Love Imagines (Sully Point, Book 6) (23 page)

"Yes, she called me."

"Sam and William are all set with their outfits
for tomorrow as the groomsmen."

"How about Nicky?"

"He's still a bit unsure over what a best man is,
but I think we're all set. How about your bridesmaids?"

"Beth and Maggie and Charlotte are all set. I
still wonder about having Maggie as Matron of Honor when she's this close to
delivery, but she says she feels terrific. I just don't want to tire her out."

"Well, we've picked a fairly short service, so she
won't have to stand there for too long."

"Did you decide yet, about the scripts?"

"Why are you so anxious about it? We're getting
married tomorrow. That should be our most important thing."

"I know, but one choice means you'll be in Russia,
and the other means London. I want to know where I'll come visit you."

"London."

"Yes!" She got up and went to him to throw her
arms around his neck. "I loved that script. I can totally see you in the role."

"I liked it the best of everything I've seen
lately. We'll have a few months here, between New Zealand and London. So that's
something."

"Doc has already agreed to stay on through next
year, so I'll be able to visit you in both places."

"I didn't think he was going to stay past six
months," Ben said.

"It's your sister. He loves being around her. And
with her at his shoulder, he feels more confident."

"Frankly, all I can think about is that
we're finally going to be married. Feels like we've been waiting forever."

She laughed. "Ben, it's only been...three months?
Barely?"

"A lot's happened."

"That's for sure."

"I have something for you," he said, reaching down
to pluck a small bag from beside the chair."

"Where did that come from? I didn't even notice
it."

"This is for tomorrow, to go with your dress. And
for later, to wear as much as possible."

Rose watched as he slid a velvet covered box from
the bag. He turned it to her and lifted the lid. She gasped.

"Ben! The bracelet from Lucretia's, the one I loved! You
remembered," she said and threw her arms around him.

Before he could hug her, she had pulled back and
was sliding the bracelet on her wrist.

"It's perfect," he said, contented. "I promise to
only buy you things that enhance your beauty."

She laughed. "First the ring, now this. I love it.
Thank you so much."

She admired the bracelet on her wrist, holding it
up at various angles. Then they sat quietly and watched the sunset, with her in
Ben's lap. As the sun kissed the water, she kissed him. It was a long, deep
kiss that was filled with the promise of the future.

* * * *

"What do you mean? He's drunk?" Rose asked Cody
and Jason.

"Didn't you know that he tends to get drunk at his
daughters' weddings?" Eric asked.

"I don't know...maybe. I didn't think he'd do it
at mine."

"Well, in his defense, he probably wouldn't have
but Ben's father brought a flask. One thing led to another..."

"Get him sobered up! Do what you have to, but he's
got to walk me down the aisle, the path, whatever it is, in thirty minutes."

"We'll try, Rose," Cody said.

She was standing in the middle of Violet's Yarn
Shop, which was closed until after the service. It was chosen for its location
right across the street from the path that led to the arbor of flowers that the
designer had placed. The dress was too difficult to wear down the stairs from
the Bakery apartment, so she was finishing her dressing at Violet's place.

Sophia was walking around Rose, twitching a piece
of material in a couple of places. "There. I think you're ready, darling."

The blush-colored wedding dress fit her body like
a glove. The material draped tightly across her bust and on down to her waist.
Starting at about the knee, a fan of lace and tulle went around the dress to
the floor. She stepped into her three inch platform heels. They were not spike
heels, but sturdy enough so they wouldn't sink in the dirt. A chapel-length,
simple veil with blush-colored lace along the edge was perched toward the back
of her head and fell over her hair which shined in a silky fall down her back.
She wore a pink diamond pendant on a gold chain around her neck, and the gold bracelet
Ben had given her, along with her big pink diamond ring.

"You are simply a vision," Sophia said. "I swear
if you weren't a doctor, you'd fit right into that Hollywood scene."

"No thanks. I like it right here."

"And we're all glad you decided to stay."

"I love the dress, Mom. Thank you so much."

Sophia came over and carefully gave her a hug.
"You're very welcome." She sighed.

"What is it?" Rose asked.

"You're my last wedding. No more daughters left."

"Mom...there's always Charlotte. Of course, first
you'll have to find her a man."

Sophia's eyes immediately took on a speculative
glint.

Charlotte poked her head in the door. "Almost
time. Where's your Dad?"

"Hopefully not still drinking with your father."

"Uh oh. Sorry about that. I'll go see if I can
find them."

After Charlotte left, Violet came in waving a
handkerchief with lace trim.

"I've let so many young brides like you use this
as their 'old' and 'borrowed' item. It's become a tradition, and you probably
won't even believe me when I tell you it is over ninety years old."

"Thank you, Violet. I'll be very careful with it,"
Rose said.

"It's pretty sturdy. I like to think it starts a
couple off with good luck."

Rose and her mother watched the older woman walk
out, long gray hair down to her waist.

"So how old do we think Violet actually is?"
Sophia asked.

"There's no telling."

"I think it's about time for you to get out there.
I have to leave before you, darling, so let me just say this. Fill your life
with love and you will never go wrong. Stay true to yourself and let him be who
he is, and you'll be happy."

"Thank you, Mom, for always believing in me, for
everything."

Sophia blew her a kiss and left the yarn shop.

Charlotte stepped in. "All set? I've got your father
out here."

"Is Maggie out there?"

"Yes. Beth has her sitting down until it's time to
go."

"Then let's do this."

Charlotte handed her the bouquet of palest pink
roses and they walked out the door and across the street to the park. Beth and
Maggie were waiting there, along with Ed.

"Hi, Dad. You doing okay?" Rose asked.

