Wedding Belles

by Beth Albright

  Vivi looked at herself in the mirror and smiled, still amazed by the reflection.

  “Time to get you in your dress, don’t you think?” I asked persuasively. It was past five-thirty now. We turned off the big Hollywood lights and left the fog of Aqua Net behind. Here we go, I thought, groom or not.

  47

  We walked into Vivi’s boudoir and eyed the dress lying across the bed, its tiny, iridescent sequins catching the last flickering streams of sunlight. It had a life all its own. Like it was breathing. The dress. It held magical powers and would soon turn Vivi into a real-life princess.

  “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she asked without expecting an answer. She stepped into the strapless ball gown and slipped it up over her lacy thigh-high silk stockings. The tulle took up most of the room and the train was attached at the top of the back, which hit her just below the shoulder blades. It flowed across the floor and fell in a long puddle of silk and satin like a royal cape. It was a masterpiece. I zipped her up, making very sure my hair was nowhere near.

  I took the tiara from her mahogany dresser and placed it on her head, securing it with about twenty bobby pins. The tulle veil fell gently to her bare freckled shoulders. She looked at me through the mesh, her green eyes glistening, and smiled.

  “Do I look okay?” Vivi asked in a nervous voice.

  “Oh, sweetheart, I have never seen anything more beautiful,” I answered with tears welling up.

  “I sure hope I still look like this when Lewis finally gets here.” Suddenly, real tears welled in her eyes, too. “What am I gonna do, Blake?”

  “About what?” I asked.

  “The game’s in overtime. Lewis will never get through all that traffic.”

  “He arranged for a police escort through security at the university. That will speed things up.”

  “Even the police escort won’t be enough. Everyone’s gonna think I’m a complete fool standing by myself—pregnant—at the altar.” She let out a small cry of sadness. “I’m gonna look like a big ol’ pregnant fool in a big ol’ hypocritical white dress.”

  “Listen, honey. No one is gonna think any such thing. Everyone here knows Lewis is hung up for a little while longer. Sonny is downstairs listenin’ to the game and we’re gonna know the very minute it’s over. After that, Lewis will be on his way. We’ll just wait for him.”

  “But we’re gonna miss the sunset. It won’t be the same after,” she wailed. “What we need is a helicopter to swoop in and bring him to me.”

  “I wish.”

  Feeling more depressed with every minute, Vivi and I walked down the curved staircase and into the kitchen. We looked out the window over the sink and could see the makeshift tailgate party set up under the old pecan trees.

  A few groomsmen were sitting in lawn chairs, along with a couple of the bridesmaids. Everybody was yelling at the big screen that one of the groomsmen plugged in with a long orange outdoor cord strung from the back porch. The plus side was that nobody seemed to notice the delay in the wedding plans, since everyone was too swept up in the excitement of the game.

  “Only in Alabama,” Jean-Pierre said, stepping in from the back door. “Vivi, your nutcase of a dog is out there humping everybody from here to Mississippi.”

  “He reminds me of you,” Coco teased, coming into the kitchen right after him.

  Jean-Pierre rolled his eyes. “Well, everything was going as planned, but as we wait, people are drinking more and more, cheering for Alabama. This place is getting rowdy, and it’s gonna get worse the later it gets.”

  “Great. My beautiful, elegant wedding has become one big-ass tailgatin’ party.” Vivi eyed the wedding party sitting in the lawn chairs, toasting each other and throwing some back.

  Lewis’s voice was booming over the radio Sonny had set up. “Bama’s got the ball on the twenty yard line.”

  Everyone leaned forward, listening hard and looking at the silent TV. This was typical in Alabama. Fans will mute the TV to listen to the play-by-play from the Voice of the Crimson Tide. It just seems more exciting that way. Kinda like you’re there at the game.

  “I predict it’s gonna be touchdown Bama in just a second,” I told Vivi. “Just hang tight. It’s almost over.”

  “Bama’s got the ball on the twenty and there’s the snap, it’s in the air, Johnson catches and goes...” Lewis was screaming the plays. “He’s going, going, he’s gone to the ten, TOUCHDOWN ALABAMA!”

