CHAPTER 25

Saturday morning came all too soon for most of the wedding party. Carla had gotten up extra early to get a good breakfast for the girls. They had fresh orange juice, pancakes, eggs, muffins and coffee.

Tara arrived early with her dress and enjoyed the delicious setting of food Carla had provided.
"Mom, you didn't have to do all this." Sue said, giving her mother a hug. "Thank you though, it's wonderful."

"I'm happy to do it for you Honey." Carla said as she hugged Sue back.

"So, do you have everything for today?" Tara asked.

"Yup." Lucy replied. "Dresses, flowers, veil, shoes, old, new borrowed, blue, favors, rings, license." Lucy said as she checked off the list again.

"Wow… very organized!" Carla complimented.

"Lucy can organize anything… in her sleep! We're ready." Sue said.

"Are you ready?" Carla asked.

"Yes. I am ready to be Jack's wife." Sue replied.

"Are you ready for the wedding night?" Tara teased. The girls all started to giggle a devilish sound. Sue turned a deep shade of red. "You guys…"

"Your wedding night is something special. It's something you'll always remember. Even after you've been married for 30 years and you have grandchildren… you'll look back on your wedding night and smile…" Carla said lovingly.

"And if you're lucky, you'll get to relive it every once in a while." Lucy said smiling.

"Lucy!" Sue scolded. The other ladies all joined in on the teasing.

"Well, to ensure that you're going to have a memorable night… well, more to the point, Jack will have a memorable night… we got you a little something." Tara said, handing over a box.

"What did you guys do?" Sue said blushing slightly.

Sue unwrapped the paper and saw the name on the box. Her eyes got big and she looked horrified at Lucy and then at Tara. Her face began to beam a bright pink. "Oh- my- gosh… I can't open this now… not in front of my mother!" Sue said turning a dark shade of pink.

The girls all began to laugh once more. They taunted Sue until she at least would open the box and look inside. She finally agreed, thinking they wouldn't have gotten something too revealing knowing that her mom was going to be there. They were watching her open it.

"Ok… "Sue finally agreed. She broke open the end of the box and peeked inside. She could only see white silk, and lots of it. She decided it was safe to open.

"We knew you wouldn't buy yourself something like that, so we did." Lucy said smiling at her.

Sue opened the box all the way, and took out a beautiful white silk robe decorated with lace, an embroidered flight of the butterfly pattern and just a few sequins to make it shimmer in the low light of the room of the hotel.

"Oh, it's beautiful." Sue gushed. "This is something I will definitely use tonight. Thank you." Sue said as she began to hug the girls.

"I have a little something for you as well." Carla said. She handed Sue a small box that looked like it held a handkerchief. Sue opened it without really looking. She moved the tissue of the box and looked slightly confused at the image inside the box. Lucy and Tara began to break into a fit of laughter, as if they knew exactly what was in the box. Sue's eyes cringed together; she reached for the material inside the box. As she lifted it out, it looked as if it has been shredded by a large cat. Sue's mouth hung open and she quickly shoved it back into the box. Her face beamed dark red.

"Mother!" Sue squealed. "Oh my gosh!" Sue said, still shocked at the choice. "Mom!" Was all Sue could manage. She was too shocked by the gift.

"Oh, come on darling. You have to Jack something to remember from tonight." Carla said laughing. They all shared a laugh. "Well, you should put that in your overnight bag so you'll have it for later."

"Does it come with directions? I don't even know which end is up…" Sue said taking it back out of the box and staring at the strings and lace.

"Trust me, you come out wearing that in any way, shape or form it won't matter if it's on right or not. Jack's eyes are going to bulge out of his head and it won't be on long enough to matter if you're wearing it the right way or not." Lucy said with a big smile on her face. Sue blushed a deep crimson.

"OK Ladies, I hate to be the one to break up the fun… but…" Tara began. "If we don't get a move on, Jack is going to think you stood him up at the altar."

"We can't have that." Sue said smiling. "I call the shower first." Sue said laughing and heading to the shower. Carla and Lucy both laughed and informed her that they had showered hours earlier and Tara had while she was at home.

An hour later all the girls were sitting around doing their hair and makeup. Sue's dress hung on the door frame. Tara was snapping candid pictures of all of them until Lucy snatched the camera and began taking her own pictures of everyone. Sue came out of her room wearing her perfect wedding dress. It was floor length, satin, pristine white. There was embroidered lace along the edges which gathered all the way around with sequins sitting in the middle forming what looked like a small butterfly. The skirt of the dress was covered with a sheer layer of lace decorated with a sporadic sprinkling of shimmering crystals. The top of the dress was off the shoulder with layers of satin over each other to form the sleeves and the bodice of the dress. In the center of the gathering on the chest was a bunching of crystals which formed a gentle flower. Sue wore her hair down, curled under just a little. When she walked into the living room with the other ladies, a hush came over the room. Carla walked to her daughter and gave her a hug.

"You look absolutely gorgeous." Carla said.

"Thanks Mom." Sue said, looking at her dress.

Lucy handed Sue a drink and raised her glass to her best friend.

"To the best friend I've ever had. I'm so glad you and Jack finally found each other, and finally found a way to each other." Lucy said as her eyes filled with tears.

The other ladies raised their glasses.

The girls were drinking margaritas and getting giddy. Carla hated to be a stick in the mud, but time was short and the limo she and Sue's dad had arranged was about to arrive. A few last pictures and they all piled into the back of the limo. They joked and told stories about Sue as a little girl and what she was like, and who her dream husband was. They were all surprised to find out that Eric Estrada topped that list. The limo came to a stop and the driver opened the door to allow the wedding party out. Sue sat in the car with her mom. Carla reached out and held onto Sue's hand. Sue looked at her mom, her eyes misting over.

"Oh, no you don't!" Carla said. "Don't you dare mess up that make up!" She joked. "You ok?" Carla asked.

"I am. Nervous, excited… a little anxious I guess." Sue admitted.

"It's going to be perfect. You and Jack belong together." Carla reassured.

"I know." Sue said with a smile.

"Nervous about tonight?" Carla asked. Sue blushed a dark pink.

"A little." Sue answered honestly. "I don't want to disappoint him." Sue said.

"You won't." She said. She took a deep breath and looked Sue deep in the eye. "We never had a birds and bees chat did we?" Carla joked.

"Mom…." Sue said blushing again.

"I'm just saying… If a man is really in love with you, and not just out for…" Carla started.

"I get it mom…" Sue interrupted.

"He won't be disappointed when he spends the first night with his wife." Carla said, trying to put Sue at ease.

Sue smiled trying not to think about it.

"Ready?" Carla asked Sue.

"Yeah." Sue said. Her mom got out of the limo and held her hand out to help her out of the car.

Sue entered the back of the church, and was greeted by her dad.

"Oh, Suzie… you are beautiful." He gushed. He gave her a big hug and D walked Carla to her seat