jake: Now you are not longer my little Baby. You are a grown up woman, a beautiful woman with her own family.

Babe: Oh, Daddy. I will always be your little baby.

Then Babe saw Neil, he was coming to her.

Neil: Congratulation, Babe. You looked great. Well, I think I have lost. To a dance instructor.

Babe: I haven't taken Johnny because he is a instructor. I have married him because we are in love. And you will find the perfect girl for you, too. Just wait. But I'm happy that you still speaking with me. You are a great guy. The girl who gets you can be happy.

Neil: Thank you, Babe. Enjoy your life.

Johnny went up to the stage to give a speech.

Johnny: Dear family and staff of Kellerman's. We are here to celebrate my wedding with the best woman on earth. Frances Houseman Castle. Actually were are going to celebrate two further weddings. Some of you will know Penny Johnson. She was my partner last year. She had married some months before. Congratulation Penny and Terry. And we are here to celebrate the wedding between my uncle Anthony Castle and the grandmother of my wife Mandy Black. Congratulation you two. So now lets enjoy the party.

The persons in the hall cheered them. The band began to play. Johnny went to Baby.

Johnny: Mrs. Castle, would you like to dance with me?

Babe: Sure, Mr. Castle.

They went to the dance floor and dance a changed form of their "Mambo" because Babe's long dress.

Babe: Johnny, this was a great idea. Thank you. I will never forget this. It was a perfect day and I am looking forward to spent much more days like this with you.

Johnny: So we are going back to Kellerman's next year? Honeymoon?

Babe: Well I think this won't be possible. If we are going to have honeymoon only the two of us then we are need to take them soon.

Johnny: Why this?

Babe: I think in about five months we won't be alone any longer!

Johnny: Why?

Babe: Then you are going to get my gift. And I promise you won't have a lot of spare time. Johnny, we are going to have a baby.

Johnny: You are pregnant?

Babe: Yes, I knew it for about a months. But I though it would be a perfect wedding gift. Are you happy?

Johnny: Happy? I can't describe what I'm feeling right now. But I'm more than happy.

Johnny and Babe kissed while Johnny lifted her above his head.

THE END!