Finale
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Chapter 5
Thursday, Tor and I drive to Charlotte and check in at the Hyatt. We change into suits and, after a drink to fortify ourselves for the ordeal, we walk the short distance to the church for the rehearsal.
The bridesmaid assigned to Luc is a doll. She drools all over him, but he has eyes only for Stephan. Andrea's mother keeps as far away from Tor, me, Luc, and Stephan as possible during the rehearsal. It's a relief to us to leave for the dinner afterward.
At the restaurant, the bridesmaid assigned to Luc tries to cling to him. I hear her mutter, "Well, shit," when Luc moves two place cards on the table so he and Stephan will be seated together with Eric across from them. Henry also moves two cards so Tor and I are seated next to him, leaving his wife with Carol to talk to. Poor Carol has my deepest sympathy.
When the time arrives for the toasts after the dinner, Tor and I have both prepared eloquent ones which we deliver in sequence as the best men. Andrea's mother refuses to raise her glass when everyone else does, her attitude bringing the party to a rapid end. Ignoring her, Henry leads Tor and me to the bar of the restaurant and we enjoy a couple of stiff drinks together.
Once we're back at the hotel, Tor and I have just fixed ourselves another drink when Tommy and Mike come to our room. Tommy looks totally lost. "I ain't believing this is happening to me," he mumbles morosely.
"Just nerves, babe," Tor tells him. "What has you so upset?"
"Andrea's mom. She's being such a horse's ass. What if Andrea turns out like her?" He looks near to tears.
"Cheer up. Andrea's nothing like her mother, thank God!" I tell him.
"But I wanted her to like you and Tor like Henry does. I wish Andrea and me had run off and let Pastor Eric marry us instead of all this."
Tor gets up and puts his arm around Tommy's shoulders. "That would have made Andrea's mother even worse. This is her big chance to show off to all her friends." His arm tightens around Tommy's shoulders. "Don't worry about whether she likes Drew and me. Neither of us gives a damn what she thinks."
"You and Andrea will be living in the Triangle with your jobs at the U, so you won't have to put up with her very often," I add. "Besides, Andrea seems able to face up to her when she wants."
Tommy brightens a little at the thought. "I hope so."
Andrea's mother is so traditional she won't agree to Tommy seeing the bride before the wedding, so we all sleep-in and have brunch together before coming back to dress. I have little trouble getting Tommy dressed, but Tor grumbles loudly as he's putting on his tux. I tell him to shut up and be thankful it wasn't a morning wedding. If he's this bad now, I shudder to think what it would be like getting him into striped pants and a cut-away.
I insist we arrive early so we can enjoy hearing Mike play all of the wedding music, and I've given Tommy a very mild tranquilizer to calm his nerves. We sit in what in our church would be called the sacristy and listen. Tor and I exchange looks of pleasure for Mike is surpassing himself.
Eric comes in a few minutes later with a broad smile and decked out in his best clerical vestments. "You guys have to be proud of Mike; he's doing a super job. I wish we had an instrument like this in our church. He'd have everyone complaining he plays too loud, but that's the way I like it."
Andrea's pastor joins us wearing a dark suit to my dismay, for I know Andrea asked him to wear a robe. When a small light over the door comes on, he leads us out to begin the ceremony. Mike plays even louder until only Andrea and her father remain, then he opens the organ wide. The tuba major stop he puts on almost blows the top of my head off.
Andrea looks every bit the bride. Her dress is gorgeous, and Henry is beaming as he escorts her down the aisle. When the pastor asks, 'Who gives this woman in marriage?' I become aware of the extent of her mother's dislike of us, for Henry answers, 'I do,' instead of the usual, 'her mother and I.'
I sneak a look as he goes to the front pew and sits next Mrs. McDonald. Instead of smiling, or wiping tears as most mothers would be doing by now, her face looks chiseled from granite.
During the ceremony, Luc moves slightly so he can hold Stephan's hand and they mouth the vows to each other along with Tommy and Andrea. Eric watches them with a smile.
The receiving line at the reception is unorthodox to say the least. Andrea and her mother have fought the arrangement out. Her mother would have banished us to Siberia had she been able, but Henry put his foot down. So Tor and I are first in line, then Luc and Stephan with the bridesmaids, Dave and Martha as Tommy's godparents, Henry and Margaret, and the bride and groom. Most of the guests have passed through the line, when I hear Luc mumble, "Oh, hell," as a handsome couple comes toward us. They would have bypassed everyone in the line except Andrea's parents and the happy couple had Henry not stepped forward with an evil smile and said, "I believe you've missed the beginning of the line. I want to introduce you to the groom's fathers, men I'm delighted to know."
