She paused, then added, “Jimmy told me you stopped him from permanently exorcising Rusty from the gene pool. Thanks. I couldn’t bear to lose him to prison and that’s what would have happened.”
“Yeah, I know.” I gave her a long look, wondering whether to say what I was really thinking. Finally, because Mur and I didn’t keep secrets, I added, “Murray, you have to know something. The only reason I stopped Jimbo was because of you—because you need him in your life. People like Rusty don’t get better, they don’t learn, and the courts go and release these twisted bastards every day to go out and do it all over again. For Jimbo’s own welfare, I had to make him back off. But I didn’t want to,” I whispered.
“I know,” Mur said. “I want him dead, too. Now, on to happier things. Please show me your dress. You and Joe have gone through hell for today, and you deserve to be the most blushing and beautiful bride there’s ever been.”
I looked deep into my best friend’s eyes. “You know you’ve always been my best buddy. We’ll grow old together—crazy old ladies, drinking tea, watching the sunset from our porches with Joe and Jimbo at our sides …”
She spluttered. “You know as well as I do that our old age will probably still be a mess of ghosts and ghouls and malcontents. I can just hear our theme song. ‘Still ghost-busting after all these years!’ Now haul out that dress and show me what Maeve scared up for you.”
I carefully lifted the gown out of the closet. Murray gasped. “Oh Em, it’s you. It’s absolutely perfect. I know you wanted Nanna’s dress but—”
“But this dress seems made for me, doesn’t it? I love it. And Randa will wear it on her wedding day, I hope. Or if she doesn’t want to, then maybe Kip’s bride.” At the thought of my children getting married, I flopped down on the bed. “Life is changing, Murray. Things never stay the same. Today Randa’s fourteen. Tomorrow, she’s going to be in college and gone. And then Kip. I don’t know what I’ll do when they leave.”
“Yes, you do,” she said firmly. “You and Joe will go gallivanting around, living your lives together. And you’ll be perfectly happy. Now, let’s get some breakfast in you. You’re getting married this evening, woman!”
THE WEDDING WAS set for eight P.M. Randa and Harlow helped me into my dress. They were dressed in lavender—not some poofy-sleeved bridesmaid’s nightmare, but simple sheaths that they could wear again and again. Randa’s eyes gleamed as she helped Harlow pin the veil to my hair and then crowned it with a wreath of ivory and pink roses.
“Mom, you’re so beautiful.” Randa stood back, assessing me.
Harlow turned me toward the mirror and gave a little shove. I slowly approached. Suddenly nervous, I finally found the courage to look at my reflection. Maeve’s dress fit like a glove, hugging every curve in just the right way. Harlow had curled my hair into a chignon, leaving a strand to coil down either side of my face. She’d also helped me with my makeup, and my eyes smoldered, sexy and seductive and mysterious. As green as my name, I thought. As green as the woods on a summer’s afternoon.
One day I’d remember this. I’d look back and remember how beautiful I felt, and how loved, and how lucky. But today—today I was living through it, butterflies and all.
“I’m ready,” I said, quietly, stepping into the low-heeled ivory pumps that Harl picked out for me.
“Not quite,” she said, holding up her hand. “Give me a couple minutes before you come downstairs. I’ve got a surprise for you. Two, actually.”
As she ran out the door, I turned to Randa. “Where’s your brother?”
“Jimbo helped Kip dress. They should be out in the garden by now.” She paused. “Mom, you’re happy, aren’t you?”
The hitch in her voice surprised me. “Honey, yes, very much so. Why? Are you worried that things aren’t going to work out?”
She shook her head. “No, not that. It’s just … I want to know you’re doing this for you—not just to give Kip and me a dad. You’ve been a great mom. We don’t need anybody else.”
I gazed at her. My daughter was growing up all right. “Randa, I’m marrying Joe because I love him and he loves me. We fit together. I wouldn’t even think of marrying him if he didn’t treat you and Kip right, but that’s not why I said yes. Joe and I are …”
“Soul mates?” she asked.
Grinning, I shook my head. “Not exactly. But we’re right for each other.”
“How do you know when it’s right?” she asked, smoothing out my train.
“You just know, honey. There comes a point where you look at the person and you realize that you want to spend the rest of your life with them. Sometimes it doesn’t work out, like with your dad and me. Sometimes it does.” I pulled her to me and gave her a long hug. “Okay, let’s go get me married off before I’m an old lady.”
As I descended the stairs, Miranda held my train so it wouldn’t get tangled up on anything. When I reached the bottom of the staircase, I saw a huge bouquet sitting on the bench in the foyer. Harl peeked around the corner from the living room.
“There’s your first surprise.”
“Who’s it from?” I asked, staring at the assortment of roses, carnations, and baby’s breath. It must have cost the sender a pretty penny, that’s for sure.
“I didn’t look—that would be snooping.”
I picked up the envelope sitting beside the vase. It wasn’t the standard gift card, but rather a full-sized greeting card. As I slid it out of the envelope, the picture of two bells chiming—wedding bells—appeared. When I opened it, I almost fainted. The flowers were from Roy.
Emerald, I know this isn’t enough to mend fences, but I thought a lot about what you said. The kids deserve better than me for a father. I don’t know if I can ever be what they need—what they want—but by the time you get this, I’ll have checked myself into a rehab clinic to dry out and try to get a handle on the booze. It’s a step in the right direction. Have a wonderful wedding and give the kids a hug from me. Check for child support for the next six months enclosed, and a check for your wedding. Buy yourself something nice. Roy.
