Chapter 4

Months later

Wedding plans had been moving quickly for both brides and Lynnette who was to be getting married first couldn't wait for the day that she and Dave would be joined. She loved him so much that she knew it would never fade, but then, they were mates so that wasn't surprising. She knew very well what that meant. She didn't tell her mother that though but knew Michelle would understand if she was to tell her what she had been thinking.
"Oh, this is delicious I definitely want these at my reception," said Lynnette as she tasted a bite size piece of some kind a soufflé.
"Bacon, spinach and Gouda cheese," said Kelley Holmstock who was going to do the catering. "It's one of our most popular items."
"Well, it's wonderful, so I understand why it's so popular with your customers, Michelle said popping the small piece into her mouth and chewing. "I definitely want that at my reception."
"It's like eating a little piece of heaven," Diana said even now she swallowed the little bite of soufflé.
"So, both you ladies want this for your receptions?" Kelley asked.
"Oh absolutely," Michelle and Lynnette answered at the same time.
"So, you Miss Reid, will be getting married first on June 15," Kelley asked.
"That's right as Dave is rather anxious to tie the knot, so he can take me on a long honeymoon," Lynnette said flushing. "Somewhere romantic."
"He hasn't told you where you are going?" Diana asked her daughter.
"No, I just know it's somewhere romantic," Lynnette said. "He said it'll be warm, but that's really all I know.
"How does he expect you to pack if he won't tell you where you are going?" Michelle asked.
"He just plans to buy me anything I didn't bring," Lynnette admitted. "I can buy things for myself of course, but Dave has been very generous."
"That sounds like dad," Michelle said smiling.
The three women ate samples of several cakes, miniature sandwiches, meatballs, hotdogs wrapped in bacon and little cheese tidbits that Kelley brought to them for the reception and everything was absolutely scrumptious bar a few things. There were so many samples that they knew they'd be skipping lunch.
"So, I believe that your wedding is in late July Miss Rossi," Kelley said.
"Spencer and I'll be waiting until dad and Lynnette get back from their honeymoon and they'll be gone until the middle of July. The wedding is just a few days after that. I want dad to walk me down the aisle, which is one reason we're waiting. Spencer understands that I want to give dad the honor of walking me down the aisle and so didn't put up an argument about waiting."
"Of course you do, he's your father and you love him," Kelley said.
"Yeah, I do," Michelle said smiling. "I'm happy Lynnette is joining the family. She has made my dad so happy; I would be churlish to object."
"That's a very mature attitude," Diana said approvingly. "So many children don't want their parents to remarry if they get divorced or if the spouse dies for some reason. I know, in Dave's case, he's never been married, but still, you and your brothers could not want him to permanently settle down with anyone, so things didn't change."
"In a way, it's understandable, because they love either, their mother their father who is remarrying that they would want their parents back together. Most of the time they don't think that one of their parents might be lonely," Kelley said.
"It might be understandable, but it's also selfish," Diana said and Kelly nodded in agreement. "Of course, it might be, that they're getting remarried to a con artist or someone who wants their money and doesn't genuinely have feelings for them..."
"Which happens far too often," Lynnette offered, even as she tried another sample.
"It does, especially if there's money in the family," Diana agreed with her daughter looking sad. She thought about her former husband William Reid and thought that he was nothing but a con artist. Or at least he was uncaring. He had broken off all contact with all his children, though to be fair, he didn't know about Lynnette. He still had three other children though, and he hadn't had any contact with them ever since he'd left all those years ago.
"You have snagged yourself one of the most eligible bachelor Miss Reid," Kelly said. "Most women, even married ones, have at least a slight crush on him and would love to be Mrs. David Rossi."
"I'm not sorry to disappoint them," Lynnette said firmly, not even blushing, as it was clear that Kelly also had a slight crush on Dave. "If Dave had wanted to marry any of them he would've done so, years ago and then we likely never would've met or at least we would have just been friends if we did happen to meet."
"That's very true," Diana agreed with her daughter. "I've gotten to know him a little over the last few months and he is a man of discerning taste. I know he dated quite a bit before he met my daughter and that none of those women managed to get a proposal out of him tells me that he didn't really love them. My future son-in-law isn't one to marry just anyone just because he believes he loves them or to have children, which is why he adopted in the first place. He would have to be very sure of his feelings before he proposed to any woman.
"That he chose my daughter just shows that he has discerning taste," Diana added.
"Some of those women are very wealthy like your intended and think that you're a nobody," Kelly told Lynnette.
"They're just jealous," Michelle snorted. "I've had to put up with some of that crap from men of wealth and that I chose to accept Spencer's proposal has them shaking their heads in disappointment and also talking about us behind our backs. It's clear they disapprove, but I really don't give a damn about that. I just ignore them, but if they get in my face, they'll regret it and especially if they get in Spencer's face about it. It doesn't seem to matter that our family has never really been part of the wealthy set, because we never wanted to be. We have a lot of money that's true, but some of the rules for the ultrarich follow are just antiqued and also stupid. Dad is way too independent to ever put up with what that social circle thinks and also their expectations. We all know that he never would have married at all unless he was really in love, as he's not one to marry by arrangement or just to get some women off his back."
"Absolutely not. He's not one to make himself miserable," Lynnette put in. "Or marry just to have children. Why traumatize a child when it just ends in divorce while that child is still young?"
What Lynnette didn't say, because there were two people present that weren't in the know was that both Dave and Michelle and now her were immortal and Dave never would've married some airhead or society heiress just to satisfy those in the circle of the ultrawealthy, even if the circumstances had been normal.
