THE KEEPER OF THE HEARTH
Every man meeting his potential in-laws for the first time is nervous. Every man, except Rory that is. It never occurred to Rory he'd make anything but a good first impression. Or it never occurred to Rory that he had anything to do but show up for dinner.
Besides that, Rory had met Miles . . . and they couldn't be any worse than him, could they?
And Rory had learnt several things over the years. For example, since he was no longer a teenager, he realized that a mother and father in-law would not be impressed by how much he could belch after drinking a can of pop. That skill had never impressed his Mom or Dad.
"What do you think of belching?" Rory suddenly asked Natalie.
The two were in the Mustang, making their slow way up to Natalie's home. It was at this time that bucket seats and a central consul were a misfortune, Rory felt. Otherwise, as they went through traffic Natalie could easily rested her golden hair on Rory's shoulder.
Rory had been unwilling to leave Krypto alone again locked up in a condo. So, Krypto was sleeping comfortably on the backseat.
"I'm okay with it" said Natalie. "But not in company."
"That's awesome" laughed Rory, then adding with a smirk. "So I can burp all I want, but not during the wedding?"
Rory considered taking out the flask of endless root beer and practicing, but quickly thought better.
"That's about it" said Natalie. "Have you been thinking about the wedding?"
"Yeah" said Rory. "I guess we're going to set a date soon. You know, a lot of people have really awesome weddings."
"Like what?" said Natalie. "Destination weddings?"
"I went to one once" said Rory. "Ten years ago. In Jamaica. The only prob is getting everyone to go along.
"And getting them to buy tickets" said Natalie.
"Yeah" said Rory. But I had a cooler idea. I was thinking of an adventure wedding. Wouldn't it be awesome to have a SCUBA wedding. Or a skydiving wedding. I can see it now! Ever read about it? We get married by the minister on the plane. Then we get strapped to an instructor and tandem jump down to the airfield. And then we get to meet and greet everyone when we land in the field!"
"I never skydived" whispered Natalie.
"I never skydived either" said Rory, truthfully.
Well, truthfully depending on how one defines "skydive".
"Why not?" said Natalie. "You love flying, I would have thought you'd have tried it.
Rory wondered about it himself, and then spoke without thinking.
"I have too many other awesome things going on. Piloting is cool. I'm good enough to turn pro if I wanted to, I've taken enough courses while going through architecture and engineering. And you know, I got another other hobbies going. Music, animals, Krypto, and the day job. But you need whole other courses to be a prof skydiver. Man, I guess I had too many crashes to seriously get into it. Natalie, I remember the time I crashed into my buddy Ethan's satellite dish. Everyone missed Jacuzzi Time Machine. And things went south from there. You wouldn't believe . . . .
Natalie laughed, but Rory turned pale.
"Whoa, am I being fracking dumb!" thought Rory. "I almost told Natalie all about my deep dark teen past!"
"What's the matter?" said Natalie.
"Nothing" said Rory. "Everything's cool, Natalie."
"Rory, I don't like the idea of a skydiving or SCUBA wedding" said Natalie. "It's okay for some people, but I'd like the ceremony to take centre stage."
"That's okay" said Rory, who finally noticed the tone of disapproval in her voice. "I also heard of people doing a Star Trek wedding. Or even Star Wars or Battlestar."
"It's not that. I'd like a traditional wedding" said Natalie. "I'd like to walk down the aisle in a wedding dress carrying a bouquet of flowers, and have our family and friends there as we pledge our troth."
"Even Miles?" asked Rory, jokingly.
"Even Miles" said Natalie. "To share in our joy as we exchange our vows, with all our hearts and souls, pledging ourselves to one another."
Rory looked at Natalie. He could tell how much it meant to her. Who wanted a wild wedding ceremony anyway?
"That's cool by me" said Rory. "Awesome-cool. I was just spit-balling a few ideas. We don't need any special adventure to liven up the marriage ceremony. Getting married to you is awesome-cool in itself. And yeah, Natalie, there's a thing I gotta say?"
Rory placed his arm around Natalie . . . but it was a little dangerous when you let go of the steering wheel and only "steered" in the heavy traffic with a couple fingers of your left hand.
Rory grinned.
"What is it, Rorster?"
"Everyone says this, Natalie!" said Rory cheerily. "You can't hint with me . . . not even when we're married. You're gotta remember to speak clear to me. Otherwise you're not going to get it through my thick skull what you want."
"Your skull isn't that thick!"
