by Alexie Aaron
The organist stopped playing, her last note echoing through the landscape. The dramatic silence was broken by the sound of the guests getting to their feet. They turned and looked up the aisle. The wedding march began, and Mia, supported by her father Charles, moved down the aisle.
Ted forgot to breathe. He was so taken in by the beauty of his bride that his knees went all wobbly. Cid put a supportive hand under his elbow, anticipating correctly that Ted was being undone by the vision who was walking down the aisle and into his life. Mia had never looked more feminine and fragile as she did in the Victorian wedding dress, but at the same time, the sauciness of the leather corset bespoke of her lust for life and, yes, lust for Ted.
The father and daughter reached the end of the aisle. The judge motioned for the guests to take their seats. Charles eased the veil off Mia’s face and wound it carefully around the brim of her hat. He took her hand and presented it to Ted, who moved quickly towards her as if to rescue her from an unseen enemy. He grasped her hand and helped Mia up the steps of the platform. Mia handed her bouquet to Ralph and faced Ted.
“It is my pleasure to be here to officiate the wedding of Mia Cooper and Theodore Martin. Thank you all for being witnesses to a love joined forever in wedded bliss.” Judge Williams looked at the couple and then addressed the guests, “Weddings, I take most seriously. Yes, they are joyous celebrations, occasions to bring friends and family together. But don’t forget how very important this day is. It’s not the guests, the cake or the presents that bring these two people together. It is the love. Mia and Ted would like to take this opportunity to express their love through their own words in front of this most auspicious of assemblies.”
Ted looked down at Mia and touched his ear bud so his voice would be amplified so even his deaf aunts could hear him.
“Mia, my life started the day I met you. At that time you were busy chasing down ghostly entities, and I was awed by your determination to set right the balance of good and evil. The more I got to know you, the more I applauded your courage to be yourself, your confidence, and your honesty.” He turned to the guests and said, “I admit I chased her down and sat on her until she noticed me.”
The guests laughed.
“When you agreed to spend the rest of your life with me, I could not believe my good fortune. Thank you for honoring me with your love. I will never take it, or you, for granted.”
The judge looked to Mia who was lost in the moment, taking in Ted’s words. When she realized the silence, she reached up and placed her hand upon Ted’s heart.
“Your words take my breath away, cause my heart to race and tears to fall. Thank you.” She took a moment and then lowered her hand. “Ted, you are my love and my teacher. I had spent my life in a vacuum, not really living it, until you came into my life. You taught me who Doctor Who was, is and will be.”
This brought twitters of approval from the geeky guests.
Mia continued, “You have rescued me from harm and taken care of me so unselfishly. At your side, I have been able to take risks that have helped me to evolve into a better person. Without you, my Teddy Bear, there would be no laughter. There would be no color to the sunrises and sunsets. Without you, there would be no me. I will also not take your love for granted and will love you into eternity.”
“What wonderful words shared between Mia and Theodore,” Judge Williams said. “I would like to now ask you to sit back and witness them exchange their vows.”
Burt focused the camera through watery eyes. Parts of him were in conflict. Did he ever think that it would be he and Mia up there? Probably not. Still, seeing the depth of her emotion for Ted wounded him a little. Ted did not steal Mia from him. Their relationship was long over when Mia turned to Ted. The, noticeably absent, Whitney Martin was more to blame for Mia leaving Burt’s arms so quickly than Ted was when Mia realized she didn’t love Whitney. He knew early on that Ted was consumed by Mia. He just never thought Mia would be in a likewise state with the young tech.
The judge had asked for the rings. Burt filed his feelings in the back of his mind for the moment and concentrated on the ceremony before him.
Mia had slid off her left glove and presented her hand to Ted who slipped the platinum ring on her slender finger.
“Do you, Theodore Martin, pledge to love, honor and care for Mia, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others till death do you part? If so, answer I will.”
“I will.”
