by Laura Dower
“So, it’s just us girls, huh?” Ms. Morgan said.
Madison smiled back. “Yup.”
Tiffany tossed her hair. “Mom,” she said to Wanda in her sweetest voice. “Can we swing back by the house? I forgot something.”
“What now?” Wanda said.
Tiffany turned toward Madison. “Oh, nothing much,” she said. “Just this hair clip that I really need.”
Madison’s eyes opened wide. Tiffany was asking Wanda to stop home for her? She couldn’t believe it.
“Fine,” Wanda conceded. “We’ll swing by the house. But for one minute only,” she grumbled.
The morning had taken a new twist.
Tiffany wasn’t poison at all. And she wasn’t a goody-goody, either. Madison was sure now that, if she could keep her eyes open, perhaps Dad and Stephanie’s wedding might turn out all right after all.
The group of four piled into Wanda’s car and hit the road.
The first stop was Rhona’s Roadside Diner—for food.
The second stop: Pump-N-Dash Gas—for fuel.
The third stop: Wanda’s house—for the hair clip.
Madison couldn’t believe it when they pulled into Tiffany’s driveway.
“It looks like a house you’d see in some magazine,” Madison said aloud, without realizing she was speaking.
Wanda laughed. “You think? Nawwww.”
“Mother,” Tiffany groaned from the backseat. “We have one of the bigger ones in the neighborhood, right?”
Madison chuckled to herself. Once again, Tiffany sounded stuck-up, but she wasn’t really that way at all. Madison was pretty sure that Tiffany had no idea she came across any other way but nice.
“Your place sure is bigger than our house back in Far Hills,” Madison said.
“What are you waiting for, Tiff? Get inside, and make it quick!” Wanda ordered.
Tiffany leaped out of the car and sped to the front door of the house. While they were waiting for her to reappear with the hair clip, Wanda and Ms. Morgan began chatting.
Madison opened up the book of poems and quietly read the wedding selection Dad and Stephanie had selected. Madison wished that she had memorized the poem so she wouldn’t have had to keep sneaking peeks at the page.
Madison was very glad that in a couple of hours, the whole poem thing would be ancient history.
From Wanda’s house, the foursome drove on toward the ranch for the big event. In the backseat, Tiffany opened a small lavender bag (which matched her dress, of course) and produced the hair clip she had picked up at the house, along with bobby pins, hairspray, and a giant, round brush.
“I think we should pinch the edges a little and tease it here,” Tiffany said, waving her hands around Madison’s head. She handed Madison a small mirror. “Look for yourself.”
Madison didn’t see what the fuss was about. She didn’t have a clue about hairdos. “Are you sure?” she asked.
Tiffany pursed her lips. “It’s going to look gooooood,” she said in a long drawl.
Madison closed her eyes and surrendered. She figured that no one with such perfect blond hair could mess it up. Less than ten minutes later, after spritzing and spraying and pulling, Tiffany was ready to celebrate her hairdo masterpiece.
“Ta-da!” Tiffany announced from the backseat.
“Well you certainly used enough hairspray!” Wanda declared, pinching her nose.
“Madison Finn!” Ms. Morgan turned around to look, too. “You look like a different person!”
“See? Told you.” Tiffany had a self-satisfied smirk on her face.
Madison grabbed the mirror. She saw the teased and flipped ’do she could never have done in a zillion years by herself.
“Oh, Tiffany,” Madison gushed. “I love it. And the hair clip really is perfect.”
Wanda let out a big laugh from the front seat. “So I guess this settles it, then, hon,” she called back to Tiffany. “Hairdressing school for you. Those stylists have taught you a thing or two, eh?”
“Aw, Mother,” Tiffany whined.
Madison didn’t let their banter ruin the moment. Despite being very tired, her new look was giving her a good feeling.
She couldn’t wait to show off her hair and dress to Dad and the others.