"Uh-huh."
"HONK!"
Krypto started barking.
Rory had nearly sideswiped the minivan beside them. He let go of Natalie, and grabbed the steering wheel with both hands.
"We just need to choose which church" said Rory, after the three of them (including Krypto) caught their breaths).
The Crete's house was about forty minutes outside of Barrie, on a dirt road. The drive there was much like the drive to the aerodrome. You went up a hill, down a hill, and round a couple tight bends. On this particular gravel road, the homes were built here and there overlooking a tiny stream in a low gully. This waterway produced nothing but mosquitoes, frogs, weeds and a few catfish; but it was still a bucolic area surrounded by green grass, sugar maples and weeping willows. Overlooking the gully, but a little lower than the road, there was built a low two story house with dormer windows, almost hidden by nearby maples trees. The asphalt driveway led across a manicured green lawn surrounded by verdant woods.
It was easy to be old school in an out-of-the-way home like that.
Bill and Etta were the names of Natalie's parents. Bill, the retired passport officer, was a heavy man whose red hair was well shot with grey.
Bill, short for William, means Resolute Protector.
Etta resembled Natalie, albeit with brown hair. She was taller than Natalie but thinner.
The name Etta is from the French. It means "Keeper of the hearth. Rules her household."
The Ford Ranger in the driveway was proof that Rory's enemy, Miles, was there. The name Miles is of Latin origin, meaning a soldier. This only son of the resolute protector and the keeper of the hearth, was sober but looking shabby in a stained security guard jacket.
Miles had a grim, sullen look, having been arm-twisted to drive the two hours to his childhood home. But Miles spent more than he made.
Miles, who now hated Rory, wondered what he'd say about the geek. Miles might sext, spend a lot of time in a strip club, have a girl he'd never take home to his parents, but Miles saw his sister as a pure old-fashioned girl who went to church at least once a month. Miles, however, felt he could do whatever he felt like, he was a guy after all.
"Sowing his wild oats" as his father said. Miles also thought he was owed something for graduating in the top two-thirds of his class yet ending up a rent-a-cop.
Embarrassingly, his father and mother had found out about the bartender Cheryl. They put their foot down. If Miles married her, moved in with her, had a kid with her, Miles was (in his father's words) disowned, disinherited and disremembered.
At first Miles thought he'd avoid saying Natalie slept with Rory. Miles did genuinely love his sister. But he was also tired of being the family pariah, and resented Keener. So, telling his conscience he doing the right thing, Miles told his parents everything he knew.
"Why did I have to come all the way up here?" complained Miles at last. "We could have done this on the phone?"
"So you don't have to live entirely on your rent-a-cop salary, that's why" retorted his father coldly. "So you'll still get your top-up allowance from me. Which you proceed to spend on booze and that barmaid you're involved with. Now, let's hear about this Keener character again."
"It's not as if Natalie's acting better than I am now" said Miles bitterly. "I don't know how many times you've cut me up over Cheryl. It's 2022, I'm a man, it doesn't matter what girl I date or do."
Miles' parents looked coldly at him.
"NEVER compare your sister to your stripper" said Bill at last.
"She's not a stripper, she's a bartender" Miles returned.
"At any rate, your sister is a grown woman" Etta said critically. "Not that I approve of her meeting this boy in a hotel room. I would have preferred not to know all the disgraceful details. At least, this Rory's now proposed."
"I'm sure Natalie's already told you about him" said Miles, ignoring the ottoman and putting his feet atop the coffee table.
There was a jeweler's glass on the coffee table.
"And I'm sure that you looked at the ring" Miles said dryly. "Worth much?"
"It took some doing to look at it, but we told Natalie we were admiring it" Bill admitted. "It's genuine, as far as I can see. Two carats, not the absolute best quality but valuable."
"I do like the square cut" said Etta. "So does Natalie."
"You have the ring" said Miles, stretching. "You even have the guy's photo."
"And I know from my friends at the office that Rory Keener's had a passport since he was six years old" said Bill. "But still, we don't know him."
" Miles, we want to know more about him" demanded Etta.
"This Rory Keener is an architectural engineer with McMurdo, Abbott and Company" repeated Miles irritably, as that was what he knew and resented most about Rory. "Good salary. Good prospects. He owns a condominium, a Mustang. He has a pilot's license."
"We . . . know . . . that" said Bill, impatiently. "Anyone who travels out-of-country regularly must be from a decent middle-class family. So he's suitable as to his net worth."
