Chapter 37
The carriage arrived in plenty of time at the church, and everyone dashed in, Jim going to find Delbert and Arrow, while all the ladies headed into a room where Amelia would make her final preparations for her wedding.
Kitty was quickly becoming bored silly, even with Amelia and Sarah constantly asking her for her opinion on this and that. As Sarah and Amelia shared rather wicked chuckle as Amelia donned a prim white garter on her right leg, there came a knock at the door. Kitty was thankful for the interruption, and headed over quickly to call through the closed door, "Who's there?"
"Uh, it´s…me, Kitty. Alex," Alexander's voice proclaimed.
Kitty was pleased and perplexed, all at the same time. "Alex, what the heck are you doing here? Now?" Kitty asked a bit suspiciously. "Aren't you supposed to helping Delbert?"
"Well, yes," he reluctantly admitted. "But I thought I'd stopy by and say hello to you too…"
Kitty wasn't buying that weak excuse for a single moment. "Don´t give me that, Alex," Kitty accused him, scowling as Amelia and Sarah smiled and silently laughed. "You came to see me in a dress. Isn't that right?"
"All right, all right, guilty as charged. I'll admit it," Alexander said. "I do want to see how you look."
Kitty shook her head adamantly. "Sorry, pal…you´ll just have to wait, just like everyone else. Now scoot, and make sure everything's on track. Oh, and Alex? You watch over thosee rings, you got me?"
"Yes, Ma'am," came his amused reply, before they all heard his footfalls going away.
"One word from any of you and you´ll regret it. Especially you, Amelia," Kitty warned.
"Oh quite. Whatever you say…Mrs. Dalley," Amelia teased gently, though she could see by the storm on Kitty's face, that she hadn't accepted it that way.
Kitty glowered at her, bride or not. "Amelia, there are cupboards here, you know," Kitty said. "Nice snug ones…"
Amelia canted her head a moment, shook her head, and raised her hands in an innocent gesture before Sarah made her over to Kitty. "Now now, Kitty…do relax, dear. Can you really blame Amelia for being in a such a good mood?" Sarah reasoned, her blue eyes working their magic on even the surly Kitty.
Kitty sighed. "Fine, fine," she allowed, smiling a small smile at Amelia. "Forgiven…but not forgotten."
Finally, the first bars of the Wedding March sounded, and everyone was carefully put into their proper positions, even if Amelia had to use her best quarterdeck voice to get them there. Kitty felt herself squirm in her actually rather pretty dress…she just couldn't feel comfortable in a dress. And that discomfort, she knew, would most likely only intensify when hundreds of people would be watching her. She shuddered, closed her eyes a moment, then resolved herself to her fate…for the moment.
Kitty felt warmth behind her ear, and Amelia's most familiar perfume. "Courage, sister dear," she whispered, then gently kissed Kitty's cheek in thanks.
Kitty grinned. "Ha! Courage, she says," she remarked. "I'm not the one getting married…"
Amelia only laughed and squeezed Kitty's hand. "Here we go," Amelia then said as Delbert's cousin Elizabeth and Lieutentant Dalley proceeded down the aisle, the first of the paired attendants.
"I can't wait to see Delbert's face, when he finally sees you, Amy!" Kitty whispered to her, her blue eyes dancing.
"Yes," Amelia replied mysteriously. "I confess I'm rather looking forward to that myself, actually."
"You're evil," Kitty remarked, chuckling. "Poor Delbert…"
"I certainly hope so," Amelia whispered back from beneath her veil. Kitty just shook her head, and prepared to march in step with her partner, some human fellow from the Admiralty. As the couple before her reached the appropriate pew, Kitty tugged the man's arm to get him to move. She hoped this would be over quickly…
Kitty didn't really pay the whole affair much attention after she was in position to the left and behind Amelia and Delbert. She diligently stood there---in her uncomfortable heels---choosing to remember the way she felt when Alex looked her way as she walked down the aisle in her dress. She had to stifle a grin at the look of awe and wonder in Alex's face. She'd surprised him all right, and left him looking after her in amazement as she took her place. Boy, what she wouldn't of given to have a camera just then. His expression was simply priceless…why, it nearly made her feel as if---just maybe!---wearing a dress was worth it…just for that. After that, she recalled handing over tissue after tissue to a gently weeping Sarah who seemed to be fated to cry at weddings. Oh, that was when Sarah wasn't catching her in the ribs with a most proficient elbow when she attempted to drowse as the ceremony droned on and on.
