Laura's Big Win

by Michelle Tschantre'

Chapter Twenty-One - Wedding Wonders

  Saturday dawned picture perfect, the winter sky azure blue with a few billowy white clouds scattered about to interrupt the backdrop. Although it was winter, even Ma Nature seemed to be in favor of this event as the temperature, never really cold-cold, had moderated temporarily with a warm front and pushed the air into the mid 60 range for mid-day. The big green striped tent rather blended into the landscape, and, always the prepared bunch, had an auxiliary heater in place, just in case. Ryan had been correct when he said there was no back-up plan; it was all go and go; there was no no-go permitted. The morning kitchen was riotous, particularly for Saturday when most activities were somewhat muted from the busy work week activities. Both Laura's parents and Ryan's parents had arrived Friday afternoon, partly to visit their children, but as much as to get to know one another better since they would now be related to some degree; they would even share grandchildren at some point in the future, and Jack and Amanda in the present day. They were about the same age, and aided and abetted by the newly-mischievous Alice Lupinacci, were in for the time of their lives.

  Poker was pretty much a staple of all resorts, to some degree or other, and once the grounds tour, house tour, and general visiting with their kids was completed, Alice suggested a friendly game, joined by Vincent and whoever happened along. She had not forgotten the house rules, and carefully explained things before they got too deep into the proceedings. The game was set up in the first floor of the carriage house, since that was about the only place not already involved in the wedding arrangements. A second table was soon added as arriving wedding guests floated through the area and wanted in on the game. Vinnie turned out to be an excellent dealer in his own right, and again carefully explained the house rules. Although the playing did stop for the wedding, and occasionally for food or drink breaks, it continued for the better part of nearly 16 hours. In retrospect, several people won goodly sums, and with the house limit on loss, no one suffered much. Weeks later reminiscing about the games when they were back on the road, Alice and Vinnie realized what a unique assortment of characters had been in the carriage house at one point in time, when play had resumed after the wedding. Alice admitted that even with her vast knowledge of Windmere clients, she did not know some of the persons in attendance. It was, she opined, a little like a UN conference, but without the infighting. Each time someone new joined in, the house rules and loss limits were carefully explained, but at one point a gentleman at Alice's table asked to suspend the game for a moment while they had a discussion.

  "This is America, the U S of A, right?" was his opening discussion line.

  "It is." was all Alice could say at the moment, not seeing where this was headed.

  "Land of opportunity and free will, right?"

  "Well, yes, but not without limits. The house rules are so everyone can play and no one gets in trouble at home by losing too much money. That's why we have the rules, sort of as an equalizer." Alice had hoped the re-explanation would clarify things, but it didn't seem to help.

  "And as I understand it, the house profits go to a charity. Right?"

  "True. We distribute the winnings to a couple or three places, as needed."

  "What I propose is that the rules be suspended for six hands and six hands only. That way, each of us has a chance to win for a select charity. I will represent, let me see, do you have a Catholic Church?"

  "We do, St. Matthews."

  "Okay, that's mine. I hope I win good pots; I have some things to atone for. Name five other charities, one for each of these gentlemen. Each of us will write a number on a slip of paper, the amount we feel comfortable with losing, no questions asked, payable at the end of the sixth hand to the respective charities. Low number is the max limit. I understand why you have the house rules, and I think it's a great idea, but loss of money, well, it isn't that big a deal, not to me anyway. Besides, everything is going to charity anyway, so whoever is in the game has already written that much off. Six games. Deal?"

  Alice pondered the situation. These were not ordinary players, and even though she didn't know most of them personally or professionally, she was a good reader of people, and these people liked to play with adult sized pots. It was a great opportunity to do something for some charities without them asking, and these guys were going to ask for a tax write-off anyway, she'd bet on that. Her answer was not long in coming.

  "You have a deal. Now, before we start, we're taking a five minute recess. You decide amongst yourselves the six players, and remember, the house has a charity as well. I can tell you this much, based on what we know from our own charitable activities, the Salvation Army has a summer camp fund raiser going on at the moment; the Baptists had a fire last month and are trying to build a new church, the YMCA/YWCA needs repairs to their swimming pool, the local Synagogue also has a summer program, the Fireman/Policeman Benevolent fund helps needy families after catastrophic loss, and the AME group needs some building repairs. The house takes the Conyerville homeless shelter. Any questions? Five minutes; once we restart, no leaving the table unless you're busted or we end game six."