"We want to know if Natalie is right to rush into this marriage" said Etta, patiently putting her hand on her son's shoulder. "Will he break her heart?"
"I can swear to you, if he doesn't treat her the way she likes" said Miles, "I can beat him to a pulp anytime."
"Anytime I'm not smashed" Miles thought to himself.
"That's not what we mean" said Bill.
"If it's a divorce" said Miles casually, "Natalie will come out a lot better than Keener. She can take him for half the value of his condo, at least."
There was silence. You could hear some early frogs croak from the creek. Then a quick crack.
Then Miles rubbed his face, as his mother had slapped him across it.
"You don't marry planning to get divorced" said Etta coldly. "And Natalie would never do that. She believes in love for something other than herself. She's not like your Cheryl. Maybe someday you'll learn that. But I don't have much hope."
"I try to be loyal, but as she tells me" said Miles sullenly, standing up "she's my older sister, I'm supposed to stay out of her life."
"WHAT . . . IS . . . HE . . . .LIKE?" said Bill, losing his patience. "Will he treat Natalie well?"
"Probably" said Miles. "He's a twerp, but he worships Natalie."
Miles nearly put in "and his dog". But Miles didn't think his father would like that.
"This Keener has to love Natalie, to propose so soon" said Bill. "I won't criticize his taste there. Though he goes for all those crazy games and movies Natalie likes."
"Isn't that a good thing, Dad?" said Miles, now leaning against a wall and crossing his arms. "Once they're married that bast . . . Keener will take good care of her. Isn't that what you want?"
"I suppose you think he might also be your meal ticket" observed Bill.
"I was hoping for Natalie to meet a mature man, not an overgrown adolescent" said Etta. "She doesn't need a boy for a husband. We have enough of those in the family. At least she needs material she can mould. But I can help there."
"Ultimately, I suppose Miles is right. We should look first to see that Natalie has a husband who will make her happy and take care of her" Bill put in reluctantly. "And can support her and their children, as Natalie isn't interested in a career at the bank."
"We'll first see if he's suitable for Natalie" said Etta.
"And if not, you'll threaten to disown her" said Miles dryly.
"Like we will you, if you ever have a child by that Cheryl" warned Bill.
"Or do anything else to tie yourself to her" warned Etta.
"Well, then I'm off" said Miles sulkily. "It's been fun. How about the cheque you promised me? Or will get with the 21st century and send me the money online?"
"You'll get the cheque" said Bill.
The surname Crete was from the French. It meant arrogant.
About an hour later, Rory arrived with Natalie. Krypto, leashless bounded behind.
The dog was happy and wagging his tail, and the smell of the stream intrigued him. Yet there was something in Rory's expression that told Krypto he should be on his best behaviour. His master was going to meet someone important! It was up to Krypto to help!
Rory had half-a-mind to do his Whazzzzzzzzzzzz up as greeting, but he only did that with pals. So with Natalie he walked up the walk and rang the doorbell and Rory politely waited with Natalie atop the Welcome Mat.
For a long time after being cured of being a vampire, Rory had the rude habit of walking into houses as soon as the door was opened for him. It had been a reaction to the annoyance of having to wait outside for an invite for nearly two years. But by the time he was nineteen, Rory had finally outgrown the bad habit. Well, except when seeing close friends. Rory had had help in breaking that habit; he figured he had been told off a dozen times . . . by everyone from Ethan's Dad to Rory's own cousin.
"Mom and Dad" said Natalie. "This is Rory Keener. Rory, my parents."
Rory put up his hand in greeting, and said "How's it going, Mr. and Mrs. Crete! I'm your daughter's future husband. Rory Keener! Do you want me to call you by your first names. Or do you want me to go old-school and call you Father Crete and Mother Crete?"
Rory, thinking this was the occasion for shaking hands, did so.
"Lucky Covid-19's ancient history" said Rory, and with that remark shook the hand of the surprised Bill and Etta Crete.
Bill and Etta had retreated inside the doorway so that meant Rory did get to go inside without being formally invited. Not that he noticed.
"Won't you come in?" said Etta redundantly. "What do you think of our happy home?"
"As an architectural engineer" joked Bill awkwardly.
That was a mistake. Rory was literal-minded. So Rory answered . . . as an architectural engineer, providing his whole train-of-thought.