Kitty did pay attention, however, when it came time for Delbert and Amelia to exchange their vows. Kitty shook her head, marveling just how angelic Amelia looked beneath her veil. That was marked contrast from the woman who could reduce the saltiest of spacers to near tears with her tongue, Kitty thought, grinning. But, even Kitty was touched as Delbert raised Amelia's veil, and his deep brown eyes looked adoringly into Amelia's green ones. For once, he seemed to be in control of himself and his vows were spoken with nary a stumble or faux pas. Maybe it was something in the church, but when Amelia said her vows in reply, her voice had some…well, ring to it, that made her seem even lovelier than she already was. As they slipped their rings onto one another's fingers, the looks the two gave one another, told Kitty all she needed to know: these two were meant for each other.
"Now, by the powers vested in me," the cleric pronounced at the end of the ceremony. "I now pronounce you husband and wife." The kindly, elderly canid smiled beneficently at them, and added. "Go ahead, my boy…you may kiss your bride."
Delbert intended to give Amelia a rather chaste little kiss---they were in front of hundreds of people, you know---but Amelia had other plans. She slipped her strong slender hand behind his neck and kissed the poor man rather soundly before all and sundry! Kitty, being the rabble-rouser that she was, whooped at the kiss. That elicited a rousing round of applause, which had both Amelia and Delbert smiling.
Kitty, nearest to the two, overhead Delbert say, "What was that all about, my love?" he said out of the corner of his mouth, waving to all the applauding crowd.
Amelia smiled, the blushing bride, waving with her husband. She then answered a moment later, "What that? I just wanted to be sure I had your undivided attention, Delbert. Oh, and to be sure just how much you love me, of course." Amelia's green eyes twinkled.
Delbert gazed in wonder at his bride. "I dare say that no kiss could show you just how much I love you, dear heart," he told her.
"You're sweet," she replied. "But, I think I shall still give you plenty of opportunity to see if you might, dear…"
Amelia laughed gently as Delbert blushed.
Kitty remembered looking for Alex in the seats as she returned down the aisle as they were all dismissed. He still sported a most bewildered look, and that suited Kitty just fine, thank you. Carriages were summoned, one after another, and the procession was led back to the Doppler mansion to celebrate.
Kitty hadn't seen all that many of the guests during the wedding itself. After all, most of the time she'd had her back to them. So, it surprised her more than a little to see that nearly every spacer from the crew from her first voyage was in attendance at Amelia's reception. One after another, made their way toward her, as she stood in the reception line outside the mansion. Kitty smiled and spoke to each in their turn: Horus, Kenai, Peter, as well as all the others, each talking about the old days aboard the Legacy. After the line had finally winded down, Kitty smiled and looked up at the clock. She cleared her throat, and boomed, "Excuse me, gentlemen…but I have something I simply need to attend to. See you all later!"
She headed to the front of the banquet room, where everyone could see her. "ALL RIGHT! EVERYONE! COULD I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE?"
Everyone turned to look up towards her. Kitty waved, then continued her say, "First off, let me offer my congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Doppler!" She raised glass of grape juice toward where Delbert and Amelia stood, arm-in-arm, Delbert holding Amelia lovingly about her slender waist.
Kitty waited for the applause to abate. "Second, let me tell each and every one of you that one can´t really have a party without any singing now, can we?" she asked, eliciting a roar from the revelers. Kitty smiled, then brought up a guitar from seemingly out of nowhere. "Now, back home where I´m from, mind you, I remember a song. A song that I feel like singing this evening. Once I'm done, well, after that you can put on a gramophone or whatever you want."
Kitty smiled lovingly at her sister, just before starting to play and sing the following tune, accompanying herself on guitar:
There you see her,
Sitting there across the edge.
She don't got a lot to say,
But there is something about her.
And you don't know why,
But you are dying to try,
You wanna Kiss the girl!
Delbert nodded his head, which brough laughter from the crowd, and a look of surprised from Amelia, who grinned affectionately at her husband.
Yes, you want her.
Look at her, you know you do.