  Dennis had been floating around the area, as much a goodwill ambassador as anything, but he quickly picked up on Alice mentioning the homeless shelter, his favorite charity for one somewhat diminutive reason named Angie. He made his way over to her during the break and inquired in a subtle manner what she thought was going on with these people.

  "Dennis, to tell the truth, I think they just want to raise the stakes for the fun of it. These guys would bet on a race with three legged horses, just for the unique challenge. Personally, I think they have more money than they know what to do with and they enjoy a creative and fun means of disbursing it. That's it, plain and simple. I've been watching them, and I didn't see any cheating. I don't know who a couple of them are for sure, but you can count on this: the checks will cash. So, here's hoping Angie does good, okay?"

  Dennis blushed slightly at the reference, but stood his ground. "You haven't changed a bit Alice, except maybe, I think, you've got kind of a wild streak we didn't know about. Looks like your sheep are coming back for the shearing. Good luck."

  The group reseated themselves at the table. One player had opted out, and a woman had taken his place. The slips of paper were distributed, each wrote a number and passed the paper back to Alice.

  "Gentlemen, and lady; the low number is $20,000. We will expect you to cash out at the end of the sixth game. Game is Texas Hold 'em. Please identify the charity for which you are playing. Are there any questions?"

  There being no questions, the charities were identified and the games began. Six games later, the homeless shelter was doing quite well, and in retrospect, all the charities came out ahead considering it was money from out of nowhere. The players arranged fund transfers to the Windmere charitable account, or ordered out checks as needed to their respective charities. All in all, it was the biggest stakes game Alice had ever dealt in her life, but strangely, she didn't feel any pressure at all, probably because these people liked the fun of the game and cared little about the money. If nothing else, it was a memorable experience, with more than one player suggesting a rematch at Windmere in the future. Over the years, it would become an annual event, but by invitation only; Alice and Vincent would return many times to run the tables.

  For all the excitement in the carriage house, Alice did have other responsibilities this day, one of which was to get Laura to the "church" on time. Mostly, that consisted of making sure the dress was properly worn, hair fixed just right, things like that, even including a last minute pep talk just in case the flesh was willing but the spirit was getting nervous. Alice was to serve as the Matron of Honor, while Roger stood as Best Man. The bride would be escorted by her father, but "given" by her children when asked "Who gives this woman in marriage?" It was a line they rehearsed often, even with Father Jim, just to make sure they got it timed correctly. For his part, Ryan was as sure about this and as calm as he could be; he ev
en sensed that he could feel the "rightness" of this day. Once planned, things rather took their own course toward completion, even though Laura had planned much of this day herself. As with most things that seem simple on the surface, it is the underlying complexity that makes it seem so. On the other hand, the Windmere staff was accustomed to handling large gatherings of assorted persons; they just had a higher interest in this particular gathering. Laura had become "theirs" to take care of for the moment, and when little rough spots popped up, as they will in any large venture, the staff squelched them with accuracy and rapidity. She had not considered the large number of cars to park, since most large gatherings at Windmere were transported from the airport; this was more local in nature, and a good many invitees elected to drive it, even from some distance away. But then there was Franz, and Dennis, who handled all the parking and provided cart transportation to and from the tent area. Cal had thought to arrange with Sheriff Dawson to hire off duty deputies for the gate. Doris and Marie, and their husbands, had been there since sun-up, and the housekeeping staff on duty had rounds assigned to keep the place looking good at all times. The day care area was in full staff early on, and in general, the place could not have held much more activity, with one exception. A call from the airport manager said he had a radio call from a helicopter that intended to land at the golf course pro shop parking lot; whomever it was knew the area, but wanted to let people know it was not an accident. It was just one more thing in a whole series of events that made the day memorable. If there was any one thing of any importance left undone, Laura remembered it mid-morning.

