Chapter 15
The party was a success from the moment it started. Jude and Stacey arrived a few minutes early and they made the exact same movements that I made when I first walked in. I made sure I was at the front door to greet them when they arrived. Jude even made an average male comment.
“Very nice” he said while shrugging off his jacket and taking Stacey’s wrap.
Thankfully Stacey had a completely different reaction. The moment she walked into the front entrance she was enthralled.
“Oh Wynne. This is amazing. It’s gorgeous.” she gushed.
“Just wait until you see the downstairs.” I warned her.
“Oh I can’t wait. Come on Jude.” she cried as she tugged at his hand.
I followed them down the stairs and soaked in all the comments Stacey made on her way down. Although I didn’t personally create the atmosphere here tonight, I felt so proud of the ladies who did.
Just as we reached the bottom of the stairs I called to Jude and asked him to wait. I gave Stacey a moment to gather her thoughts. I wanted to share something that was on my heart with them, but I didn’t want Stacey to be completely focused on the decorations that she lost what I had to say.
“Jude, tonight is such a special night for you and Stacey. There were so many ladies that came today to help make this whole night a possibility. There will be time tonight for you both to have a few words. Could you make sure that you give them all the credit and not to me?” I asked him. If I remember correctly, Jude has a habit of not thinking before speaking and I wanted to make sure that he didn’t end up sticking both feet in his mouth tonight.
“Of course Wynne. I know how much you hate having the spotlight on yourself. Don’t worry. Even though I know you were the mastermind behind tonight, I’ll place all the glory on the other ladies.” Jude informed me.
“No, that’s not what I meant. Jude, Stacey – the moment I made the decision to throw this party for you, I had so many ladies rally around me concerned that I was doing this for all the wrong reasons. So they decided, all on their own I might add, to throw this party for you instead – as a group. Basically all the ladies who helped to raise you in this church are the ones who are showering their love on you tonight.” I wanted to make sure that they understood what tonight was all about.
Stacey took hold of my hands.
“Wynne, we completely understand. This will be a night where we will always remember that this church showered love upon us.” Stacey confirmed exactly what I was hoping to hear.
“Thank you Stacey. This night is for you guys, and I hope that you will enjoy it. I am so happy for you both.” I told them as I began to open the door to the main room.
Inside the majority of those who were coming had already shown up. Everyone was waiting for the guests of honor to arrive. Pastor Joy offered to host the evening for me, “so that I can be free to focus on my date tonight” she informed me a few days ago. So once I walked the newly engaged couple into the room, I was free to melt into the crowd and wait for my mystery date to arrive.
The moment Jude and Stacey walked into the room everyone began to clap. I made sure that I hung back a little bit; giving the couple enough time to walk into the room and begin to mingle. I could hear Stacey exclaim over the beautiful room. I smiled, knowing that this will be a night she will always remember.
I guess I waited too long because just as I was about to enter Heather came walking out the door searching for me.
“What are you doing out here by yourself? Waiting for your date?” She reached for my hand.
“No. I’m sure my mom will find me when he arrives. I was just wanting to give them some time to get in before I followed them.” I told her. In all honesty, I haven’t thought about my mystery date too much tonight. I thought I would leave the introductions up to my mom whenever he decided to arrive.
“Well come on then. You don’t want people to begin to wonder where you are, do you?” she asked me as she tugged me into the room.
“I hope you saved me a seat.” I said to her as we wove our way through the crowd trying to talk to Jude and Stacey.
“Of course I saved you a seat. I’m offended. What kind of friend would I be to leave you on your own with a mystery date?”
“Hmm, that is true. As if you could really leave me alone with the guy before you found out all there is to know about him.” I teased as we found our seats and sat.
“You know her too well.” confirmed Matt as he overheard our conversation.
Stacey just grinned, not at all embarrassed that we figured out her true intentions.
“So where is this mystery man?” Matt asked.
“The way I figure there are two reasons why he’s not here yet. One, my mother gave him her famous directions and he’s now on the other side of town completely lost, or two, his sanity returned and he realized what a horrible idea this was.” I said to him as I smiled.
Both Matt and Heather laughed. My mother and her sense of directions are famous around here. You only have to experience the sense of becoming lost once before you figure out that to go the opposite way that she told you is the right way. I can’t tell you how many times growing up that we had gotten lost on trips, all thanks to my mom who would insist on taking care of the map. When my mom tells you to turn left, you turn right, when she tells you that it’s just down the road a bit, be prepared for a long drive.
“I would bank on the fact that he got turned around.” Matt told me. “Any guy who would turn down a date with you tonight needs to be in a mental hospital.”
“Doesn’t she look fantastic tonight?” Heather reiterated for the millionth time tonight. I know she’s just trying to boost up my self-esteem, but enough already.
“All right, All right. Enough Heather. If I have one more person tell me how gorgeous I look tonight, I’ll scream.” I said in mock anger.
“Just soak it up, will you? No woman in their right mind would deny a compliment when she deserves it.” Heather said to me.
I was beginning to feel a bit antsy, and I just needed to move around.
“I’m not denying it Heather. I just don’t need to hear it anymore.” I tossed my hair over my shoulder as I walked away from her.
About an hour into the party, I was beginning to feel like I had been stood up. By now all the guests had arrived and the majority of the food had been eaten. Stacey is in the middle of opening the numerous gifts that they received while Jude is sitting there fiddling with his drink looking completely bored. I was still feeling quite antsy and was constantly moving around.
I found myself continually watching the door.