  Everyone erupted into cheers. I grabbed Vivi’s shoulders and we jumped up and down, clouds of tulle and all.

  Lewis sounded euphoric. “The Crimson Tide has clinched the heart-stopper! In over a hundred years of this rivalry, Alabama has only lost seven times. This was not to be number eight. I am handing over the mic to my copilot here in the booth, Ted Roxby, because I am on my way to a very important event. To celebrate this fantastic victory, I am getting married tonight! Hang on, Red! I’ll meet you at the altar, baby. I’m coming!” And he signed off.

  Vivi and I were still standing and dancing in the kitchen. Everyone was goin’ wild out there under the pecan trees. They were cheering, standing up, jumping up and down, hugging each other and generally whoopin’ it up to the max. This was an Alabama football wedding now. Lewis would be proud.

  Sonny made his way to the house. “See there, Red,” Sonny said, winking at her love name. “Lewis is on his way.”

  Vivi was smiling ear to ear and blushing. She was bouncing on her tippy-toes, clutching her hands to her chest. “Oh, my God, I’m so nervous all of a sudden.”

  Kitty walked in from the porch with Mayor Charlie, and seeing them gave me a brilliant idea. I pulled my mother aside. “Does Mayor Charlie still use his chopper?”

  “Yes, in fact, it’s over at the game right now,” Kitty answered. “He was supposed to be in it himself, but he had his driver bring him here in case we wanted to leave early. You know, in case we want to do a little celebratin’ in private.”

  “TMI, Mother,” I said. “Waaaay too much, as a matter of fact. Now listen, will you ask Mayor Charlie if he could call his pilot and see if we can get Lewis on that chopper, so he’ll make it in time?”

  “Fabulous idea, darlin’! Let’s ask.” Kitty turned to Mayor Charlie, who was now talking to Sonny. They had stepped out on the back porch and lit celebratory cigars. That was a sight. My lover and my mother’s lover in conversation as the sun began taking on the first hues of sunset.

  “Hurry, Mother.”

  After a quick conversation, the mayor took out his phone and called the pilot. It was 6:10 p.m. and the guests were still being seated. Arthur was greeting people and glancing over at Bonita, who was helping out the Fru Fru boys.

  Mayor Charlie said, “Get Lewis on the phone, Vivi, and tell him to go straight to my helicopter. It’s where it usually is, and the pilot is waiting for him.”

  “Oh, my God, Mayor Charlie, you’re a lifesaver!” Vivi grabbed her cell from the kitchen table and called Lewis, blurting out the message in an excited rush. “Yes, the mayor’s helicopter. That’s what I said. Run, baby, run! We gonna have us a sunset weddin’, after all.” Vivi hung up, beaming. “He’s gonna make it, y’all. Do you believe it?” Vivi would have her prince arrive by stagecoach, after all. And an airborne one at that!

  Arthur had heard the news and he came up the back steps to hug the mayor, then Sonny, doling out man-style back slaps and handshakes. “Thank you, Mayor. How ya doin’, Sonny?”

  “Just fine,” Sonny said. “I hear you’re the lucky son of a gun giving away our Miss Red tonight.”

  “I am that for sho’,” Arthur answered proudly, and laughed. “Always loved that child like she was my own. She is something extra special. Hey, anybody see a big beautiful girl come through here?”

  “You lookin’ for Bonita?” Sonny asked.

 
“The one and only.”

  About that time, Bonita emerged from the powder room and gave Arthur the once-over. “My, my, sugar, you are lookin’ mighty dapper in that tux.”

  “You are quite stunning yourself,” he said appreciatively.

  “You compliment me like that, and I’m gonna have to keep you around,” she said, winking at him, then kissing him on the cheek.

  Bonita looked like something out of a slick fashion magazine. Her bouncy shoulder-length hair was cut in long layers with light bangs hanging just over her right brow. She had on a pink silk suit with a skirt, and carried a cream-colored evening bag encrusted with little crystals and pearls. Her pink satin peep-toe sling-backs were dyed to match her outfit. She was a vision that would stop traffic, and Arthur always lit up like a streetlight at the sight of her.