"I am in!" replied Rory, looking around. "Whoa, nice house. You know, you don't see seven-foot ceilings anymore. Nowhere. I think it's good for your HVAC. Less energy. And you need it, I don't see any air returns here. How whacked is that! You ought to put some in if you ever redo your duct work. But for now, your seven foot ceilings are good, even if you can't walk under that chandelier there. But, lucky no one here's real tall. Yeah, Mr. and Mrs. Crete, you don't have seven foot ceilings anymore. In fact, you don't even see eight-foot ceilings. All the studs in construction are now are pre-cut to 108 inches, so if you're in houses you do nine-foot. So you don't lose money cutting off twelve inches of good wood and you can sell the place as having a cathedral ceiling. Lucky no one here's real tall. Noticed you were on a flood plain. You ever consider a berm at the back in case that gully ever fills? A few feet will make sure it drains to the other bank? I mean, you're probably in no danger right now, but there's always your 50 and 100 years floods?"
"You know your business" said Bill after an awkward pause.
"Thanks" said Rory proudly. "You know what kind of soil you're on? I'm really good with retaining walls too, that is until they assign me to something big. "
"We can always use Miles if we need to look into the matter" said Bill.
"It's a family house" said Etta, a bit irritably. "Don't you find it comfortable?"
"Yeah, it's very nice" said Rory, who couldn't help but reach up and touch the low seven-foot ceiling.
By a happy coincidence, this allowed Rory to notice that interspersed with family portraits there were framed embroideries on the wall; country scenes, bowls of fruit, things like that.
Following Canadian etiquette, Rory removed his shoes before he went inside. You did that in Canada unless you were told not to . . . or you went to the home of your closest pals who let your wear your shoes as long as they were clean. Rory also remembered to find a pair of socks without holes. After a friendly suggestion by Natalie.
Rory then decided it would be good manners to say something nice about the embroidered pictures. He didn't really care about landscapes or sewing, except to wonder that one or two of them might have been Natalie's handiwork. If she did that, well they were unbelievably cool and awesome instead of just "real nice" in a girly, old school sort-of way.
"Cool sewn pictures" said Rory politely. "Those must have taken a lot of work? Are those yours, Mrs. Crete? Or Natalies?"
"Mr. Keener, Rory, thank-you for noticing them" said Etta. "A few are mine, that one there is Natalie's, but most are my late mother and . . . ."
And Rory had an eye-glazing talk about the framed embroidered pictures, where his job was to nod in agreement with Etta's boring sewing details.
"But man, Natalie's sure talented" thought Rory, as he looked at a river scene.
These compliments, at least, somewhat endeared Rory to Etta. That's why she, pompously, told him he could call her Mother Crete or Etta. Rory went with Etta.
"I've sewn one I think you'd love, Rory" said Natalie.
"Anything you make, I love" said Rory, eagerly and cornily.
"I have one of Yoda and Princess Leia" said Natalie.
"That's real cool" said Rory. "I'd like to see it."
"I'll bring it down" interrupted Bill.
"I can go up . . . ." started Rory.
"Natalie's not allowed boys in her room" said Etta.
Rory's looked annoyed, but he bit his tongue instead of saying what he thought. "I'm not a boy! That's bogus rule anyway! What the heck do you think I'm going to do up there!"
"My Mom and Dad say their house, their rules" Rory remarked conversationally, although in truth his parents rarely told him that as Rory was easy-going and rarely argued with his parents. Although he did, of course, have a lot of practice sneaking around behind their backs.
"My Mom and Dad wouldn't let me be alone with a girl in my room either, Natalie" said Rory politely. "I think."
Rory didn't really know, as it had never come up when he was a teen.
Etta thought Rory was being passive-aggressive. She was going to retort, but was interrupted by Krypto.
Krypto was naturally friendly, and even if the Cretes had a couple faults, they weren't evil. Besides Krypto felt he understood people more than his master; he knew the Cretes needed friendly barks and wags of his tail.
And as the Cretes were old school, but not evil, or unduly germ-phobic, they paid their compliments to Rory about his dog.
Well, Etta saw fit to tell everybody that "He's a nice, big, friendly dog, but you know Natalie dear, I'm really a cat person."
"A catty person" thought Rory petulantly, as he stroked Krypto's head.
"Everything's going wonderfully, Rorster" said Natalie, as she sat beside Rory on an old fashioned-French-style loveseat in the old-fashioned style formal French living room.
The two were admiring the 12 x 14 sewn portrait of Yoda, the Jedi master.
"Awesome portrait you've sewn" said Rory, Yoda style.
