Remembrance
Chapter 11—The Wedding
When my wedding day finally arrived three months after graduation; I wasn't nervous I was happy to finally be a grown up. I guess what I mean is James and I had been together so long it was simply the next step in our development. On the other hand my parents were a bit jumpy especially Dad. Mom came in just after Bethany, who was my maid of honor completed arranging my hair in an elegant up do that I thought did wonders for my emerald colored eyes. Bethany put away her things as Mom came in wearing her lilac mother of the bride dress that looked amazing on her. Darn that woman still looked like a teen in the vee necked off the shoulder dress that just skimmed her tiny calves and fit closely to her slim waist. She smiled and her eyes lit up when she saw me.
"You look beautiful, Honey," she said as she kissed my cheek while she tried to avoid messing up my make up.
"Thanks Mom."
"Jessica, your Dad wants to talk to you before you go down stairs."
"Sure Mom, send him up Bethany is done and I'm ready," I said cheerily.
Mom smiled at me again then squeezed my shoulder before going to get Dad.
Bethany laughed, "I think your Dad is going to have a coronary."
I didn't laugh the thought of my Dad being upset wasn't something that made me happy though I know Bethany was joking. She hugged me so she could go take her place just as Dad tapped on the open door.
----
He looked handsome in his black tuxedo accented with the pale lavender shirt. His hair was cut short and his face clean-shaven for my special day, no biker boots or Metallica shirt today, I laughed to myself. My father was the perpetual casual man it was always fun to see him dressed up, though for the reception all bets were off. I shuddered to think what he and my uncles would show up in at our western themed dressed down reception. He didn't look nervous or even upset maybe he just wanted to give me a pep talk or a hug.
"Hi Dad," I said as he shut the door as Bethany left.
"Hi Sweet Cakes," he replied with his trademark crooked grin as he kissed my cheek the same way Mom had.
"So what's up, Mom said you wanted to talk."
"Well, I just wanted to make sure you still wanted to go through with this."
"Dad, don't start I know you want me at home until I'm eighty but I will be five minutes away you can come by to bug me whenever you want," I teased.
----
He laughed, "Since when do I bug you?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It's a figure of speech, Dad, I mean I know you will miss me just like I will miss you," I said as the tears threatened to come. Darn him, I was doing so well.
"Jess I didn't come in here to make you cry; I just wanted a moment to talk to you before you become Mrs. James Cigliano. Is that so bad?"
I shook my head as I grabbed a tissue to dab at my eyes.
He hugged me then.
"I'm sorry Sweet Cakes I will send Bethany back so she can help you with that," he said sorrowfully.
I looked in his face.
"Is there something you wanted to tell me?"
His face turned serious.
"Sweet Cakes, I just want you to know if anything happens that makes you uncomfortable while you are married to James feel free to come to me or your Mom we won't judge you but I don't want anything to happen to you. Do you understand?"
"Yes Daddy," I said losing the battle to keep my face tear free.
"We love you and there is no shame in talking to us even as a married woman."
"Okay, I promise."
"That's it I just needed you to know that," he said with a smile as he prepared to leave.
"Thanks for coming by Dad; I will meet you at the end of the stairs shortly, okay."
He nodded as he went out.
Bethany came in the
room shaking her head when she saw my face. I smiled at her
weakly.
"Father's do that to you," she said as she prepared
the damage.
----
The wedding was held at a hotel that boasted of a beautiful spiral staircase, which sounded great, but walking down the stairs with a train proved to be tricky. I wore a strapless satin dress with a short sleeve lace over wrap, it was in pure white and my veil matched the lace. I had someone carry the train who was older because of the tricky stairs, it was my ten year old cousin Lauren, Joshua's daughter with Alicia and they were expecting a new baby very soon. I did well most of the way down but being tall proved detrimental, I tripped on the third to the last step but Dad caught me in his arms.
"You okay? Yeah just embarrassed," I said under my breath.
"Don't be that was a hazardous walk. You okay to go on?"
I nodded. Everyone sighed, and smiled as Dad lead me to the spot were we would say our vows. My ankle was killing me but I couldn't tell Dad, I walked slowly hoping he would think that it was the way it was done.
----
I made it through the ceremony with a smile plastered on my face but as soon as we had been pronounced husband and wife Dad meet me with an ice pack at the last row of chairs. He smiled as he handed the ice to James.
"What's this?"
I lifted my dress to reveal my swollen ankle, which was a mistake because everyone gathered around me. Uncle Joshua was the next person to join in the fray to help me.
"Attention everyone the reception is at Ben's Dude Ranch in two hours. The dress is casual the theme is Western, just like the invitation said so please if you can go home and change we will see you there, if you need to stay in the hotel please give my niece a chance to relax from her injury, thanks."
Most of the people began to shuffle out which was good since I thought I might hyperventilate with them around me. In about five minutes there was only Me, Dad, James, Uncle Sam and Sarah sitting and chatting as we iced my ankle.
----
"You did good Sweet Cakes," Uncle Sam said just before Aunt Missy came to sit beside him.
"How is new bride doing?" she asked as she squeezed Uncle Sam's hand and he looked in her eyes. Those two were as bad as my parents.
"Mom was next to come by to check on me followed by Mags who looked sensational in her lilac off the shoulder bridesmaid dress.
She wasn't happy that she wasn't maid of honor but I chose Bethany because she was older. Okay I confess Mags and I had endured a falling out about the time I was choosing wedding attendants. It was stupid stuff I don't remember all the details but she learned to flirt before she understood that sister's don't mess with one another's boyfriends, enough said. True be told; I love my sister and we have had many good
times together I look forward to her baby-sitting my little Cassandra and she does too.
----
No disrespect is meant but the three stooges, my Dad and my uncles where the last ones to show up at the reception which could only mean one thing. Lord help us all.
Darn it, that hurt
I will have to write the rest later, my water just broke.
TBC
