.
Emerald Bond
Speeches
.
The bridal couple stayed there for a few moments longer. Tommy needed some time to compose himself, so he turned his attention to the other gifts.
"We're going to have enough opportunities for drinks and nibbles, haven't we?" he said, still a bit husky.
Barbara did not let him get away so quickly. "You okay?" she quietly asked laying her hand on his arm.
Tommy nodded. Then they smiled at each other and shared a kiss. When she knew he really was okay, Barbara also turned towards the gift table to have a closer inspection.
"Ah, I'm afraid I won't be able to indulge in these for quite a while now."
There really were a few bottles she had to keep her fingers off for some time. A six-pack of handcrafted beer with unique labels with marriage topics, more special beer, a few bottles of wine, a bottle of very fine Scotch Whisky from Denton - all was prohibited for her at the moment and in the near future. She could indulge in the sweets and other alcohol-free treats though. She could pick from all sorts of simple but fine chocolates. There was a jar with personalised M&Ms for example, or small compositions of other exquisite food and of course all the organic stuff from Tommy's cousin.
Barbara also was allowed to use those nicely shaped pieces of handmade soap with their names on it. And there also were a few small decorative items like a glass ball with the letters T&B, encircled with a heart, lasered inside and only visible from one ankle. Or a 1950s Wolseley police car model with TOMMY+BARBARA on its front plate, a sign saying Just married at its back and several tiny tin cans on cords tied at its rear bumper bar. It came from Annabel. Or a picture of the iconic Land's End direction post from one of Tommy's Cornish cousins, saying Barbara & Tommy and showing today's date on one board. Or another embroidered cushion from one of his aunts.
Barbara groaned. "Why the heck do you have such a huge family? I can't recall most of their names, least of all remember what they gave us."
"We'll stick notes at all these things and on a quiet evening I'll tell you a few stories about them." Tommy laughed and placed a kiss in her hair.
"According to all that stuff here, I wonder if they have donated anything to one of those charities."
"Oh, I'm pretty sure of that." He squeezed her shoulders. "Now come. I think we should go to the buffet before our guests will have it plundered."
"That certainly won't happen. Have you seen how much there is? I bet everyone will go home with a doggy bag."
Of course they got their share of the barbecue buffet.
When they had received their nicely arranged meals both returned to their table. Tommy enjoyed a bit of lamb with green beans and potato wedges while Barbara had opted - of course - for bangers and mash with a rich creamy onion sauce. The portions were not huge if you had not told your personal waiter to fill up your plate, so everybody was able to taste other things from the buffet.
The bridal couple had just finished their first plate when Daze got up from her chair. She gently tapped her wine glass with a tea spoon and the room turned silent.
"Ladies and gentlemen..." she started, then her face turned softer. "family... friends... dear colleagues of the bride and groom. As the mother of the groom I am supposed to say a few words. We are here to celebrate Barbara's and Tommy's wedding..." She laid her fond eyes on her son and made a pause. "Oh, I still remember the day he was born at Howenstow. The room had a fireplace and the logs were crackling, and through the huge windows I could see the rose garden."
"Mother..." Tommy groaned quietly. He feared that Daze would give an hour-long speech, including too many of their family secrets and too much Tommy-as-a- boy-stuff.
"Well, don't worry, dear son." Her son's shocked expression had made Daze laugh out loud before she returned her eyes to the audience. "No, I'm not here to annoy you with stories of Tommy's childhood. Children grow up too fast anyway and suddenly they move out of home and live a life of their own. But my son's life of his own is not so his own anymore. He's finally found his counterpart and today they have entered into the bond of marriage, and soon they will enter family life... "She turned to the couple next to her. "...as we all know by now that you've mixed up the usual chronology of how to start it."
The newly-weds blushed but Daze had said it with a gentle grin towards them. She knew several guests here had different views on that matter and she just wanted to make it clear that they were alone with their outdated opinions.
"Well," Daze continued. "why not?! Fortunately we don't live in the puritan era anymore, so why wait?! I'm exuberantly happy for you. I'm sure you will enjoy almost every moment. Earlier, at the wedding ceremony, the registrar already had said a few words about the times ahead and it's usually a part of the couple's vows: in good times and in bad times, it is said. Tommy, I know you for quite some time now..." A few chuckles were heard. "and Barbara, I've met you a few years ago. And although I've mistaken you for someone else at first, I've quickly learned that you're playing an important part in my son's life. I know now that you always will. That's why I have the strong believe that together you both will endure the bad times when they come, and you will enjoy the hopefully predominant good times. And when you're once old and grey you will remember the good times with fondness and look back onto the not so good times with a feeling of 'oh, how silly we've been' and you will share a kiss and smile."
Tommy understood this as a clear reference to the times when he had not spoken to her but which fortunately had come to an end. He nodded earnestly.
"And, since I've heard rumours that the bride and groom are not very fond of speeches, and instead of having to listen to endless monologues rather prefer to celebrate, I cut myself short now. Barbara, Tommy..." Daze raised her glass. "May you only have as many rough days as are necessary to keep the balance. May your life together be filled with a lot of joyful days, entire happiness, and not only one but maybe with a bunch of grandchildren for me."
As if on cue baby Trevor made a babbling noise that made everyone laugh.
