I drove us to the reception in Joanie's car. I know these days everyone gets a limo and that sort of thing but that really wasn't done as much then. Maybe in cities where few people drove like New York or something because otherwise you'd be taking the subway or trying to flag a cab. But in Detroit, for the most part, we drove ourselves. It was a little drive out to the country club where we were having the reception and we couldn't have asked for a nicer day. It was June and warm and sunny without being too terribly hot. My left hand was at the top of the wheel and my right was holding Joanie's hand. I think I nearly drove off the road at one point from looking at that gold band on my finger. We didn't talk a lot but we didn't need to. We were just together and happy. I had half a mind to not even go to the reception but then we sort of had to. People were expecting us and it was actually part of our responsibility to entertain the people as much as it was theirs to enjoy themselves. So we went.
"Do you feel different?" I asked Joanie when we were about half the way there.
"Sort of but then not really," she said, "Does that make any sense?"
"All sorts of it," I told her, "I feel like we finally got to tell the world about something we knew for years. I made that commitment to you a long time ago, you know. I might not have said it but I swore it to God all the same."
"I think I knew that," she said, "Or something like it because if you hadn't, well, there's any number of times you probably should have left me. I often figured obligation was the reason you put up with everything."
I pulled the car off to the side of the road. There was no way we were going in to celebrate our new life together with words like that.
"I love you," I said, "That's the reason I was always there. I wouldn't know where else to be. No one ever believed in me quite the way you did and you challenged me too. I didn't know I wanted that but I guess I did. I think Lou referred to all my old girlfriends one time as bimbos. They were too. I didn't think I deserved a woman with depth or intelligence or class. I never really felt much for them which is a sad thing to admit but it's true. I don't think I understood what it was to love someone until I met you. If you had been one of those bimbos I probably would have dumped you the first time things got hard or scary. I couldn't do that with you because I loved you and when I looked at my future, you were there and if I tried to imagine me without you I couldn't. I wasn't there either."
She was starting to cry and I was too a little. Weddings are very emotional and sometimes that kind of emotion allows us to say things we probably ought to have said before.
"James, I just wish I was coming to you with less of a past and with less wrong with me."
"First of all," I began, "I have a past too, you know. Just because I didn't feel anything for those other girls didn't mean I didn't do things with them. You're the one always complaining about the double standard for women and then you're holding yourself to it. Besides, when I broke the cup, isn't that supposed to be a break from anyone who came before as well?" She nodded. "And there's not a damned thing wrong with you. Not a damned thing."
"I really do love you, James. You are the most wonderful man I've ever known," she said and then turned the rear view to see herself. "Oh, I look just frightful. So much for the blushing bride."
I handed her my handkerchief so she could get the mascara off her cheeks. They didn't have waterproof back then. She then declared herself presentable enough to go on. I know she went off after we were announced and had Judy and Sherry touch up her makeup but at least she walked in not looking like she'd been crying.
We got to the country club and walked in to a big announcement and my friends mobbing me with hugs and handshakes. They say that on their wedding day the bride and groom are like a king and queen and right then I surely felt like a king. Kid kept an arm around my shoulders.
"How does it feel to be one of us married guys now?" he asked.
"Pretty damned good, Kid," I told him, "It's been a long time coming, I'll tell you that."
"Yeah," Billy said, "I was beginning to wonder if that lovely creature was just stringing you along until she found someone better. Don't know how you managed to get a girl like that down the aisle."
"I don't either, Billy," I said honestly.
Ike pulled me aside not wanting to compete with everyone's hollering.
"She is a great girl," he said, "I'm real happy for both of you. You know she couldn't get a better guy either, right?"
"Thanks Ike," I said. I wasn't sure he was right but I knew no one could love her more and that turned out to be the most important thing of all.
Buck shook my hand but his smile looked forced. I walked a bit with him.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing's wrong," he said kind of defensively and yeah I'd heard that tone about a thousand times from the kids I worked with and I wasn't even doing the social work thing full time.
"How stupid do you think I am, Buck?"
"Really I don't want to bring my problems to your big day, not after the way you and Joanie worked to make our wedding so nice on such short notice."
"Buck, we're friends," I told him, "And I can't think of too many things that could put a damper on my day. Did you see that beautiful woman that I just got hitched to?"
He smiled a little more genuine at that.
"Carol's expecting," he told me.
