Wedding Bells Are Ringing - Chapter 2
Warning: This story has NOT been beta-read yet.
"So when are Molly, Tootie and Natalie coming?" Sue Ann asked.
"Soon. They told me they were held up in traffic."
"I hope so. I want them to get here before the party ends."
"Trust me, we're dealing with queers here, the party isn't going to end anytime soon," Cindy joked.
"That's so true," Sue Ann laughed back.
A few seconds later, Cindy got a tap on her shoulder and she turned around, "Molly! You gals are here."
"It's women," she corrected Cindy. She just looked at her with a serious look.
"Molly..."
"Oh ok, how are you doing?" she hugged Cindy. "Congratulations! Finally you two can get married!"
"Yeah, now you two can be miserable like the rest of us!" Natalie kidded.
"Already been for the past thirty years," Cindy joked back. Sue Ann playfully slapped her on the shoulders.
"Cindy!"
Cindy just smiled and hugged her, "But I wouldn't trade those years for anything in the world."
Molly smiled, seeing the couple as lovingly happy as they were in the past.
"I know, it's been over thirty years since we've confessed our love. I thought that this day will never come in my life." Cindy said with a smile. Sue Ann grinned as much as she told Molly, "But you've been a big help as well, helping bridge the gap between the lesbians and the straight feminist groups."
Molly Parker, a coordinator who works for the National Organization for Women (NOW), helped gather various feminist groups to work together to get the bill passed. She smiled as she was very thankful for Sue Ann's compliment.
"It's wasn't just me. It was Tootie, who help promote same-sex couples and marriage on her show. It was also Natalie, who wrote opinion pieces and wrote heart-warming stories of gay and lesbian couples in the New York Times. It was all of us. It's amazing at what we can do when we can work together, and today is a perfect example what womanhood and unity could achieve."
"Amen sister, preach on!" Natalie responded in a joking mood. Molly however didn't take it as a joke and she gave a cold glare to Natalie. Natalie defended her response, "Oh come on Molly, I'm just playing with you. Of course I agree with you, but tonight let's celebrate this wonderful moment. Let's cherish our accomplishment!"
"So I heard that there is going to be a performance tonight?" Natalie asked Cindy.
"Yeah, there are going to be some drag kings and drag queens doing some lip-synching on the stage."
"Really?" Tootie said. "That must be interesting. Maybe some of them can appear on my show."
The girls laughed and Sue Ann said, "That's the last thing you need on your show, more homos!"
"Yeah, the critics are already saying that your show is 'more gay than a Lady Gaga concert'!"
"Well that's their problem. I want to show the human side of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders, instead of the one-sided circus performances you see on TV. By the way, Lady Gaga agreed to appear on my show for next week, I hope you're watching!"
"Really!" said an excited Cindy, "You know I'm gonna record that!" Then she told Tootie, "But really Tootie, this is nothing new, they do this all the time in gay bars. Since today is about the marriage, you might see a wedding theme going on."
About seven minutes later, the host came up to the stage. He was a clearly a man in drag trying to look like Katy Perry. "I know everybody excited about the good news today!" Everybody in the room yelled with excitement. "And to think that all this would not have been possible if it weren't for the brave few who took a stand on that night in June 27, 1969. Some of them are here with us tonight, let's give them a toast of appreciation for making this day possible. Cheers!"
Then everybody said "Cheers."
"Now let's get the show started. From Yonkers, New York comes a male-and-female duo that will sizzle you with their performance. Please give a hand for Shelley and Tommy!" From the curtains came a woman dressed in a wedding tux and a man dressed in a wedding dress. The music started with the familiar wedding song, and then it quickly switched to Bruno Mars' "Marry You", with the drag king lip-syncing to the drag queen. The girls were enjoying the performance.
"This is so funny!" Tootie laughed.
"I know!" Natalie replied as she was dancing with a man wearing a wedding dress.
About thirty minutes later, the girls left the bar and went outside. It was just as crazy outside as it was in the bar, as the lively party atmosphere were going on. There were men dressed in wedding outfits, and women with tuxedos. There was singing, dancing, and even a group of men throwing flame sticks at each other. The atmosphere was more like a circus!
The girls were soaking up the jubilation surrounded them as they were dancing and singing their way to the nearest diner. When they got there and got seated, Sue Ann brought up Jo and Blair.
