The Pregnancy Ship
Chapter 21: Forever and Ever part 2
This is an A/U story
It seemed like 1o'clock would never come but finally it was here. The guests were seated. Andrea and her husband had made it. She was seated in a wheelchair. It was her doctor's wish that she not be on her feet at all. She wore a pretty periwinkle blue maternity dress. Her hair was pulled into a French twist and she had flowers threaded into it. Paul sat behind her in the front row. He wore a gray suit and periwinkle shirt and tie. Andrea was Sharon's Matron of Honor, and Patrice was the Bride's Matron. Emily was also a bride's maid but her wheelchair made it difficult for her to traverse the grass.
Since she and Andrea were both in wheelchairs, they were already on the patio, across from Andy waiting for the bride. Emily wore a fuchsia tea length dress and matching sandals. Her hair was in a topknot adorned with flowers and romantic curls framed her face. Patrice would precede Sharon up the aisle. Linda sat in the front row too. She wore a rose-colored pants suit and jacket with a white blouse that had pale pink flowers and green leaves. Her reddish brown hair was done in a fashionable short sassy haircut. She wore rose-colored earrings and a matching necklace.
Louie, who stood with Andy, matched his outfit with Patrice who wore sunshine yellow. He wore a black suit with a yellow and black striped tie. Amy wore a coral colored sheath dress that hugged her curves and matching coral sandals. Chuck wore a coral colored shirt with a black suit and tie. Fritz Howard, who carried his newborn infant son Matthew, wore a black suit also with a pink shirt and tie. The team was involved in the workings of the wedding, technical and otherwise. They wore black suits white shirts and black ties. Brenda stood beside Fritz in a pink flowered knee length dress and a pink sweater. She was holding her brand new daughter Willie Rae in her arms.
On the other side of the aisle, were Sharon's parents. Emily and Ricky had called them after Sean's latest doctor appointment and urged them to come as a surprise for Sharon. It turned out that the radioactive seeding that he had received for prostate cancer had done the job and he was cancer free. He was also no longer radioactive, so no longer a danger to the babies. They were dressed tastefully. Eileen wore a mint green linen skirt suit with a pale pink shell and pink pearls around her neck and in her ears. Sean wore a tan linen suit with a pink shirt and pink and green striped tie. Nicole and her husband Dean sat beside them. She wore a bright purple sheath dress with spaghetti straps and matching purple sandals. He wore a gray suit with a matching purple shirt with a purple and lavender stripped tie.
Finally the music began. First Patrice walked slowly down the aisle in a butter yellow dress with an empire waistline. It fell to her knees in an a-line with a handkerchief hem. She wore matching yellow sandals. Even though it was officially fall, it was still 80 degrees. It gave the illusion of being spring or summer.
Sharon who was flanked by her sons Ricky, Rusty and grandsons, Devlin and Ian came down the aisle. She wore a creme colored dress that consisted of a pale pink silky under dress with a cream-colored floral lace overlay, which reached to her knees in an a-line with a handkerchief hem. Her shoes were cream-colored sandals with a small wedge heel. She held a bouquet of purple blue and pink wild flowers in one hand. Sharon's hair was done in a half up and half down arrangement with curls framing her face. The sides were loosely pulled into a chignon of artfully arranged curls with a flowery clip to hold them in place. The rest of her beautifully rich auburn hair fell past her shoulders in a tumble of romantic curls. Her face was made up with lightly applied foundation that did not cover the freckles across her nose and on her cheeks. Her eyes were framed with pale green shadow and a bit of eyeliner to emphasize their moss green hue. Her lipstick was a mixture of pink and coral in addition her cheeks were naturally blushed. Sharon was gorgeous and looked nowhere near her true age of fifty-two. The panic and anxiety of a few hours before were replaced with a mixture of joy and wistfulness. The boys beside her were all in black suits with pink shirts and ties.
As she neared the patio she got a flash of sight, it was brief, but in those few seconds she saw Andy in a black suit with a pale pink shirt and pink and cream tie, waiting for her holding out his hand. He was smiling at her. She saw that Louie Provenza flanked him on one side. Andrea and Emily were in their places as matron of honor and bridesmaids, although Patrice had opted to sit down in the front row close to them. It was hot and she was getting tired. Judge Richwood stood there in a black suit, white shirt and black tie. She could see some of their guests and the flowers, the decorations and everything. Then just as suddenly it was gone all she saw were lights and shadows again. She paused in that moment but then started again at Rusty's urging. The boys gave her over to Andy once they got to him. "Who gives this woman to this man?" asked the judge.