"And you look that down?" I asked really wondering what the problem was. "Lisa's a little angel. I don't see how you could be upset about having another one."
"Carol's been upset about it," he said, "She's convinced that there will be something wrong with this one, like a punishment for Lisa being okay when she got the measles. You know, because Timmy, well, you know."
"I thought she was being a little moody lately," I said, "Makes sense now. I'm sure everything will be just fine."
He gave me a look that said I didn't know all what I was talking about. Turns out I didn't at that but I would in time.
Well, I found Joanie once again. She was mobbed by Sherry and the other girls. Even Carol was looking really happy for her. Before I could get all the way to her, Bill Cody grabbed a hold of me.
"You've got to tell me who that bridesmaid is," he said.
"You'd better be talking about Sherry," I warned, "Because if you're using that tone of voice about Judy I'll have to sock you one."
"Jimmy, I remember that girl when the two of you first started going out," he assured me, "There's no way I'd go after little Judy. Though I think there's going to be a lot of guys looking at her with less than pure thoughts."
"There have been," I told him.
"Well, it'll get worse from the young men seeing her in that dress and all done up like she is. She turned into a woman when you weren't looking."
I nodded, "So you want to know about Sherry, huh?"
"I've never met her before," he said, "She sure is something."
"I'm surprised," I told him, "She's not your usual type."
"She sure is pretty," he said, "That's my type."
"She was Joanie's roommate. Smart girl, just got her degree in biology. She's headed to grad school this fall. She wasn't in school for her MRS."
"Well neither was I," he said taking offense, "You think a smart girl couldn't like me?"
"I wouldn't know," I told him, "I don't think you've ever tried going after one."
"Funny. Sherry, you said?"
"Yeah, Sherry Wingate," I confirmed, "Good luck."
He walked away and I could see him heading toward Sherry. I headed the rest of the way to Joanie and paused to watch the interaction. I saw the eye roll she gave him and I laughed out loud. Joanie saw where I was looking and shot me a mean look.
"You did not just sick Bill Cody on my dear friend," she said half angrily.
"I only told him her name," I tried to defend myself; "I told him she probably wasn't his type."
"Oh, now you're going to say she's not good enough for him?"
"Actually he's not good enough for her," I said, "He usually doesn't date anyone that smart."
Joanie laughed at that, "I should have known you'd never impugn Sherry's character. What's up with Buck and Carol?"
"She's pregnant," I said, "But don't say anything. It's complicated and I'm not even sure I'm supposed to know just yet."
"I won't say a word," she said.
Well, receptions are all very much alike. We ate and we danced. We had a band that I didn't have any part of choosing but then I guess I didn't know near enough about that kind of music to be able to have voiced an opinion. We had to have a band that could play a decent Horrah. I don't know the first thing about Jewish folk music. Thankfully Joanie knew a bit about it. And I will say they did a decent, if very odd sounding cover of "In the Still of the Night". We really wanted to dance our first dance to that. I know Joanie got a strange look when she told the guys in the band but they learned it well enough.
I think dancing to that with her that day was even better than when we danced to it at her prom. She just glowed in my arms as she looked up at me.
"This song will never sound the same to me again," I told her smiling.
"I know," she said starting to laugh, "Who knew all this time that it was just missing a violin and an accordion."
"I think The Five Satins really missed something when they recorded it."
That got us to giggling and we both were teary eyed from the laughing by the time the song ended. I'm pretty sure I was holding her up at that point because she was laughing so hard.
The rest of the party was just that, a wonderful party. People danced and ate and danced more. At one point Sherry came to dance with me.
"Is your friend William for real?"
"William?" I asked, "Oh you mean Billy?"
She laughed.
"I should have known. He came up like he was being all gallant or something and actually bowed to me then gave me this line, 'You look like a lady in need of a dance partner, William F. Cody at your service.' Again I ask, is he for real?"
"I'm afraid he is," I said, "You've really caught his eye and it's not surprising. You look stunning today, Sherry."
"Thank you," she said blushing, "You know, if Billy weren't so full of himself I might take him up on that dance. He's almost good looking when he's not busy shoving his foot in his mouth."
"You know, I've been trying to get him to understand that feet in mouths don't attract the ladies for years. But then I shoved my size elevens right in there the first day I met that one and she let me live."
"She told me about that," Sherry said, "It was a good choice. Are you trying to tell me to give the blowhard another chance?"