  A couple of months previous, a middle age couple who had been at Windmere a time or two for business reasons called and wanted to know if they could rent a suite for maybe a week, in December, just the two of them. In the office that day, Laura had handled the call, checked the schedule, and reserved Suite A for the couple. The reservation was scheduled properly, the couple was picked up at the airport, and since housekeeping took care of the Suite itself and the couple had already been there and knew the ropes, Laura had rather neglected them in the wedding excitement. This morning she realized her neglect and thought it best to make apologies directly to the guests. Tapping on the door to the suite, she was met by the husband.

  "Good morning. I hope I'm not disturbing you. I'm Laura, the one who made these reservations for you. Can I come in for a moment?"

  "Sure, come on in. There isn't some problem is there?" he asked.

  Laura noticed the tension in the room between the man and his wife. They seemed civil enough to each other, but it seemed more like two acquaintances who didn't know each other very well, rather than a married couple of nearly 30 years. Invited to have a seat, she did so on the familiar side chair, introducing herself to the wife in the process.

  "First up, if there is a problem it is that I have neglected to do my job in making sure guests are taken care of and feel at home here. What you see going on here today is not our usual Saturday activities, and it's pretty much my fault. I will marry Mr. Williams of Windmere this afternoon; you may have met him. But, that is no excuse for not tending the store, so to speak. It's sort of a collateral duty for me, but all of us are here to see to your needs, whatever they may be. My immediate problem is, I don't know what your needs are, or what I can do for you. I'm sorry if it seems you have been neglected; we haven't been through anything like this before, and the learning curve is a little steep. So, is there anything I can do to enhance your stay with us?"

  The couple looked at each other for a moment before the wife finally spoke up.

  "No, I don't think we need anything, really, except?..look, we don't even know why we're here. Maybe this was all a mistake; I don't want to burden you with our problems; with a wedding on your plate, I'm sure this doesn't matter. We'll be fine, really."

  "Sorry, but I don't think we can leave it at that. I know you two have been married quite a while. Kids?"

  "Yes, two, boy and girl."

  "And, where are they now?"

  "They're both out of the house now, out of college and doing their own thing. We hear from them regularly, but mostly it's just the two of us in the house."

  "So, you woke up one morning and realized this man living there had become a complete stranger, with habits and things you didn't even know about. You have to know that he's having the same issues. Trust me, it is a whole lot better you are learning these things now rather than having a couple of lawyers arguing over who gets to keep the cat. I can relate to this, but believe me, I did it the hard way; today......I got really lucky when this man crossed my path. We talk a lot about things. But, that doesn't help your problem. Play golf, either of you?"

  "I do, my wife doesn't; she just never learned. Guess she never had the time with the kids on her arm."

  Laura was remembering her "golf lesson" with Ryan the day before the divorce hearing, and how much fun it had been. Turning to the wife, she asked "Would you like to learn?"

  "Well, I...maybe I could."

  "Good. Stand up and take a swing using.....um.....this umbrella as a substitute for now. That's it, good. Now, do you see anything wrong with the way your wife swings a club, real or not?"

  "I....um.... yes, but I don't see?.."

  "Okay; now, can you stand behind her, hands on hers, and try it again slowly, couple of times??that's it, slowly now."

  This is crazy, Laura thought to herself; I'm not a marriage counselor or therapist or anything. What am I doing here? But as she watched them take a couple more practice swings, she realized that the stiff arms and postures had relaxed, that they were actually touching in other areas now. She wondered if they had ever even touched each other's hands in the past 20 years. But, 2 PM was coming, and she needed to move things along. "Here's the deal, if I can pull it off. First, if I can find the golf pro, I'm going to have him set you up with an assortment of drivers and a couple buckets of balls. The course isn't really open this time of year, but you can use the driving range. You have to teach her how to drive. When you're done, come back here to grab a shower, have lunch sitting with whomever you find in the kitchen, then come to the wedding. There will be people there who know each other, and people who don't really know anyone, so you'll have company. Dance. Enjoy each other, and talk, even if you have to yell above the music, talk. This time tomorrow, my new husband and I will be a happily married couple; you two can be as well, if you work at it. Bet I can have your golf cart at the back door before you can change clothes. Any questions?"

  "Just one." the wife asked. "How do you know this will work?"