"I wish they were here to witness all of this."
"I'm sure there's something going on in Albany. Knowing Blair, she probably created her own party down there." Natalie responded while tweeting on her iPad2.
Molly then looked at her with some embarrassment and said, "Are you surgically attached to that thing?"
"I tried that but I found out that I had to pay Steve Jobs for licensing fee if I did that." Natalie jibed.
The girls laughed and then Molly asked Natalie, "How did you know that Jo and Blair was a couple."
Natalie smiled, "I had my suspicions since 1983, but I was very sure about it sometime around 1985, a few months before we opened Over Our Heads when the two went to the old drive-in. Jo didn't know that Blair wanted her for a long time, until I gave her a hint. When did you find out?" She asked Molly.
Molly instantly remembers, "I probably knew before they probably knew themselves, or at least before they finally admitted it! I remember one particular argument they had in their bedroom when I came over to study with Tootie for the Chemistry mid-terms. It had to do about that Harrison guy that Jo was dating. I saw the interaction between Blair and Jo and I noticed Blair's body signals. Her body language didn't give off just an angry woman, but a jealous, angry woman. Her body wasn't just showing signs of anger, but of hurt, like when somebody breaks your heart. It was like her body was saying, "Why do you love him instead of me?" There was also something like that from Jo, where she tells Blair that she loves him but her body was saying otherwise, like an act. Also, I couldn't ignore how passionate the argument was, like it was some sort of foreplay." Then she added, "By the way Natalie, it was me who told Jo first."
"Yeah, I remember…" Natalie muttered bitterly. She remembered very well that Molly beat her to the punch. Molly just smiled.
"Yeah, I think that's their way of making out," Cindy said. "Me and Sue Ann do argue, but not like the way they do."
"Actually I got a confession to make women," Molly said.
"What is it?" Tootie asked.
"I was able to figure out Jo and Blair's arguments based on the argument that Cindy and Sue Ann had during the time they were competing each other for the race. Truth is, Cindy and Sue Ann do have their passionate fights, but they're not as common. However, when they do have them, they're more explosive."
Cindy and Sue Ann's faces went pale when they heard Molly's revelation. They just looked at each other in a bit of shame. In all their years together, they never knew that part of their relationship. Molly had exposed them to a blind spot of their relationship. Everybody went silent for a bit. Wanting to get rid of the tension surrounding the table, Natalie quickly asked Cindy, "How did you know about Jo and Blair, Cindy?"
"Jo told us. Since the both of us were one the biggest dykes in Eastland, she and Blair told us, but I knew long before thanks to my gaydar. I have to turn my gaydar off every time I'm near them for fear of explosion." The girls laughed.
"Blair was hesitant to admit it, since she didn't want to look like a hypocrite in front of Cindy, but she told her that all was forgiven and then she finally admitted it on her end." Sue Ann recalled.
"I can't lie though, I enjoyed watching that prig admit it." Cindy smirked.
"So did I." Sue Ann responded with a smile.
Molly then asked Tootie, who remained silent the whole time, "When did you find out Tootie?"
"I didn't find out until the day we went to our first karaoke. Remember that girls?" The group laughed as it brought memories of that night. "Boy did we make a scene at that place! I remember while I was singing Whitney Houston's 'You Give Good Love' that Blair and Jo started dancing along with Cindy and Sue Ann. I was so shocked; I stumbled on part of the words." The girls were laughing at Tootie's revelation as she continued. "When I was living in DC, Blair and Jo came to my house holding each other's hands. My father was there and he told them a few words that weren't cool, and then they angrily left. I had to ask them for forgiveness over the situation. My dad told me I shouldn't be hanging around with people like them."
"People like them…" Cindy muttered with a bitter tone. Sue Ann squeezed her partner slightly around her waist with her right arm, calming her down a bit. Then Cindy laid her head on Sue Ann's right shoulder.
Molly then continued, "So is your father okay about their relationship now? It's been like nearly 20 years."
"No, I don't think so. He was the lawyer who worked with the African-American and Latino Churches in order to block the Marriage bill in DC. It failed and he's still bitter over it."
Molly sighed, "Intolerance. I especially don't like it when one minority does it to another, but that's just how the old generation feels about it. It doesn't matter, because they're on their way out."
