(St. Stephen's church and the Community Centre - which used to be the school, back in John & Bob's Tale).Saturday morning dawned with brilliant sunshine. Billy woke, alone, rolled out of bed, opened the drapes and stood looking out at a beautiful day – not a cloud in the sky.
‘Great day for a White Wedding! What a change from yesterday.’
Where was Justin? Maybe running extra laps to make-up for time lost in the rain? He shrugged and went to have his shower.
Justin arrived when he came back out.
“’Morning, Sunny. Great day! I’m late again, I met Lucas around at the Square.”
“Morning Sweetcheeks. No problems – it’s good that you’ve been with Lucas. You haven’t been running with him for a while now.”
“Oh, we weren’t running; he’s in no state for that. He’s a mess. I thought it was the Groom who was supposed to get the pre-wedding nerves, not the Best Man.”
“What did you do with him then?”
“I took him around to Paul’s, he’ll look after him. He said that he doesn’t want to be the Best Man, that he’s not good enough. Paul told him that there’ll be no wedding if he’s not there and that his mum will kill them both.”
“And what did you tell him?”
“I told him that of course he’s the Best Man – there’s none better. Except for you of course.”
“Yeah, I love you too, Justin, but, shut up and go and have your shower. I’ll be down with the coffee pot.”
Jonathan was there for breakfast. He always slept at home now. Lana and Claudette’s families were all on to him and they were still a bit pissed at him too.
“Good morning, Family.” Justin breezed into the kitchen. “Great day for a wedding. How are you, Studmaster? I hope you didn’t lose your voice in the rain last night.”
“I’ve told you to stop calling me that, Gay-boy. And the voice is fine, how’s yours?”
“My voice is fine too. Good enough anyway.”
“Better be or Dee will kill you.”
“Yeah, Bossy Boots! When’s it going to be your turn? I want to sing at your wedding.”
“That won’t be happening. I can’t marry both and if I married either one of them, the other would shoot me.”
“Oh? Who’s under the thumb then? Or – thumbs, I suppose.”
“You should talk. It’s obvious who the Boss in your life is.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way, would we Sunny?” He winked at the boy behind the coffee pot.
“Shut up, Justin.”
“Yes, Boss.”
They got dressed after breakfast, and they all went to check on the Johnson family – no problems there. The three then wandered around the town enjoying the welcome return of the sunshine and just hanging and waiting.
They spent some time in the children’s playground at the Square – playing with a crowd of young admirers. The two boys who were attacked by the dogs were among them. Like Jonathan, they were both all healed up now and the R&R stuff had removed any traces of the attack. Good publicity too.
After a light lunch, (burgers!), they dressed-up in their formal black suits. Justin thought that Billy was the most beautiful sight that he’d ever seen and he wanted a hundred photos. And a video. And a kiss. And, how about?
“Shut up Justin.”
Jonathan collected his girls and they all drove around to the church. The wedding was not in the Catholic Church. This time they would be singing in the Church of England. (Anglican? Episcopalian? Whatever.) St. Stephen’s church was directly across on the opposite side of the Square to St. Jeromes’, and it was a much smaller building. It was not as flash either, really, but it was nice and welcoming.
There was a large crowd there – lots of happy, smiling faces as friends and family gathered to celebrate the marriage of the popular policeman and his nurse. The brothers blended in with the crowd.
The ushers were Claire and Billy – “Bossy boots, the pair of you. I’ll bet Dee’s spitting that she can’t be here as well.”
Justin grinned and winked at Billy. “Later, My Sunny-one.” Then he turned and kissed Claire. “Not fair, Claire. Who’s going to look at Marcie when you’re looking so gorgeous?”
“Shut up, Sweetcheeks,” she beamed. “Go and sit down.”
But, they did look at Marcie when she arrived – she looked stunning! She was ‘pretty as a picture’ in her off-white bridal gown and her happy, smiling face. Justin cried as he watched her procession up the aisle.
Dee looked great too! She actually looked like an attractive girl. So did Marcie’s daughters.