I walked over to my parents’ table. There was an empty seat beside my mother that was right in front of the door, so I sat there and turned towards her.
“Now be patient dear. I know he’s a little late, but he will be here.” Mom said to me as she patted my hand. What is with her and patting my hand. Not only am I feeling a bit antsy, but I’m also starting to feel a bit grumpy.
“Mom, he’s an hour late. It’s quite obvious that he won’t be coming, whoever he is. Thanks for the thought though, I do appreciate it.” I told her.
“He’ll be here honey.” My dad injected.
“Well, I’m glad that you both feel positive about this. I don’t even know the guy, but if he has enough bad manners to not show up on a date, then I’m fairly certain that I don’t want to waste my time getting to know him.” I reasoned.
“Be patient dear. Now, why don’t you go grab your mother a fresh cup of punch and something to munch on? Preferably chocolate if there is any left.” She asked me, or rather, told me.
I walked over to see what types of goodies were left on the table. There wasn’t much of a selection left, even though the night was only half over. Making a mental note to go into the kitchen to see if there are any plates to bring out, I filled my mom’s punch glass and placed it on the table while I glanced through the remaining selections of dessert. I chose a piece of chocolate brownie and a pecan tart for my mom and placed it on her plate. I was just about to take the final piece of cheesecake for myself when from behind me I could hear my name being called. Thinking that maybe my date had finally arrived, I turned around and suddenly felt my plate slip from my hand.
There, standing before me, was my date.
My body shook as I stood there in complete shock and could not form a single thought, let alone a word.
He just stood there. There was a gentle smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye.
I wanted to kiss him.
All I could do was stare.
“This is where you are supposed to say hello.” He said to me softly.
Hello? Hello? How in the world can I even imagine saying ‘hello’ when I’m finding it difficult to comprehend the very fact that he is standing before me with a bouquet of roses in his hand and a smile on his face?
“Okay, well, how about ‘am I dreaming’ if you can’t say hello,” he continued. He had one of those earth shattering lazy smiles on his face. I can tell he loves my response.
I find myself beginning to smile.
“Am I dreaming?” I asked him teasingly. Everything else has faded to the background. The only person in my reality at this moment is the one standing before me.
“Richard?” I asked hesitantly. I felt in my heart I knew the answer of why he is here, but I still needed to ask. “Why are you here?”
Richard stepped closer. His eyes whispered promised I couldn’t dare to dream.
“I’ve come to make your dreams come true.” He whispered to me softly.
I was lost in the moment. Everything in my heart screamed ‘YES’, and I felt my body respond in the same manner.
“You are my dream come true.” I whispered back to him as I closed the space between us. I raised my hands to his face. I felt I needed to physically touch him in order to convince myself that he is really here and not just a dream.
I closed my eyes when my hand rested on his face. I heard him whisper my name. I wanted, no, I needed to soak in this moment, a moment that is actually real and not just a dream.
I opened my eyes and smiled.
“Hi.” I whispered.
With that, Rich’s eyes lit up and he laughed.
I reached out my hand towards Richard. He slowly brought his hand forward.
“I’m Wynne.” I introduced myself. “You must be my mystery date.” I said to him with laughter in my voice.
It took Rich a moment to grasp what I was doing, but once he realized that we had an audience, he slowly shook my hand.
“Wynne, what a beautiful name for such a beautiful lady,” he began.
“My name is Rich, and yes, I’m your mystery man. I hope you don’t mind that I brought you some roses.” He said to me as he handed me the beautiful bouquet.
While our hands were intertwined together, my mother walked over to my side.
“I see you’ve solved the mystery,” she said to me as she placed her arm around my waist.
Solved the mystery? What did she mean?
Richard laughed.
“You mean, you never figured it out?” he said to me in disbelief. “Didn’t I leave enough clues for you?”
“Clues?” I asked him while feeling a little bit out of my league.
My mother smiled.
“Oh Wynne. Rich felt so bad that he insisted on giving you hints of this instead of just showing up without any warning.” Mom explained to me.
“I know how much you hate being left in the dark, and I remember quite clearly how you react to surprises, so I wanted to make sure that I gave you plenty of time to get used to the idea that I wanted back in your life.” Richard continued the explanation my mother had started.
I began to clue in just as Heather and Matt walked over to us.
Heather gave Richard a big hug, and introduced her husband Matt to him. The boys shook hands before Heather turned to me with a smile on her face.
“Do you have any idea how difficult this was to keep as a secret?” she asked me.
“You knew.” I accused her while wagging my finger in her face. “How could you know about this and not tell me?” I asked her.
“You have no idea how hard it was for her Wynne.” Matt told me while placing his arms around his wife.
“Seriously, you have no idea.” Heather agreed while she nestled in his arms.
“Do you have any idea how many times I had to stop myself from giving you hints?” she asked me.
I wasn’t about to let them all off this easily.
“So what about the time we went out to Mama Roses’ for dinner? If it was such a secret, why did you tell me you had been in touch with Rich?” I demanded.
Richard answered before Heather had the chance to.
“I was the one who asked her to do that.” He admitted to me. “I wanted you to start thinking about having me back in your life, and I knew Heather was the perfect person to get you thinking.” He told me.
My mother turned to me.
“Honey, you’re not upset with us, are you?” she asked.
“How exactly do you fit into this picture Mom?” I responded in turn with a question of my own.
Again Richard was the one to provide the answer to my question.
“After Heather gave me the heads up that you were becoming more receptive to the thought of having me back in your life, I decided to get in touch with your mom and see if she could help me.” He explained.