As the waitstaff remove the soup bowls and place the salads in front of the attendees, the music director is again at the main microphone.
"We hope you liked that soft musical interlude while you enjoyed your soup. While you are eating your salads, we have a few more of those traditional wedding dances for you," comments the Director.
He continues, "First, is the father-daughter dance, brought to you this evening by Ignacio Suarez and the lovely bride, Betty Suarez-Hartley. The song, chosen by Mr. Suarez, is Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler. "
"The director is correct, you are lovely and I couldn't be more proud of you and how accomplished you've become than I am right now," Ignacio whispers to Betty as the music begins.
Blushing slightly, Betty softly responds, "Papi, I will always be your little girl. I wouldn't be the person I am today without you. I am proud of you too, for encouraging me to reach for my dreams while keeping my feet planted on the ground at the same time."
"I guess we are the mutual admiration society then. I do think this song truly captures our relationship, as we have both helped each other go beyond what limits others would set for us," replies Ignacio.
Ignacio, Betty, and the guests listen to they lyrics as the two of them dance, "…Did you ever know that you're my hero, and everything I would like to be? I can fly higher than an eagle, 'cause you are the wind beneath my wings…I want you to know the truth…I would be nothing without you. Thank you, thank you, thank God for you the wind beneath my wings."
A slightly teary Betty says to Ignacio, "That was the perfect song for us. It also made me feel like Mom was here with us too."
As Ignacio escorts Betty back to her seat and kisses her on the cheek, he states, "Good, because you're Mom had an important role in raising you. I couldn't have done it alone. At times, like now, I feel like she is watching all three of us and smiling."
Ignacio, trying to sound stern yet smiling, tells Matt, "I expect you will continue to take good care of my daughter, and my granddaughter, because they deserve the best."
"They are the most important people in my life and I will do everything in my power to keep them happy while helping them achieve all they are capable of," replies Matt as he gives Betty a deep kiss that ends too soon as far as both Betty and Matt are concerned.
"Good, I will continue to hold you to your word since I can see the love you have for each other," comments Ignacio as he sits down.
After the clapping quiets down, the Director announces, "Now, for the mother-son dance to The Man You've Become by Molly Pasutti."
As Matt leads Victoria to the dance floor, she tells him, "I believe you must have taken dance lessons or being with Betty, who even I must acknowledge seems good for you, increases your skill in everything."
Matt replies, "Yes, we did take dance lessons but I would also like to think that being with Betty has something to do with it."
Matt and Victoria start to dance, with Victoria trying hard to relax in front of the large crowd. Matt listens to the lyrics of the song… "Big wheels, hot wheels … Now you've grown so fine and come so far. I'm so proud of who you are the man you've become. Thrilled to share your deepest joy to know you've found the one for the great things you will do…"
Matt asks Victoria in a whisper, "I've never heard this song before-do you really mean the words that I am hearing?"
"Yes, I do. I have not always been the best at letting you know how I feel but I am definitely proud of how you've matured in the past year, how well you've taken to fatherhood, and the professional goals that you have. You truly seem to be in love with Betty and your future looks bright even with all the doubts and criticisms I've voiced. I'm honored to call you my son," replies Victoria.
Matt teasingly responds, "Thanks Mother, that means a lot to me and I'm sure to Betty too. I'm beginning to wish I'd met Betty a few years ago if I'd known she would help me finally gain your approval."
"Don't push it, talking back to your mother is still not proper protocol," retorts Victoria, who is unable to hide a smile as she regally takes her seat when the song ends.
Betty and Matt take a few moments to eat their salad. While the intermezzo of melon sorbet is being served Kristin comes over to the happy couple with Rosalina, whose crying has caught the attention of most of the guests.
"Since I will have to pump if I don't feed Rosalina personally, I would rather nurse her so that she can have her meal before we have our main course," comments Betty as she gets up from her seat.
Matt takes Rosalina from Kristin, which calms the baby down a little.
As he follows Betty, Matt whispers soothingly to Rosalina, "The mommy store will be open in a moment."
Matt asks Ben, "Some chairs are set up behind that curtain, correct?"
"Yes, there are two chairs and the pack-n-play, please come this way," Ben replies.
Nursing happily, Rosalina is done in just under 20 minutes. Matt, who is sitting next to Betty, burps Rosalina, while Betty rearranges her gown.
"Nothing is showing or out of place is it?" Betty asks Matt as they get ready to rejoin the party.
"No, you look perfect. You wouldn't know that you just nursed the Princess here. Of course, her full, contented look, suggests that she just had her dinner," replies Matt.
"Perfect, I don't think so but keep those compliments coming just the same," responds Betty as she grabs his hand and they walk over to Kristin to hand her a sleepy, cooing Rosalina.
