Renee and LeeAnn had returned to their mother’s house by the time that Renee was finished telling her all about Andrew. LeeAnn hugged her hard, and told her how happy she was that Renee had found him.
“I know it’s rude of me to say this, but I was getting worried about you, Renee. You’d become so haughty, so self-involved and hinckty that I was afraid you were doomed to a life lived alone. I’m not saying that everyone in the world has to get married,” she said hastily. “But I think it’s essential to most people’s nature to want to have a loving relationship with someone special. I was afraid that the sweet, loving, adorable little sister I knew had turned into a hard, unloving woman who would never know that kind of joy. And now I see it all over your face, and I’m so glad for you.”
Renee blinked several times. She wasn’t quite sure of what to make of that statement, and she didn’t have time to fathom it since it was clear that dinner was ready to be served. She and LeeAnn quickly put away the groceries they had purchased and washed up. By the time they entered the dining room, the sisters and Pearlie Mae were already seated. Her nieces and nephews were not in attendance; this was strictly the sisters and Momma. After grace was said, everyone got busy passing dishes and chattering a mile a minute.
Renee looked around at her sisters as if they were a sorority that she was thinking about pledging. Was she ready for the kind of permanency that each of them had opted for? Marriage was a big word and a huge step. And it was kind of beside the point anyway since she and Andrew had never discussed it. But for the first time the idea of marriage didn’t cause her stomach muscles to clench and her ears to ring. This time the thought of marriage made her think of someone and something else altogether. Renee was so caught up that she ignored the platter of baked chicken that Gloria was trying to pass to her. Lost in thought, she stroked the pink pearl with her fingertip. LeeAnn smiled and poked her under the table. “You’re doing it again. Three minutes exactly. You’re so in love with him.”
“Yes, I am. I really am,” Renee answered with a smile.
***
After the celebration of her mother’s birthday, Andrew made a solemn vow that Renee was not getting out of his sight again. It was just too taxing. He’d missed her more than he thought possible in the three days they had been apart. He said as much to her when they were back in each other’s arms and she was suitably pleased with his words, although she was practical as usual, reminding him that she and Donnie were driving Bennie’s car down to Atlanta after the she and Clay returned from their honeymoon.
“So I’ll be gone for a few days in October. Do you think you’ll live through it?” she teased.
Andrew looked at her with all seriousness and said, “No. I think I’ll have to go with you instead of Donnie. I’ll miss you too much.” He kissed her with great passion, which silenced both of them for a while. Then he felt compelled to comment on her living arrangements for the 10th time.
“I just don’t like the idea of you being in this big mausoleum of a house all by yourself after Bennie moves to Atlanta. I mean, I understand her not wanting to sell it right now, and you continuing to live here is a good solution, I guess, but this house is so big and I just don’t like the idea of you being here alone,” he said worriedly.
Renee lay in his arms, savoring his warmth and concern. Andrew was so genuinely sweet that she couldn’t bear it sometimes. She loved the way he worried about her safety, but she didn’t want him fretting unnecessarily.
“Andy, love, I’m a big girl, for one thing. For another, how often are you actually going to leave me here alone? You’ll be here or I’ll be at your place a lot of the time, if you stop and think about it. And one of my nieces is thinking about coming to Wayne State for the winter semester and she’ll live here with me. So stop worrying, okay? I’ll be just fine,” she promised, nuzzling his neck affectionately.
They were in Andrew’s living room enjoying the last moment or two of solitude they would have for the next few days. Bennie’s wedding was in three days and chaos was about to reign, despite everyone’s best efforts. There were so many people involved and so many out of town guests that it boggled the mind. Renee had struggled to keep overnight guests from flooding the big Indian Village house but it was inevitable that there would be a few people underfoot. She sighed a deep and heartfelt sigh at the thought of it.
“You aren’t tired of me already are you,” Andrew joked.