"We do sir. Her sons Richard, Russell, her daughter Emily, and her parents Eileen and Sean O'Dwyer."
Sharon gasped her parents were here? She pressed her lips together and worked at overcoming the emotions that were threatening to overwhelm her. She took a deep breath and felt. Andy squeezed her hand in support. Another flash of sight happened in that moment as she turned toward him. She saw his dear face smiling at her with such love and devotion and she smiled back at him. Then the flash was over. She tried to blink her eyes to get it back, but it didn't come back.
"Family and dear friends. We are gathered here to join this woman, Sharon Eileen O'Dwyer Raydor and this man Andrew Dennis Flynn in matrimony. The state of matrimony is not something to be entered into lightly. It's a lifelong commitment. If there is anyone here who has just cause that these two people should not wed speak now or forever hold your peace." Absolute silence followed that statement. The Judge nodded and went on, "Andrew, do you take Sharon as your lawfully wedded wife? To love and to cherish, being faithful to her from this day forward 'til death do you part?"
Andy smiled and said, "I do!"
"Sharon, do you take Andrew as your lawfully wedded husband to love and to cherish being faithful to him from this day forward 'til death do you part?"
"I do!" Sharon said, happily.
"The rings please." Devlin and Ian stepped forward and held out their little pillows. The judge untied Sharon's ring and handed it to Andy to put on Sharon's finger. It was a white gold band that had a claddaugh cut into it and crusted with diamonds. It matched her friendship engagement ring. She hadn't wanted it replaced so he had a bigger diamond set into it.
Andy then said: "I give this ring to you, my beloved, my friend, my wife. Whenever I see this ring, I will remember the cherished bond we have created here this afternoon."
The Judge then gave Sharon, Andy's ring. He placed his hand in Sharon's and she placed the ring on his finger, albeit with slightly trembling hands. His band matched hers. "I give this ring to you, my beloved, my friend, my husband. Whenever I see this ring, I will remember the cherished bond we have created here this afternoon."
"Sharon and Andy have asked to say their own vows. Sharon, would you like to start?"
She nodded and started, "Andy, when I first met you, I was drawn to you irresistibly, but I was determined never to marry again. My first experience being what it was, but your love was so tender and genuine, so compassionate and caring. In spite of the obstacles we faced just getting to a point where we were actually dating, you waited for me. All the while you crept slowly into my life and filled my being, as your love fell softly onto my heart and suddenly I knew, I could never let go of you. Your love has restored my broken heart; your smile has healed my pain; and your caring spirit has rescued mine from the prison it was in." Sharon's voice was shaky but filled with adoration as she continued, "I love you, and I promise to care for you, to comfort you and to cherish you always. You have turned my life around; in more ways than I could ever imagine. We made twin babies with our love, and our lives will never be the same. Each day is and will be a new delight, a new awakening. My heart belongs to you, and I promise before these witnesses, to stand beside you, upholding you, cherishing you for the rest of our days together. You have brought back the sunshine to my soul, the joy to my days, and love to my life. I take you now as my husband. May every moment of our lives be full of an awareness of our existence for each other. My heart is open and my soul rejoices this day, as we become a new family. I accept you as my soul-mate, will you accept me as yours?"
"I will," Andy, answered, his voice thick with emotion. He then said: "Sharon, I promise to blot away your tears with my laughter, and your pain with my caring and my compassion. We will white out the old canvases of our lives and fill them with new color and beauty. I take you to be my wife and I promise to love you always. Today I have come to marry my best friend, my lifesaver, and my sweetheart. Before I met you, I was only half a person, filled with sadness and regret. But with your love I have been given a second chance to become a husband and a new father. As we blend our families and add to them with the twins, we will face life with gladness and thanksgiving, welcoming whatever lies in store for us. l am humbled by your love, and I will stay with you for all of our days. I accept you as my soul-mate will you accept me as yours?"
"I will," Sharon, said, her voice breaking, filled of the joy and happiness.
"By the power invested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," intoned Judge Richwood. Andy took Sharon into his arms and they kissed. Completely involved with each other they forgot for a moment the rest of the world existed. "Ladies and Gentlemen I introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Flynn," the judge announced as they came up for air.
As the backyard filled with the song, 'I'm going to love you forever and ever amen,' the guests clapped and whistled as Andy and Sharon made their way back down the aisle. Andy kept her tucked against his side, her arm laced through his. He was guiding her without seeming to. As they approached her parents, Andy slowed down causing Sharon to stop and ask. "Momma, Daddy, are you there?"