Lucas did well. He stood up the front with a huge, goofy, grin as he watched his mother marry the nicest guy in town. Well, one of the nicest.
Crispian filmed everything – he’d had a lot of practice. And the end of the ceremony, Dee herded the group over to the side to sign the registers and Justin and Jonathan stood up at the front. Whozzat took their places – they were all scrubbed-up and suited, even Sandie!
Whozzat played and the twins sang together – The Hawaiian Wedding Song, (with some changes). Their soaring voices rang out in unison and filled the church with beautiful music. Kathleen Reynolds, among others, cried her eyes out.
“This is the moment, I’ve waited for. I can hear my heart singing,
Soon bells, will be ringing.
This is the moment of sweet Aroha. I will love you longer than forever,
Promise me that you will leave me never.
Here and now, Dear. All my love I vow, Dear.
I will love you longer than forever. Promise me that you will leave me never.
Now that we are one, clouds won’t hide the sun.
Blue skies, here in Westpoint smile. On this, our wedding day.
I do, (I do), Love you, (Love you), With all my heart.
As they sang the last line they both looked back into the body of the church, and everyone knew where.
There was a pause as the group finished signing the registers – they’d stopped to watch the singing. When they came back to the front, a beaming Marcie kissed both of the twins with whispered ‘thank yous’. Paul hugged them both and then they squared up for the procession out of the church while Justin sang, alone now – Jonathan returned to his seat.
“She wears my ring, to show the world, that she belongs to me.
She wears my ring, to show the world, she’s mine eternally.
With loving care, I placed it on her finger,
To show my love, for all the world to see.
This tiny ring, is a token of tender emotion,
And in the pool of love, that’s as deep as the ocean.
She swears to wear it, with eternal devotion,
That’s why I sing, because she wears my ring.
This tiny ring is a token of tender emotion,
And in the pool of love, that’s as deep as the ocean.
She swears to wear it, with eternal devotion.
That’s why I sing. Because, she wears – my – ring!”
Billy, full of pride, sat watching and listening thoughtfully to his beloved.
The wedding breakfast, (reception), was held in the Community Centre Hall and catered by the Adelphi staff. The guests milled around, waiting, while the bridal part were being photographed in the hospital gardens. It was a good job that it had stopped raining!
Whozzat arrived and set up their instruments in the hall. Most of the music was going to be on the Juke Box, but they had some songs planned.
Justin took Billy aside, in a quiet back room, and kissed him. “When are you going to marry me, Sunny?”
“I don’t think that will be happening. We can’t. Things are just fine as they are now. You happy are you, Sweetcheeks?”
“Oh, yes! Never been better. I love you, Sunny. Could you, at least, wear the suit every day from now on?”
“I will not!” Billy laughed. “I’d look bloody stupid at school.”
“But, you look so hot! And cute – cute in a suit. Yeah, I know – ‘Shut up, Justin’”.
They went back out to the hall and joined the happy crowd. The bridal party arrived and they ate the meal and endured the speeches and the toasts.
The dancing began as Whozzat played for Mr. and Mrs. Jamieson’s first dance, the Bridal Waltz. As the couple returned to their seats, Jay began a rhythmic beat on the bass drum and an ‘Indian Chieftain’ came dancing out on to the floor.
Jonathan, shaking maracas and dressed in buckskins, feathers and fringes, (courtesy of Mrs. Lewis’ costume department), spun around the hall and sang ‘The Indian Love Song’.
He danced out of the hall to the applause of the crowd. Some thought that it was a bit inappropriate, singing about dead Indians, but Marcie loved it and Paul thought it was great. Even Dee liked it, so it was all good.
The night partied on. Lucas got drunk, so Justin and Billy took him home with them and put him to bed in the hotel – anything to save him from Dee’s displeasure.
Finally, they stood together, dancing to soft music in their own room, until they fell, kissing and stripping, to the bed.
‘Great day for a White Wedding! What a change from yesterday.’