Renee closed her eyes and leaned closer into him. “No, darling, I’m not and I never will be. I’m just thinking about all those people that’ll be swarming around this weekend, not the least of whom will be Her Majesty Queen Pearlie Mae. She thinks I’m up to something illicit with you and the fact that she’s right is absolutely no reason for her to be so vigilant, but that’s Mrs. Queen for you. I’ll never escape her this weekend, you watch.”
Andrew laughed as he stretched out so that Renee was lying on top of him. “Don’t worry about a thing, Sweet Renee. Let me take care of Mrs. Queen.”
Over the next couple of days Renee forgot her apprehension over her mother and concentrated on getting her friend married. Bennie’s brothers and Clay’s went off for an evening of gambling in the casinos of Greektown in downtown Detroit, and the ones over in Windsor, Ontario, the Canadian city right across the river from Detroit. It was a much less harmless bachelor party than a night of debauchery at what Bennie referred to as a “booty bar”, although Windsor was full of those establishments, too. Bennie wasn’t about to object to the guys having fun, but she did pull Andrew aside and assure him that her beloved had better come back in the same condition he left.
“Not a scratch, Bunchy, or else. I’m putting my baby in your hands, so you have to be the designated sane grown-up for the night,” she said sternly.
Andrew swore to protect Clay with his life and the evening went off without a hitch. Clay was even thoughtful enough to win a few thousand dollars at Baccarat, which he gave to Bennie for mad money on their honeymoon.
While this was going on, Renee had a special spa day for all the wedding participants. From the flower girls to the bride they were manicured, pedicured, coifed and pampered until everyone was radiantly lovely. Clay’s mother Lillian was especially pleased with the results. She was not only seeing her oldest son married to a wonderful woman, she was doing some serious courting of her own with Bump Williams, whose band was providing the music for his goddaughter’s reception.
“Oh, Renee, I love this new hairstyle!” she exclaimed, looking at herself in the three way mirror. “Bill Williams isn’t going to know what hit him,” she said confidently.
Renee was smiling non-stop. Love and affection were flowing as freely as pure spring water in a French aquifer and it felt wonderful to be a part of it all, even if Pearlie Mae aka Mrs. Queen was trying to put a damper on it. She had done her mother’s hair earlier in a separate appointment because she knew Pearlie Mae might have some pithy and unkind things to say about the institution of marriage and of course, she did.
“You know, Renee, you’re the only one of my children that has any sense. Why someone wants to tie herself down with a husband is beyond me! You have the right idea, daughter, be smart and stay single. Don’t be a fool like your sisters and please don’t follow my example, either. Just keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll be just fine,” Pearlie Mae intoned.
Renee didn’t say a word throughout this diatribe; she just smiled a little catlike smile. You are so right, Mama dear. I fully intend to keep doing just what I’m doing, she thought. Of course, her mother had no way of knowing that what she was doing, which was loving every minute of being in love with Dr. Andrew Bernard Cochran, Jr. LeeAnn was still the only one of her sisters who knew the truth of the situation, and Renee saw no reason to share the information at that particular time. She just wanted to get through the wedding and see Bennie and Clay off on their honeymoon without any added theatrics.
When the day of the wedding finally dawned it was pouring rai
n, which thrilled Bennie since some bit of wedding folklore suggested that this was a lucky omen. The rain didn’t last long, though. By the time the wedding party left for the church it was sunny and bright and perfect. Renee was thoroughly impressed with Bennie’s serenity. Nothing seemed to touch her. She was beatific and calm and radiant and when she was finally adorned in her amazing custom-made gown, she was beyond beautiful.
Renee could feel tears welling up in her eyes as she put the final touches on Bennie’s hair. This was the natural culmination of the love that Bennie and Clay shared. This was the logical next step for them, for most people who were as much in love and as committed as they were. And despite what her mother felt, despite what she had always felt about marriage, Renee realized at that moment that this could be the next step for her and Andrew. It was an epiphany for Renee, a flash of insight that was staggering. Hoping that her face did not reveal what she was feeling, she squeezed Bennie’s hands tightly before hurrying to take her place in the processional.
