The big day was here and friends and family had gathered in the small chapel of the Presbyterian Church for Mary and Andy's wedding. Mary was in a small room getting ready with help from Lexi, Bess and Rhoda. Mary finished putting on her makeup and stood up.
"So, what do you think?" Mary asked. She looked stunning in a simple white dress
"Oh, Mare, you look sensational." Rhoda told her
"You look beautiful, Aunt Mary." Bess echoed
"So how much time do I have?" Mary asked
"About fifteen minutes." Rhoda informed her
Mary looked at Lexi who had been rather quiet all morning, "Uh, Rhoda, why don't you and Bess check and see if everything is okay in the chapel, huh?"
"Sure, Mare." Rhoda got the hint and she and Bess left the room
Lexi was sitting on the sofa. Mary walked over and sat next to her, "Are you alright?"
Lexi looked at her, "Yeah, I just feel a little weird."
Mary put an arm around her shoulder, "A little like you're on display?"
"I guess. I keep thinking everyone's wondering why I'm in your wedding. I mean the people who don't know."
"Well, I think most of Andy's family has been told by now and what they think doesn't really matter." She told her, "And the only other people here are Rhoda, Phyllis, Bess and some people from the station."
"But you're marrying Andy. I don't want his family to think …" Lexi trailed off looking away
"Think what?"
"I just don't want them thinking anything bad about you because of me." She admitted, "And I don't want to make this day weird for you."
Mary turned to face Lexi and looked her directly in the eye, "Now let's get something straight. I am not ashamed of you. If I didn't want you here, you wouldn't be here."
"But I know how hard it was to tell people. You had probably tried to forget about it after all this time."
"Forget?" Mary repeated, "Honey, not a day went by that I didn't think about you. I wondered where you were, how you were doing, if you were being loved."
"You don't wish I hadn't found you?" I mean it's made things really complicated for you."
Mary pulled her into her arms, "Oh Lexi, I wouldn't trade the last few months for anything." She assured her stroking her hair, "My only regret is that I didn't try harder to keep you."
Lexi pulled back, "Really?"
Mary brushed a hair out of her eyes, "Yeah, I know I did the right thing but a part of me will always wish there would have been a way for me to keep you." She told her, "You know, I would lie in bed at night when I was pregnant with you and feel you moving and kicking and I would talk to you all the time."
"You did?"
Mary nodded, "Sure, I would tell you how much I loved you and that I would find a way to make sure you had a good life. But it always came back to giving you up to make that happen."
"So I'm not a reminder of something stupid you did?"
Mary hugged her again, "Never." She pulled back, "Are you feeling better now?"
Lexi wiped at her eyes and smiled, "Yeah."
There was knock on the door and Rhoda poked her head in, "Mare, it's time."
"Alright." Mary said standing up, "It's time for me to get married."
The wedding march began and Rhoda, Bess and Lexi came down the aisle. Mary joined her father and he proudly walked his only daughter down the aisle. Mary stood with Andy at the front of the church and after promising to love honor and cherish, they recited vows they had written themselves.
Mary began, "Andy, I never thought I could be as happy as I am standing here today. I feel like I've waited a lifetime to find someone I could even think about forever with. I want to wake up with you every morning, have your babies, and grow old with you. I promise never to forget the important things. Not just the love and honor and cherish part but the other stuff, too. Like what you like on your pizza, that Saturday is a sacred day for sports and that you don't like store bought Italian food. I'll spend the rest of my days trying to be the best wife I can possibly be because, you see, when I look in your eyes, I see forever. I love you so very much."
"Mary, you couldn't possibly be any happier than I am today. I never thought I would feel like this about anyone. The first thing I noticed about you was how beautiful you look but it didn't take long for me to see how beautiful you are. I don't know anyone with a bigger heart or sweeter smile and I want to spend the rest of my days making sure that smile never goes away. I want you to have my babies and one day be surrounded by grandchildren. I promise to remember the important things too, like your favorite flower, that you don't like to get up until late on Saturday and that long distance phone commercials make you cry. I love you, Mary, and I will try every day not just to tell you, but show you."