"Yes Darling, we're here," said Eileen. Her mom stood up and embraced Sharon. She looked into her eyes, but saw no reaction. She sighed.
"I thought you said you couldn't come." Sharon swallowed, as her emotions threatened to bubble up to the surface. She loved her parents and had been disappointed when she had thought they would be unable to share their day with her and Andy. But then with the accident and the blindness she had been glad they would be spared seeing her blind. So much for that idea, she thought.
"We didn't think we could, Darling, but the doctor just cleared your father for travel and they checked him, he's completely cancer free and radioactivity free. Ricky and Emily thought it would be a nice surprise for you, for us to just show up." Her mother said.
"They were right, it's a wonderful surprise!" Sharon said hugging her mother and father.
"Sharon, Darling, you are soooo beautiful and those were the most touching wedding vows I've ever heard," she cupped Sharon's face in her hands and kissed her cheeks. She wiped happy tears away and then hugged Andy.
"Thank you, Momma, we wanted to say something that fit our situation more than traditional wedding vows would."
"Well, they certainly did the job," said Sean. You are beautiful dear! Congratulations, both of you." Sean gave his daughter a kiss on the cheek and a side hug, and then shook Andy's hand vigorously.
Then Andrea and Paul and other guests claimed their attention. "Sharon, what a beautiful wedding! I'm so glad we were able to make it!"
"I'm glad too. Are you alright?" Sharon asked worried about her friend.
Holding out her hand for Andrea to take, she held it tight and explained, "yes, but Honey, Paul and I will have to leave soon. Probably after you cut the cake."
Smiling towards her voice Sharon mentioned, "Well, don't leave without eating something and make sure you take some cake.
Andrea answered with an, "okay."
Sharon squeezed Andy's arm to let him know she needed to sit down. He got her settled in a rattan chaise lounge and went to get her some punch and something to eat. They had decided on an informal garden party venue, originally and Nicole had continued with that theme. Next to the patio the food table were set up buffet style with everything kept cold with refrigerated chafing dishes. There were sandwiches, fruit salads, fresh fruit, cheese and crackers. As Andy brought Sharon's food to her he looked around and realized that most of their original planning had been adhered to, and that Nicole had just fleshed out some details. Sharon's anxiety of earlier had blown things up in her mind and made them more overwhelming than they really were. He wished she could see everything, he had thought for a couple of moments her sight had come back, but he guessed not. As he sat facing her on the chaise lounge Andy handed her a sandwich from a large plate that had enough sandwiches for both of them. It also had cheese, crackers and some fruit. He then handed her a flute of pale nonalcoholic strawberry punch. "Thank you, Andy. Do you have some too?"
"Yeah, I got some for both of us on one plate. I thought we could um...feed each other."
"We could, that would be very romantic, but no smashing food all over me!" she pointed in his general direction, channeling her Darth Raydor.
I wouldn't think of it," Andy said pretending to be shocked that she would think he would do such a thing.
As they fed each other, Andy asked the question that had been burning in his mind since he saw her pause on the edge of the patio. "Sharon, what happened, when you hesitated?"
Sharon finished chewing her chicken salad sandwich then spoke, "I got a momentary flash of sight, Andy. I saw almost everything in that moment and then...it disappeared. I got another one when I was turning toward you, when the boys handed me over to you. Then everything disappeared and all I see is lights and shadows again. I don't know whether to be encouraged or scared or what," she told him. There was a touch of sadness in her voice.
"I would think encouraged would be the best way to be unless a doctor says otherwise. You have an appointment tomorrow; we'll see what the doctor has to say, okay? All the doctors said you would get your sight back, maybe this is the way it will happen." He kissed her then. "No more sad thoughts my love. Today is our wedding day and any minute we'll be called upon to cut the cake and dance the first dance…"
Just as he said that, Provenza took the mic, from Tao and announced, "Hello ladies and gentlemen, as the best man for Andy, I'm supposed to make a toast so here goes. I was opposed to this romance in the beginning. All I could see was disaster on the horizon for this couple. She was his captain; he was her subordinate officer after all. I harassed him every chance I got, but then I met my now wife Patrice and saw what real love can do for a person. You know, I've been married a time or...five and you'd think after five marriages I'd already knows this, but it turns out I didn't have a clue until I met Patrice. Anyway, I saw what it was doing for me and I decided Andy and the Captain deserved to be happy too. Not only that but Patrice told me to let them be." A hearty laugh rippled through the crowd. "I'm glad I did because other than Patrice and I, I've never seen a happier couple. Through all the stuff they've gone through so far, they have become bonded with a very strong love for one another that I'm sure will carry them through everything that is yet to come. The late parenthood ship seems to be going around, first, Sharon and Andy then Andrea and Paul, Patrice and I and Fritz and the Chief, have been invited onto it. It's a scary prospect, but we're all excited about being on it together. We'll hopefully be able to be around long enough to raise our children together. So without further ado, raise your glasses to Sharon and Andy Flynn. A wonderful couple who deserves all the very best life can offer you! Salud!"
