George and the guys walked out of the café an hour later, laughing and joking. They weren't paying attention as they strode to the car. Andy was the first to notice that something was not right.
"Uh, guys?" he said, hesitantly, "We've got a problem."
They all looked over at him. "What is it?" Jeff asked. "What's wrong?"
Andy pointed to where Chip had parked the car. The spot was occupied by another car and Chip's GTO was nowhere in sight.
Chip's eyes widened. "My car!" he exclaimed. "It's been stolen!"
"My tux!" George added.
Chip frantically tried to locate a policeman while Jeff pulled out his cell phone. Dialing Tootie's cell, he paced as it rang. "Hello, Tootie?" he asked, when she picked up.
"Hi Jeff, what's up?" she smiled when she recognized her the voice of her fiancé.
Jeff quickly explained their situation and asked her to stall the wedding in case George was late. Before hanging up, he warned her, "don't tell Jo, please."
Tootie set down the phone and motioned for Natalie's attention. "We got trouble!" she warned.
"What's happening?" Natalie asked.
Tootie quickly relayed the guys' predicament in NYC. Natalie agreed that it was best not to tell Jo right now.
It was 10:30 am when George and the guys walked into the police precinct. George paced as Chip filled out endless reports about his car. Not only did he have to figure out a way to get back to Peekskill in time for the ceremony but also he had to find another tuxedo to wear.
"Hey, George," Snake tried to assure him, "don't worry, you'll make it to your wedding. I mean, come on, they can't start the ceremony without you, can they?"
George looked at him. "I can't believe I let you guys talk me into coming to New York City on the morning of my wedding," he told him, "what was I thinking?"
Andy patted him on the shoulder. "I'm sorry, George," he apologized, "this was my idea. I told the guys we should take you to breakfast. If I hadn't, this wouldn't have happened."
"No, Andy, if it's anybody's fault," Chip began, turning from the desk, "it's mine. I was the one who suggested coming to New York. But," he added, "I promise you, George, I will get you back to Peekskill in time for the wedding."
George looked at his friends. He knew they meant well. He couldn't really blame them for something they had no control over. How were they to know the car would be stolen? He grinned at them. Shaking his head, he said, "It's okay, guys, I don't blame you. But," he sighed, "What are we going to do now?"
Chip grinned. "I have an idea."
George groaned. "Oh, no, no wonder you and Blair get along so well," he laughed, "I don't think I can handle another of your ideas."
Chip assured him this idea would work. He had a friend who flew helicopter tours in the city. He thought that maybe if he could get in touch with him, they would have their ride back to Peekskill.
That only left the matter of the missing tuxedo. They headed to Barney's in search of another one. Despite George's protests, Chip insisted on paying for the replacement since he still felt responsible for the loss of George's tux.
While George was trying on tuxedoes, Chip tried to track down his friend. The clock was ticking but finally, a little after noon, Chip got his friend on the phone and made arrangements for them to be flown home.
Meanwhile, at 12:30 pm, Blair, Natalie and Tootie ushered Jo out of the house. Mrs. G and Beverly Ann were already at the church getting the last minute details ironed out. Natalie and Tootie had already informed everyone but Jo about George's possible late arrival and they were anxiously awaiting a phone call alerting them that the guys were on their way.
When they arrived in the bridal room, Jo smiled when she saw her parents waiting for her. "Mom, Dad, I thought you were going to meet me at the house," she said, as she hugged them both.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart," Rose apologized, "your father and I thought it might be less stressful to meet here."
"Oh, Jo, sweetheart," Charlie gushed, tearfully, "you look so beautiful."
"Dad, don't make me cry," Jo warned him, "Blair will kill me if I mess up my makeup."
Mrs. G came in the room at that moment. "Jo, this came for you," she said, handing Jo an envelope.
Jo opened it and smiled as she read the contents of a letter. "It's from Eddie," she told them. "He wishes me well on my wedding day." Eddie Brennan had been Jo's first serious boyfriend and even her first fiancé. After they had broken up, Jo and Eddie had remained friends and kept in touch. He was now married with children and living in Brooklyn.
Jo folded the letter and gave it to her mother. "Keep this safe for me," she told her, "I'll write him back later. But now, it's time to get ready for my wedding."
Natalie and Tootie stepped outside the bride's vestibule to talk privately. "Have you heard from Jeff?" Natalie asked her friend.
Tootie shook her head. "Not since the first time," she replied. She looked at her watch. "The wedding's about to start. Do you think we should tell Jo the truth?"
"Tell Jo the truth about what?" Blair asked, as she walked up, carrying Jo's wedding bouquet. She raised her eyebrows as she noticed the look Natalie shot Tootie. "What's going on, you guys?"
Tootie took a deep breath before beginning. "Jeff called me this morning," she told Blair. "He and the guys took George out for breakfast," she paused before adding, "in New York. When they came out of the restaurant, Chip's car was gone; stolen."
Blair's eyes widened. "You mean, they're stranded in New York City?" she shrieked.
"Blair, keep it down," Natalie warned, "Nobody knows, especially not Jo."
"We have to tell Jo now," Blair insisted, "she will kill us if she finds out on her own."
"I know we have to tell her," Tootie admitted, "we were just hoping that the guys would get back on time so we wouldn't have to."
Blair steered them into the room. "What's going on?" Jo asked when she saw their faces.
Before they could begin their story, they heard a noise from outside. They headed to the window and were surprised by what they saw. A helicopter was touching down in the lawn and they saw George, Jeff, Chip, Snake and Andy get off one by one. Then, as quickly as it landed, the helicopter took off again.
Jo turned from the window. "What were they doing in a helicopter?" she asked, looking at Natalie and Tootie. She knew something was up and her instincts were telling her that Natalie and Tootie knew what it was.
Natalie grinned. She was thrilled that everything worked out. "Who cares?" she exclaimed, "they're back!"
"'They're back'?" Jo repeated, noting her choice of words.
"I mean, 'they're here'," Natalie jumped to correct herself. She picked up the pink rose that she would carry down the aisle and hurried out of the room with Tootie close behind.
Jo started to follow them but changed her mind when her father arrived. "You ready to start, sweetheart?" Charlie asked, extending his arm.
"You bet," she told him, as they walked out of the room.
George nervously waited at the altar with the minister as he watched Tootie walk down the aisle, followed by Natalie, who was followed by maid-of-honor Blair. The lilting music was transformed into the wedding march, as Jo started down the aisle on her father's arm. All of his nerves quickly dissipated when George spotted her. As she approached, George stepped forward to take her hand. Charlie kissed her cheek and whispered, "I love you sweetheart," before he joined Rose in the front pew.
The minister spoke up. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness George and Jo as they pledge themselves to each other."
The wedding party led the way out of the church. Tears and laughter followed George and Jo as they hugged their friends and family. Finally, George led Jo to the limo that would take them to the reception. Once they were seated inside, Jo turned to George, "hello, husband."
"Hello wife," George reciprocated, as he kissed her. When she pulled away, Jo looked up at him. "So, when are you going to tell me why you came to our wedding in a helicopter?"
George laughed. "Oh, it's a long story," he began, as he wrapped his arms around her and began to tell her all about his day.
The end. (For now)
(Hope you liked it! Please leave me a review! I look forward to reading your comments!)