They exchanged rings, the pastor pronounced them husband and wife and Andy kissed his bride. Afterward everyone gathered in the social hall for a small reception.
THE NEXT DAY
Mary and Andy were moving into their new house. They were postponing their honeymoon for a few days but had spent the night at the Hotel Leamington downtown. Rhoda, Dottie, Lexi, Bess and Phyllis were all pitching in to help unpack. Walter was at an AMA meeting. The movers had just delivered the furniture and it was getting close to lunch time.
Andy came in from the garage, "Honey, I hope you weren't planning on parking a car in that garage. Since you relegated my furniture to it, I don't think there's any room."
Mary laughed as she unpacked some books and put them in the built ins, "Very funny, the only thing in there is that ratty old chair."
"The new furniture you bought looks great, Aunt Mary." Bess said
"It really does, Mare, just great." Rhoda said
Dottie came out of the kitchen, "Well, Lexi is finishing up in the kitchen. Do you need any help in here sweetheart?"
"No, I think we've got everything pretty much done in here. With all of you helping it hasn't taken long at all." Mary replied just as there was a knock on the door. She put down the books in her hand and went to answer it. She opened the door to find Lexi's parents on the other side.
"Paul, Susan." She said surprised
"We're sorry to bother you right now, Mary but we've come for Lexi." Paul said
"Oh, well, come on it. I think she's in the kitchen." Mary stepped back and they came inside
"Mrs. James, I was going to bring Lexi home later." Bess told her
"I know, Bess but this is important." Susan told
Mary was growing concerned, "Is there something wrong?"
"It's between us and Lexi, if you don't mind. We'll just get her and leave."
"Alright." Mary said, "Lexi, can you come out here, please." She called out
Lexi came out of the kitchen, "I think everything's put away…Mom, Dad."
"Lexi, let's go." Paul said angrily
"Go? We were going to get lunch and then finish up." Lexi said
"I think maybe we should go ahead and do just that, don't you think Rhoda?" Phyllis suggested to the others
"You know Phyl, I think this is the first time I have ever agreed with you." Rhoda said, "We'll bring you guys back something, Mare."
Rhoda left with Phyllis, Bess and Dottie
"Lexi, we just got a call from your counselor. She wanted to know if we got the note she sent home with you. She told us you're almost failing two of your classes. You've got a lot of work to do to make it up."
Mary was puzzled, "Lexi, is this true?"
Lexi shrugged, "It's not that bad."
"Not that bad?" Mary repeated, "Honey, you can't let your grades slip. You'll ruin your chances of getting into Columbia."
"Mary, we don't need your help." Paul snapped, "Lexi, let's go and I don't want you spending time with Mary anymore. It's too distracting for you."
Lexi was on the verge of tears, "Dad, you can't do that. I have to finish my internship."
"How much longer does that last?" He asked
"Another couple of weeks, until the end of the semester. But Dad, it's not that bad." She said again
"It is that bad, Lexi , so after the internship this is over. We're your family, not her." He said, "Now, let's go."
Lexi turned to Mary and started to cry. Mary pulled her into an embrace, "It's okay, now you go home and work on getting those grades up, huh? I'll see you at the station tomorrow."
Lexi pulled away and wiped her eyes, "Okay."
Mary watched as she walked out the door with her parents.
Later that night Andy and Mary lay in bed, wrapped in each other's arms. Mary was unusually quiet and Andy knew Lexi was on her mind.
"Are you okay?" he asked
Her head rested on his chest, "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked rubbing her back
She sighed heavily, "I can't the look on her face out of my mind."
"Maybe her parents will cool off after a while." He assured her
She pulled back and looked at him, "I don't think so. I think a lot of this has been coming. I get the feeling they've only tolerated this whole thing. They haven't been happy about it at all and I guess I can't blame them."
"You can't blame yourself either." He told her
She settled back in his arms, "I know, I just don't know what to do."
"Hmmm, I think I know something that might take your mind off things." He said, "I mean we've got a mission to accomplish, right?"
"Mission?" She asked smiling
He kissed her sweetly on the lips, "Yeah, Mission Mary or Andy Junior."
"Ah, well, why put off until tomorrow what you can do right now."