"Salud!" Everybody shouted.
Then Mike, who was doubling as a master of ceremonies, took the microphone and announced the first dance. Andy led Sharon onto the patio. It had been transformed from the area in which they'd said their vows to a place where they could dance. Buzz was the DJ; he played the song 'Can I Have This Dance.' Andy led Sharon through the waltz as they danced; they sang the words to each other. She felt safe with him and relaxed enjoying the dance. After that Buzz played 'Forever and Ever Amen.' They again sang the words, her voice was soft but sweet and his was slightly off key, but not unpleasant to listen to. As they danced various people snapped pictures. Sharon and Andy had decided to go with non-professional pictures for this wedding. She was uncomfortable with the idea of having professional pictures done while she was unable to see. Candid, she knew were unavoidable, but she didn't want to pose blind.
All the traditional songs were played, the Chicken Dance, the YMCA, the Electric Slide. They all had a wonderful time then it was time to cut the cake, which Andy helped her with. They fed it to each other, he was careful to only pretend to shove it in her face. "Andy," she warned him. She couldn't see him but she knew him well. So he kissed her then delicately fed her the cake. She did the same. Then it was time to throw the bouquet, and the garter. Amy, caught the bouquet, Chuck caught the garter. Then it was over and people started coming to say goodbye. The first to go had been Andrea and Paul than Patrice and Provenza.
The next to the last to go surprisingly enough were Fritz and Brenda. "Thank yew, Captain, Ah mean Sharon. It was a wonderful weddin!"
Sharon's brows furrowed together. "Brenda? Is that you?"
"Yes Captain, it's me. Ah guess you didn't hear everything that happened after Ah left yew last week."
"No, Ah... I mean no what... did something happen?" Sharon asked concerned.
Andy found a rattan chair for everyone and they sat. "After Ah left yew Ah went to mah obstetrician appointment and Anne was there too. She and Ah had just left the doctor's office. She went in her car and Ah in mine. We were both caught up in that car accident, the big one on the 101. Ah'm afraid she didn't make it but Matthew Clay did, thank God. Ah wasn't hurt, but the trauma of the accident caused me to go into labor and Ah had Willie Rae a little early. Fritz heard about me being in the same accident as Anne and he hurried to mah side. We decided to make a go of it again and raise these babies together. As it turns out we still love each other It also turns out that when Ah saw Willie Rae and then Matthew Clay and held them in mah arms, Ah fell in love, all the doubts and fears that Ah had about bein' a mother went away. Ah guess it took a catastrophic event like a car accident to make me realize what's important in life. What Ah mean to say is it's not that Ah wouldn't have been fine had things turned out the other way, my career was very satisfying, but ah was basin' my decisions entirely on fear... and I've learned that those fears although they were unfounded, they almost destroyed what I had with Fritzi."
Sharon was stunned to hear what all had happened. "Wow Brenda, Fritz, I'm shocked. I hadn't heard any of this. I guess I've been so caught up with my own drama, I was completely out of the loop."
"Yeah, Ah had heard about the blindness. How is that going?" Brenda asked as she stood up to sway back and forth to keep Willie Rae from waking up. Every so often she would kiss her or stroke the infant's cheek and gaze at her lovingly, still amazed that she had this beautiful baby. Still completely awestruck that she had given birth to such an amazing little creature.
"Well, it's only been a week but it seems like a year," Sharon laughed self deprecatingly.
"Will you go back to work after the babies are born and your leave is up and um after your sight comes back?" Fritz asked.
"That depends on whether or not Lt. Provenza is ready to give me my job back by then," Sharon said smiling.
"Oh, he'll be ready, every day we hear him cursing the paperwork. If it wasn't so annoying it would be funny, " Andy said. They all laughed.
Then Brenda said, "Cap...Sharon, I would never have known you were blind, if Fritzi hadn't told me. You seem to know your way around. You look straight at me not off to the side, it's amazing how do you do it?"