Where was Justin? Maybe running extra laps to make-up for time lost in the rain? He shrugged and went to have his shower.
Justin arrived when he came back out.
“’Morning, Sunny. Great day! I’m late again, I met Lucas around at the Square.”
“Morning Sweetcheeks. No problems – it’s good that you’ve been with Lucas. You haven’t been running with him for a while now.”
“Oh, we weren’t running; he’s in no state for that. He’s a mess. I thought it was the Groom who was supposed to get the pre-wedding nerves, not the Best Man.”
“What did you do with him then?”
“I took him around to Paul’s, he’ll look after him. He said that he doesn’t want to be the Best Man, that he’s not good enough. Paul told him that there’ll be no wedding if he’s not there and that his mum will kill them both.”
“And what did you tell him?”
“I told him that of course he’s the Best Man – there’s none better. Except for you of course.”
“Yeah, I love you too, Justin, but, shut up and go and have your shower. I’ll be down with the coffee pot.”
Jonathan was there for breakfast. He always slept at home now. Lana and Claudette’s families were all on to him and they were still a bit pissed at him too.
“Good morning, Family.” Justin breezed into the kitchen. “Great day for a wedding. How are you, Studmaster? I hope you didn’t lose your voice in the rain last night.”
“I’ve told you to stop calling me that, Gay-boy. And the voice is fine, how’s yours?”
“My voice is fine too. Good enough anyway.”
“Better be or Dee will kill you.”
“Yeah, Bossy Boots! When’s it going to be your turn? I want to sing at your wedding.”
“That won’t be happening. I can’t marry both and if I married either one of them, the other would shoot me.”
“Oh? Who’s under the thumb then? Or – thumbs, I suppose.”
“You should talk. It’s obvious who the Boss in your life is.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way, would we Sunny?” He winked at the boy behind the coffee pot.
“Shut up, Justin.”
“Yes, Boss.”
They got dressed after breakfast, and they all went to check on the Johnson family – no problems there. The three then wandered around the town enjoying the welcome return of the sunshine and just hanging and waiting.
They spent some time in the children’s playground at the Square – playing with a crowd of young admirers. The two boys who were attacked by the dogs were among them. Like Jonathan, they were both all healed up now and the R&R stuff had removed any traces of the attack. Good publicity too.
After a light lunch, (burgers!), they dressed-up in their formal black suits. Justin thought that Billy was the most beautiful sight that he’d ever seen and he wanted a hundred photos. And a video. And a kiss. And, how about?
“Shut up Justin.”
Jonathan collected his girls and they all drove around to the church. The wedding was not in the Catholic Church. This time they would be singing in the Church of England. (Anglican? Episcopalian? Whatever.) St. Stephen’s church was directly across on the opposite side of the Square to St. Jeromes’, and it was a much smaller building. It was not as flash either, really, but it was nice and welcoming.
There was a large crowd there – lots of happy, smiling faces as friends and family gathered to celebrate the marriage of the popular policeman and his nurse. The brothers blended in with the crowd.
The ushers were Claire and Billy – “Bossy boots, the pair of you. I’ll bet Dee’s spitting that she can’t be here as well.”
Justin grinned and winked at Billy. “Later, My Sunny-one.” Then he turned and kissed Claire. “Not fair, Claire. Who’s going to look at Marcie when you’re looking so gorgeous?”
“Shut up, Sweetcheeks,” she beamed. “Go and sit down.”
But, they did look at Marcie when she arrived – she looked stunning! She was ‘pretty as a picture’ in her off-white bridal gown and her happy, smiling face. Justin cried as he watched her procession up the aisle.
Dee looked great too! She actually looked like an attractive girl. So did Marcie’s daughters.
Lucas did well. He stood up the front with a huge, goofy, grin as he watched his mother marry the nicest guy in town. Well, one of the nicest.
Crispian filmed everything – he’d had a lot of practice. And the end of the ceremony, Dee herded the group over to the side to sign the registers and Justin and Jonathan stood up at the front. Whozzat took their places – they were all scrubbed-up and suited, even Sandie!
