CHAPTER 12
Two days later, the morning of the wedding, Elaina was still sleeping. The phone rang waking her; she looked at the clock to see that it was 8:45am. Elaina answered the phone. "Hello."
"Good morning, my blushing bride," Frank greeted her.
"Good morning, handsome. Where's my breakfast?"
"Sab will bring it up. She's getting it as we speak. You don't sound too cheerful."
"I just woke up. Didn't sleep to good after you left," Elaina admitted.
"It was your idea, I leave at midnight. You wanted to follow tradition, that I not see you until you walked down the isle," Frank reminded her.
"I know it was my idea." Elaina sat up in bed as Sab knocked on the door. "Come on in, Sabrina."
"Eat your breakfast. I'll call you back in a little while. I love you."
"Ok. I love you too." Elaina hung up.
"I thought you were the morning person?" Sab set the bed tray across Elaina's lap.
"I usually am but I didn't sleep too well. Kept thinking about Maria." Elaina started eating.
"Don't worry about her. I'm sure Allison and the other doctors will find out what's wrong with her soon," Sab assured her.
"I'm sure you're right but she's family. I care about her in spite of what has happened. I refuse to think all of it was intentional," Elaina commented.
"Today is your wedding day. You should be enjoying it, not worrying about Maria. You need to put her out of your mind and think about the wedding."
"Ok, ok. I'll go take a shower and get this day officially started. I've eaten enough, you can take the tray."
"There you go. That's the Elaina I know," Sab, cheered her on, taking the breakfast tray from her. "I'll take this back down then I'll be back."
"Ok, Babe. Sab, tell Frank I'm counting the minutes until we see each other."
"Will do." Sab took the tray downstairs and found Frank sitting in the living room with Hank and Cody. "I thought you were to stay in the office? What if Elaina comes down here?"
"We have an agreement. She stays up there and I stay down here," Frank assured her.
"Make sure you do just that. No sneaking up there," Sab warned him.
"You make sure she doesn't sneak down here," Cody told her.
"She wouldn't be Elaina if didn't," Hank said with a laugh.
"I plan to. I know she'll probably try at least once. She also said to tell you, Frank, that she's counting the minutes."
"So am I," Frank said, with a smile.
"I better get this in the kitchen and get back up there before she gets the idea to try." Sab carried the tray in the kitchen. Liz and George were with Sarah eating breakfast. Sab said and signed to them. "Good morning, Mr. Blakely, Mrs. Blakely." She walked over to Sarah and hugged her. "Hi Sarah. How are you?"
"Good morning Sabrina. As you can see she's playing with her food." Sab noticed that there was cereal everywhere but in the bowl.
"She does like to play with her food. Well, got to go back up and keep Elaina upstairs."
"Tell her I'll be up in a few minutes," Liz said.
"Okie dokie. Bye." Sab signed to George and saw that Sarah signed bye back to her.
When she came out of the kitchen Monica and Alex had arrived too. "Sab are you ready for your assignment today?" Monica asked.
"Ready, willing and able. How about you two?"
"I'm ready, just wish I knew who my escort was going to be," Alex said.
"I know that Reese is mine and Bea is walking with Andy, so my guess is Hank will be your escort," Monica said looking at Hank.
"Nope, you're wrong. I'm stepping in for Father of the Bride, George has asked me to do it. He wants to watch her walk down the isle."
"Then who is left for me?" Alex wondered.
"Maybe it's Dr. Nathan, a rich single doctor, sounds good to me," Sab suggested.
"He's good looking, I hope your right. Lets go see if Elaina will tell us." They headed up to the bedroom. Elaina was still in the shower.
"She sure is taking a long time in there." Sab knocked on the door. "Elaina, what's taking so long?"
"I'll be out in a minute or two," Elaina yelled from behind the door. When she finally came out the three girls stared at her. "What's wrong?" Elaina looked at herself in the mirror. "What are you gals staring at?"
"Your hair it's different," Alex said.
"Oh that, yeah I decided to go brunette for the wedding. Do you like it?" Elaina asked.
"It's a change from the dark red, we're use to seeing that's for sure." Monica was still staring.
"I like it, it looks more natural than the dark red did," Sab told her.
"I can always count on you for the truth can't I?" she teased. "Sabrina, if you didn't like my hair color, why didn't you ever say so before?" Elaina wondered.
"I thought it was ok. It just didn't seem to fit your personality lately," Sab told her.
"Lately. So it never bothered you before, until you got to know me better?" Elaina inquired.
"I think I better quit while I'm still Maid of Honor." Sab thought she was getting mad at her.
Elaina started laughing as Liz and Sarah came in. "What's so funny? Elaina! You changed your hair on your wedding day? Why?"
"A new start; deserved a new color, besides Sab didn't care for it." Elaina giggled.
"You ladies seem to be having fun," Hank said.
"What are you doing up here? All men are to stay down stairs," Elaina informed him.
"I'm here to give you a present, from your husband." Hank held out a small box. "You're to call him as you open it."
Elaina took it from him and dialed Frank's cell. "Hey, Love. Hank gave me the present."