Henry winks at us when he introduces Luc's parents. "This is Mr. and Mrs. Wade, Luc's parents. Doctor Tor Torrence and his partner Doctor Drew Torrence."
"You have a fine son. We're delighted to know him," Tor says.
I can't resist twisting the dagger a little. "He's so fortunate to have found someone like Stephan. They make a lovely couple."
If looks killed, we would be long dead and buried, but given no choice by Henry they pass down the line. They give their son a bare nod without speaking and totally ignore Stephan, even though he holds out his hand and speaks to them politely. A few moments later, Henry comes back and gathers Tor, Luc, Stephan, and me in a huddle. "Get a glass of that insipid punch and meet me just outside."
When we have our punch and go through the side door, Henry gives us a broad smile and pulls a flask from his pocket, lacing our punch with a liberal shot of vodka. "I think you guys need this. I do."
"I sure do," Luc says.
"Me, too," Stephan echoes.
We've just taken our first sip when the door opens and Eric steps out with a broad grin. "Thought I'd find you out here. Hope there's a little left in that flask, Henry."
He looks startled for a moment, then pours Eric a healthy shot. "Sorry I didn't think to ask you, Eric."
"No apology necessary. I know your pastor would have a hissy if he saw us." After a few minutes of pleasant conversation, Eric drains his glass and says, "I'd like all of you to join me in the sanctuary for a few moments. You, too, Henry."
"Anything rather than face that bunch of gossipy hens Margaret calls friends."
The church is deserted, only the lights in the choir loft remain on. I'm not surprised to see Mike still at the organ taking every opportunity at the largest organ he'll probably ever get to play. After Eric has us all arranged the way he wants, he nods and Mike begins to play softly. Eric has Luc and Stephan kneel on the prie-dieu and puts his hands on their heads, intoning a short prayer, then holds out his hand. Luc and Stephan take the rings it holds and each puts one in the other's ear. Only then do I remember they weren't wearing them at the reception. After Eric intones a blessing on them and the home they have established, Mike lets the organ roar in a short fanfare as Luc and Stephan embrace. He's just shut the organ off, when the pastor of the church comes in.
"Oh! Pastor Hendricks was there something?"
Eric smiles. "Just borrowed your sanctuary to bless a couple of my parishioners. I trust you don't mind?"
It's obvious he hasn't the faintest idea what Eric means. "Not at all. I was looking for Henry. Margaret was asking for him."
"I'll be there in a minute, John. I want to have a private word with Eric."
Once their preacher has gone back to the reception, Eric smiles at us, then takes Luc and Stephan by the hand. "When I saw you repeating the vows along with Andrea and Tommy, I decided to give you an official blessing, which is as much of a wedding as I can perform for you without the bishop pulling my collar. Even so, I would appreciate all of you keeping this between us."
I'm surprised when it's Henry who steps forth and grasps Eric's hand. "Luc's a fine young man and, from what little I've seen of him, so is Stephan. They're obviously as much in love as my daughter and Tommy, so I'm happy you asked me to be here." He whips out his chequebook and writes two cheques, handing one to Eric. "I'm paying for one wedding, so why not two? Especially when the second has been so easy for me to enjoy."
"Please, Henry, you're far too generous. This one is my pleasure. I didn't expect or want a fee."
"Keep it Eric. If you have some feeling about it, then use it to help your work with gay students."
"Then I can't thank you enough. Once in a while I see a student who needs some financial assistance because he's been disowned by his parents. This will go a long way in establishing a fund for that."
"In that case, I'll send you something for that fund periodically." Henry holds out the other cheque to Luc. "Didn't know I'd be needing another wedding present, so take this to help start your life together."
Luc looks at it; his eyes widen. "Stephan and I appreciate the thought, Henry, but this is too much."
"Nowhere near what I've given Andrea and Tommy. I'd better get back before Margaret sends out another search party." He shakes their hands. "I wish you both the best. And keep in touch."
I look at Tor and see we're thinking the same. "Why don't you guys honeymoon at our place? We'll try to give you a little privacy."
We all get hugged. "There's nothing we'd like more," Stephan says.
Henry has a limousine take the kids back to our hotel suite to change clothes and pick up Tommy's car which remains spotless. I suppose Tor's a little disappointed, for I wouldn't put it past him to have helped Mike make a mess of it had Tommy not told them they were taking Andrea's for the honeymoon.
