“You look so beautiful,” Jeff whispered as she squeezed his hand.
“I love you so much,” she whispered back, and he looked down at her, so proud, so young, so tall, so hopeful, as the people who had loved her cried, wishing her a peaceful future.
They pledged their love, and troth, and promised to forsake all others, and then at last Jeff kissed her for a long, long time, as the assembled guests applauded.
The minister pronounced them man and wife, and they hurried down the aisle hand in hand, while the guests threw rose petals at them. It was a happy time, a happy day; it was the culmination of a lifetime.
The guests swore she was the prettiest bride they'd ever seen, and she and Jeff greeted everyone, and at last Peter Duchin played “Fascination” for them, and they began a slow waltz around the dance floor. Everyone stood in rapt admiration. They were the best-looking couple they'd ever seen. And then Allegra dutifully danced with Charles, who seemed quite overcome by emotion, and at last with Simon, who guided her easily around the dance floor, making her laugh at all the absurdities, and the fun of her wedding, just as always. He had a light touch, and a heart that had engulfed hers long since. And after her father, she danced with Alan, and then her brother, and her new brother-in-law, then Tony, Art, and their friends, and Jeff again. She danced for hours, and at last they finally had dinner. And she danced some more, and thanked her mother and Simon for the splendid wedding, and she told them they'd been right all along. They had two hundred and fifty guests and it was perfect. And even Mary Hamilton seemed to be having a good time. Charles Stanton hadn't left her side all evening.
Then, at last, while Allegra changed into a white silk Valentino suit, Simon danced slowly with Blaire, savoring the last moments of the wedding. Jimmy and Sam were dancing nearby, and as Blaire looked at them she suddenly felt terrible and looked up at Simon.
“Do you realize the poor thing has had a baby and gotten married in the last month and a half, and she never even had a wedding? Maybe we should do something for them after we put the kitchen back,” Blaire mused, looking up at him. Suddenly it all seemed so simple, but he was laughing and shaking his head.
“Don't you dare. I'd rather give them a check and send them on a honeymoon. Don't you dare plan another wedding,” he said firmly, and then looked at his youngest child, so happy in her husband's arms, and then back at his wife. Sam still looked so innocent and so trusting. “Unless she really wants one. Maybe you should ask her….” He hated to cheat her out of a wedding after all she'd been through.
“We could do something for her at Christmastime … or next spring …” Blaire was already planning: a Christmas party for Sam … a renewal of their vows … little Christmas trees all over the garden … a tent … a younger band than Peter's, something the kids would like….”
“Stop,” Simon said, laughing at her. “Why don't we get married again? That might really be fun.” And in their case, perhaps appropriate. Since Matthew had been born, they had had a renewal of their marriage. “I love you, you silly girl…. Stop planning Sam's wedding for five minutes. I just want you to know I think you're terrific.”
“I think you are too. I thought that was a stroke of genius, what you did about Allegra coming down the aisle with Charles. It gave everyone a chance, and in some ways, it was so symbolic….”
“It comes from working with actors for forty years … compromise and creativity. It works every time.”
“I'll have to remember that when I come to work with you next week,” she teased, as they danced to “New York, New York.” And then Allegra appeared in her white Valentino. She stood on the stage with the band, and turned her back to the crowd, and threw her bouquet high above and behind her, and it flew through the air and landed in Jess's arms, who shook her head and tossed it away again like a hand grenade ready to go off, and this time Samantha caught it. Sam and her sister laughed over it, and as Allegra kissed her good-bye, she whispered to her that their mother wanted to give her a wedding over Christmas.
“Oh, no,” Sam squealed, like a kid facing spinach. “I couldn't…. Jimmy would kill me…. I'd die….” She meant it sincerely. Allegra's wedding had been beautiful, but in Sam's opinion, way too much trouble.
“Tell Mom,” Allegra said, waving at everyone as they got into the car to leave for the hotel. It had been the perfect wedding.
Blaire and Simon watched her go. She had come to kiss them good-bye and thank them, and Jeff had thanked them too. They'd be back in three weeks from Europe, and as they drove away, Jimmy pulled Sam onto the dance floor to dance with him, Scott disappeared to his room with Nancy, and Simon pulled his wife tightly into his arms and kissed her.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DANIELLE STEEL has been hailed as one of the world's most popular authors, with over 440 million copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include Irresistible Forces, Granny Dan, Bittersweet, Mirror Image, The Klone and I, The Long Road Home, The Ghost, Special Delivery, The Ranch, Silent Honor, Journey, The House on Hope Street, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death.
A Dell Book
Published by
Dell Publishing
a division of Random House, Inc.
1540 Broadway
New York, New York 10036
This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either
are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any
resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
For information address: Delacorte Press, New York, New York.
Copyright © 2000 by Danielle Steel
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage
and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher,
except where permitted by law. For information, address Dell Publishing,
New York, New York.
Dell® is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc.,
and the colophon is a trademark of Random House, Inc.
eISBN: 978-0-307-56699-7
v3.0
The Wedding Page 42