"Not to mention a lot of those rich women are spoiled and think the sun shine's out their backsides. No offense ladies," Kelley commented causing the other three to laugh.
"No offense taken," Michelle and Lynnette responded together before breaking into laughter again.
"I've dealt with people just like you describe ones with a lot of money. They think they can do anything they like, just because they're rich. They're rude, demanding, arrogant..." Michelle told Kelley who smiled.
"You have to put up with them though, when you run a business," Kelley said, "and a lot of those with money like to cater a lot of meals, which make up a good half of my business. I wouldn't stay in business very long if I insulted those that are rich as some of them can be vindictive and we go out of their way to drive me out of business."
"I agree with that about a lot of those that are wealthy can be vindictive and also rude," Michelle said. "Dad's never been like that, but he seems to be the exception rather than the rule."
"You're about to become more popular, because I'm going to recommend you to all my friends. Your food is fantastic, so I would expect an uptake in orders."
"More business is always good," Kelley said smiling, "so that would be appreciated, even if I don't like some of my customers. To some people we're no better than droids, which means that we supposedly don't have emotion so our feelings can't be hurt."
"Still, you have to be polite to people," Diana said, "if you're in a business that deals with them as a regular occurrence."
"True, true, though that can be really hard sometimes," Kelley agreed, even as she brought more samples.
The three ladies had a fun morning tasting food samples for both wedding receptions.

~~~Dave and Lynnette~~~

"So have a good time ladies?" Dave inquired with every sign of interest as soon as the three had arrived home.
"We did indeed," Lynnette said, as she leapt into Dave's arms.
Dave caught her easily and kissed her thoroughly.
By the time they broke apart both were grinning rather goofily.
Diana and Michelle watched this smiling at the pair.
"We spent all morning at this caterers tasting samples for the two receptions," Diana told Dave, as they all sat in the living room.
"Yeah, the food was really scrumptious," Michelle said. "I'm definitely going to be recommending Kelly's Catering to other people.
"I've never heard of them, but then, I have no need to do a lot of catering. Still, you never know when the information could be useful," Dave said.
"You'll be hooked once you taste some of their dishes," Lynnette said. "Everything we tried was just bite-size pieces and we were so full that we totally skipped lunch. I'm also going to recommend them to other people," Lynnette added.
Dave filed that information away to use at a later date. There was no reason that he and Lynnette couldn't have some of their meals catered, as Dave was sure they did private dinners for small groups, or even just two people. While the cook he had was really good at his job he did occasionally need a night off. He was sure they would eat out to, but it didn't mean that they couldn't have a private meal catered and have it up on the roof garden or out on the terrace on warm evenings.
"I run into a lot of people when I'm singing at some high end club and occasionally the subject of catering does come up. Now, I have some catering company to recommend if I'm asked. Well, so long as those people live in New York anyway."
All three ladies gave Dave a recap of their day.
"Well sounds like you enjoyed yourselves," Dave said smiling.
"Yeah, we did. Your name got us excellent service at whatever store we graced with our presences," Lynnette said grinning.
"That's true," Diana agreed with her daughter.
"They practically fell all over themselves to get us anything we needed," Michelle added grinning. "We tipped generously after we were done. It was a fun day."
"All of us enjoyed ourselves," Diana agreed smiling. "And that we were there at those wedding specific stores, because we needed to shop for two different weddings just adds to the day. Now, if only Roxie and Rocky would settle down I'd be very happy," Diana added. "It's just that I'm not going to be around forever. While my health is good, I'll die at some point, even if that's not for years. I would like to see all my children settle down before I leave this world."
"You're getting two of your children married off in the next few weeks mom," Spencer said coming into the room sitting beside Michelle. "I know you would like all your children to settle down but considering you're getting two of us married off relatively quickly, I would think that would be more than enough right now."
Spencer kissed Michelle just like Dave had done to Lynnette a few minutes ago. He has lost a lot of his shyness about public displays of affection over the last few months. Of course, part of that was that they were only amongst family and not strangers, so Spencer didn't feel self-conscious. His family accepted him for himself and didn't judge him, which is one reason he felt free to show Michelle affection in front of them.
"I'm sure Roxie and Rocky will settle down in their own time," Dave told Diana smiling warmly.
"Maybe once they attend Spencer's and my weddings it will encourage them to find someone for themselves," Lynnette said from where she was curled up on Dave's lap looking very comfy and contented.
"It's not always easy to meet someone to fall in love with," Michelle added "and this is something you know from your own experiences. I'm sure you wouldn't want them to end up with someone like your former husband that will abandon them at some point leaving them heartbroken."
"No, I don't. I would hate for them to go through that," Diana agreed soberly. "I'll try to be patient, because you're right two of my children are getting married in the next few weeks. I would just like Roxie and Rocky to be as happy as I know you four are.
"That's any parents desire," Spencer told his mother. "At least the good ones. I know you just want my siblings to settle down and give you some more grandchildren, but as far as I know they're not even dating anyone right now, as I probably would've heard about it if they were."
"That's true, there's nothing like the family grapevine. Maybe they'll bring plus ones to our weddings Spence," Lynnette told her brother.
"We'll see I suppose," Spencer said, as he cuddled Michelle into his side. "Even if they do it doesn't mean they're seriously dating."
Considering how hard it had been to get Spencer to accept that he deserved to be happy everyone in the room was glad to see him and Michelle so close. Spencer usually wasn't one for public displays of affection, but since he was amongst family he had relaxed a great deal.
They kept chatting but it was soon time for dinner and since the ladies had skipped lunch they were starving.

~~~Dave and Lynnette~~~