Tor and I have just gotten back to our hotel suite, changed into comfortable clothing, and are about to fix a drink when there's a tap at the door. It's Henry come to pick up Andrea's wedding dress. He sits down when we offer him a drink, and tells us the kids are going to Cherokee for their honeymoon.
"I'm glad they're going there. I have a few distant relatives I want Andrea to see again. She hasn't been there but once because Margaret refuses to go, and Tommy's so proud he wants to introduce Andrea to the chief. He told me he knows her."
"He does. She was instrumental in helping him get into college. She seems deeply concerned about her people and she'll be delighted that Andrea is part Cherokee."
Henry sighs. "I wish Margaret felt the same. I know you've probably wondered why I hadn't divorced her long ago. Actually, I love her deeply and she is a wonderful person when she isn't on one of her crusades or around that bunch of snobby bitches she calls friends.
"It was only after I began to accumulate a little money and we could afford to join the country club that she felt she had to buy her way into what passes for society around here. She somehow became convinced my being part Indian would prevent her acceptance into the social elite. I'm so light, no one would know, but she has a fit if it's mentioned in her hearing. I know you think I'm an idiot for staying so amused at all her hysterics over the wedding, but Andrea is more than a match for her mother and I love to see her rattle Margaret's cage. It takes a sense of humor to live with Margaret and I think I have that."
"You do indeed, Henry. Drew and I couldn't ask for a finer in-law that you."
"Nor could a man like Tommy have finer parents than you. You must be proud of him."
"We're proud of both our sons."
"As well you should. Mike's quite talented. I've never heard that organ played so well. Of course Margaret said there was no excuse for it to be so loud." He sighs. "But she's not truly happy unless she has something to bitch about." He looks at his watch. "Speaking of which, I'd better be going, or she'll have another fit."
Mike joins us for dinner and spends the evening talking about his work. After we've attended Mass and had dinner with Mike and Eric, Tor and I head home. Luc and Stephan had arrived over an hour before us, using the key I gave them to let themselves in. They look as happy as any newly married couple. We tell them to make themselves at home as they always have, just to let me know if they plan to have a meal somewhere else, but I insist they eat with us tonight. I have cubes of sirloin in the freezer and everything else I need to make beef strogonoff. We stopped at the farmers market we like on the way in, where I got some fresh baby lima beans, something I know Stephan loves. Tor picked up a large bunch of fresh asparagus which he loves steamed with butter and a minced boiled egg on top. He puts a bottle of champagne in the fridge to chill.
"What a feast!" Luc exclaims when he and Stephan come to the table.
"You guys didn't get all the trappings of a wedding, so I hope this makes up for it in some small way."
"You and Tor are too good to us," Luc says. "You have a long trip home and then fix a dinner like this."
"Not much trouble, because I had everything on hand. We all need a little celebration after that reception. Enjoy yourselves."
After dinner, Tor opens the champagne and he and I offer a toast to them. Perhaps not so eloquent as we made at the wedding, but just as heartfelt. Luc and Stephan are moist eyed when they link arms and drink.
We don't see much of them during the week for we let them do as they choose, but the time vanishes. They are both profuse in their thanks and hug us when they are ready to leave.
"Nice guys. I'm glad they have each other," Tor comments as we watch them drive away. "I hope Luc's parents come to their senses. They're missing a lot."
"They will. About the time Margaret McDonald accepts us." I'm a confirmed cynic as far as those people are concerned.
A night or two later, Tommy calls to say they are back home from the honeymoon and had a wonderful time. The chief gave them a small reception, and informed Andrea, to her great surprise, that Henry had registered her in the tribe at birth, something he had never told her. Her relatives were delighted that she had married one of their people and went so far as to have the tribal shaman give them the traditional ceremony of blessing. Tommy tells us Andrea is now studying everything she can find about the Cherokee people.
Andrea is having a fit of giggles when she gets on the phone. "Daddy is thrilled at how kind the chief was to us, and my aunts and uncle were wonderful. I think daddy planned all this ahead of time. You can just imagine mother's reaction when we told her I was officially an Indian and proud of it. Daddy had to give her a glass of brandy to calm her down and she actually drank it. Within ten minutes she was drunk as a hoot owl. I've never seen anything so funny."
Tommy is snickering when he takes the phone back. "We left before she got up this morning. Lord only knows what she would be like with a hangover."
Tor and I manage to control our laughter until we've hung up, then he says, "I'd love to have been a fly on the wall and seen Margaret drunk. If Tommy's that amused, it must have been the event of a lifetime."
"Me, too,
love. Me, too."
To be continued...
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Posted: 10/05/07