By ten-thirty that morning, when Wanda zipped into the driveway at Wolfe Ranch, it was brimming with wedding guests. Some had pulled up in trucks, others in minivans. A few had even come by horse, Madison guessed. There were a few ponies tethered out in front of the mansion.
“Grandma always puts out the animals and dresses people up in costumes….” Tiffany explained. “She’s way over the top, know what I mean?”
Madison giggled, because she hadn’t met a single person there in Bellville who wasn’t over the top. Real or not, Madison was in awe of the spectacle. She wondered what Aimee and Fiona would have thought of all of it.
Mrs. Wolfe had a waitstaff that ran around taking care of all such details as the parking of cars, taking of bags and coats, and directing of traffic. Every single person was wearing the same type of white shirt, colored bandana, suede pants, and cowboy boots; it was like some kind of wedding uniform.
“Hey!” a voice called out as Tiffany and Madison climbed out of the backseat of Wanda’s car.
Madison turned to see Kirk coming across the driveway.
“What’s up?” Kirk asked. “We wondered when you were getting here.”
“Hello, Captain Kirk,” Tiffany joked. “Madison and I are having the best morning ever, Cuz. What were you doing?”
Madison stood back, smiling silently.
“Well, it’s way too hot to wear a suit,” Kirk complained.
Tiffany pretended to fan herself. “Gotcha. That’s why I’m glad this dress has thin straps.”
Madison stared at Kirk as he started to crack one joke after the next. His hair looked very good. Madison wondered if maybe he, too, had gotten styling advice from Tiffany.
“Madison, I dig your dress,” Kirk commented as they walked together toward the house. “It’s retro or something, right?”
“Oh,” Madison said. She felt her cheeks flush. “You like it?”
“What about my dress?” Tiffany wailed.
“Yeah. Didn’t you wear that dress at Cousin Betta’s wedding?” Kirk asked his cousin.
“What?” Tiffany barked. “I never, ever, ever wear the same dress twice to a family function….”
Kirk laughed out loud. He turned to Madison. “Like I would remember what she ever wore to anything!” he cracked. “I was kidding, Tiff. Take a chill pill.”
Tiffany’s expression turned to a scowl. “I’m going to get you back for that one, Kirk!” she said, chasing him inside.
Madison dropped back a little to see if she could spot Dad anywhere among the crowd. Right now, she wanted to see him more than anyone else.
“Madison!” Tiffany cried. “Are you coming, or what?”
Madison nodded and followed Tiffany and Kirk inside. She glanced around the entryway to look at the hanging lanterns and the candles. It looked completely different from the way it had just one day earlier. Guests milled about, admiring the decor, including the family collection of steer antlers and woven rugs.
Madison couldn’t believe that Dad had said the wedding would ever be just fifteen or even thirty people. There were at least ten times that many guests standing in this room alone!
Tiffany came running over. “Madison,” she whispered. “You have to come with me. Quick!”
“Huh? Where?” Madison asked.
“It’s a secret,” Tiffany said.
She led Madison out through the back sliding doors onto a patio covered with bales of hay and branding irons and a giant sculpture of a bull. Some of the younger cousins took turns climbing on the bull’s back. On one side of the house, a huge Texas flag made out of flowers was displayed.
Madison giggled. She always imagined weddings as affairs of white tablecloths and lace. This was more like a mo
vie set with lots of props.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked Tiffany again.
“You’ll see!” Tiffany said. “You’ll see!”
Tiffany led Madison through the courtyard into the open area where they had had the rehearsal the day before. Today it was to be the site of the main ceremony. Horseshoes had been hung up and down the length of the split-wood fence that surrounded the area. Hundreds of chairs with backs shaped like horseshoes were lined up together. One giant horseshoe painted with the words Wolfe Ranch hung over the altar where the wedding service was to be held.
Off to the side, Madison saw a small tent. Tiffany headed straight for it.