Possible she wants you too,
But there is one way of asking her.
It don't take a word,
Not a single word,
Just go on and kiss the girl!
Delbert promptly did just that!!!
Sha la la la la la!
My, oh my!
Look like the boy too shy,
He ain't gonna kiss the girl!
Sha la la la la la!
Ain't that sad,
Ain't it a shame, too bad,
You're gonna miss the girl!
Amelia shook her head at this, and hugged Delbert to herself, grinning.
Now's your moment,
Floating in a blue lagoon.
Boy, you better do it soon,
No time will be better,
She don't say a word,
And she won't say a word,
Until you kiss the girl!
Kitty waggled a finger at the two of them, bidding them to wait.
Sha la la la la la!
Don't be scared,
You've got the mood prepared,
Go on and kiss the girl!
Kitty beckoned Delbert to follow her words with action, and the crowd whooped when he did so!
Sha la la la la la!
Don't stop now,
Don't try to hide it how,
You wanna kiss the girl!
Sha la la la la la!
Float along,
And listen to the song,
The song say, kiss the girl!
This time Amelia did the honors, and the crowd laughed appreciatively. Kitty just grinned, and strummed along.
Sha la la la la!
The music play,
Do what the music say,
You gotta kiss the girl!
Kitty finished the song, and Delbert and Amelia kissed one last time, at which the crowd cheered them.
Kitty was an excellent singer, and usually had a song for nearly every occasion.
After dinner, Amelia got to her feet, and also asked for everyone's attention.
"Excuse me, everyone?" she boomed in a voice that belied her slender frame. "I'm afraid it's that time now. Yes, time to throw the bouquet! Now, every one of you single gals out there into the center. You gents, give us all some room, would you? Thanks!"
The single laides eagerly moved to the center of the room…with the exception of one, of course: Kitty.
"Kitty! Come now, you're unattached," Amelia said turning towards her sister.
"Amelia," Kitty reasoned. "We've been through this before, haven't we? I´m not going to get married, have any boyfriend, or have any children…so why would I be interested in catching that thing, hmm?"
Amelia could only sigh, shake her head, and get on with the toss. Many a face in the crowd appeared a bit shocked at Kitty's attitude, but they said nothing, which was probably for the best.
Sarah spun Amelia playfully around to disorient her a bit, then faced her with her back to the girls. Amelia closed her eyes, brough her bouquet down, then gently heaved it over her shoulder into the waiting masses of feminity. The little bouquet of flowers was caught by a woman Kitty recognized as Delbert's cousin, Elizabeth. Everyone cheered on her behalf, before the party continued on.
The party lasted well into the wee hours of the evening and on into next morning. Despite wanting her guest to be happy, Amelia had finally had enough for the day. She got to her feet, and with Delbert, they sent everybody home to their beds.
It took nearly an hour to escort everyone out and to their carriages. Amelia, once the last fellow had been removed, wearily pushed the door closed, and sagged against it, sighing. "Now, don't get me wrong or anything, but I thank God that I will only marry once," she said. She closed her eyes wearily, then looked over at Kitty and Sarah. "If I had to hear one more of them ask me how many children I intend to have, I am going to scream!"
"Hey, Amy! I never asked you! Just how many…," Kitty began, just to be funny. The look on Amelias face told her to shut her mouth. Kitty shuddered. "Okay, okay…sheesh. I was only kidding."
"Droll as ever, dear heart," Amelia replied, arching one perfect brow. "Very well then, Kitty, now hear this," Amelia said. "Delbert and I are leaving to begin our honeymoon tomorrow. And, that being the case, when we do, I am leaving Sarah in charge. Do you hear me, sister dear?"
"Why, of course I do, Mrs. Doppler," Kitty said.
Amelia shook her head, grinning. "Ever the rogue, dear. But, I'm glad that's clear then," Amelia said, and kissed Kitty on her forehead.
Kitty then snapped her fingers, and sighed in obvious relief as she now stood dressed in her usual clothes. "God! That felt good!" she said in a heartfelt voice. She then yawned, as evidently the day had finally caught up to even her. "Now, sister mine, I'm turning in for the night." And with a huge yawn, she walked past Amelia, heading up to her room.
Amelia shook her head before making her towards her new husband, thinking that now Delbert and she could finaly have some time for themselves…