"You might have to give him more than one and it still might not do you any good but consider it a favor to me to not write him off just yet."
She laughed, "Alright, for you I will. Consider it a wedding present."
I hugged her, "Thanks."
I found Billy a short while later and wandered over to talk to him.
"All these dressed up ladies and you're not dancing?"
"She shot me down," he said bewildered, "Rolled her eyes, laughed and said 'no'. I can't believe it."
"I told you she's not like the other girls you've dated. I don't think you were listening to me."
"I've been turned down before," he said, "I know it's hard to believe but I have. It's never bothered me before though."
"Ask her again," I said, "And drop the act. She's got three or four brothers so she knows them all."
"It's not an act," he said and I raised an eyebrow at him. "Jimmy, I've never not used the act."
"And how has that worked for you?" I asked.
"Pretty well if I do say so myself," he said puffing up his chest.
"So it got you laid," I said, "Something tells me that's not enough for you anymore."
"What else is there?"
"There's plenty out there besides that," I told him.
"I don't think I'm cut out for settling down like you," he said, "Hell, I didn't think you were. I guess this is the end of Wild Bill."
"There never was a Wild Bill except in your imagination, Billy," I said, "I'm not talking about marrying her. I'm just saying that maybe you don't just want the loose girls with the big boobs anymore."
"Like hell I don't," he protested, "Have you seen the rack on that girl?"
Now I wasn't going to mention it but Sherry wasn't all that big-chested. I think he was just finding reasons to still look like the same old Billy. I just looked at him skeptically.
"So if that's not what I want then what do I want?" he asked.
"Sherry," I said simply, "Go ask her to dance again. And try to be yourself."
Billy walked away toward Sherry.
"What was that all about?" Kid asked.
"Billy's got it bad for the bridesmaid," I answered.
"Sherry does look pretty today," he said.
"So does your wife."
"My wife looks beautiful every day," he said, "You should know that."
"I think Emma and Sam are entertaining your kids. Maybe you could get in a dance with that woman of yours. It'd be a shame if she got all gussied up for nothing."
He smiled and went off seeking his wife. About then I got a tap on my shoulder and I turned to see Aaron standing there with another man I didn't know.
"James," Aaron said and he looked real nervous. "I'd like you to meet Gene. He's my, um, boyfriend."
The man looked at me and smiled and I have to say I liked his smile. It was warm and genuine. He put his hand out to me.
"Mazel Tov," he said, "It was a lovely wedding."
"Thank you and it's nice to meet you, Gene," I said shaking his hand, "I'd like to say I've heard a lot about you but I didn't know you existed until today."
I think Aaron was about to say something more but then Uncle Eli walked up.
"Aaron, aren't you going to introduce me to this young man?" he asked, "I've been patient but I would like to know the man who has my son's heart."
"Dad? You mean you knew?"
"My son, you haven't ever brought a girl home to meet us," Uncle Eli said, "You've never mentioned a girl. I had to suspect something after a while. It couldn't be this long without a lady friend only because you were wrapped up in your studies. Then you come to Joanie's wedding with a male friend. If I did not know before, I know now."
Aaron looked uncomfortable so Uncle Eli spoke again.
"It looks as though I must start the introductions," he said extending a hand to Gene, "Eli Shapiro, I am Aaron's father."
Gene shook the man's hand, "Gene Lonstein, and I'm, um, well."
"I know who what you are to my son," Eli's voice was gentle as he spoke. I never had this situation to deal with but I always thought that if my children ever told me something that was that shocking to me that I would handle it with the same grace Uncle Eli did. "Please come and sit with Naomi and me for a while."
Gene and Eli walked away and Aaron stood next to me for a few extra moments.
"He knew," Aaron said with wonder.
"He's a smart man," I told him, "You shouldn't underestimate him."
I got pulled back out to dance more and eventually found myself dancing with Judy.
"Hey short stuff," I said, "You look beautiful today, you know?"
"I don't think everyone thinks so," she said scowling.
"What's going on?" I asked, "Do I have to beat someone up for you? I can you know. It's one of the benefits of having a big brother."
"No I don't need anyone beat up," she said looking like she might cry.
"Okay, someone is making you cry," I said, "The rules of big brotherhood state that I don't need your request for beating someone up if they hurt you. I can just beat him up anyway. Who is it?"
"Please don't," she said, "It's Dan."