"Sure, just fine."

She heard the guitar and knew that Eric was
playing the music for her to enter. The bridesmaids headed on in, walking the
path that was lined with potted roses.

"You've always been a sweet girl, Rose," her father
said suddenly. "You just keep following that path you've been on, and you'll do
okay."

Then he patted her hand as she put her arm through
his and they walked through the trees. She saw the arbor, and there in front of
it, stood Ben. She didn't notice another thing once she saw his face. His
bright blue eyes, filled with love, sparkled, and his blond hair was touched by
gleams of sunlight filtered through the trees. Just seeing him made her feel
like she was floating rather than walking.

Her father placed her hand in Ben's when they
arrived, and the ceremony began.

Just as she began her vows, "I take you Ben—"
Maggie let out a yell.

"Wowee, ouches, that hurts!"

Rose turned to her sister to see her clutching her
very big belly.

"Maggie, don't worry, everything will be fine.
We'll just say the vows and then we'll get you to the hospital. With a first
baby, we have tons of time."

"Sorry, but I don't think so. I think I've maybe
been in labor all day."

"What?"

"Well, I thought it was just indigestion or
something. Then when I finally knew what it was, it was time for the wedding so
I figured I could—whoa, man oh man, that hurts."

"Maggie, that contraction was pretty quick. We
need to get you over to the hospital now. Dad, somebody, get a car!"

Beth and Sophia were urging Maggie to sit down but
she didn't want to sit. Then another contraction hit and she yelled.

Rose turned from the car discussion. "Maggie,
honey, can you walk across the street to the deli?"

Maggie started to cry. "No, oh, oh something's
happening!"

Betsy ran over with one of the heavy white
tablecloths from the picnic tables they planned to use later.

"Here, spread this on the grass over there."

Beth took it and spread it out. Betsy and Frank
took off running for the deli to get some water. Cody had gone to get his car.
Rose shoved her bouquet into Nicky's hands.

"Take care of this for me, okay Nicky?"

"Okay. What's wrong with Maggie?"

"She's having a baby."

"Cool!"

Rose knelt down, and heard a slight ripping sound
coming from the side of her gown. Ignoring it, she got Maggie lying back with
her shoulders and head propped against her husband, who was on his knees. Eric
was as white as the tablecloth, but he held onto Maggie.

As she began to rip Maggie's dress on the seam,
she heard her father urging the rest of the family back to give them room.
Someone was on the phone to the hospital for an ambulance. Charlotte knelt next to her, hand on Maggie's wrist, taking her pulse.

"Elevated, but within expected parameters," Charlotte said.

"Okay, Mags this is it. You ready to be a momma?"

"Ye-es, ouch. Can it be soon?"

"Absolutely, this baby is coming right now."

She turned as Betsy rushed up with a big pot of
water and poured some over her hands, and then Charlotte's hands. Then Betsy set the pot down.

"Here, I've got some of that antibacterial stuff.
Use that too."

"Fantastic. Thanks. Okay, time to push. A
real strong push, Maggie, okay?"

Maggie let out a short yell, and suddenly the baby
was there. Rose cleared the airway and Charlotte rinsed off his face. His yell was almost
as loud as his mother's had been.

"Eric did you want to cut the umbilical cord?"

"Uh, do I have to?"

Rose chuckled. "No, in fact, I don't have anything
to use."

The paramedics arrived and within moments, the
cord was cut, and the baby was wrapped up snugly in a blanket. Then they got
Maggie onto the stretcher while Eric held his son in his arms.

"He's...tiny," Eric said.

"He'll grow," Rose reassured him.

Eric carried the baby to the ambulance following
Maggie and Charlotte, with Rose at his side. Everyone followed them out of the park. Rose and
Eric rode with Maggie the short distance to the hospital, and Maggie held her
son the whole way.

* * * *

Ben was waiting with the rest of the family when
Rose came out of the delivery room where they'd taken Maggie.

"Everything is fine. Mother and baby are doing
well, but I think the Dad could use a drink. That was the easiest delivery I've
ever seen."

"Me too," said Charlotte. "One for the record books."

"Oh, Rose, your dress," Sophia said, and then burst into
tears.

"Mom? What is it?" Rose asked.

"I'm so happy. I'm a grandmother again, and Maggie
and Eric will be fabulous parents, and you'll be here now..."

She turned and let Ed hold her as she cried her
happy tears.

Ben put an arm around Rose and said, "How about
it? Want to finish the wedding?"

"Should we do it over again on another day?" she
asked.

"No, definitely not. I want to be married to you,
today, this minute," he said.

She smiled up at him, her veil slightly askew, her
dress ripped, and all he could think was how much he loved her and how
beautiful she would always be in his eyes.

"Let's get married, then."

They were going to do it in the hall, but Maggie
wanted to be there, so they all crammed into the room with her. It was a nice
delivery room done in shades of pale yellow and green. It had curtains at the
window, and a comfortable rocking chair alongside a couch.

They exchanged vows, and he thought he'd never meant
anything so much in his life. He would be by her side forever, loving her
always.

* * * *

As they exchanged rings, Rose realized her hands
were shaking. Then Ben smiled at her and she was calm again. The band with
white and pink diamonds matched up against her pink diamond engagement ring.
She slid the platinum band on Ben's hand and it was suddenly like stepping into a new
world, a new life.

They kissed, and she felt it like a key in a lock,
opening her heart to so much joy, so much love. They broke apart smiling and
then laughing with happiness.

Everyone around them cheered, waking up the baby,
who opened startled eyes and let out a cry. It was the sound of life, Rose
thought. The sound of beginnings. The sound of love.

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