Chapter 17: Some Fairytale
Rachael's POV
There was a knock on the door and I turned away from my easel. Joanne stuck her head in and smiled. She saw the class and turned to leave, "No its ok, come on in. The class ends soon."
She nodded and sat down at one of the spare easels. The students looked around at each other in confusion wondering who she was.
"As I was saying you can't blend to much when you get about here…." I continued, finally bringing their attention back to me. Joanne watched silently from the corner as I taught them about blending color pencils.
"Bye Rachael!" "Bye teach." "Thanks Rachael!" "Congrats Rachael, see you!"
"Thanks see you next week!"
I closed the red door behind the students as they slowly filtered out, leaving Joanne and I in the room.
She gave me a huge hug, "Have a good trip?" I asked her
"It was ok, boring and uneventful. I missed Maureen so much. She stayed in line while I was gone right?"
I nodded, "Of course."
She took my hand. "I believe I have some congratulations to give missy."
I grinned bashfully down at my shoes, "I guess so."
"Congrats Rachael, this is big. I have known him for less than others and this still shocks me. He really was just getting by before, I never thought he would have this. It's really great." She spoke with sincerity.
"Thank you. I just remember when we first met. I was exhausted from my flight and I had arrived at this run down apartment building. I was trying to get up the stairs and I slipped, and dropped all my stuff. Then I heard someone come down the stairs and I look up and there he was. His bright blond hair highlighted by the dingy lights, and his bright blue concerned eyes beamed from behind his glasses. I-I just. I'm glad I don't have to consider being without him." I said
Joanne looked a little surprised but pleasantly so and gave me another hug.
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I stopped in the middle of the street, something had caught my eye. Of on the far side of the road was this small church. It was the most beautiful building I had seen around this part of New York. It was old, a little worn down, and the steeple was half broken. But there was something about it, the light seemed to glimmer and dance on the windows, some of which were stained glass, some broken. There were also these beautiful roses all over it, some of the roses were dead but most of them were just about to bloom. It was in back of this abandoned courtyard hidden between buildings.
"Then the judge got all corporate on her ass and…" Joanne's words weren't connecting. "What is it?" She asked, looking where I was.
I started towards it, ignoring oncoming traffic as I ran across the street. Joanne followed after me, "Rachael, what is it?"
As I stepped into the courtyard I noticed the old black gates that were in desperate need of repair and the grounds cracked and faded marble.
"What is this place?" I asked her, rather mystified.
She stared, "I have no idea."
I carefully opened the door to peer inside. It was small but quaint, giving off a warm feeling. The lights were bright but no florescent.
"Joanne," I whispered, "This is it."
A man I hadn't realized was there, got up from one of the pews and came towards us. He had brown hair with grey coming in and a kind smile.
"How may I help you ladies?"
"I want to get married here." I said straight out.
He chuckled, "Well that shouldn't be a problem as long as you're engaged."
I nodded, still looking around, "He proposed to me two weeks ago."
"Congratulations. Well, not many people come here anymore so anytime you wanted to have the wedding is fine by me."
"Really?" I asked, "Thank you. This is perfect."
He smiled as I looked around enchanted by its charm, "I'm glad I could be of help."
"Joanne that was really just so perfect." I whispered, excitement still in the air as we walked away from the church. I felt as thought I was in some fairytale and there were little stars and pixies around me giving me miracles, miracles just for him and I.
She nodded, "I know, it was an old church but beautiful."
I tugged my coat closer to me as the wind blew again; the New York weather was trying to rock my world, but nothing could possibly go wrong today.
"Rachael! Joanne!" Hearing our names we both turned around to see Mark waving as he came towards us.
"What are you doing around here?" I asked, giving him a hug.
"I was doing some filming a couple streets over, I was just heading home. What about you two?" He asked as he tucked his camera into worn down green messenger.
"Joanne and I were coming home from my class…but then we saw this church." I pointed to it.
He stared at it for a moment, his eyes focusing in concentration, before getting his camera back out again. "I've never noticed this place, I didn't even know it was here." He said as he filmed it.
Joanne nodded, "I know, its really weird. But its great inside and the man said you two could use it-"
"He did?" Mark asked from his camera.
I went over and wrapped my arms around his waist, "Yeah, he said we could use it for whenever we choose the date."
He turned it off, "That's great." He said then gave me a quick kiss and putting his camera away again. I really should get him a new bag for Christmas, even if he's Jewish, I thought as we started back to the Loft.
Joanne's phone suddenly went off, "Hello?" She handed the phone to me unexpectedly, "Its for you."
I took the phone cautiously and put it to my ear, "Hello?"
"Its Roger." He sounded agitated.
"Why are you calling Joanne for me?" I asked, his call still puzzling me without end.
"Because your dad just called and said he wanted his secretary or something to take you shopping tomorrow for the wedding. He gave me his number to call him back and insisted I call you now so he could put it in his 'schedule'. " He spoke the last word with a mock air of sophistication.
I sighed, this was just like him, to but in without asking if I even wanted help. "Well I guess, fine whatever, tell him I'll meet with her. Thanks for doing this Roger."
"No problem Rach." He said, "Bye."
"Bye." I hung up and handed it back to Joanne as I leaned against Mark.
Mark kissed my forehead, "What is it?"
"My dad." I said simply.
Mark's POV
As we entered the loft I heard a all too familiar voice filling the loft and it caused my mouth to go dry.
"Mark, its your mother! We were just calling to see how everything was going. Any new films? How's Rachael? You two are very sweet, your father and I liked her very much.-"
I had to pick up, I hadn't told them about the wedding yet: it was now or I would never get the courage to call them myself.
"Hi mom…" I said hesitantly.
"Oh Mark! What a surprise!"
"Yeah I don't really know how to say this. But umm, Rachael and I are engaged."
"You're engaged?! Honey, come here, Mark's getting married!!"
I shook my head, she was probably going to try and plan the whole thing. "Look mom, I just got home, I'll talk to you later, okay?"
She seemed disappointed, "Well okay, don't forget to call us Marky! Bye."
"Bye."
There it was done, they knew.