  "I don't. That's up to you, but I think you're started. Okay?" Laura had noticed that even though the practice swings had come to an end, his arms were still around his wife, and hers were over the top of his. Laura could feel Ryan's arms around her just then and it sent a delicious shiver through her being. "Sorry; gotta run. Wedding to go to; mine! See you there." And out the door she went.

  "Hi. My name is John. Pleased to meet you."

  "I'm Willadeen; you can call me Willy. Wanna play golf?"

  "Yes, with you. And I've never really learned how to dance, but I remember you like dancing; how much patience do you have?"

  "A lifetime, if you want."

  "I do".

  That was something entirely different, Laura thought to herself, as she wished the couple the best. Her own world had been though the same thing, only hers had come crashing down around her while theirs had a good chance of recovery from what she had seen. She vowed to herself to never get so caught up in things that she neglected Ryan, not with work or home or kids or friends; nothing was to come between them. The fact that she loved having him around helped, of course, and she was about to make that a permanent situation. Stopping in the kitchen for a quick snack, she met briefly with Alice to talk about the afternoon, then realized it nearly was afternoon already. It had long been the custom that the groom was not to see the bride on their wedding day until she came up the aisle; today
would be no exception. Her parents would help get Jack and Amanda ready for the event and would keep them in tow for the duration. Laura herself would finish dressing in the big house ladies lounge since it was much closer to the tent than her cottage. In the meantime she conferred with Doris and Marie about the dinner arrangements, learning that they were prepared to serve until people quit eating. Both agreed this was easier than when Alice married, mostly because they had time to coordinate their efforts, and to bring enough help to handle the work load. It was a tribute to the two of them that they got along so well, literally working in each other's territory from time to time. At the end of the day when Fernando produced a bottle of Tequila he had carried back from their last visit to Mexico, the four declared their friendship forevermore, laughing about the things that went a little wrong, and enjoying what they had learned from each other.

  Checking with staff, Laura learned that Ryan was in the White House, so it was okay for her to go see the tent set-up and to check out the great room of the big house. She almost felt as though she were in a dream sequence, looking in from the outside at the beauty of the arrangements. The tent was filled with flowers, chairs, more flowers, a raised platform for the ceremony, more flowers, and so on. There was a sound system, but it had been done so skillfully it was nearly invisible, and instead of the more traditional loudspeakers, it was setup with more of a surround sound effect, excellent coverage without a lot of volume. The temporary lighting was more than enough, and if there had been much of a chill in the air, the lights heat output would have been enough to warm the air anyway. Tripods with remote controlled video cameras were in multiple locations, all designed to interfere as little as possible and to be very unobtrusive. The great room of the big house was in similar stage of readiness, with the large conference tables removed and a number of smaller tables brought in to provide more intimate seating for the diners. Doris had estimated correctly that they could not seat many more than one third of the attendees at any one time, which is why she and Marie had elected to serve continuously over several hours.

  With everything coming together, Laura made a quick visit to her office, more for having something to keep her occupied than anything urgent, then headed for the ladies lounge and her beautiful white dress.

  Ryan arose at about his usual time, and decided an early morning run would be in order. Running togs on, he planned on doing the golf course perimeter road for a lap or two, but a sudden urge made him change course. Turning off his original path, Ryan made his way to the pond. He had let the dogs out to accompany him, and they were noisily lapping water and chasing after water walkers for sport. Sitting for a moment, Ryan recalled the conversation with Jack, and he wondered if he was doing the right thing, marrying this woman and adopting her children. What if he really couldn't pull it off and things didn't work out so well. It was at that moment an apparently stray thought made its way to his conscious mind: "You planned on having children with Mary; why do you think this is different? You're being given a chance to catch up on lost time. You can do this, Big Guy." Ryan grasped the thought, turned it around in his mind and examined the logic. It was true, he realized, that he was being given some time back by adopting the kids, and he was sure Laura wanted him rather than needed him. That much was obvious. In a moment of crystal clarity, Ryan realized this was not just the right thing to do, it was the only thing to do unless he wanted to squander this chance of a lifetime. He felt a growing knot of anxiety in his belly, not for fear these events were about to happen, but for fear they wouldn't for some unknown reason. The feeling passed quickly, and he realized that this was the place and the time; he had a warm glow and felt an urgent need to get on the with the rest of his life. Rising with a clear mind to continue his run, Ryan noticed for the first time that the pond didn't seem to have its usual musky smell or the dry leaf scent of early winter; there was a faint hint of roses in the air, although he knew full well there weren't any growing in the dense brushy undergrowth, and certainly not at this time of year. Filing the thought, he called the dogs, and feeling as though a weight had been lifted and his vision clarified, he continued his run.