Dumbfounded, I stared at the two checks in my hand. He’d given Joe and me a thousand dollars. Part of me wanted to send it back. I didn’t like accepting gifts from Roy and I knew Joe wouldn’t like it. Then I stopped myself. It made Roy feel better, and if he truly was in rehab, it would help him for me to accept it. But I wouldn’t spend it. I’d put it in the kids’ college funds.
“Em, who was it—good Lord, was it bad news?” Harl asked, staring at me.
I wiped the shocked expression off my face. “No, actually it wasn’t. Now, what’s the second surprise you promised me?”
“It’s me!” a voice called from behind Harlow.
“Rose? Rosy?” I started to run but stopped myself. I could do some serious damage if I tripped over my train.
Rose popped out from behind Harlow, dressed in her lavender sheath. “I couldn’t pass up the chance to be a bridesmaid, not with a dress this pretty.” When I started to question her, she held up one hand, stopping me. “Grandma’s going to recover, and the folks are with her. They told me to come to your wedding and give you their love. In fact, Grandma M. was the one who suggested it.” She stopped short, looking me up and down as if I were a statue or painting. “Oh, Emmy, you’re so pretty.”
I barely had time to give her a kiss when Murray chimed in. “Everybody’s waiting. Get a move on, woman. Don’t give Joe a chance to rethink getting hitched.” She winked.
“Fat chance,” I said, laughing.
As we headed out the door, Harl stuffed my bridal bouquet into my hands. It was a mixture of pink and ivory roses, with long fronds of maidenhair fern tucked in.
Crossing the yard to the garden, I glanced back at my house. I’d come a long way in the past few years—a lot farther than I’d ever expected. I’d seen things that convinced me of the presence of absolute evil, and of brilliant and pure good. I’d stumbled over death and legends come to life. And now, lov
e had come sweeping back into my life, this time to stay.
“Oh!” I let out a little shout as I saw that Harlow had managed to scrounge up the arched trellises we’d planned on having. They were bedecked with roses and ivy, with grapevines and silk ribbons, with flowing drapes of sheer lace and bells that tinkled playfully on the faint breeze.
One arch stood at the beginning of the spiral walk, another at the end, leading into the center of the garden. As we approached the first trellis, I caught a glimpse of the wedding party that waited in the center of the labyrinth.
White Deer stood, strong and regal in a periwinkle blue dress that kissed the ground. A deerskin cloak graced her shoulders, and a beaded headband held back her waist-length hair. She gazed at me, silent and patient. Facing her, Joe was wearing a black tux, and beside him, Kip—his best man—beamed.
All our friends were there, on benches and folding chairs. Lana and Cinnamon, Jimbo and James, Horvald and Ida, Maeve and Aunt Maggie—clutching tissues aplenty. Deacon and his wife had come, along with Greg, Sandy, and Roger and Melissa. And Gunner and Lori were there, too.
Harlow, Rose, and Randa took their places in front of me, followed by Murray. I waited expectantly. Then, in a hushed pause, floating through the air like a single feather, came the sound of the flutist who stood to the side of the wedding party. High, thin tinkling notes, so winsome that I caught my breath, drifted toward me from the garden. Faerie songs, the flutter of wings on the wind.
As we followed the labyrinth to the center where I would stand beside Joe to pledge my love and devotion, I glanced to my right. There, peeking from behind a hydrangea bush, stood Nanna. She blew me a kiss as I walked by, and I knew that whatever may come, the constants in my life—my children, my friends, Nanna, and Joe—would always be there to shore me up. I took one long, slow deep breath and headed for the altar.
Full Moon Bridal Ritual
WEDDINGS ARE MAJOR transitions in life. As with every big shift, it can be helpful to perform a simple ritual to mark the rite of passage and prepare ourselves for the new journey on which we are about to embark.
On the eve of the full moon before your wedding, gather with a group of close girlfriends near a body of water—a lake, a stream, a river, or the ocean. A pool will do if you live in the desert.
Ask each guest to bring a white votive candle in a heat-proof holder. The bride-to-be should dress in a simple shift (make sure the material can withstand getting wet). Guests should dress festively.
When everyone is present, invoke sacred space by having everyone join hands as you stand in a circle. Take three deep breaths and let them out slowly. The bride’s best friend should say: By wind and water, by flame and earth, I ask that this space be blessed and sacred, be touched by heart and by love, by joy and by protection, by friendship and by allegiance.
Let the energy settle. Everyone should sit in a circle with the bride-to-be in the center. One by one, each guest should light her votive candle and set it in front of her, while giving the bride a heartfelt blessing and wish for the impending marriage. Make certain to avoid bringing sarcasm or negativity into the circle. This is not the time for man-bashing jokes.
When everyone has offered her blessing, the bride’s best friend should hold up a chalice of wine (or grape juice, if there are objections to alcohol), and say, “To (insert name of bride), may your wedding and marriage be blessed!” Sip the wine, then pass the chalice clockwise around the circle. Each woman should follow suit.
After the toast, lead the bride to the water’s edge, where she will wade in up to her chest. If she doesn’t swim, have someone who does swim go with her for safety.
The bride-to-be should focus on the water, feeling it wash away any lingering worries and doubts. Feel the mantle of being single make way, opening up space for the new life to come—a life shared with someone else. When finished, exit the water, dry off, and then feast on a wonderful buffet of fruits, cheeses, and breads.
For me, my second marriage has been a brilliant and wonderful ride. Oh, there are tearful times, and worrying about someone you love isn’t easy, but it’s been worth every minute of it. To all those looking toward marriage in their near future—I wish you blessings on your life to come.
~the Painted Panther
Yasmine Galenorn
Yasmine Galenorn, CnC 5 One Hex of a Wedding
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