  Arthur had precooked almost everything and the two of them had enough hired help to keep everything afloat till after the wedding. Then they planned on running the reception start to finish themselves.

  “Well, you gonna see me to my seat, handsome?” she asked Arthur.

  He offered her his arm. “Would be my pleasure and my honor,” he answered. They descended the back porch steps, and then off they went.

  We all moved out onto the porch, when Coco came running up to the group. “It’s almost showtime! I need to round everyone up and get you in your places.”

  It was 6:20 now. Ten more minutes for Lewis to arrive. The little orchestra was playing classical music, and the seats were filling with wedding guests, talking and laughing in anticipation.

  Cal, Lewis’s best friend and the computer guru whose tracking down Tressa made this wedding possible, was one of the groomsmen. He was meandering around in his tux, looking pretty sharp.

  Back in college, no one ever thought he or Lewis would ever get married. They’d been perpetual players. Now Cal would be the last of the single guys from the frat days. He still looked like a college boy. It made me want to fix him up with a nice girl, but I barely knew any besides Vivi and me, and we were taken. Maybe one of Vivi’s cousins, I thought.

  I noticed Dallas in the side yard, watching Cal like a hungry feline looking for dinner. I shuddered. She’d had a major crush on Cal during high school, but she was so full of herself and starved for attention that he never took her seriously. Nor did he look at her now, even though she was there as a seasoned reporter amid her media peers. I would definitely not hook him up with Dallas. Dan The Man stood by her side, but she paid him little attention. I guess she didn’t need him anymore.

  Harry was there, of course, being best man, but he wasn’t in his seat. He was running all over, stumping as much as he could, making the rounds and patting everyone on the back. Judge Jane hung back from him, but I could see her watching him with a little smile.

  We were all waiting on the helicopter, when we heard a raucous cheerful sound in the distance. It was horns—and drums...and flutes. No one could believe their eyes—or ears—as members of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band came marching up the gravel road. They were playing the wedding march, alternating with “Yea, Alabama,” the Crimson Tide fight song. Cal must have arranged this. He had a nephew in the band.

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “Vivi, this is perfect!” I squealed.

  “I love it, too! Lewis will be so tickled. What a fantastic surprise!”

  Jean-Pierre came running over, looking less than pleased. “Blake, may I talk to you for a second? Alone?”

  I stepped out of earshot of the rest of the bridesmaids and wedding party.

  “What in the name of sweet Jesus is this?” he demanded. “I have a miniorchestra up there at the gazebo playing “Canon” and these...these...horn blowers are crashin’ my classy wedding!”

  Coco ran up beside us, breathless with excitement. “Oh, my God! Y’all aren’t gonna believe this.”

  “What now?” I said, my exasperation hitting a new high.

  “Football players,” Coco gushed. “Uniformed football players, in tight white pants, are getting out at the front gate. The band is playing them in. Miss Myra Jean is for real!”

  “Oh, my Lord, this has taken a turn for the worse,” Jean-Pierre said.

  “No, don’t you see? Everything is gonna work out great. Miss Myra told me I was fixin’ to be surrounded by men in tight white pants, remember? It’s happening just like she said.” Coco bounced up and down with joy. “If she were here I would totally kiss her!”

  Jean-Pierre was upset as he folded his arms in a huff. “This is not how this was supposed to go, Coco. If you like this idea so much better, why didn’t you just plan it this way yourself?”

  “Lighten up, Jean-Pierre,” Coco said. “Whose wedding is this, again? Yours or Vivi’s? Now you take a look at that blushing bride and you’ll see that this is exactly how it’s all supposed to go. Miss Myra assured us this wedding would be great. And, really, how can you have a problem with sexy football players in uniform!”

  “Lewis is gonna love this,” Vivi said as she made her way over to all of us. “Y’all gave me the magic I wanted. We’ll just count this as a bit for him.”

  “C’mon,” Coco said, pulling Jean-Pierre’s chin up from his chest. “Don’t be upset. This wedding is gonna be talked about forever.”