"Dan?" I asked, "Dan hurt you and made you cry? What the hell?"
"He drove me home from the rehearsal dinner and before I got out he kissed me," she said and right about then I got mad. What was he doing kissing little Judy. Of course Judy wasn't so little anymore and Dan was only twenty. Three years difference is hardly scandalous but I got mad all the same.
"I'm going to kill him," I growled and started scanning the crowd for him.
"Jimmy," she pleaded, "You don't understand. I'm not upset he kissed me. I sort of wanted him to."
"You wanted him to?" I asked, "What is going on? He's, well, he's, he's."
"I know," she said, "But you know Daddy and Uncle Eli would be alright with it. They wanted for Aaron and Joanie to get together."
"But he's older than you," I said.
"You're older than Joanie by a year. He's just three older than me."
I shook my head trying to get this through and sitting right. I still sort of wanted to kick the snot out of him for kissing her.
"So if you're not upset he kissed you then what is upsetting you?" I asked.
"He hasn't spoken to me since. The whole party so far and he hasn't danced with me once," she said.
I kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back a little.
"Let me talk to him," I said, "I promise I won't hurt him. He might be unsure of himself."
"He didn't seem unsure."
"Well, I speak from some experience when I tell you men often get real good at seeming sure of ourselves especially when we're kissing a girl. It's an act but one we get good at."
The song ended and I handed Judy off to Al knowing he'd take good care of her and went off to find Dan.
"Can I talk to you?" I asked when I found him.
"Sure Jimmy," he said, "What's going on?"
"I just talked to my new sister-in-law and I think I'd like to beat you to a pulp now but I promised her I wouldn't."
"So you know," he said looking at his feet.
"I know you kissed her and since then you've been doing a good job of avoiding her."
"I shouldn't have kissed her. I know that," he admitted.
"Because you don't like her?"
"Because I do," he said.
"That's about the stupidest thing I have ever heard in my life," I said, "She's near to tears because she thinks you don't like her and you don't think she's pretty. I don't know what you do or don't feel for her and I don't know how things will work for you and her but I suggest you at least go dance with the girl and tell her how pretty she looks in that dress. And if you ever make her cry again you will have to answer to me."
"You're right," he said, "She does look lovely today, more so than normal."
I spent as much time as I could dancing with my bride. We left that night and headed toward a hotel. I wanted her to have a nice wedding night even though we weren't leaving on our honeymoon until the next day. I had decided that we'd head up north and see Mackinac Island and then spend a week at the cabin making love under the stars like we had that first summer together. Joanie had thought it was a romantic idea and I was pretty proud of myself. I was still working then but with her starting law school and I was going to be trying to take a few classes toward my master's so we weren't going to spend a lot on a vacation. We knew someday we'd be able to go nearly anywhere we wanted. Before we left the reception, Uncle Eli pulled me aside.
"I know you'll find our gift when you go through your cards later but that's not the extent of it," he said.
I just stared at him; I was tired and not sure at all what the man was talking about.
"There's this too and it can't wait," he said handing me an envelope. I opened it and there were plane tickets inside to Florida, Miami to be more specific.
"Uncle Eli," I said, "I can't accept this. It's too extravagant."
"Nonsense," he said, "It brings me pleasure to send you two off to a getaway like this. You can go to the cabin or Mackinac Island any time. You'll love the beach, believe me."
I hugged the man. I don't think he was expecting it but I couldn't think of anything else to do.
I kept it a surprise until the next day when I drove her to the airport instead of heading up north.
Anyway first was the hotel and the wedding night. It wasn't the built up thing it was for some people because we'd been together plenty of times before like that but still it felt sort of special to know that we were actually married this time. I think it did for Joanie too. Joanie fell asleep in my arms and I remember thinking of the day and looking at the shine on my left hand that I could just make out in the light coming in the window of the hotel room. Her words would always come back to me and in our deepest sorrow and our most trying of times I would recall the way she had looked so deep into my eyes and said, "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine."
So that was a fun party! Lots going on...hehe...someone who doesn't fall for Cody's line...And good old Uncle Eli...he loves his children so much and I just knew he'd never turn away from one for any reason. I love him...oh so much that had to fit in there...and off to Miami...
I have to give a special thank you to my helper elf on this chapter...Thank you signefalls! She is responsible for much of the Jimmy-Cody interaction. Thanks girl!-J