Chapter 5

The Groom

Carl Wheeler looked at himself in the mirror.

Nick came over to him and immediately saw the tie problem. "Hold still," he said, untied the tie and began to retie it.

Carl squirmed. "I can't get it right."

"Well, just hold still and I'll help you."

"Darn it, Nick – "

"Will you just hold still and let me fix your tie? You're a mess," Nick said.

"You're not my brother yet and already you're bossing me around," Carl said while Nick still tried to fix his tie. Then, "Ow, it's too tight." He tried to loosen it.

"You're just not used to formal wear," Nick said. "The tie has to be tighter. It won't strangle you."

Nick stood back and took a look. At least Carl's face wasn't turning red, but he was perspiring. Nick grabbed a stray bandana and blotted Carl's forehead.

Carl pushed him away. "Will you stop all the fussing?! I'm just getting married. I'm not on display for auction or something."

"I want you to look good for my little sister. Nothing is too good for Audra," Nick said with a mock threat.

Carl settled down, looking at his old friend and the way he was smiling. "I know. I love her, Nick. I don't want her to be embarrassed standing next to me."

"I know you love her," Nick said. "And I couldn't be happier that she's marrying you. And while I'm at it, thanks for making me your best man. It means a lot to me."

"We better stop or I'll start crying," Carl said. "I'm so nervous, I don't know what's gonna come out of me in front of that priest."

"All the right words will come out," Nick said. "And just remember, Audra is as nervous as you are."

"I think you're the only one who's calm around here."

"Well, I've been planning for this day since we were kids. Audra's always been nuts about you. I knew after all those beaux went by that you'd be the one."

"Let's go get in place. I don't want to be late."

"You got ten minutes!"

"It'll probably take that long for me to get down the stairs."

It didn't take that long. Heath – one of the ushers – happened to be at the bottom of the stairs when they came down. He noted that Nick was holding onto Carl as they came down. "Which one of you has cold feet?" he asked.

"Nobody has cold feet," Carl protested. "I just want to be sure I'm not late."

"You've got a good five or ten minutes," Heath said.

"Come on," Nick said, "let's get you back in the hallway over here and out of the way till it's time to go to the priest."

Carl went meekly as a lamb, and once in his place, he stuck there like he was glued there. From where he stood, he could see almost everything that was going on. He saw Audra's brothers, Heath and Eugene, ushering in the guests after their houseman, Silas, greeted them at the door. He could see the guests seated at the chairs in the living room – so many chairs! So many guests! He could see the priest at the front, talking to a couple people there.

Carl closed his eyes, thinking why am I so nervous? There's nothing to be nervous about. I've known Audra since we were kids. I've wanted her to be my wife since I knew I wanted ANYBODY to be my wife. What the heck is the matter with me?

Nick came back. Carl stood stiff as board, not even batting an eyelash. Nick laughed softly. "You can go ahead and blink, Carl. Nothing will fall off."

"Funny," Carl said. "Is Audra coming down yet?"

"Any minute now."

"God, I love her, Nick."

"I know you do." Nick took a peek toward the steps, saw Heath with Jarrod as he waiting to escort Audra down the aisle and caught a glimpse of white at the top of the stairs. "Ooup, okay, it's time to get you to the altar, brother-in-law."

Nick guided Carl out to the fireplace in the living room, where the priest waited, smiling. Then, for Carl, everything started to happen at lightning speed. Heath escorted Victoria down the aisle, to her place as Audra's Matron of Honor, then took his place beside Eugene on the front row. Then suddenly Audra was coming down the aisle, on her brother Jarrod's arm. He was smiling as confidently as if he were in court. Audra was devastatingly beautiful, and Carl had trouble catching his breath.

The suddenly Audra was there in front of him. He could see her smile under the veil. The priest asked the "who gives this woman" question, Jarrod said, "I do," and lifted Audra's hand.

Carl stared. Jarrod was lifting her hand to him. He took it, hoping no one could see how bad he was shaking. Audra stepped up to his side, and Jarrod took his seat in the front row.

And then Carl barely heard a thing. He clung to Audra's hand like he would fall down if she didn't hold him up. He said the proper words when they were called for, and he heard the priest say, "You may kiss the bride." Shaking like a leaf, realizing that he was now married, married to the most beautiful woman in Stockton, he lifted her veil and kissed her.

She was trembling as bad as he was.

When they parted, they laughed softly to each other, and then Carl escorted her back down the aisle, as Mrs. Carl Wheeler.

Then there was an even bigger swirl of activity. There were guests to greet before they went out to the reception in the garden – so many guests! Did he know all these people? Yes, he pretty much did, but they all went by both as fast as a racehorse and as slow as a slug. How could time be moving too fast and too slow at the same time? Then the line of guests was gone, and he took Audra over to the garden, where they began to dance together.

And Carl got his first chance to talk to his new wife. "I think my head's gonna spin right off," he said into her ear as he held her close and danced with her.

Audra laughed softly. "I know what you mean. The priest really did remember to marry us, didn't he? It happened so fast I don't know if he did or not."

"Oh, he did, Mrs. Wheeler," Carl said. He heard one of Audra's brothers say something about how he didn't think Carl could dance that well, and he said to them over his shoulder, where they stood together watching, "Eat your hearts out, Barkleys."

Audra laughed loudly at that, but all too soon that first dance was over. The first thing Carl did for the next dance was find Victoria and sweep her from her chair up into the dancing area.

She laughed as he moved her around as gallantly as any man ever had. "And you can dance!" she said out loud.

Carl laughed. "Don't tell anybody – but I took lessons."

"I'm so happy you're my new son."

"And I'm so happy you're my new mother."

Then there was dancing and food and music and more dancing, until the light began to fade and one of his hands pulled close to the edge of the garden in the buggy from his ranch. Someone had tied shoes onto the back and put a "Just Married" sign there, too. Carl escorted his new wife to the buggy and they climbed in, and then, for the first time in hours, there was peace and quiet as they drove away.

Carl leaned back, holding Audra's hand. She leaned back into his shoulder and they were quiet together.

They would spend this wedding night at his – now their – ranch and leave in a few days for their honeymoon in San Francisco. Carl silently hoped he could be the husband Audra deserved, especially on this first night together in the bed they would share for the rest of their lives. He had no idea what Audra was thinking – he hoped she wasn't too nervous.

But his nervousness had vanished with all the dancing. Now he was just a happy husband, holding his beautiful wife in his arms, beginning their life together. He had no concerns about making her happy in their bed tonight. He was too full of – what was the word? Bliss? Yes, this was bliss. He never knew life could be so beautiful.

He kissed Audra on the top of her head. She had long since taken her veil off and was holding it in her hand. She smiled, and Carl smiled. And Mr. and Mrs. Carl Wheeler went to their home together for the first time.