  Jean-Pierre gave a reluctant smile. “I guess you’re right. Lewis needs a bit of his own magic, too, and we did do an amazing job on the rest.”

  “Sho’ ’nuff, sugar. I never could have done all this without you,” Coco said. “Look at me. You are what make us, us. You’re the Dolce in Dolce & Gabbana, and the Ver in Versace.”

  Jean-Pierre smiled for real this time. “Let’s get this show on the road. One three-ring circus coming up!”

  48

  The band marched into the courtyard where the fountain splashed. They began the fight song and in ran the football players, just like they did at all the games. The team bus had arrived with a police escort, but I knew it had to be some of the second and third string since they had made it here so fast. First string was probably still hittin’ the showers.

  Coco had gone down to help “organize things” so he’d been in the middle of all the players. Deliriously happy that his prediction had come true, he now positioned himself for a perfect view of the football players lined up along the gravel drive.

  It was 6:25 now and the sun was just about at magic hour, lighting the evening sky in a wash of pastels. Lewis knew how important it was to Vivi to get married at the magic hour, in the glow of the sherbet-and-turquoise sunset, and she was going to get her wish. Suddenly, we heard a roar overhead. The helicopter would be arriving in seconds.

  Vivi and I hurriedly took our places at the end of the pecan grove with Arthur, Harry and the rest of the wedding party. The helicopter was loud now. Coco and Jean-Pierre rushed everyone to their seats. “Hurry,” Coco called out to the guests. “Miss Vivi wanted a sunset wedding, and we are gonna give her one.”

  Jean-Pierre was scurrying to and fro, shouting, “Someone hold the quartet, please, till Mr. Heart makes it to the gazebo.”

  No one could hear him for the Million Dollar Band and the helicopter.

  Nor had anyone given any thought about telling the pilot that there was no place to land. Well, no place close to the altar, anyway. The chopper overhead started a breeze in the garden. The little tree lights flickered, then started shaking wildly. Tablecloths were blowing and the tents suddenly leaned to the right.

  The pilot, seeing all the waving arms, yanked the helicopter back up.

  Arthur sprang into action like a superhero, running in his tux out onto the open field on the other side of the house. Jumping up and down and waving madly, his tuxedo tails flying, he managed to get the chopper to hover over the grassy area halfway down the gravel road near the plantation gates. Then he ran out of the way and wa
tched.

  The groom was landing like he was the President on Marine One. You could feel the relief fall over the entire venue. The missing groom had finally arrived. Lewis was in the field, getting out of the helicopter, his hair and tux blowing askew. He saluted the pilot and bent over at the waist to make his way under the still-turning blades.

  I leaned over to Vivi and shouted, “See, sweetie? Lewis is here, and you’re fixin’ to be Mrs. Vivi Heart.”

  “It’s about damn time.” Vivi leaned over to me and gave my shoulder a bump, smiling. “We got about three rays of light left. That man does like drama.”

  “Good thing.” I winked and bumped her back.

  Arthur ran back to take his place next to Vivi.

  The familiar wedding march began with the little orchestra even though Jean-Pierre was trying valiantly to stop them. He gave them the cut sign, wiping his fingertips across his throat and violently shaking his head, to no avail.

  It wasn’t time, but the wedding march was the cue for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to start heading toward the altar, so they took off down the aisle in time to the music.

  “Okay, Vivi,” I said, not knowing what to do. “Here we go, ready or not.”

  Vivi looked at me with her eyes bugging out, “We can’t go yet. Lewis isn’t here,” she yelled. “Stop this!”

  “I can’t. No one can hear me!”

  The helicopter lifted up into the evening sky to head for home. Fortunately, Lewis had changed clothes before he left the press box and, as he made his way toward the rose gardens, he finally heard the orchestra—and the marching band. Panicked, he broke into a run.

  Harry hadn’t heard the command to wait, so he started dragging me with him as he headed down the aisle, leaving Vivi standing behind us, arm in arm with Arthur.

  All of the rest of the wedding party was already waiting at the gazebo.

  I yanked on my arm a little to slow him down. “Damn it, Harry,” I snapped under my breath. “We were supposed to wait.”