  After a quick shower and back into street clothes, Ryan checked on Laura's whereabouts, ever aware of the "no see" rule on their wedding day, and with Doris' clearance on the subject, popped into the kitchen for a bite. Downing a light snack, and coffee, Ryan decided it was time to go to the White House, a structure he had all but abandoned over two years ago. What he had said about staff maintaining the place was true, and he had allowed it to continue while his own wounds healed. Today he would complete the healing process at last by returning to where the pain had started. The mere act of opening the front door was significant, and once inside, closure was begun. Looking around, he realized the memories were still there, but the pain was gone, and for a fleeting moment, Ryan imagined he heard children's excited voices in the rooms. The head housekeeper had assigned herself to this area for the day, but kept in touch with the rest of her staff by pager as often as she needed. Ryan found her in the kitchen area making sure all preparations for the reception were in place.

  "Morning Edna; got it all under control?"

  "Morning boss; It's coming along well, even if I do say so myself. Any new orders?"

  "Kind of. Place looks great, but then I knew it would. On Monday, all the furniture in the master bedroom comes out and goes to the Salvation Army thrift shop. The furniture store will be bringing in all new in the afternoon, along with some things for the other two finished bedrooms. Those will be kids rooms for you know who, so you know what goes where. The furniture for the main bedroom is leased, so we can change it out easier later on. The other furniture, I had a lot of help from a lot of people picking it out, so I hope it's the right thing. Anyway, not a word about this to anyone else today, okay?"

  "You got it. It's a surprise for the new missus, isn't it! Anyway, let me say 'Welcome home'. You belong here, and I think the world of her and the kids. This place needs a family,"

  "Thanks, Edna. You're a treasure. By the way, how's that new girl working out, Leslie?"

  "Love her like my own daughter. You know word travels fast, and we all knew Ms Laura had taken the girl in. Les has never mentioned it or used it for anything that I know of. All she needed was a chance, and believe me, she's earned it. Dirty shame the way that guy treated her, but I think she's got a good one on the line now. I've seen them together outside here, and he treats her and the baby like pure gold. She's a great kid, but we're going to lose her in maybe a year, soon as she gets her EMT ticket. Anyway, for now it's great having her here."

  "That's really good to hear. My Laura seems to have a knack for reading people, better than I have. Have to run for now, but thanks, Edna. You didn't have to come in today."

  "Yes, I did. This is my place too and I want it to be right. Now, you get out of here before I stuff a dust wipe in your hand, and Ryan?.."

  "Yes?"

  "I look forward to the pitter-patter of little feet in here. This place wasn't meant to be a house; it was meant to be a home, and I don't mean just Jack and Amanda either, if you get my drift."

  "Come on. We're not even married yet, Edna."

  "No, but you're a great guy, marrying a great gal. Can't let it stop there, can we?"

  "Edna, only time will tell, but if that happens, we may need a little help. When's the last time you changed a really bad diaper?"

  "Last weekend. Grandbaby. I'm still in practice; maybe I'll need to teach you a thing or two, Big Guy."

  "Could be, just could be. But, I'd sort of like to get married first. Now, remember, not a word about the upstairs until Monday; okay?"

  "You can count on me; now, get out of here and go get married."

  With that order, Ryan took leave of the kitchen, but couldn't resist heading for the front stairway. The velvet rope was across the stair, a polite way of pointing out that while the downstairs might see anyone for an event, the upstairs was a private residence.
Ryan unhooked the rope and took a step, only to hear a voice behind him say: "Sorry mister. That part of the house is?..oh, I'm sorry sir. I didn't know it was you. I'm sorry."

  "Not a problem. You did the right thing. You're Leslie, aren't you? How's that EMT program coming along, and the new boyfriend?"