Whozzat played and the twins sang together – The Hawaiian Wedding Song, (with some changes). Their soaring voices rang out in unison and filled the church with beautiful music. Kathleen Reynolds, among others, cried her eyes out.
“This is the moment, I’ve waited for. I can hear my heart singing,
Soon bells, will be ringing.
This is the moment of sweet Aroha. I will love you longer than forever,
Promise me that you will leave me never.
Here and now, Dear. All my love I vow, Dear.
I will love you longer than forever. Promise me that you will leave me never.
Now that we are one, clouds won’t hide the sun.
Blue skies, here in Westpoint smile. On this, our wedding day.
I do, (I do), Love you, (Love you), With all my heart.
As they sang the last line they both looked back into the body of the church, and everyone knew where.
There was a pause as the group finished signing the registers – they’d stopped to watch the singing. When they came back to the front, a beaming Marcie kissed both of the twins with whispered ‘thank yous’. Paul hugged them both and then they squared up for the procession out of the church while Justin sang, alone now – Jonathan returned to his seat.
“She wears my ring, to show the world, that she belongs to me.
She wears my ring, to show the world, she’s mine eternally.
With loving care, I placed it on her finger,
To show my love, for all the world to see.
This tiny ring, is a token of tender emotion,
And in the pool of love, that’s as deep as the ocean.
She swears to wear it, with eternal devotion,
That’s why I sing, because she wears my ring.
This tiny ring is a token of tender emotion,
And in the pool of love, that’s as deep as the ocean.
She swears to wear it, with eternal devotion.
That’s why I sing. Because, she wears – my – ring!”
Billy, full of pride, sat watching and listening thoughtfully to his beloved.
The wedding breakfast, (reception), was held in the Community Centre Hall and catered by the Adelphi staff. The guests milled around, waiting, while the bridal part were being photographed in the hospital gardens. It was a good job that it had stopped raining!
Whozzat arrived and set up their instruments in the hall. Most of the music was going to be on the Juke Box, but they had some songs planned.
Justin took Billy aside, in a quiet back room, and kissed him. “When are you going to marry me, Sunny?”
“I don’t think that will be happening. We can’t. Things are just fine as they are now. You happy are you, Sweetcheeks?”
“Oh, yes! Never been better. I love you, Sunny. Could you, at least, wear the suit every day from now on?”
“I will not!” Billy laughed. “I’d look bloody stupid at school.”
“But, you look so hot! And cute – cute in a suit. Yeah, I know – ‘Shut up, Justin’”.
They went back out to the hall and joined the happy crowd. The bridal party arrived and they ate the meal and endured the speeches and the toasts.
The dancing began as Whozzat played for Mr. and Mrs. Jamieson’s first dance, the Bridal Waltz. As the couple returned to their seats, Jay began a rhythmic beat on the bass drum and an ‘Indian Chieftain’ came dancing out on to the floor.
Jonathan, shaking maracas and dressed in buckskins, feathers and fringes, (courtesy of Mrs. Lewis’ costume department), spun around the hall and sang ‘The Indian Love Song’.
He danced out of the hall to the applause of the crowd. Some thought that it was a bit inappropriate, singing about dead Indians, but Marcie loved it and Paul thought it was great. Even Dee liked it, so it was all good.
The night partied on. Lucas got drunk, so Justin and Billy took him home with them and put him to bed in the hotel – anything to save him from Dee’s displeasure.
Finally, they stood together, dancing to soft music in their own room, until they fell, kissing and stripping, to the bed.
5 comments:
Oh, how I love a good wedding! A good chapter again. Love the songs and the words. It is all GOOD.
danny
David,
Another beautiful chapter to a beautiful story. Keep up the great work.
Mark
Love weddings, wish I could have one.
Jerry
David--As I read the words to the Wedding Song,I started to sing it.And I could hear the music as I sang. Great wedding. Great story.
Jim (Bumble)
Thanks, danny, Mark, Jerry and Bunle - always encouraging!
cheers
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