Betty and Matt stop by several of the tables to thank the guests for coming before returning to their table. They both take a quick drink, glancing at each other and laughing as they notice that they missed the intermezzo entirely.
"Well, if we had to miss tasting something, it is better that it was the sorbet rather than the main course," remarks Matt.
"Agreed," replies Betty who then enjoys a couple of minutes of doing nothing other than staring lovingly at her husband.
"As your meal is being served, please enjoy two more dances from the couple of the evening, who have each selected a song that they are dedicating to the other," announces the Director.
The Director continues, "We are starting with Matt's song to Betty, Beautiful in My Eyes by Joshua Kadison."
As he leads Betty to the dance floor, Matt tells her, "Try to keep the words of this song in mind even though they still can't capture how I feel about you."
"I'll try," replies Betty, giving him an erotic, intense kiss that results in them both needing to catch their breath.
As Betty and Matt glide lightly across the dance floor, they and their guests, listen to the lyrics of the song. "You're my peace of mind, in this crazy world. You're every thing I've tried to find…And my only prayer is that you realize you'll always be beautiful in my eyes...The world will turn and the seasons will change and all the lessons we will learn will be beautiful and strange. We'll have our fell of tears…and the passing years will show that you will always grow ever more beautiful in my eyes…"
When the song ends, Betty and Matt look at each other and smile, with the room having fallen virtually silent due to the beauty of their dancing combined with the lyrics.
"Although that romantic moment will be hard to exceed, now we have Betty's dedication to Matt, Breathe by Faith Hill," announces the Director.
"Don't mind staying in my arms, do you?" Matt asks softly.
"I think the song I've selected for you answers that question with a resounding no," responds Betty.
As the song starts, the lyrics bring grins to most attendees faces, including Betty's and Matt's. "I can feel the magic floating in the air being with you gets me that way. I watch the sunlight dance across your face and I've never been this swept away. All my thoughts just seem to settle on the breeze when I'm lying wrapped up in your arms. The whole world just fades away. The only thing I hear is the beating of your heart. Cause I can feel you breathe, it's washing over me and suddenly I'm melting into you. There's nothing left to prove. Baby, all we need is just to be caught up in the touch, slow and steady rush. …Isn't that the way that love's suppose to be…Closer than I've ever felt before and I know, and you know, there's no need for words right now..."
"That was a wonderful song. It is how I feel about you too," remarks a mildly choked up Matt.
Matt frames her face with his hands and gives Betty a kiss that is an unusual combination of passion and trust followed by them going in the direction of their seats amid a smattering of applause, whispers, and whistles.
As they pass by the table that contains Matt's co-workers from Botswana, Leigh smiles at them and says, "We're glad you all will be joining us in just a couple of weeks. Matt was a wonderful, dedicated worker while in Africa, but there was also a bit of sadness to him too. I suspect that was because he didn't feel complete without you."
"That is pretty accurate, but now that we've found each other again and plan on being together forever, I believe that sadness will be gone," responds Matt as he continues to hold Betty close to his side.
"It may be replaced with a bit of tiredness occasionally given that Rosalina still likes to give us a nighttime wake-up call every now and then," adds Betty, leading to most at the table laughing.
"Matt, you cleaned up rather well," teases George, one of the fellow volunteers, "I hope you've kept some more casual clothes for the time you'll be in Africa."
"Don't worry about that, we will be properly attired for our visit so that Betty can get those first hand stories for our magazine," states Matt.
They then stop by the table of guests from Dunne, with Betty asking, "How are you enjoying your time in the States?"
"It has been great thus far," responds David, with the others nodding in agreement, "We've even managed to squeeze in a few sites in between all of the wedding activities."
Mr. Dunne states, "I wanted to compliment you both on those original and touching wedding vows, apparently those writing skills came in handy."
"Thank you," reply a slightly red Betty and Matt.
They glance over at Kristin, who is motioning to them indicating that Rosalina has fallen asleep.
"Pardon us. We will need to catch up more a bit later. Right now, we are going to help tuck Rosalina in before eating dinner," comments Matt as he and Betty follow Kristin behind the curtain to the temporary nursery area.
"There you go, Princess, we are right nearby if you wake up," whispers Betty as Matt places the blanket over Rosalina in her pack-n-play and they both give her a light kiss so as not to disturb her.
Matt asks Kristin, "You'll stay here with her for now and we'll send others in as needed so that you can enjoy the party too, correct?"
Kristin replies, "That is the plan. If they could bring me a small table I will actually be able to eat dinner here and not have to disturb the kitchen at an off time."
"Thought of that already," remarks Ben, who directs two of the staff to place a table near the chairs and play pen.
"They'll be fine. You two need to get back to your table and start eating or your entrees will be cold," states Ben reassuringly as he directs Betty and Matt back to their seats.