Dance of a Lifetime

by Frank Downey

  "Did what?" Crash said.

  "Fucked the daylights out of my bride-to-be in her wedding dress," Warren whispered.

  "Oh, that's so bad!" Liz giggled.

  "And she's not wearing panties," he added. Liz's eyes went completely wide, while Crash stifled a guffaw. "Only Jess knows-she was obviously in on it-so keep it under your hat."

  "Sure," Liz giggled, "and Sophie's keeping it under her dress!"

  Ten minutes later, Warren was standing at the end of the aisle, Crash beside him, waiting for the wedding procession. "You ready for that ol' Ball and Chain?" Crash teased.

  "If she's a ball and chain, I'll take it," Warren said.

  "Good answer."

  The attendants came down first. Sophie's brother Eric came down the aisle with Kristin on his arm. Next came Warren's brother Ryan, and Sophie's sister Tara. Warren's cousin Pete escorted Meggan Carruthers down the aisle, followed by Rick Kenney, Warren's neighbor, and Karen Laskovich.

  Next came Kate on the arm of Evan Pogdar. Kate noticeably blushed at the big grin she got from Chad as she walked past him on the aisle-obviously he hadn't seen her in the low-cut clingy bridesmaid's dress before this! Jack Garrison escorted Liz, who gave Crash a little wink as she passed by him. Papa Bear and Caitlin came afterwards.

  Then there were the flower girls, Sophie's younger sisters Katrina and Brianna. They were adorable. Then Jessie came down the aisle, grinning.

  The string quartet started playing the music they had chosen for the processional-Bach's "Air on the G String." And then, on the arms of both her parents, there she was.

  Warren's first thought was that she still took his breath away, even though he had already seen her in the dress. His second thought was that Jess had done a fine job helping her re-fix herself. His third thought-with a chuckle to himself-was that he knew that all brides glow as they walk down the aisle, but not quite this much of a glow! And his fourth thought was about what was happening to her thighs underneath her dress. That one he forcibly shoved out of his mind-the last thing he needed was to get a hard-on in these snug tuxedo pants!

  Then, as she kept coming down the aisle, the only thought was of how much he loved her, and how damn lucky he was that she was going to be his, forever.

  She got to the end of the aisle, two small suns shining at him from her eyes. Ellen and Brian were beaming as well, as they took her hand and placed it into Warren's. They gazed into each others' eyes for a minute, before turning towards the Justice of the Peace. But, as they did, Warren, in an evil moment, just couldn't resist. He leaned right into Sophie's ear and whispered "Sploosh. Sploosh. Drip. Drip."

  Sophie gaped at him and then burst out with laughter. Everyone there giggled at her laughter. Nobody knew what Warren had said-though Liz, Crash, and Jessie had a good guess-but they were all giggling at her obvious delight. Even the officiant grinned. "Well, now, isn't it nice to marry two people who are so happy to be here!"

  He began the ceremony in the traditional manner, and then got to the vows. Warren and Sophia had chosen to write their own vows. They turned to each other, holding hands. Sophia went first.

  She said, "You pulled me out of the wilderness. You showed me the best part of myself, and gave me the best part of you. Without you, I'm half a person. With you, I'm everything I could ever be. You own my heart, my soul, my love, my life; and I pledge these things to you for all time. I love you."

  Warren sniffled, and said softly, "I knew I should have gone first," earning a chuckle from everyone, Sophia most of all. Warren took a breath, and then spoke.

  "You are my heart, you are my soul. You are my partner, you are my lover, you are my best friend. You are the best thing in my life, and you bring out the best part of me. You complete me, in every way possible. You are all I've ever wanted. I love you with everything inside me, and I promise that I will love you forever."

  Sophia sniffled and gave him a watery smile.

  Crash managed to not lose the rings, to everyone's relief.

  Then, it was over. Finally. The Justice of the Peace said, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

  They turned to each other, grinning in delight, and Warren kissed his bride. Boy did he kiss his bride! They held the kiss for so long that their friends started whooping and hollering. They sheepishly broke the kiss at that, but couldn't stop grinning at each other. Finally, the officiant turned them towards their friends and said, "May I introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Warren and Sophia Kelleher!" The audience cheered and clapped, as they held their intertwined hands above their heads. Then the quartet started playing the recessional-more Bach; "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring" this time.