Mia took the twin to her ring and slid it on Ted’s finger, pushing it past the tiny scars and the large knuckles of the inventor and ghost hunter.
“Do you, Mia Cooper, pledge to love, honor and care for Ted, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others till death do you part? If so, answer I will.”
“I will.”
“With the power invested in me by the state of Illinois, I now pronounce you husband and wife. May you have an eternity of love and laughter together. You may now kiss the bride.”
Ted pulled Mia into his arms and kissed her enthusiastically and thoroughly.
The guests applauded.
“I am honored to introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Martin,” Judge Williams announced.
The organist played a wondrous mix of wedding themes as the couple exited down the aisle.
Mia and Ted moved quickly into the building and into the elevator that would lift them to the second story and the banquet hall. Inside they kissed again and again, vowing to never part. Death would not part them. They would always be together.
Murphy moved amongst the guests towards Angelo. Angelo excused himself and met the farmer halfway.
“Don’t think that I don’t know what this sacrifice has cost you,” Angelo said. “You took a step back to keep her safe, and perhaps in doing so, you have increased your honor. But you can never keep her completely safe, Stephen. Life will now demand much of her fragile mortal body. And I can do nothing to stop it.”
“Mia has chosen a human life. A life of being a wife and possibly a mother. Is this not enough for the universe? Why must she be called upon again and again, Birdman? Leave her be.”
“I sense a threat behind those words.”
“Not a threat, Angelo, but a warning. If you mess with Mia and Ted, or their friends, you will have to answer to me.”
Angelo nodded. “I will stand by my words and not prompt her involvement with me, but neither will I stand back when she truly needs me and my kind. I do not fear you axe man, but I do respect you. Please do the same for me.”
Murphy reached out a hand. Angelo grasped it. The accord was witnessed by Daisy and Father Alessandro who stood under the brilliant red leaves of a sugar maple tree together.
“Let’s hope, that is that,” Alessandro said to Daisy. He turned to her and asked, “Do you want to move on, child?”
“A matter of the heart keeps me here.”
“Are you waiting for a loved one to escort you to heaven? It really isn’t necessary,” Alessandro said solemnly.
“The way I was brought up, when you make a promise, be it for love or the greater good, you follow through,” she said. “Give me a smile, Father, and I will give mine back to you. Let neither conflicts nor heartbreak mar this wonderful day. You and I know that more than a marriage was made here.”
“Yes, Daisy, I’m well aware of that.” He smiled at her and offered her his arm.
“Won’t you feel silly escorting your invisible date, Father?”
“I’m an old man; they expect me to do odd things.”
“Do you think the Roman knows?” Daisy asked as they passed Father Santos conversing with Judy and Ed.
“No, he’s still in the dark.”
“Will you enlighten him?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why do you hesitate?” Daisy asked.
“Because I’m not really sure which side the good father is standing on,” he answered.
Chapter Thirty-eight
Mia found standing in the recepti
on line grueling. Even with Ted feeding her the names of the guests she didn’t know or remember, it was exhausting. It was impossible for her not to feel a bit of each person’s life who hugged her or took her gloved hand. The memories of past weddings and feelings of what if flooded Mia’s psyche, leaving her exhausted after the last guest passed her and entered the banquet room.
Bernard closed the doors, giving the bridal party a moment to relax. “Come on, smile, it’s not a funeral.”
Ralph clapped his hands together. “Attention, I suggest we all take a sip of champagne before we go in. Soda for you little darlings,” he said to the flower girls. He motioned the waiters to bring over the trays of beverages before he continued, “I have never enjoyed a wedding so much! Eat drink and be merry. Mia and Ted, don’t forget to change into your travelling clothes after the bridal dance is done.” Ralph waited until the whole party was served before making a toast. “Here’s to love. May you enjoy it, enjoy finding it and enjoy keeping it!”