"Well, have you met Melinda? She's my low vision occupational therapist. I think she left after we said our vows. She's been helping me cope. It's been a rocky road, but my family helps. Andy especially has been wonderful, and Melinda is training me to be independent as I can be. I had some flashes of sight as I was coming down the aisle and that gives me hope that I'll get my sight back eventually. I just hope it's sooner than later." Feeling uncomfortable, Sharon decided to change the subject. "I'm sorry to hear about Anne, Fritz."
"Thank you, Captain. Don't get me wrong; I cared about Anne, a lot. We were two lonely people who needed something in our lives that we didn't have. She was missing her daughter and husband even when we were together she was missing them. She never really got over their loss and I was missing Brenda and the chance to be a father. I mean I broke up with her, because I thought that's what she wanted. But then Anne died, and I realized I hadn't loved her like I loved Brenda and that I was at peace that she was reunited with her husband and daughter and I'm thankful that she gave me Matthew of course." Fritz paused to look down at his sleeping son cradled in hi s arms. "Then I heard Brenda had been in the same accident and I felt like my heart stopped beating for a second. I went to her right away and when I saw she was okay except for some scratches, bruises, and except for being in labor, I wasn't entirely surprised to realize that I had never stopped loving her. I was with her when Willie Rae was born. She was supposed to be taken by caesarian but Willie Rae is tiny, only 6lbs and she slipped out as they were prepping Brenda for surgery."
"My goodness! What an amazing story. Was Matthew or Willie Rae hurt at all?"
"No, they're both healthy as horses," Fritz said proudly.
"Yeah and they eat like horses too," said Brenda sardonically. "Speaking of that, we have to go. Both of these babies are gonna go off like fire engines pretty soon."
Sharon understood and said, "goodbye, to you too. Don't be strangers."
"We won't," said Fritz happily. "We live two streets down, on Lemon Tree Avenue."
"Oh, that's funny, I hadn't realized you were so close. Louie and Patrice bought the house next door and Andrea and Paul are three streets over on Peach Tree Street. Nicole and Dean just bought a house on Orange Blossom Boulevard which backs up to us here on Cherry Orchard Lane "
"Well see you, Captain, Lieutenant, Ah mean Sharon and Andy."
"Hopefully, I'll see you too...soon," said Sharon.
Once they left Nicole came over. Andy whispered in Sharon's ear that she was there.
"Nicole, I can't begin thank you enough. Everything was wonderful, Honey "
"I'm glad you liked it. It was your entire plan I just tweaked it a little. I wish you could see it."
Sharon smiled towards her new daughter-in-law, "I did. I mean as much as I could see in a moment. There was a flash of sight as I was coming down the aisle, and again as I turned to face Andy on the patio."
Nicole was happy and exclaimed, "Oh, my that's wonderful. Does that mean you will get your sight back soon?"
She shrugged as she replied, "I don't know I hope so. I'm just glad I was able to experience the wedding, in any case. Although I would have loved to see Rusty's face when they played YMCA or the chicken dance. I don't think he's ever been to a wedding before that involved usually perfectly sane adults acting foolish like in the chicken dance."
"I can understand why, he was funny. He had a perplexed look on his face as he watched, but then Gus pulled him up to the dance floor and showed him the motions he went along with it. He was kind of uncoordinated at first but he got the hang of it, eventually." Sharon giggled throatily and leaned into Andy, holding on to the back of his suspenders. She was running out of energy.
After kissing Nicole and thanking her again for all her hard work he put a protective arm around her and guided her inside where it was air-conditioned. She was grateful for a chance to breathe in cool air. "Well Mrs. Flynn, we're married now. How does it feel?" Andy asked and gave her a searing kiss.
When they came up for air, she said, "it feels glorious! Now take me to bed, please!"
"O...k...a...y, " he said with a smirk and a wiggle of his eyebrows.
"Don't get too excited, Honey I wish I had the energy for consummating our vows right now. I'm afraid that will have to wait...at least for a couple of hours," Sharon said in a sultry teasing voice.
She could be heard saying this as they went down the hall to their room. Ricky looked at Rusty and Gus. "You'd think since she's carrying twins they would have consummated their vows enough already." Ricky said with a cocky grin.
Rusty rolled his eyes in a perfect imitation of Sharon, "ugh Ricky, did you have to put that picture in my head?"
The Wedding vows were borrowed from a page on the Internet, about midlife marriage vows. Except for the parts that were part of Sharon and Andy's situation. i.e. The you waited for me, the part about the twins, and becoming a new family.
Thank you for reading my story. A special thank you if you have taken the time to leave a review.