  Les turned slightly red in the cheeks before responding: "The EMT program is going great and I really like it; as for the boyfriend, how did you hear about that, not like it's a big secret or anything."

  "Les, there are virtually no secrets in this world. Do you know how many people are watching over you? I just talked to Edna, and you know about Laura, and that crazy Cindy person. And, I heard about your friend meeting Dennis. You have a pretty good sized fan club. I hear he's a nice guy; sounds like things are going good. Keep it up."

  "Thanks, Mr. Williams. I will. It's like having a whole new family, and one not much like the original, thank God."

  "And please don't call me Mr. Williams. Makes me sound old. It's Ryan, okay?"

  "Yes sir, Mr. Williams; I mean?..well, you know."

  "I know. See you Les."

  Ryan walked up the steps, savoring the experience. It felt good, not at all like the last time he had climbed these steps, to sit with Mary for what would be the last time. Like entering the front door, the memories were there, but not the pain, and he realized he was thinking about coming up the stairs with Laura, and the kids, and luggage, and noise; a family. Edna was right; Ryan and Mary had built a home, not a house, and it deserved to be lived in. He recalled Alice talking about giving up the house she and her husband had shared for many years. In one of those poignant moments, Alice had said: "It's a family home, and it deserves little kids in it. I've sold it to a young couple with two on the ground and one in the hanger. It needs lived in, and I can't do that anymore, so I think it's a good decision." Alice had been right, of course, and Ryan remembered the moment well. This house too, he thought, deserves a family, and if Jack and Amanda are it, then it's still a family; but maybe?..and his thoughts trailed off to looking around one more time. Five days, he thought; didn't seem like much time, but the kids had to get back into school after the holiday recess, and this wedding thing had rather crowded some other things around in the Windmere schedule of events. It could all be done, but everyone needed to carry their load, including the newly formed family: Ryan, Laura and kids. Pleased with what he had seen, Ryan headed back to the big house to finalize a couple of things, then find some lunch and get dressed. Seeing a light smoke haze from around the other side of the house, he had to take a moment to investigate. Rounding the corner, he found Fernando sitting on a camp stool almost in a flower bed adjacent to the nearby kitchen door, with a smoke cloud coming apparently from the ground.

  "Good morning Fernando; starting a volcano?"

  "Buenos Dias, Senor Ryan; I told Marie we shouldn't do this, but she says Grande Senor Dennis says it's okay for me to dig here. He even brought the rocks and took away the dirt for me."

  "Rocks?"

  "Si, Senor. I dig a hole, set a big fire, pile in the rocks, and let it burn down until the hog he goes in. I dug the hole yesterday and started the fire early this morning; about an hour ago, in goes the wet straw, and senor hog, yes?"

  "Yes, I guess. You're telling me there is a whole hog under the tarp, being cooked by hot rocks and wet straw. Have you done this before?"

  "It is a side business for us. I do ten or twelve a year, but could do more if I wanted. The sauce I bring from my home town in Mexico when we visit; the peppers there are better than what I get in the store here. It takes time, but I have done several for the same people each year. Is it okay that I dig this hole, Senor? There is no trouble?"

  "Nope, no trouble. It's fine that you dug the hole. I look forward to having some of senor hog later today, and if I remember, I'll tell Dennis to repair the hole so it's permanent and easy to uncover next time you want to use it. I think Windmere just added a menu item. Have a good day, Fernando. Marie did the right thing."

  Ryan moved on through the kitchen, after making sure Laura was not there, then headed toward his quarters for what would be the last time as a widower, to change clothes and return to the White House to wait for the appointed time.

  Judge Harry Comstock and Father James Jesse were enjoying the day, to say the least. After a leisurely breakfast, by late morning they were on their way to Windmere to get the lay of the land, and do a last minute practice run. Fr. James had officiated at weddings both large and small in his years of office, but this was only his second one with Harry Comstock at his side. It was an unusual experience, that first one, and this time around, while supposedly better organized, apparently had quite a few of the same players. He did recall with fondness the food and drink made available. 'A few more of these gigs and I could retire', he caught himself thinking, and indeed at a later time he would recall that thought as a turning point in his retirement plans. Arriving at the gate, they were waved though by the off-duty deputy who saluted as the judge passed by. Franz returned them to the kitchen from the car parking area, and the two took in some lunch, chatted with Doris and Marie, checked out Fernando's fire pit, and then headed for their duty station. They were having a rather great day.