Even though Andrew was not a big fan of weddings, he had to admit that his sister’s was beautiful. Truthfully, he didn’t observe too much after Renee wafted down the aisle as the maid of honor; her beauty mesmerized him as always. She looked indescribably pretty in a bronze dress made out of some shimmery stuff that made her eyes glow and her skin look like velvet. He was so taken with her beauty that he almost missed the moment that his sister entered the church on the arm of his father.
Andrew had to swallow hard to handle the huge lump in his throat as he watched his beloved sister enter the church. He had always been thankful that Clay had plenty of brothers to act as groomsmen because it meant that he wouldn’t have to be in the wedding. If all the Cochran and Deveraux men had to be in it, it would have been a carnival-sized affair. So he got to watch his sister go to meet her husband and got to see all the joy on her lovely face. He also observed the passion and love all over Clay’s face. Their faces looked like lovers in a Renaissance painting, flushed with adoration and contentment.
At that moment Andrew knew that this was a journey that he wanted to take with Renee. Not on this scale, certainly, but with this much love and commitment. Andrew knew as well as he knew his name that this was what he wanted for himself and the woman he loved.
***
The reception was spectacular but to Andrew and Renee it was much too long. They longed to be alone with one another, something that seemed virtually impossible. It seemed to Renee that she danced with every single man there. Bennie’s father, all of Bennie’s brothers and all of Clay’s with the exception of Martin who claimed he didn’t dance. Martin and his identical twin brother Malcolm were next to Clay in age. This Renee’s first time meeting him, since he was rather reclusive as the result of a tragedy.
Some years earlier, Martin had been in a terrible car accident, which caused him to be horribly scarred on the left side of his body. His wife had left him upon seeing the extent of his injuries; as a result, he was not the most trusting of men. As well, he had a handsome identical twin to remind him daily of what he had lost. Martin was friendly enough, but aloof, Renee thought. What Ceylon thought was another matter entirely. When she laid eyes on Martin she was struck dumb, which for someone like Ceylon was saying something. She stared at the tall, brooding man with the eye patch and tried to catch her breath.
“Renee, who is that beautiful man over there?” she whispered.
Renee looked around, mystified. “Ceylon, honey, you have to be more specific. There’s like 3,000 good-looking men in here at last count,” she said, laughing.
Ceylon didn’t hear the teasing in her friend’s voice, so mesmerized was she with Martin’s overwhelming masculinity. “I mean that gorgeous man with the patch on his eye. Who is he? If he’s married I swear I’ll open a vein right here in this ballroom,” she vowed.
Renee looked at Ceylon and saw she was quite serious. “That’s Clay’s brother Martin. And he’s not the most sociable person you are going to meet tonight. But no, he’s not married,” she confirmed.
Ceylon smiled sweetly and her index finger stroked a curl of her short, silky hair. “He’s not married now, but he will be soon. To me.”
She started to walk towards him and Renee stopped her. “Do you want me to introduce you?” she asked.
Ceylon just smiled again. “Thanks, but no. I can handle this all by myself,” she purred. Renee stared after her bemusedly. Ceylon was certainly not afraid to go after what she wanted. She just hoped that Martin’s bitterness didn’t make him lash out at Ceylon. Then again, knowing Ceylon, Martin is the one that needs to look out, she thought. The thought of the stern and unyielding Martin pursued by the passionate and effervescent Ceylon put a big smile on her face, which Andrew observed as he joined her at a secluded table.
“I hope that big, beautiful smile is for me,” he said softly as he reached for her hand under the tablecloth.
“This smile and everything else I have. It’s all for you, Andy,” she said in an equally soft voice as their fingers entwined under the table. She loved the look of raw passion that came over his face as she spoke. She just loved him, period. And she wanted to be with him so badly that she felt as though she was on fire.