Krypto had found a place on an old-fashioned looking bearskin rug in front of the old-fashioned fieldstone fireplace. Old-fashioned looking only, as it was natural gas. In spite of it being the end of May, the Cretes decided to show off the bluish flames. They matched the old-fashioned wallpaper with old fashioned blue fleur-de-lis.
"I can tell Mom and Dad really like you" said Natalie.
"That's awesome" said Rory. "I'm real stoked tonight. I really want them to like me, 'cause it'll suck for you and me if your parents are the kind that always argue with their son-in-law. Since they're so old school, I should have bought my guitar and played Home on the Range or Clementine. But I guess I was right not to bring my MC Rorster things to impress them."
"I think so to" said Natalie, with a smile.
Krypto looked up, whined, and lay down and wagged his tail.
"Oh, by the way" said Natalie, "where did your family come from?"
"Huh?" said Rory.
"My mother's going to try and impress you with a long-winded story about our ancestors being French Huguenots who migrated to New France in the eighteenth century" said Natalie. "And my great grandfather being a prominent judge."
"Is a Huguenot anything like the Toronto Argonauts?" asked Rory, so confused his eyes went crossed trying to remember what a Huguenot was and thinking of the CFL team instead. "Or is it more like Jason and the Argonauts?"
Meanwhile, Bill and Etta were quietly talking on the patio outside the kitchen. They didn't want anyone to overhear.
"I think he'll make a good and loyal husband for Natalie" said William, the Protector of the Household. "Of course, he's obviously a goofball, but any engineer who can spot things it took Miles a year of university to spot, is okay as a provider. I just hope Natalie's children aren't too much like their father."
"I suppose Natalie could do better" said Etta, Defender of the Hearth. "In terms of finances or gravity or thoughtfulness. This Keener is a goofball, but he is an eager-beaver. Maybe in the future she can steer him to be more staid. I may help."
"Just don't help too much" Bill said dryly.
"It's too bad about Miles, he deserves a lucrative position more than this Rory" said Etta, with a sigh.
"Rory doesn't even golf" said Bill bitterly. "He couldn't even tell a driver from a putter! But you can't have everything you want. Then again, I don't think Rory would pawn his golf clubs to take his stripper on a bender in New York."
"Let's see if we can make this young man less impulsive" said Etta. "A long engagement will do Natalie well."
"And how are you going to force a long engagement?" said Bill.
"Leave it to me" said Etta.
The family repaired to a formal dining room, which was also old-school and French. Rory figured (correctly) that there must have been a Family Room with a actual TV and stereo where the Cretes typically "hung out". Otherwise, Natalie would have grown up in the boring-est house in the country!
Rory didn't like Quebecois-style yellow split-pea soup. In fact, Rory didn't like peas, period. But he politely ate it and said it was awesome. The main course was a Quebecois meat pie, called a Tourtiere, Rory enjoyed far more. It had mixed mince meats, potatoes, garlic, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and maple syrup atop. For dessert, Pouding Chomeur (a type of maple syrup pudding) and vanilla ice cream.
Rory again said it was awesome, but this time was sincere.
A meal like that would have been great for belching, but Rory wisely passed. Instead, he joined Natalie and her parents on the patio at back for some coffee. Etta wielding a can of mosquito repellent like a weapon, sprayed the deck and everybody on it.
And now sunset over the small gully and the acres of woods that adjoined the house made Rory see there was something to living in the country. Sitting beside Natalie, only helped Rory's appreciation of the view.
What didn't help was Etta choosing this moment to treat Rory to a lengthy and boring lesson in Crete family history. So Rory listened politely, while petting Krypto and looking at Natalie's gentle smile.
Bill then took up the conversation with a description of a lifetime managing a passport office. Complete with witty anecdote and tips on dealing with irate citizens who didn't properly fill out their passport application forms. Rory fought back sleep. It was fortunate Etta had offered everyone a second cup of coffee.
Bill asked Rory about his ideas for a berm alongside the gully, but Etta cut him off. Instead she mentioned how Natalie and Miles used to go tobogganing. This set Rory off about all sorts of fun activities, Mole Scouts, and eventually his favourite superheroes and how they compared with Natalie's favourites (they were nearly identical).
Etta covered her mouth while she yawned; unobserved by Rory she sharply poked her husband in the ribs.
"Aren't we forgetting something?" suggested Bill, who was also bored by superhero trivia. "About your marriage to Natalie Vera?"
"Yeah?" said Rory.