"Have you opened it?" Frank asked.
"I'm working on it, hold on." Elaina opened the box and saw a pair of gold earrings that looked familiar to her. "Love, they're beautiful." Elaina looked at them closer. "Wait. They're made from my other wedding ring, aren't they?"
"Yep. Got the idea from Alex," Frank told her.
"Well, I guess I should thank her too. I guess this would classify as either something old or new wouldn't it?"
"You will wear them today?" Frank asked.
"Of course I will, they have just become my favorite pair," Elaina said.
"Good. I can't wait to see you wearing them."
"You have only two hours left. So I better get off here and get ready. Love you."
"I love you too Lady."
"Alex, I need to thank you for giving the idea to Frank for the earrings, so thanks." Elaina put the earrings on and then looked in the mirror. "They're perfect."
"You're welcome. He was wondering one day, what he could get you and it just popped in my mind about your other ring," Alex explained. "Can I ask you a question now?"
"Sure, you can," Elaina said.
"Who's walking down the isle with me?" Alex was very curious.
"Frank never told you, that was rude of him. I told him to tell you last night at rehearsal. He must've forgotten."
"Elaina! Will you just tell me before I get really mad and quit?" Alex teased.
"Just a minute. I'll see if Frank can answer that question," Elaina called Frank again. "Hey Love, me again. Is Alex's escort here yet?"
"Yes he is."
"Could you maybe send him up here to meet her. I think they should be introduced at least," Elaina suggested to him.
""You're right. I'll send him right up. By the way Magdalene and my parents are here too."
"Send Momma D and Maggie up in about five minutes, ok?"
Frank hang up the phone and turned to Alex's escort. "Elaina wants you to meet Alex."
Moments later there was a knock on the door. "Alex, I do believe that's for you." Elaina motioned for her to get the door.
Alex opened the door and was surprised to see Carlos Cortez standing in front of her. "I thought you were never coming back?" Alex grabbed him and kissed him before he could explain.
"I knew where he was, Alex. I asked him to come here as a favor to me. I wanted everyone to be happy on this day. At first he declined but I did some fast-talking and promised him that he'd be well protected. I also told him that I'd tell you where he was and that you'd hunt him down for refusing," Elaina explained.
"Got that right. Thank you Elaina."
"I'm glad you talked me into it. I'm going to have the most incredible woman walking by me. Thank you Elaina for inviting me," Carlos said.
"Can we go talk someplace?" Alex asked.
"Just be back in here in time to change," Elaina told her.
"She will," Carlos promised.
Two days later, the morning of the wedding, Elaina was still sleeping. The phone rang waking her; she looked at the clock to see that it was 8:45am. Elaina answered the phone. "Hello."
"Good morning, my blushing bride," Frank greeted her.
"Good morning, handsome. Where's my breakfast?"
"Sab will bring it up. She's getting it as we speak. You don't sound too cheerful."
"I just woke up. Didn't sleep to good after you left," Elaina admitted.
"It was your idea, I leave at midnight. You wanted to follow tradition, that I not see you until you walked down the isle," Frank reminded her.
"I know it was my idea." Elaina sat up in bed as Sab knocked on the door. "Come on in, Sabrina."
"Eat your breakfast. I'll call you back in a little while. I love you."
"Ok. I love you too." Elaina hung up.
"I thought you were the morning person?" Sab set the bed tray across Elaina's lap.
"I usually am but I didn't sleep too well. Kept thinking about Maria." Elaina started eating.
"Don't worry about her. I'm sure Allison and the other doctors will find out what's wrong with her soon," Sab assured her.
"I'm sure you're right but she's family. I care about her in spite of what has happened. I refuse to think all of it was intentional," Elaina commented.
"Today is your wedding day. You should be enjoying it, not worrying about Maria. You need to put her out of your mind and think about the wedding."
"Ok, ok. I'll go take a shower and get this day officially started. I've eaten enough, you can take the tray."
"There you go. That's the Elaina I know," Sab, cheered her on, taking the breakfast tray from her. "I'll take this back down then I'll be back."
"Ok, Babe. Sab, tell Frank I'm counting the minutes until we see each other."
"Will do." Sab took the tray downstairs and found Frank sitting in the living room with Hank and Cody. "I thought you were to stay in the office? What if Elaina comes down here?"
"We have an agreement. She stays up there and I stay down here," Frank assured her.
"Make sure you do just that. No sneaking up there," Sab warned him.
"You make sure she doesn't sneak down here," Cody told her.
"She wouldn't be Elaina if didn't," Hank said with a laugh.
"I plan to. I know she'll probably try at least once. She also said to tell you, Frank, that she's counting the minutes."
"So am I," Frank said, with a smile.
"I better get this in the kitchen and get back up there before she gets the idea to try." Sab carried the tray in the kitchen. Liz and George were with Sarah eating breakfast. Sab said and signed to them. "Good morning, Mr. Blakely, Mrs. Blakely." She walked over to Sarah and hugged her. "Hi Sarah. How are you?"
