Gentle Reader,
I've had several people ask me, so I'm just going to say here that "unflappable" means "having or showing calmness in a crisis.
As always, your comments mean everything to me.
Love,
RobinDesBois
Anytime You Want (Part 3)
"Now announcing for the first time anywhere…Mr. And Mrs. Darcy!" Lizzie and Darcy walked into the reception to thunderous applause, and she glanced over to check that he'd remembered to put in his earplugs. He smiled when he saw her looking and tugged her hand to pull her close and kiss her in front of their guests. Lizzie laughed when he released her and pulled him after her to the head table, nodding on the way to Antone, who had come out of supervising the kitchen to see them walk in. Darcy pulled out Lizzie's chair for her as the DJ announced that dinner would be served in a few minutes. That had been by far the easiest decision of planning their wedding – they hired their Italian restaurant. After the waiters had made sure everyone was served and glasses were filled, the DJ announced that the father of the bride would be making a speech.
Mr. Bennett rose and took the microphone. "Good evening, everyone. As many of you already know, my little Lizzie has been reading non-stop since the moment I showed her how to spell the word 'the,' shortly followed by what sound 'T-H' makes. I remember nights from then through high school that I'd catch her up reading as late as 3 AM. I put on my "Dad" face and told her to go to bed, but I kept to myself that I couldn't have been prouder. I remember when she was in seventh grade she was picked on by the other kids for using the word 'moiety'- as annoyed as I was with those other kids, it was also the day I realized I'd given Lizzie a built-in defense from men less…intellectually inclined than she is. Lizzie would go on to bring some boys home over the years, but none that seemed to have much staying power when she used words like 'jejune' or 'marplot' in daily conversation. Imagine my surprise when I overheard – accidentally, I assure you – Charlotte Lu expressing the opinion that this Darcy guy from the Gibson wedding had read Anna Karenina for her. Darcy, I've read Anna Karenina - that is true love. I have a policy of staying out of my daughters' love lives insofar as I feel I can, but I did eventually watch Lizzie's vlog, and I did turn it off right after this, but the second I heard this young man say 'verisimilitude,' I knew is was a matter of when, not if. So if you'll all raise your glasses with me, I'd like to raise a toast – to my little Lizzie and her Will Darcy, he almost deserves her." He winked at the couple and Darcy laughed, remembering their previous conversation. "And now," Mr Bennett added, "it is my pleasure to hand over the microphone to William's little sister and best man, Gigi Darcy."
"Thanks, Mr. Bennett!" Gigi said. "I had a beautiful speach prepared. Seriously, guys, it was going to make you cry. And then, this morning, Will did something so…so very unprecedented that I had to scrap the entire thing, because it is my job – my single most important job – as both his little sister and as his best man to embarass William as much as I possibly can. I've been doing my very best as long as I've been alive, but my brother is unflappable. I have never in my life seen him unprepared, until today." Gigi looked over at Lizzie and Darcy. Lizzie was openly, if quietly, laughing already, and she knew Darcy's 'I'm laughing but I really don't think I should be' face. " My friends, this man, this man right here, the one who runs an entire digital media corporation, left his apartment this morning without his pants. He alleges that he tried on his suit to check the fit last night, put the suit back on two hangers instead of the one, then grabbed the one it came on – notably holding only the jacket – when he left this morning. So I would like to thank Bing, here, for having such a fast car and for dropping everything, including sending secret messages to the maid of honor, yes, we totally knew about that, to drive my brother through Saturday San Francisco traffic to retrieve his pants. I've wanted a sister since I was five, and I'm not willing to miss the chance to get one because of a pair of forgotten pants. So, I ask you all to raise your glasses with me to my new sister and my brother, the guy that raised me. May you never, ever live this down."
Darcy smirked at her and raised his glass in her direction before drinking with everyone else.
"Now for the final speech of the evening, I give you the maid of honor, Lizzie's sister, Jane Lee."
"Hi, everybody, how are you?" Jane smiled into the microphone. "I have the distinct honor of saying on behalf of myself, our other sister Lydia, and Lizzie's dear friend Charlotte that we totally called it. Lizzie's feelings may not have been positive when she and Darcy first met, but they were certainly passionate. This happened off camera during the now famous vlog era, but I'd like to also take this moment to remind Lizzie that she actually owes us each five dollars, because he totally does like you." Lizzie rolled her eyes at the reminder. "So let's all raise our glasses one last time to Lizzie and William."
After dinner, they cut the (frosting free) cake. Lizzie decided after all the speeches it would be overkill if she smashed cake into his face.
The DJ announced their first dance, and the first few notes of Billy Joel's "She's Got a Way" started to play over the speakers.
After hours of dancing and chatting with their guests, Darcy and Lizzie slipped out the back of the hall unnoticed.