“Isn’t this place for food?” Madison asked, almost tripping over her Creamsicle-colored shoes.
“Shhhhh!” Tiffany said, lifting the hem of her lavender dress.
Madison followed her inside.
The tent didn’t contain catering equipment or lights. On one side was a huge mirror. Standing before it was Stephanie, tugging on her long, white dress edged in lace.
She looked more beautiful than Madison could have imagined.
Sonnet XVIII —
William Shakespeare
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed,
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature’s changing course untrimmed.
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st,
Nor shall death brag thou wander’’st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st.
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
Chapter 18
MADISON FELT A BEAD of sweat trickle down her back. She wriggled around and pretended it wasn’t there as she stared out into the sea of people before her.
Off to the left, Dad beamed. Uncle Rick, who was standing to Dad’s left, grinned just as broadly. Stephanie looked ready to wipe a tear from her eye. In the first row, even Stephanie’s mother was quietly paying attention. Sitting nearby, Aunt Violet gave a big thumbs-up to Madison.
Madison read the last line of the poem slowly. “So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.”
Everyone let out a collective sigh. Tiffany tossed her hair. Kirk stuck out his tongue as if he were going to throw up. But Madison didn’t mind. That was exactly like what Egg would have done.
Madison turned toward Dad again. He was looking in her direction. She bit her lip as if to say, “So?” and Dad nodded proudly.
“Great job,” Dad said softly, mouthing the words to Madison.
Madison returned to her seat. The sweat kept trickling, but she didn’t mind. The worst part was way over. And her hair still looked great.
The minister asked everyone to rise for a blessing and then to be seated once again for the final vows. The bride and groom each recited their vows after the minister prompted them.
“I, Stephanie Mae Wolfe, take thee, Jeffrey Peter Finn, to be my wedded husband….”
Stephanie didn’t say anything else for a split second. The entire crowd in the backyard seemed to hold its breath in unison. Madison leaned forward and grabbed the chair in front of her.
What was wrong? Had Stephanie forgotten the words? Was she about to run away and leave Dad?
All at once, Stephanie spoke.
“To have and to hold, from this day forward …” Stephanie continued. “For better or for worse … for richer or for poorer … in sickness and in health … to love and to cherish … till death do us part.”
The minister turned to Dad and asked him to repeat the same vows. Dad looked more nervous than Madison had ever seen him.
Behind the area where Dad and Stephanie stood, the sun shone brightly over the wide ranch, like a picture postcard. Madison reached into her bag for the digital camera and snapped a photo.
“I, Jeffrey Peter Finn …” Dad said slowly, “take thee, Stephanie Mae Wolfe, to be my lawful wedded husband … I mean, awful wedded wife … I mean …”
Madison’s eyes bugged out.
What was Dad doing?
The minister just smiled. “Take your time,” he said gently.
Madison saw Stephanie squeeze Dad’s hand in reassurance.
Dad wiped his brow. “To be my lawful … wedded … wife …”
The entire wedding party started to clap. The minister held up his hand for everyone to hush. Dad continued.
“To have and to hold, from this day forward … for better or for worse … for richer or for poorer … in sickening health …”
Dad threw his hands up into the air.
“In sickness … and … in … health!” he corrected himself. “To love and to cherish … till death do us part.”
Stephanie’s shoulders shook. At first Madison thought she might be crying, but then she knew for sure that her new stepmother was laughing—hysterically.
“Is she okay?” someone behind Madison mumbled.
Of course, Madison knew Stephanie was just fine.
This was love, that was all. Love of the kind Dad had described to Madison the night before.
“By the power vested in me by the state of Texas, I now pronounce you husband and wife….” the minister said.
Someone in the crowd yelled “Yahoo!” Madison’s heart thumped. This really was romantic. She snapped another picture.
“You may kiss the bride!” another person yelled from the back of the crowd.
“Yeah, kiss her!”