Mia took a sip of the bubbly brew. It wasn’t a favorite of hers, but it did seem to relax her quickly. Ted’s protective arm was around her, and she leaned back, enjoying the feel of him near her.
Bernard opened the door and peaked into the room. “I think most everyone is settled. Let’s get this party started.”
Mia and Ted watched as Cid and Ralph walked in with the flower girls. Bernard signaled once the little darlings were settled at their tables, and Tom escorted Raedell into the room, followed by Mike and Audrey. He nodded to Mia and Ted. “Smile, let your love show,” he said and stepped aside. Flashes of cameras and camera phones lit up the softly lit room as the bridal party passed the tables. When they reached the bridal table and finally got to sit down, each person had to take a moment to let the little blue dots clear before they could see the sumptuous luncheon that was set before them.
“How do compare this wedding ceremony to those held in your village, Ed?” Amanda asked He-who-walks-through-time.
“It’s has its similarities to most first marriages of the ruling class. Although, did I miss the exchange of chattels?”
“They do that before the ceremony,” Judy said, her eyes dancing with mirth.
Amanda was about to correct her, but the light pressure of her husband’s foot over hers stopped her.
“Ed, Judy tells me you’re enjoying the island life. I worry that the icy winds of November will challenge you,” Charles said.
“The castle has this marvelous thing called central heating,” Ed said. “The place is filled with books, and Judy is teaching me to read. I anticipate wonderful hours of leisure while the cold winds blow.”
“I, for one, am glad to be in Sardinia in November,” Angelo’s guest Maria said. “I have room at the villa, if you need to thaw out.”
“Thank you for your kind invitation, Countess,” Judy said, but she had vowed never to set foot in Europe again. After five hundred years, she had lost her taste for the old ways.
Angelo returned to the table. He observed that his presence seemed to cause Refugia and He-who-walks-through-time to fall silent. “Come, can we not set aside our differences to enjoy this day,” he sent his thoughts into Refugia/Judy’s mind.
She looked up and nodded, meeting his thoughts with, “Today we shall be friends.”
“Where have the good fathers taken off to?” he asked verbally.
“Oh, I’m sure Santos is trying to recruit, and Alessandro is playing the fool somewhere,” Amanda said bluntly and was rewarded with Charles kicking her leg under the table. “Ouch! Did I say anything we all weren’t thinking?” she asked.
The people at the table burst into laughter.
Mia looked over at her mother and was amazed. She put her hand on Ted’s arm to get his attention. “You know, Teddy Bear, I’ve never seen my mother laugh like that before. Do you suppose she’s drunk?”
“I think she’s happy,” Ted observed. “Now look over at my mother. It’s just occurred to her that she is losing the joy of her life, me.”
Mia gazed at the Martin table and saw a concerned Millie lightly tap her chest and burp. “Gas, that’s all, dear.”
“Excuse me,” Millie said embarrassed. “Maybe I shouldn’t have had that last beer.”
“It happens to us all,” Reg said, leaning back in his chair. “I wonder how much this put Ralph and Bernard back?”
“I wouldn’t want to put a price tag to it. I am glad, however, that we’ve married two daughters off before they got ideas from this extravaganza,” Millie confessed. “Raedell doesn’t seem inclined to marry at the moment, so we have time to save.”
“Where is she anyway?” Reg asked, spotting her empty seat at the long bridal party table.
“I saw her walking around with Tom. She was introducing him to all the aunties,” Millie answered.
Tom leaned against the bar watching Raedell carry on a conversation with a hoard of giggly cousins of hers. He was exhausted after being introduced around. Mia certainly took on a large, close family when she married Ted. He liked being an only child. He didn’t miss large family Christmases like most only children do. He liked being center of attention at the Braverman house. He looked over at his mother who was listening to something John Ryan’s wife was saying. Probably gossip. His mother fell victim to being overly interested in everyone’s business.
“Those women can talk bark off of a tree,” John Ryan said, indicating Tom’s mother and his better half. “That’s why I’ve decided to head for this watering hole for some whisky and peace. How are you holding up, son?”