"Umm... well, exactly." Daze agreed to the baby's heckle and addressed the bridal couple again for her toast. "To your love!"
"To your love!" Their guests also had raised their glasses to Tommy and Barbara.
Tommy hugged his mother and whispered his thanks. Barbara also hugged Daze and thanked her but she could not refrain from telling her that she was quite sure that she would not deliver a bunch of grandchildren.
"Oh, I'd be perfectly happy with the one you bear, my dear." Daze replied. "Whatever you want. As long as you both are happy."
Communications over dinner plates started again, and before Tommy and Barbara were going to fill a second plate with some of the tasty things from their barbecue buffet, Barbara leant over to her husband.
"You know, that was clever."
"What exactly?"
"Dorothy's little, well... hint at speeches."
Tommy laughed. "Oh, yes. Just to be on the safe side I've told her in advance to make it brief. I know, she's quite good at hinting, but I had not expected her to actually refer to it."
"Well..." Barbara grinned and looked around. "I'm sure a few of our guests have decided to have mercy and keep their crib sheets in their pockets. Look - that cousin of yours had just folded his. And there it goes, gone into his pocket. Phew!"
"And that's good, isn't it?" he winked.
She nodded fiercely. "Very good, indeed."
When no one really went to the barbecue buffet anymore, the music changed. An electric bass was added softly to piano, violin and cello. Rory's staff cleared the tables outside from the food-warmers and the grill was moved to the back of the garden to cool down. Dessert was offered now. The choices were plates with small sticky toffee puddings, tiny scones with jam and a dot of clotted cream and little glasses with a mix of cream, pieces of strawberry, crunchy crumbs and chocolate chips. At first the small treats still were covered, but when nobody stood to hold another speech, Rory gave a signal and the lids were lifted.
Rory's chef de cuisine earned a lot of approval for these dessert masterpieces.
After a while the contented munching on these lovely treats was almost over, so Simon got up and brought the room into silence.
"Oh, another speech." Barbara muttered under her breath. "I was just feeling safe."
Tommy chuckled and squeezed her hand. Of course his witness and best friend was entitled to say a few words but he surprised them.
"I think, all is said." Simon said after he had addressed the couple and the ladies and gentlemen briefly. "My best friend has married the love of his life. Good times, bad times, eternity, love and happiness. We all know that, so I won't bore you with another speech."
"Good on you." Barbara muttered under her breath but kept the smile on her face.
Only Tommy had heard her. "Barbara!" he breathed, almost unable to stifle a laugh.
Simon had not heard them at all. "Instead of monologising, I'd rather like the couple to perform now what is a wedding tradition I've learned abroad."
With a naughty grin and two pairs of working gloves in his hands he waved towards Deb who stood in one of the double doors holding up a two-man saw. Tommy groaned. Barbara looked curious.
Deb came closer and she was followed by two waiters, each carrying a saw-horse. Cedric Dorincourt also got up from his chair. He held up an old cricket bat and displayed the same cheeky grin that Deborah and Simon showed.
In front of the table of honour some space had been left out between the tables. It was where now, under the curious eyes of the guests, the saw-horses were placed. Cedric put the cricket bat on it and Deb held out the saw to Tommy and Barbara.
"Please come over here, Barbara, Tommy."
They followed Deb's plea and Simon explained it further. "This is some sort of an English adaption of that tradition. Hence the cricket bat. Usually it's a much thicker branch of a tree. This is a symbol of your first obstacle in your marriage. You have to cut up this... umm... typically English log. Here get these on."
"Don't you think you'll have to pay back for this later, Simon?" Tommy asked amused. Simon only grinned.
Barbara snorted a chuckle. "You mean, the game of cricket stands between us?"
Across the cricket bat the couple helped each other into the working gloves. Deb handed them the huge two-man saw. Fortunately there already was a tiny notch in the wood where the saw could be placed.
"And now cut it." Simon said joyfully. "Go!"
With their first clumsy tugs the band started to play the Flight of the Bumblebee. It made Barbara lose it immediately after one single stroke. She broke out in laughter and had to compose herself before she could go on sawing together with Tommy.
Over the sounds of their hard work Simon told them to "Find a joint rhythm and overcome this first challenge, together, with patience and hard work. It's a symbol for acting in concert, acting together with the same destination in your marriage. It's also a symbol for a barrier between you that is brought aside by both of you. But no, Barbara, the game of cricket does not stand between you. I'm pretty sure that you will learn to love it eventually."
This was the moment when Tommy's former cricket team mates cheered loudly.
At one point the newly-weds actually had found a perfect rhythm, and under the cheers of their guests the cricket bat was cut in two halves quickly. The pieces fell to the ground with a bang, the audience applauded, and the couple stepped between the saw-horses to share a kiss.
"Well, that was fun, I have to admit." Barbara told Tommy with a smile.
"We can repeat it at Howenstow." he chuckled. "Saves us a lot of money on pre-cut logs."
He gave her another kiss. His arms were around her waist and hers around his neck and their foreheads had bumped.
"I still feel weird, having all eyes on us." she whispered. "Especially when you so openly cuddle and kiss me."
"We're the bridal couple. We're married." he answered with a grin. "We're allowed to do that." He gave her another kiss. "And they even expect it from us... my dear wife." He gave her another, slightly longer kiss.
Holding hands they returned to their seats.
.
...