Finally, the food came with their drinks. With a glass of water in her hand, Molly made a toast.
"This is to a new era in equality. We finally achieved here in New York what 44 other states have yet achieved. We still got some ways to go before this country achieves full equality, like they do up in Canada. But for now I say 'to equality'."
Everyone in the tabled responded "To equality!" as they toast to their accomplishment.
The next day, a few of Jo's friends were at her home near Central Park. There was Sue Ann, Cindy, Natalie, Jo and Willis Jackson, Mr. Drummond's adopted son. They just finished watching the Yankees defeat the Rockies in one of the interleague games.
"Thank God A. Rod and C.C. Sabathian is on the team." Jo said.
"That's because the Yankees buy their championships," Sue Ann responded.
Jo just smiled and responded, "A little jealous Sue Ann that your team, the Royals, is always in the cellar and always used that worn-out excuse for their inability to field a competing team."
Sue Ann looked at her and gave her the finger. "We wouldn't be in the cellar if we had the money and the market that the Yanks had. It's not an excuse, it's the truth! Everybody knows the Yankees has a monopoly in the league."
Sensing a fight was about to brew, Natalie changed the focus of the conversation. "Who cares, what's really important was how hot and sexy A. Rod looked when he was fielding the ball in the 7th. God, he's such a cutie even without the steroids!"
Everyone else looked at her like she was crazy. Willis responded, "If you haven't figured it out Natalie, you're the only one who likes guys in here."
Natalie looked around her and said, "You're right. I wish Tootie was here, she would agree with me."
"Yeah, but she went with Blair, Bailey, and Kimberly to go shopping down at Madison." Jo stated. "Blair's doing her sabbatical shopping again."
"What is she buying?" Sue Ann.
"Quite a few things for the wedding, she wants it to be top notch. You know Blair."
Willis snickered as he looked at Cindy and Sue Ann, "Yeah I know her. How come you two aren't with Blair for your wedding stuff?"
"I guess you've never been shopping with Blair before, have you?" Sue Ann said with a serious look at Willis. "She can drive you nuts with her indecisiveness and her quick whims of decisions."
"Oh I see."
"Besides, we already had it planned since two years ago. So all we need really is the ring and a few other things. It will be a wonderful Weavster wedding!"
Then Willis started to laughed, "Weavster… hahaha!"
Jo and Natalie started to laugh as well. Only Cindy and Sue Ann weren't laughing.
"Hey, what's so funny? It's the new trend that's out there!" Cindy said. "I mean, you got Brangelina, Britanna, etc… Heck, our website is named like that."
"What?" Natalie said. "Are you for real?"
"Yeah, . Sue Ann made it a few years back. We haven't updated it for a while since we mostly use Facebook."
"Is your Facebook page named 'Cinann-forever'?" Jo asked.
"Of course." Sue Ann responded.
"Cinann, what kind of name is that." Jo said while trying not to laugh.
"I think they mean 'cinnamon'!" Willis joked. Everyone else was laughing besides the couple.
"It's not cinnamon, it's CinAnn! It's the combination of Cindy and Sue Ann. Come on Jo and Willis, it's the latest thing." Cindy said.
"Yeah Jo, get with the times!" Natalie added while trying to stifle her snicker.
Jo looked at Natalie dismissively and said, "I'll just stick with Jo and Blair thank you, and we're going to use hyphens in our last names, so hopefully I'll be Joanna Polniaczek-Warner in the next six months."
Willis then asked, "So tell me then, when are you two going to have the wedding?"
"Blair is the one who knows more about it, but I do know it will be at least six months from now. We will be holding it at St. Thomas Church. Isn't that where you two will be having it as well Sue Ann?"
"Actually no, we're going to have it at Spring of Life Methodist Church in Peekskill. Blair was able to get us a great discount over there."
"Really?" Willis said.
"Why not? It was at Peekskill that we fell in love, right?" she blushed at Cindy.
"Right honey," Cindy responded with a kiss on her lips.
Willis smiled, "I'm glad to see you three finally get the right that me and Sharon already have."
"Ya know, it seemed like it was yesterday since we became a couple. If you asked me back in 1985 that we will be able to get married, I would have laugh at ya! It all began a little more than twenty-five years ago…" Jo said.