Caroline and the Surprise Shower

Chapter 7

"SURPRISE!!!!!!" all the shower guests shout as the door swings open, hoping that Caroline is surprised by the party inside. She is… but the guests are even more surprised to see Caroline and Richard locked in embrace, passionately kissing. Startled, the kiss ends, but otherwise everyone is locked in position and silent for what seems like an eternity, but is only several seconds.

Annie breaks the ice "So Caroline, you practicin' for the wedding?" she quips. Embarrassed, Caroline and Richard break their embrace. Annie aims another zinger at Richard "Richie, when I gave you no notice and asked you to keep Caroline occupied for five hours, I didn't realize how creative you'd be."

Caroline pushes away from Richard. "All this was just to keep me away from the party?"

"No, Caroline! Wait…!" he replies. But it's already too late. Caroline runs up the stairs in tears, and slams her bedroom door.

Everyone starts to murmur at this startling turn of events. Annie (for once) becomes responsible, and takes charge. "Alright everybody! Listen up!" Annie shouts and claps her hands. "Party's over! Leave the decorations. Just gather up your own gift and whatever dish you brought, and take it home." Annie's commands get everyone moving. She goes to the door, intending to berate Richard, who is still standing just outside. When she gets there, she sees how much pain he is in, and instead says "Hey, Richie, just stay right there for awhile, huh? I'll come get you, okay?" Richard nods weakly.

Everyone gathers their stuff, and begin to leave. Charlie, still sitting in the partners desk chair says "This is great! You almost had me convinced that Richard was kissing Caroline, and that the party's ending, but I'm not fooled!"

"Listen, little man…" Linda is about to lay into Charlie when Annie holds up her hand and stops her.

"Hey Charlie. You see everyone getting the gifts and food, and leaving?" Annie asks. After Charlie nods, she continues "That's because it's a movable party!"

"Wow! This party just keeps getting better and better. Where's it moving to?" he asks.

"Where do you think?"

Anytime Charlie thinks, it takes awhile "Uh……… my place?"

"Boy, Charlie, no one can ever get anything past you."

Charlie gets up and rolls out the door "Man, I hope I'm not the first one there!"

"I have a feeling you will be" Annie mutters under her breath.

After everyone leaves, Annie ascends the stairs, knocks and enters Caroline's bedroom. Caroline is lying on her bed, sobbing uncontrollably. Annie goes to her, lifts her to a sitting position, sits next to her, and hugs her. "There, there, hun. It's not that bad" Annie says sympathetically, trying to console her.

Caroline is having difficulty speaking through her sobs "Oh Annie… I… thought… he… cared… But it was all… for a party."

"Hey sweetie… I asked Richie to take you away for the party. But the caring part, the kissing part… he's not that good an actor. Think about it, huh?" Annie says. Then she gets up and leaves the room.

Downstairs, Annie opens the door. Richard is still standing there, head against the wall. "Alright sport, you're up. She's upstairs." As Annie leaves and Richard enters, she says "Good luck, Richie."

"Thanks Annie" Richard replies, as he ascends the stairs…

Epilog

Richard and Del stand by the altar, looking smart in their tuxedos. They both expectantly look back down the aisle. Richard is a little nervous "Del, I want you to know I really appreciate this, you being best man. Especially under the circumstances."

"Hey, no problem, man. You're both good friends. I mean, don't get me wrong, I was bitter at first. But Caroline and I had a long discussion, and we both agreed it would've been a mistake for us to get married, even if you hadn't come along. I mean, Caroline and I had some great times, and we would've had some more. But we just weren't right together, long term. I think, deep down, we both knew that I would've been marrying the future ex-Mrs. Cassidy."

Richard chuckles, as he looks around. Caroline had wanted a big church wedding, at Saint Martin's de Pouris of the Sacred Bleeding Heart, back in Wisconsin. He wanted a small ceremony by a Justice of the Peace at City Hall. They had compromised on a ceremony by a nondenominational minister at a small chapel. Only a best man and maid of honor are part the ceremony, only family and a few friends are invited. Charlie is here, of course. Margaret and Chris, Caroline's mother and brother sit in the first row to the left. Fred, Caroline's father, is waiting in back to escort her down the aisle. Surprisingly, all of Richard's family is here also. Natalie and Ben, his parents, and his sister are all together in the first row to the right. "Oh god" Richard notices "It's only been five minutes, and already they're quarreling. Please hurry, Caroline!"

……

Caroline and Annie are in the chapel's small dressing room. They're all dressed and ready to go. "Well, this is it. I'm really getting married. Oh Annie, why am so I nervous? I love Richard, I really want to do this."

"It's natural to be nervous, sweetie. Look at it this way, this wedding is a piece of cake compared to the last one, nothing will go wrong. There's so much less to mess up. I can't believe how badly I messed up as your maid of honor the first time. Especially the bridal shower, that was really train wreck, huh? I mean, first I screw up the preparations, then the shower itself ends before it begins. But, practice makes perfect, right?" Annie chuckles.

"Are you kidding, Annie? If it wasn't for that "train wreck", I may have gone through with marrying Del. Instead, this is my wedding day with Richard. That was the best bridal shower ever!"

The end