"I find you to be a commendable young man, and you certainly have our blessing!" said Bill pompously.
"YES!" said Rory, jumping up and putting his fist in the air. "Thanks!" he said as Natalie stood up beside him.
They kissed in such a way Rory had seen couples do it at their wedding ceremony. There was an audience after all.
Krypto barked his approval.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" said Etta. "Rory hasn't asked you to marry him."
"Yes I did!" said Rory indignantly.
"Not before you asked her father's permission for her hand" hinted Etta.
"MOM!" objected Natalie.
Rory opened his mouth, and nothing came out.
"Oh please, for your mother's sake!" said Etta melodramatically.
Bill quietly nodded.
Rory frowned and looked at Natalie, who looked embarrassed.
"Okay" said Rory. "Because I was flying the plane I didn't get to kneel. Two proposals are always better than one . . . sort of."
"I'll consider the first one the real one" whispered Natalie.
Natalie removed her ring, went into the house to get the box. Rory awkwardly stood in front of Natalie's parents waiting. Finally Natalie arrived with the ring case and handed it to Rory. Rory knelt down.
"Will you marry me, Natalie!" said Rory.
"Rory, of course I'll marry you" said Natalie.
Another kiss, and the two sat down again side-by-side.
"Have you thought about the wedding?" said Bill.
"We have" said Natalie. "We were talking about it all the way here. We'd like a small church ceremony. We discussed where, and I think the old red brick church down the road. Reverend Douglas has been our minister all my life. He even performed my christening."
"Twenty-six years ago this December 23rd" interrupted Etta. "That's why we named our little girl Natalie Vera. Natalie means to be born at Christmastime."
"The old minister at our church back in Whitechapel, retired a few years ago to Florida" put in Rory. "And I've been in Mississauga less than a year. Not that there's any problem with Reverend Forrester or Reverend Oommem. So we think it's best that we go to the minister Natalie's known all her life."
"Sounds practical Rory" said Bill.
"I think I'll call up Reverend Douglas tomorrow" said Natalie. "We can meet him and see about arranging the ceremony at the church."
"That sounds wonderful!" said Etta. "Of course you'll have the wedding next year."
"Next year?" asked Rory. "We were thinking this summer. The end of August. That way I can take a week or two off for our honeymoon."
"Right along Rory's birthday" said Natalie.
"Oh, no, you don't want that" said Bill. "The last thing you want is an Anniversary and birthday together."
"And you don't want a wedding around Thanksgiving" said Etta. "And fall is a terrible time in general. And Natalie's birthday and Christmas are in December."
"That's bogus . . . that doesn't make sense" objected Rory. "You can't have a wedding anytime then."
"Well, what we're getting at is that Natalie has always dreamt of being a June bride" said Etta. "I'm surprised she hasn't told you."
"That's true" said Natalie. "I do want to be a June bride. It's just that the timing is all wrong now."
"Why not?" said Rory, grinning. "I can take a couple days off after the Canada Day long weekend. That's July 1st. We can get married the 30th of June. That's nearly six weeks to get everything together."
"That's beautiful" gushed Natalie. "The end of June, when the world is in bloom. The start of the summer of our lives."
"A really hot and exciting summer" put in Rory, with a laugh.
"Six weeks?" said Etta. "Have you ever planned a wedding? And you know the bride's family does most of the planning and paying for the wedding?"
Bill coughed. And then, an idea came to him. He looked thoughtful. Etta knew what he was thinking and elbowed him.
"They do?" said Rory, who never heard this before.
And everybody was warning him about how much money he was spending!
"An intimate family ceremony in the old church shouldn't take much planning" said Bill. "Or too much money."
"Snail mail is slow" said Natalie, "but not that slow. We have plenty of time to buy and send out invitations."
"It takes way less time than six weeks to build a house if you put enough people on it" offered Rory. "My Mom can help too . . . ."
"Don't worry your parents too much" said Etta. "It's the pleasure of the mother of the bride to help arrange her daughter's wedding. Of course, we'll be pleased to meet with them and talk things over . . . ."
That was how Rory's wedding date was fixed. All in all, he felt as happy as a king. That was what his name Rory meant, in the original Gaelic. King.
"Only" Rory told Krypto on the long drive home, "Natalie's Mom is real bossy. I don't hate her . . . all I have to do it take it cool and easy, the Rorster way, around her. Which is good, because otherwise we'd be arguing all the time like Moms and sons-in-law on T.V."
