Fast Forward 6 Months
Wedding Day AKA "I Do, But Could We Do It Quicker?"
The day was set. Young Mr. Grace agreed to allow Betty and Stephen to be married on Sunday in the Ladies' and Gents' Department.
Colin's brother, a vicar, agreed to perform the ceremony. Mr. Grainger was the Best Man. Miss Brahms was the Maid of Honor. Mrs. Axelby was a bridesmaid. Mr. Lucas was an usher, as were Mr. Humphries and Mr. Harman. The canteen manageress offered her 2 year old for the ring-bearer.
Packing and Maintenance decorated the department beautifully. Grace Brothers catering provided the food: steak and kidney pie; tinned Japanese champagne, and little nibbly things.
The staff of Grace Brothers sat on the bride's side. Packing and Maintenance from Woodward and Lothrop sat on the groom's side. They made eyes at each other across the aisle.
The ivory taffeta gown featured a lace, beaded and floral embroidery treatment on corset bodice, and a full taffeta skirt. Mr. Humphries fitted Betty for her dress doing all the hand beading and embroidery himself. She had an heirloom veil, which belonged to her mother. Betty had preserved it all these years in a hatbox in the top of her closet.
The men received staff discount on the rental of their suits, since they were left over from the last time Betty attempted to get married. Betty dyed her hair a peach color to match Stephen's boutonnière.
Stephen stood at the altar; his palms were beginning to sweat. Mr. Harman set the needle on the record and as the Wedding March played, the crowd was on their feet, and the ceremony was set in motion.
Betty stepped out from behind the fitting room curtain. Mr. Rumbold took her by the arm to lead her down the aisle as all stared.
Stephen gasped in astonishment and leaned over to Mr. Grainger, "She does look beautiful, doesn't she, Ernest?"
"Yes. She does, Stephen. Radiant. I am very happy for you both."
"I just hope I can be a better husband to her than I was to Vivienne," he lamented.
"Just keep your eyes on your own wife. Keep your hands to yourself. Keep your willy in your trousers and you should have no problems," he whispered.
"Sound advice, indeed, Ernest," he nodded.
Betty walked up the aisle on Mr. Rumbold's arm. Stephen straightened and stood a little taller, proud. She came alongside him and took his arm. He looked round back, tilting his head to the side, and gave her a top-to-bottom once-over.
"Very nice," he whispered to Betty.
Mr. Rumbold lifted her veil. Stephen's eyes widened.
"Wow!" he mouthed to her and held her hands tightly, "You look beautiful!"
The vicar began performing the ceremony when Mr. Harman tapped Stephen on the shoulder.
"Excuse me," Stephen frowned and whispered, holding up one finger, "What is it, Harman?"
"Cap'n Peacock, bruvah, sir, we 'ave an emergency!" he whispered, "Da boys from Woodward and Lof'rop's Packin' and Maint'nance are in a row wiff da boys from Grace Bruvahs' Packin' and Maint'nance. If you don' do somefing quickly, vicar will be refereein' a fray!"
"This needs to be handled in a dignified manner, like gentlemen. Tell the men we'll meet on the field behind Grace Brothers 30 minutes after the ceremony!" Stephen commanded. Then he turned to the vicar.
"Vicar, can we get on with it?" Stephen motioned his hand to the vicar to speed things up. He kissed Betty.
"We're not at that part yet!" the vicar whispered.
"Oh, oh, right, sorry!" he looked sheepishly at the vicar.
The vicar continued at a quicker pace.
"Do you, Mary Elizabeth Jennifer Rachel Abergavenny Yiddell Slocombe, take Stephen Nigel Anthony Peacock…?"
"Oh, snap! By the time he gets that lot out, they could be back from the honeymoon!" Mr. Lucas joked to Mr. Humphries. They both snickered.
"I do" she said.
"Do you, Stephen take Mary Elizabeth Jennifer …"
Stephen put his hand up, "Betty."
"Betty," corrected the vicar.
"I do."
"The rings?" hinted the vicar.
"Oh, right!" said Stephen. He reached down and removed the rings from the ring bearer's little pillow.
They each slipped a ring on the other's finger.
"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife…Blah, blah… Death do you part…no man put asunder…yadda yadda…You may now kiss the bride, Stephen…again!" the vicar smirked.
"We did it! We really did it," gushed Stephen and he cupped Betty's face in his hands and kissed her, "You do understand about the game, don't you, Dear?" He gave her a boyish grin.
"Yes! Not even married five minutes and already a football widow!" she feigned annoyance, "I didn't realize that this is what they meant by 'grass widow'!"
"Mr. Harman," called Stephen, "would you be so kind as to get me a pair of size 12 football boots from stock? You can put them on Mrs. Slo-…um..er…Mrs. Peacock's…staff…account," he blushed, smiled broadly, and puffed his chest out.
It had sunk in. He wrapped his arms tightly around Betty, picked her up so she was eye-to-eye with him, and began to spin her round and round, kissing her again and again. One of her shoes had dropped off in the excitement.
Stephen picked it up and handed it to her, "Cinderella, you seem to have lost a slipper!"
"Are you going to be my Prince Charming?"
"I love you, Betty Peacock!" he laughed.
Stephen loosened his tie and went into the fitting room. He returned within a few minutes dressed in his football kit.
"Do you always wear your football kit under your clothes?" she asked suspiciously and smiling knowingly.
"Today is Sunday; we always play on Sunday! C'mon, Betty, you know that!"
"Today is our wedding day!" she protested.
"Even more reason to play! Thanks for being a good sport. Save me a piece of wedding cake, Love."
The men all filed out to go watch the game, leaving the women to their hen party.
"I can't believe your wife is letting you leave your wedding to go play football! Mine would have had divorce papers drawn up faster than you could say 'I do'!" said Colin.
"Does she have a sister?" asked Richard.
"Do you have room for an extra person?" Mrs. Axelby called over, "I play forward!"
"Come along!" said Richard.