A loud cheer arose from the guests. Everyone jumped to his or her feet, stomping and yelling. Madison swallowed hard. She wasn’t too crazy about watching Dad kiss anyone.
Madison had spent so many hours worrying about the dress, the poem, and, most of all—Dad. Yet it had taken only twenty minutes for everything to change.
Everything.
As soon as the music started up for Dad and Stephanie’s walk back down the aisle, Madison pushed her way through a cluster of people. She wanted to catch Dad and congratulate him. She wanted to see for herself what was different about him, now that he was married again. Madison needed to make sure Dad was still the same old Dad who loved her and considered her his one and only. After all, that was what he’d said just last night.
But the crowd of people blocked Madison’s view and she couldn’t wave high enough or yell loud enough to grab Dad’s attention. She watched helplessly as he whisked his new bride back down the makeshift aisle. Madison couldn’t even reach her uncle and aunt.
“Can you see, darlin’?” a woman in a bright, yellow hat asked Madison.
Madison nodded. “Uh-huh.” But she couldn’t really see anything at all. How could Dad just dash? Madison wondered. She wanted to run away, too. She would have run, if she hadn’t been in Texas.
“You did such a fine, fine job at that poem,” the woman said. “Your daddy must be as pleased as punch.”
“I guess so,” Madison said, her eyes still searching for Dad.
She looked around for Kirk and Tiffany, too, but they seemed to have vanished permanently.
“Madison!”
Madison heard Wanda call out from a few rows back, where she’d been chatting up some other guests. “What are you doing all by yourself?” Wanda asked. “Come here, and meet Stephanie’s cousin from Albuquerque.”
Madison smiled meekly and pushed her way through a couple of rows of chairs to reach Wanda. She shook the cousin’s hand (just how many cousins did Stephanie have, anyhow?) and tried to pay attention as he spoke.
Then someone else shouted her name.
“Madison!”
Madison turned quickly when s
he realized that Kirk was the one who was calling her. He beckoned Madison over to where he was standing. She excused herself from Wanda and the other cousin and made her way to him.
“Where did you disappear?” Madison asked.
“Tiff wanted to see Aunt Steph for a sec. Did you talk to your dad? He was looking for you.”
“He was?” Madison said. She grinned. “I thought he forgot I was even here.”
“No way,” Kirk said. “Your dad and your uncle Rick were looking everywhere for you. I guess they wanted to get some photos or something.”
“Photos? I have to find them,” Madison said.
“Yeah, sure,” Kirk said. “I’ll see you at the tables, okay? Aunt Wanda told me that she made sure we all sat near each other. Should be cool.”
“Thanks so much, Kirk,” Madison said sweetly. “I mean … Cousin.” She threw her arms around him.
“Um … sure. No problemo,” Kirk said, not really hugging back. The dumbstruck look on his face said it all. He didn’t know what to do.
Madison backed off with a smile. “See ya,” she said, disappearing to look for Dad. She didn’t know what had inspired her to hug her cute new cousin, but she had. Madison chuckled to herself as she walked away. If only she had had the guts to reach out and hug someone else she really liked—like Hart.
Now that would have been something.
“I can’t believe this was ever considered a small wedding,” Dad said, squeezing Madison around the waist. “Look at this crazy mess!”
“I know,” Madison said. “I couldn’t find you for ages.”
Dad kissed her on the top of her head. “I will never be very far away, honey bear,” Dad said. “I promise.”
This time, Madison believed his promise.
Madison marveled at the display of food. Stephanie’s family had outdone themselves. This was a real, live hoedown, complete with every Texas dish imaginable. The plates were all marked with clever names that tied in to the wedding theme, from Hoedown Hickory-smoked Bison Sausage and Texas Two-pot Beef Chili to Wedding Bells Chicken Fried Steak and Stephanie Mae Jambalaya. There were pinto beans, okra, corn bread, coleslaw, cobbler, and about twelve different kinds of hot sauce to put on top on top of things.