As if he could read her thoughts, Andrew responded. “I have a surprise for you, Renee. Come with me,” he said, rising from the table and taking her hand. Before they could make their escape, however, it was time for Bennie to throw her bouquet and Clay to throw the garter. Of all the silly things to have to put up with now, this was the silliest. Renee was so intent on sneaking out of the ballroom unnoticed by her mother or sisters that when the bouquet left Bennie’s hands she was paying it no attention whatsoever. When it landed in her arms Renee was as thrilled as if someone had handed her a live chicken.
Andrew had whipped out his ever-handy cell phone to check on a patient and was trying to keep an eye on Renee at the same time. So when the champagne-colored garter with the tiny cerise rose landed on his phone he was understandably startled. He immediately tossed it away from him like it was a large insect while everyone laughed. Finally, the hubbub died down long enough for him to grab Renee’s hand and make tracks.
They were seated in his Bentley heading for Birmingham, Michigan and the Townsend Hotel, a lovely establishment that looked as though its only purpose was to serve as a trysting place for lovers. Before Renee could utter a word of protest, Andrew assured her that everything was under control.
“Your mom is going to have quite the hangover tomorrow, but your sister LeeAnn, who likes me a lot, thank you very much, is going to keep her fine and mellow and out of your hair for the next 12 hours or so. And she’s more than happy to play hostess in your absence so we don’t have to go home until tomorrow morning. And someone is taking all my calls so we’re totally on our own,” he finished happily.
Renee just stared at him. “You mean to tell me that you and my sister conspired to get my mother drunk so that you and I could have an evening of hot, unbridled sex under her very nose?” she said in a voice of indignation and righteousness. Then she smiled mischievously. “I wish I’d thought of that. You’re good. Very, very good,” she praised.
As they pulled to a stop at a traffic light, Andrew leaned over and planted a big, noisy kiss on Renee. “That’s not the only thing I’m good at. I have a few more talents that I can’t wait to place at your disposal,” he said with a wicked grin. Renee returned the kiss with one of her own and slid her hand up his thigh to a crucial juncture. As he moaned with pleasure, Renee informed him that the light was now green. “Let’s go, Andy. I wouldn’t want any of your talent to go to waste,” she murmured as she stroked him harder. They were at the hotel and checked in five minutes later.
Chapter Thirteen
Days after the wedding took place Renee was still glowing. It had been such a wonderful celebration of love and happiness for Bennie and Clay that her heart was completely warmed. Besides, it had proven to be quite a turning point in her relatio
nship with Andrew. The cat was well and truly out of the bag now; everyone knew that they were in love. Andrew had always said that they would know when the right time came to let everyone know, and he was right. The timing couldn’t have been better. As it turned out, Andrew was right about a lot of things concerning Bennie’s wedding. For one thing, Renee’s mother did indeed have a tiny hangover the next day. But Pearlie Mae didn’t mind that minor inconvenience. She’d seen what everyone else at the wedding had seen, that Renee and Andrew were truly a couple. And she decided that she was okay with that development, much to Renee’s surprise.
Renee had quite honestly been holding her breath when her mother had come face to face with Andrew because one never knew what gems the lovely Pearlie Mae would retrieve from the ‘archives’, as Renee and her sisters referred to Pearlie’s store of witticisms. One thing that was in Andrew’s favor was the fact that he wasn’t a stranger. He had met all of Renee’s family on many occasions over the years and had always left a favorable impression. At the reception, Pearlie Mae was, for her, effusively glad to see Andrew.
“Well, young man, I see that you are looking no worse for the wear,” she intoned while looking him up and down. “In point of fact, you are looking quite well. Well enough to dance, one might hope,” she added, with a steely glint in her eye. Andrew got the rather broad hint immediately and escorted her out onto the dance floor where they danced a few numbers together. Pearlie Mae’s expression changed from distant to warm to downright bubbly, right in front of Renee’s amazed eyes.
Gloria and LeeAnn couldn’t resist needling her in the time-honored tradition of older sisters. They sat together at one of the big round tables and watched their mother flirt outrageously with Andrew while Renee grew more and more apprehensive. What is she saying to him? And, more importantly, what is he saying to her?
Until the End of Time Page 18