  "I love you, Mrs. Kelleher," Warren said to her as they walked back down the aisle.

  "I love you, too, Mr. Kelleher."

  As they walked by Peg, Betsy-in her arms-yelled out "Mama!"

  "There's a nice exclamation point," Warren said.

  "Damn right."

  The wedding party had to go take pictures for a while, while the rest of the guests filed into the tent for the reception. People drank and chatted, waiting for the wedding party. Then, finally, they were ready. The parents of the bride and groom, and Betsy, and all the attendants were introduced. Then, finally, Warren and Sophia were introduced to raucous applause. They walked in, hand-in-hand, grinning from ear to ear.

  "Folks, please remain standing while Warren and Sophia have their first dance. Well, their first dance as husband and wife. I understand they've been dancing quite successfully for a while now." Everyone chuckled at that one.

  "Usually, I'd say 'the bride and groom have picked such and such for their first dance.' However, this time, the bride doesn't know what's coming. This is a surprise, from Warren to Sophia. Warren has chosen the version done by Mary Chapin Carpenter, of a song written by John Lennon."

  Warren took Sophie in his arms, as the music started. She recognized it instantly. She looked up at Warren with a brilliant smile and watery eyes, and said, "Perfect. Just perfect." She leaned her head onto his shoulder, and they danced.

  Grow old along with me

  The best is yet to be

  When our time has come

  We will be as one

  God bless our love

  God bless our love

  Grow old along with me

  Two branches of one tree

  Face the setting sun

  When the day is done

  God bless our love

  God bless our love

  Spending our lives together

  Man and wife together

  World without end

  World without end

  Grow old along with me

  Whatever fate decrees

  We will see it through

  For our love is true

  God bless our love

  God bless our love

  By the time the dance had ended, both Warren and Sophia-and most of the people there-were trying, very unsuccessfully, to hold back tears. "You never let me down. Even with something like this," Sophia managed to sniffle.

  "Now, I'd like to ask the rest of the wedding party to join Warren and Sophia on the dance floor." They did, to-appropriately enough-"Don't Forget To Dance" by the Kinks.

  "Now, I'd like everyone to leave the dance floor except for Sophia. And I'd like to ask her father, Brian Daniels, to join her." Sophia beamed as her father met her on the dance floor. "This must be the Stump The Bride wedding, because this is another surprise for Sophia." Everyone, especially Sophie, laughed at that. "Brian has chosen a song made famous by Frank Sinatra, but he's chosen a special guest vocalist to sing it."

  Sophia looked quizzically at her father, who just grinned at her. Then the music started. It was "Just the Way You Look Tonight."

  "Damn good choice, Dad," Sophie grinned.

  Then the vocals kicked in, and Sophia immediately recognized the voice. She looked towards the DJ's stand with a start, and saw Warren, singing the song into a microph
one.

  "Oh, man," Sophia beamed at her father. "Between the two of you..." She was feeling weepy again. "This is the perfect wedding already."

  "I knew I wanted to use this song," Brian told her, "and, then, at that barbecue at Warren's parents' house, I saw him singing this very song, and dancing to it, with Betsy. I got a brainstorm."

  "It's perfect. Everything's perfect." Warren made his way out to the edge of the dance floor, and sang the song right to Sophie as she danced with her father. She was beaming at her father, beaming at Warren, deliriously happy. When the song ended, she hugged her father, then hugged Warren.

  Peg then came up on the dance floor and danced "In My Life" with Warren.

  Warren then joined his bride at the head table. All the folks there, of course, went nuts with that "clink the glasses until the bride and groom kiss" thing. Warren and Sophia didn't mind at all.

  They started serving the food, and the DJ went over to the head table. "Can we all stand, please, for the toast to the bride and groom from the best man, Jason Kowalski."

  Crash took the microphone and grinned. "Boy, have I got some stories for you guys! But I suppose this is a family wedding, right?" Nobody laughed harder than Warren and Sophia-knowing that Crash could tell some stories! "Seriously. I've known Warren since the very beginning of our freshman year in high school. I met Sophia in February of that year. She was laid up in bed with broken ribs. The girl I was dating at the time and I had made plans to spend a Friday night with Warren. Warren asked us if we minded going to this friend of his' house, who was hurt and needed cheering up. Of course, we accepted."