“Still have some side effects to sort out,” Tom said as he witnessed Murphy and a young woman walk through several tables on their way to examine the wedding cakes. “Mia assures me the extra sight will pass eventually. It didn’t last with Burt, but he didn’t have a heart massage by a ghost either.”
“It could come in handy,” John said, accepting his drink from the bartender. He took a long sip and smiled. “I love the good stuff.”
“Since I’ve been on leave, I’ve been kept out of the loop. Tell me, did Blair Summerfield ever come out of the woods?”
“That he did, and promptly had his father hire a team of criminal lawyers,” John answered. “The DA wants to press charges. He did, according to the Aldridge boy, kidnap Rory Kline along with him and the Smithe brothers. The feds take kidnapping very seriously.”
“I’m surprised Ethan admitted to being party to it,” Tom said.
“I think whatever happened to the two of you in the woods convinced him that he had something to live for, and he’s taking it very seriously right now. The only problem the DA is having right now is that Rory doesn’t want to press charges. He too is taking responsibility for being in the woods. What happened once he was there, he feels is between the five of them.”
“Who do they think killed Keith and Jason?”
“The DA thinks that Blair did. From their testimony, Ethan and the Smithe boys admitted to losing track of him for several hours. Enough time for Blair to kill the boys and display his kill in the manner we found them.”
“There’s no way that boy incased his brother in wood. The boy in the ground, that wasn’t…”
“Now here is where you and I have to be careful. Do we start babbling to the wrong people about tree spirits? Remember, you and I didn’t actually see anything there. Sure, sinkholes a plenty, quicksand and other hazards, but aside from your rescue by Murphy, we didn’t see anything paranormal out there. I don’t think you could raise your hand in a court of law and claim a paranormal entity killed those boys.”
Tom nodded his head. “Would I be stepping out of bounds if I mentioned that Blair Summerfield should be watched? His escalation of school boy antics has moved beyond the norm.”
“We don’t have the manpower to watch him…”
“I do,” Angelo Michaels said as he approached the bar. “I hear from Father Santos that Mia got a very evil vibe off of the boy. I trust her feelings and will chec
k in on him from time to time. We can’t let evil fester, gentlemen.” He broke off to ask the bartender what red wine he had available. Upon making his choice, he turned back to Tom and John. “We also need to discuss what’s left in Cold Creek Hollow. Dangerous, yes?”
“Quiet though,” John pointed out. “When I first heard about the missing teens, I would have bet my house that the boys ended up in trouble out there,” he admitted.
Ted walked over with a big smile on his face. “Mia sent me over to break up this confab. You are to enjoy yourselves, gentlemen. That is an order.”
“He is correct. I’m sorry for bringing business matters up on your day of joy,” Angelo apologized. He bowed his head slightly, making eye contact with John Ryan. “We will speak at another time.”
The three watched the large man work his way to his table and sit down across from Ed.
“I’d like to see those two giants go at it,” Tom said.
“I almost did,” Ted said. “In Haiti, Ed was prepared to fight Angelo to the death in order to free Mia. Fortunately, a judge intervened. Speaking of judges, have either of you seen ours? I understand it’s traditional for me to pay her. She requested small unmarked bills, should I be worried?” Ted teased, walking away, patting his inside pocket.
John roared with laughter. Tom, not understanding the joke at first, looked confused. “Son, you have to loosen up. Go dance with a redhead,” he advised.
At the bridal table Audrey was feeling neglected. Ralph assured her that she was breathtakingly beautiful in her bridesmaid attire and that Burt would be weak in the knees when he saw her. But aside from ceremony, she hadn’t seen much of the man who was so keen on her a few days ago. Each time she caught sight of Burt, Nathan was deep in conversation with him. If she didn’t know any better, she could have sworn the comic book collector was squeezing her out of Burt’s life.