"Good morning Sabrina. As you can see she's playing with her food." Sab noticed that there was cereal everywhere but in the bowl.
"She does like to play with her food. Well, got to go back up and keep Elaina upstairs."
"Tell her I'll be up in a few minutes," Liz said.
"Okie dokie. Bye." Sab signed to George and saw that Sarah signed bye back to her.
When she came out of the kitchen Monica and Alex had arrived too. "Sab are you ready for your assignment today?" Monica asked.
"Ready, willing and able. How about you two?"
"I'm ready, just wish I knew who my escort was going to be," Alex said.
"I know that Reese is mine and Bea is walking with Andy, so my guess is Hank will be your escort," Monica said looking at Hank.
"Nope, you're wrong. I'm stepping in for Father of the Bride, George has asked me to do it. He wants to watch her walk down the isle."
"Then who is left for me?" Alex wondered.
"Maybe it's Dr. Nathan, a rich single doctor, sounds good to me," Sab suggested.
"He's good looking, I hope your right. Lets go see if Elaina will tell us." They headed up to the bedroom. Elaina was still in the shower.
"She sure is taking a long time in there." Sab knocked on the door. "Elaina, what's taking so long?"
"I'll be out in a minute or two," Elaina yelled from behind the door. When she finally came out the three girls stared at her. "What's wrong?" Elaina looked at herself in the mirror. "What are you gals staring at?"
"Your hair it's different," Alex said.
"Oh that, yeah I decided to go brunette for the wedding. Do you like it?" Elaina asked.
"It's a change from the dark red, we're use to seeing that's for sure." Monica was still staring.
"I like it, it looks more natural than the dark red did," Sab told her.
"I can always count on you for the truth can't I?" she teased. "Sabrina, if you didn't like my hair color, why didn't you ever say so before?" Elaina wondered.
"I thought it was ok. It just didn't seem to fit your personality lately," Sab told her.
"Lately. So it never bothered you before, until you got to know me better?" Elaina inquired.
"I think I better quit while I'm still Maid of Honor." Sab thought she was getting mad at her.
Elaina started laughing as Liz and Sarah came in. "What's so funny? Elaina! You changed your hair on your wedding day? Why?"
"A new start; deserved a new color, besides Sab didn't care for it." Elaina giggled.
"You ladies seem to be having fun," Hank said.
"What are you doing up here? All men are to stay down stairs," Elaina informed him.
"I'm here to give you a present, from your husband." Hank held out a small box. "You're to call him as you open it."
Elaina took it from him and dialed Frank's cell. "Hey, Love. Hank gave me the present."
"Have you opened it?" Frank asked.
"I'm working on it, hold on." Elaina opened the box and saw a pair of gold earrings that looked familiar to her. "Love, they're beautiful." Elaina looked at them closer. "Wait. They're made from my other wedding ring, aren't they?"
"Yep. Got the idea from Alex," Frank told her.
"Well, I guess I should thank her too. I guess this would classify as either something old or new wouldn't it?"
"You will wear them today?" Frank asked.
"Of course I will, they have just become my favorite pair," Elaina said.
"Good. I can't wait to see you wearing them."
"You have only two hours left. So I better get off here and get ready. Love you."
"I love you too Lady."
"Alex, I need to thank you for giving the idea to Frank for the earrings, so thanks." Elaina put the earrings on and then looked in the mirror. "They're perfect."
"You're welcome. He was wondering one day, what he could get you and it just popped in my mind about your other ring," Alex explained. "Can I ask you a question now?"
"Sure, you can," Elaina said.
"Who's walking down the isle with me?" Alex was very curious.
"Frank never told you, that was rude of him. I told him to tell you last night at rehearsal. He must've forgotten."
"Elaina! Will you just tell me before I get really mad and quit?" Alex teased.
"Just a minute. I'll see if Frank can answer that question," Elaina called Frank again. "Hey Love, me again. Is Alex's escort here yet?"
"Yes he is."
"Could you maybe send him up here to meet her. I think they should be introduced at least," Elaina suggested to him.
""You're right. I'll send him right up. By the way Magdalene and my parents are here too."
"Send Momma D and Maggie up in about five minutes, ok?"
Frank hang up the phone and turned to Alex's escort. "Elaina wants you to meet Alex."
Moments later there was a knock on the door. "Alex, I do believe that's for you." Elaina motioned for her to get the door.
Alex opened the door and was surprised to see Carlos Cortez standing in front of her. "I thought you were never coming back?" Alex grabbed him and kissed him before he could explain.
"I knew where he was, Alex. I asked him to come here as a favor to me. I wanted everyone to be happy on this day. At first he declined but I did some fast-talking and promised him that he'd be well protected. I also told him that I'd tell you where he was and that you'd hunt him down for refusing," Elaina explained.
"Got that right. Thank you Elaina."
"I'm glad you talked me into it. I'm going to have the most incredible woman walking by me. Thank you Elaina for inviting me," Carlos said.
"Can we go talk someplace?" Alex asked.
"Just be back in here in time to change," Elaina told her.
"She will," Carlos promised.