  Surveying the interior of the tent, both men were well pleased with what they saw. In many respects, it made some church weddings look rather plain, but the real key was that the place looked warm and inviting, more like being in someone's parlor than in a tent. The plan was pretty straight forward, following the details on the program. The only surprise, and a pleasant one at that, would occur after Ryan and Laura were officially wed. Both men were prepared to handle that turn of events, and looked forward to it. Retiring for the moment to the White house, they took a seat, Les brought them coffee, and the two waited for the appointed time.

  The clock hands, seeming to have dragged along all morning, suddenly were at 1:30, time to finish dressing and take positions. Ryan knotted his tie expertly over the white shirt and Brooks Brothers medium gray pinstripe suit; Roger would be similarly attired. The two met in the White House at 1:45 as agreed, greeting Harry and Fr. Jim as they entered. The pieces were falling into place smoothly.

  Alice found Laura at 1:30 in the Ladies Lounge of the big house. In short order the dress was on, hair finalized, and the ladies sat for a moment. If there was any final discussion to be had, Alice cut to the quick:

  "Laura, you know it isn't too late. How're you doing with all this? It's been pretty quick for you the last few months; I know that."

  "It is too late Alice. I can't go another day without being married to this man. I want to be so good to him, if he ever looks at another woman, he won't be able to remember why. And Alice, I know he's marrying me, not for what I am, or what I do, or anything like that. He isn't doing this because married men do better in business than unmarried men."

  "And he wants kids. You have two, so he knows your fertile. And, I'll bet he likes to wrestle; you know what I mean."

  "Yeah, I know what you mean, but the man has an iron will. Truthfully, I point blank told him I'd go to bed with him anytime, anywhere. He didn't turn me down; he just said he loved me and that part would happen when it was the right time. To say I was a little surprised would be an understatement. There I was, ready to do anything to keep him, and he said he wanted me for who I am, not for what I could do. I have never felt so loved at any time in my life, and Alice, I'm going to prove that tonight, just for him."

  "You might be in for some surprises yourself. This is one smart man, and a gentleman. Don't hold back. No doubts?"

  "Nope, no doubts. I think it's about time. Ready?"

  "Ready, Mrs. Williams almost."

  The big tent was SRO, sold out, when Harry and Fr. Jim entered from a side flap. Both had expected a full house, but this was really impressive. Taking their positions on the dais, Fr. Jim leaned toward Harry and in an aside said: "Wish I could pack 'em in like this on Sundays. Maybe I need to do a little r
ecruiting."

  Harry responded quietly, but very much on point: "Do a good job here today and you just might get some recruits. Anyway, I think we're going to get some more jobs if this goes well?.Show time."

  Right on schedule the music swelled. In the time honored prescribed order, in they came: groom's mother and father, bride's mother with Jack and Amanda in tow, Alice from the back meeting Roger entering from the side, Ryan from the side, and finally, Laura on her father's arm. Aside from her sheer natural beauty, it was clear this was not a dewy eyed young bride with no real clear vision, but an adult woman with the maturity to fully understand what she was doing, and why. As they paused at the forward end of the aisle, Fr. Jim stepped forward and the ritual continued.

  "Who gives this woman in matrimony?"

  Well coached and prepared, Jack and Amanda rose, and in unison said "We do.'"

  And so it continued. It was the ritual familiar to many if not all, although exactly what Judge Harry Comstock was doing there was a little unclear. Those who had attended the abbreviated wedding of Alice and Vinnie knew that Harry had played a more significant part in that event. This time, Fr. Jim handled the majority of the ritual. Ryan and Laura had decided to go with the standard rites, not alter them as is frequently done by younger couples. Fr. Jim understood and addressed that point during his brief homily, noting that it is not what is said that makes a marriage work, but the two persons who want to make it work. It was not a long service, and the traditional ending was soon at hand. Pronouncing them husband and wife, Fr. Jim directed Ryan and Laura to turn and face the assemblage of friends and relatives: "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Williams. Sir, you may kiss your bride."