  "So, that's the night I first met Sophia. Now, you have to understand, Warren and Sophie weren't going out then. They were just friends. But, I need to tell you, I just knew. I knew right away. It took another week or so for them to figure it out. I knew before they did," he said to laughter. "But I knew. The girl I was with did, too. Sometimes, it's just obvious."

  "People talk about soulmates. People talk about people who were meant to be together. If that isn't Warren and Sophia, I don't know who it is. They've stuck with each other through a lot of hellish stuff-and it's only made them stronger. This, folks, is love, real and true and everlasting. It makes me unbelievably jealous," he grinned to laughter.

  "So," he raised his glass, "to Warren and Sophia. May you always make each other deliriously happy. Na zdarovye." Warren and Sophia were only too happy to drink to that.

  They ate-interrupted numerous times by glasses tinkling. After dinner, the DJ, at their request, played a selection of big band music. Even in a wedding dress, Sophia could cut a rug.

  Crash was dancing with Liz, but was nice enough to dance one dance with Jessie. Warren danced one with Jessie, while Crash danced with Sophie. And then Sophie danced with Jessie. Warren laughed and took his sister Kristin for a twirl. Kristin happily accepted, then went back to dancing with Tom.

  Then it was time to cut the cake. The DJ put "Two Hearts" by Springsteen on, and they fed each other their wedding cake-chocolate, of course, since they were both confirmed chocoholics.

  After that, the dancing started up again. As a lot of the couples-and budding couples-danced together, Jessie was sitting at a table, chatting. Evan Pogdar saw her sitting there. Evan was astute as always-and he knew about the whole Jessie-Warren-Sophie thing, and about Jessie's breakup with Crash. He saw Crash cutting a rug with Liz, and put two and two together. Jessie was putting on a brave face, but she had to feel a bit at loose ends.

  "Jess," he said to her, "I need a dance partner for the afternoon. Would you?"

  "I'd love to, Ev," she grinned at him.

  They danced for a couple of songs, and then Jess said, "Thank you."

  "You're welcome." He hesitated, and then said it. "I know the whole thing, you know. Warren and Sophie told me on tour. And now I see Crash with Liz, and Warren and Sophie are understandably wrapped up in one another. You had to feel left out."

  "Ev, thanks. It means a lot," she grinned at him. "You're sweet. Why the hell can't you be straight?" she laughed.

  "Sorry."

  "That's fine. You're good company and you can dance."

  "You sound like Shawna," he smiled.

  "How come you're not dancing with her?"

  "Shawna is adamant about confining her dancing to frozen surfaces," he laughed. "She'd rather sit and gab. She's over there with Jack Garrison and Chris Arsenault."

  After cutting a serious rug, Warren and Sophia made the rounds of the room, greeting all their guests. Crash and Liz, when they came off the dance floor-which wasn't often-were cuddling in a corner. Cait was busy showing her engagement ring off. Kate and Chad were alternating between dancing and holding court at a table. Warren walked over to his parents' table and grinned at seeing Kristin happily sitting in Tom's lap. And good ol' Evan was taking good care of Jessie.

  At one point, Crash asked his best friend's sister for a dance.

  "So," Kristin said with a grin, "you and Liz, huh?"

  "So," Crash grinned back, "you and that Tom guy, huh?"

  "We're in the same boat, you know." He looked at her. "Long distance. Longer for you than me."

  "Yeah. Doesn't it suck?"

  "Yeah. I hope we can work it out, Tom and I."

  "Me, too. Liz is great."

  Warren was dancing with Kate at the time, and Liz, Sophia, and Jessie were at a table discussing the same thing. "Does she know?" Jess asked Liz, pointing at Sophia.

  "No," Liz grinned. "I spent the night last night with your best man," she told Sophia.

  "You did?"

  "Yeah. We've gone out a few times these past two weeks. I invited him up to my room for a drink, and it just happened."

  "You OK with this?" Sophia asked Jessie.

  "Yes," she said. "I really am. I'm happy for both of them."

  "Well, don't get too happy just yet," Liz said, a bit depressedly. Sophia looked at her. "I really like Jason. Unfortunately, tomorrow I'm going to be in Los Angeles, and he's not."