  It was an order quickly and gladly carried out, to a standing ovation from the crowd. Laura was experiencing an emotional rush at a level she had never before attained. In spite of her plethora of negative experiences, she was feeling an urgent and nearly overpowering urge to become one with this man. The other feeling intermixed in her emotional being was of being safe and secure in this man's arms. It was almost with reluctance she again turned to face the crowd and the continuing applause. When things had quieted down a bit, Judge Harry stepped toward the front of the dais, and in solemn tones started reading from an official looking bi-fold. It clearly was a legal document, the meaning of which became obvious rather quickly. After intoning the document as legally required, Harry leaned down and addressed Jack and Amanda directly. That part was not actually legally required, since they clearly were minor children, but it allowed Jack and Amanda to vocalize their say in their future; buy-in to the maximum. Judge Harry was not only a legal scholar, but an excellent reader of people as well, and he wanted these two kids to be fully vested in this family.

  "Jack and Amanda, do you understand that Ryan here wants to adopt you as his own children?"

  "Yes, sir, we do." came the rehearsed response.

  "And do you understand that when I sign this paper, he will officially be your legal male parent?"

  "Yes, sir, we do." The lines had purposefully been kept simple, but direct. At that point, Fr. Jim produced a sterling silver fountain pen, and with a flourish, Harry signed the document, then announced to the crowd: "And may I present to you the Williams family: Ryan, Laura, Jack and Amanda. Kids, you may join your parents."

  That was all they needed to bolt from the front row, and leap on the single riser in one bound. Jack proudly stood in front of his mother, with her arms around him from the back, while Amanda jumped into Ryan's waiting arms to be picked up. The crowd reaction was to again burst into applause, a standing ovation that went on for some time.

  When near normalcy had returned, Ryan invited the crowd to both the reception and the on-going dinner. It was a party that would last for hours, into the late night, not to mention the poker game that had just resumed in the carriage house. Some charities would do well before the weekend was out.

  As the wedding party retired from the tent, they made their way across the short distance to the White House. Laura was already experiencing a near euphoric high, walking arms linked with her husband of a few minutes, toward a place she knew was etched in his heart. Remembering something from a few minutes previous, she turned toward Ryan slightly and asked: "In all the noise in the tent, I couldn't hear much, but did Amanda say something to you when you picked her up?"

  "She did, and I almost lost it in spite of myself. She whispered in my ear: 'Now when I call you daddy I won't have an accident'?..I know, I know, but I knew what she meant anyway. It's a rather big 'first' for me you know."

  Laura noted the somewhat husky sound now in his voice, and it confirmed for her his deep attachment to these children. The emotional impact was nearly as great on her as it had been on him. But even more experiences were in store, as Ryan reached for the handle on the front door of the White House. Holding it open, he invited her to enter first the house that Mary envisioned. Laura's reaction was much the same as she had first experienced when they had landed in Suite A for what was to be a few nights of respite. That all seemed so long ago and far away now. The understated elegance of the White House didn't awe first time visitors; it reached out to them, drew them in, and made them feel welcome at a comfort level of a family home. Laura loved it in an instant, and with her husband at her side, the euphoric feeling grew, if that was indeed possible given the already high level. Kids in tow, they did a quick tour of the ground floor, then let the kids head off hand in hand to be with their own friends. It was less of a formal reception and much more a meet and greet style assembly. Ryan and Laura made their way around the room person to person. Meeting her sister for the first time in several weeks, Laura just opened her arms and hugged her. There was little that was said, or needed saying.

  By early evening, they had met virtually everyone on the grounds, both in the White House and in the great room of the original house. Laura had made a quick side trip to change, the two of them saw Jack and Amanda into the care of Marie and Fernando for the next few days, and Franz came in to announce their ride to the airport was ready. Their departure was not without notice, and they were given a rousing sendoff. It was only when they got outside they realized the big Duesenberg was awaiting them. Franz informed them that the Collin's family had sent him funds and insisted the car be used for the start of their honeymoon, a sendoff hard to beat.

  And so it was that Laura and Ryan Williams departed the confines of Windmere for the first step in the rest of their long life together.