  "Oh, shit," Sophia said. "What are you going to do?"

  "We don't know." She grinned. "We've, well, planned to spend tonight together, too. We're going to talk about it. Skate America, thankfully, is in Chicago so I'll see him then."

  "Hey, I meant to ask you," Jessie said to Sophia. "Are you changing your name?"

  "Yes," Sophia smiled. "Very old-fashioned, especially for me, but I decided I wanted to."

  "What about professionally?" Liz asked.

  "That, too," Sophia grinned. "We're Kelleher and Kelleher, now."

  "So," Jessie said, leaning in conspiratorially and lowering her voice, "how's the cum on your thighs?"

  Sophia broke out laughing. "Oh, walking down the aisle I could feel it dripping! It was so naughty and delicious and fantastic. And then I get up to the end of the aisle and Warren starts whispering 'drip drip' in my ear!"

  "I figured it was something like that, when you cracked up," Liz said.

  "Girls," Sophia said, "if you ever get married, have your groom shoot you with his spunk beforehand. It's an experience not to be missed. I can still feel it sloshing around in there. He came a ton. It's like I've been carrying around a little piece of him inside me all day."

  "A whole bunch of little pieces," Liz laughed.

  After a bit, Sophie went off to the ladies' room, telling Warren she'd be right back.

  She came back out after a few minutes, and told Warren, "We have to do the bouquet and garter thing soon."

  "Yup," Warren said, and then stopped. "Wait a minute. Isn't the garter a wee bit, well, soiled?"

  "No," she giggled. "I had it stashed. I just put it on just now in the bathroom. It had dried up there, so I washed some of it off, and put the garter on. It's fine.

  "Good," Warren grinned.

  They gathered all of the single girls and Sophie threw the bouquet. Caitlin really wanted it-since her and Papa Bear most likely would be the next to get married-but she didn't get it. Kristin did.
She was delighted.

  Warren reached down and slipped the garter off of Sophie's leg. She gave him, and only him, a quick look at her uncovered pussy. It was still wet! Warren desperately willed away his budding erection.

  "You'd better make sure Tom gets that thing, or Kristin's gonna be crushed," Sophia teased him.

  "Hey, I just throw it. They catch it." He leaned in and whispered to her. "Well, now I'm very glad you didn't have this under your leaking pussy all day-considering it's about to go on my sister!" Sophia laughed so hard she almost fell over.

  When all the single guys were gathered, Warren turned his back to them, and flung the garter over his shoulder. He didn't aim, not at all. Tom was just more enthusiastic about catching it, that's all. In point of fact, he dove.

  Kristin sat down in a chair on the dance floor, clearly pleased Tom had caught the garter. However, it didn't seem to quite hit her until Tom was kneeling down in front of her exactly where that garter was headed! She looked up at Tom with a strange mixture of anticipation and apprehension.

  "Don't worry," Tom whispered, "I won't go too high."

  Summoning every bit of bravado she could muster, Kris told him, "You can go as high as you'd like."

  Tom grinned at her-but he was a gentleman. He didn't go too high, just about halfway up her thigh. He didn't, however, seem in all that much of a hurry to take his hand away from halfway up her thigh. For her part, Kristin didn't seem to mind at all, except for the inevitable creeping blush. Sophie and Warren, catching all this, grinned at each other.

  The party went on, raucous and fun, after that. At about 5:30, Sophia plucked Betsy out of Ellen's hands and took her into a quiet corner to feed her. Ellen would be taking Betsy for the night, and Sophia had pumped enough to get them through the night, but she wanted to make sure.

  The reception was scheduled to end at six. At quarter of, Warren took the microphone from the DJ. "Hey, folks. Sophie and I want to thank you all for coming. We hope you all had a good time. For those of you staying here overnight, there's some smaller parties and get-togethers planned. And tomorrow we have the hall in the resort reserved for brunch. We'll see you all there tomorrow morning. But as for now, Sophie and I have a date." He bent down, grabbed Sophie from behind the back and knees, and lifted her in the air. She squealed in surprise and delight, and wrapped her arms around his neck. "We have a date with a threshold." Warren started out of the tent and towards the building, still carrying a squealing and giggling Sophia.