“I’m ready if you two are,” Millie said eagerly as she stepped to his side.
“All right then, let’s go!” he said as he shepherded Anne to take the lead before them. The carriage driver remained with the horses, but the florist followed behind at a distance. As they strolled along, George directed their eyes to the pond on their left. It was partly to distract them, but also partly to bring their attention to the eight white swans that were attending the wedding that day.
Millie was awestruck by the scene that she claimed looked just like a photograph from a magazine. They floated peacefully near one another at the center of the mirrored water and looked back at those on shore with keen interest.
Soon, George indicated that it was time to proceed. When the ladies turned, they noticed that the scene had changed dramatically. Two violinists in formal attire now stood just a few yards ahead on either side of the “aisle” and began to play Here Comes the Bride. Millie’s eyes began to well up as she could see Henry along with the preacher now positioned at the archway. Another woman was off to the side with a large camera anxiously taking pictures.
Millie began to cry and realized she hadn’t planned for that possibility by bringing a tissue or handkerchief along. George was on the job, however, and had an ample supply at the ready. Having given away two daughters at the altar made him a veteran, and he had foreseen the inevitable. He handed one handkerchief to Millie and another to Anne, who also had joined in the weeping at this point. Because all of it was so overwhelming and such a surprise, it took Millie a few seconds to realize that Henry was holding something. She couldn’t quite figure out what it was yet but as she drew closer, she was shaken by the biggest surprise of all.
In his arms, Henry held the official flower girl and ring bearer for the wedding. It was none other than the feline officially named Hobo Josephine Engel, now simply known to friends and family as Joe. She looked plump and a wee bit uncomfortable but contented to be in Henry’s arms. Around her neck, a white satin ribbon had been loosely tied with two wedding rings dangling from it.
“Oh my Lord! It’s Joe!” Millie cried as she rushed to Henry’s side to the utter delight of all in attendance.
“You’re crazy, you know that?” Millie joyfully stammered to Henry while she nuzzled the little cat into her chest.
“I know I’m crazy about you,” Henry said as he put his hands on her waist. “Man that is some kind of dress! You look like a million bucks.” He leaned to kiss her before he was reminded by the best man that he was getting a little ahead of himself.
“Excuse me, if you two want to get a room, you first have to say I do,” he teased.
“Fair enough. Let’s get this going then,” Henry fired back, which brought more laughter from all.
“I just can’t believe you brought her down here!” Millie whispered to Henry with amazement.
“Would you have had it any other way?” he whispered back.
It was true. This was a day that Joe had to be a part of. Following her mysterious arrival at the estate the previous spring, Henry, Millie, and Oak Forest had changed forever.
Anne stepped over and took Joe so that Millie would be able to give her undivided attention to her groom. The little feline was starting to wonder if perhaps they thought she was a football or a hot potato. However, she liked everyone that she had been handed to so far, so she opted not to complain. After all, it was her first wedding, and she guessed that maybe passing the pregnant cat was some sort of weird marital custom. Still, if they tried to pawn her off on the photographer, whom she thought looked a little sketchy, she intended to speak up.
With Joe now taken care of, the reverend gathered everyone together and began the ceremony. The proceedings were relatively brief, but they were very moving. Henry and Millie exchanged vows they had written for each other, and even George needed a handkerchief afterward. When it came time for the exchange of rings, Millie was stunned to see that Henry had pulled another surprise from his bag of tricks. She hadn’t noticed that one of the rings that Joe had carried around her neck featured a large diamond with several smaller ones mounted on either side. Conversely, Henry’s was a simple band akin to the engagement ring he had given to Millie. It had been Henry’s plan all along. The jeweler who had crafted the set for Millie had designed it to allow them to be fused together at a later date. Henry had correctly guessed that it would be a fun surprise. Millie loved the ring and loved the man who had thought of it.
“That diamond would take care of a lot of kids, Henry,” she said in protest, thinking of their new charitable venture. He smiled and laughed but assured her that they could afford both. Henry insisted that it was deserved because she had always taken care of him and everyone else around her.
When all else had been said and done, the reverend pronounced them man and wife and then blessed them. Henry took the newly anointed Mrs. Engel into his arms and gave her the kiss of her life while everyone clapped and cheered. The two violinists broke into a jovial tune as the photographer snapped countless pictures. To top off the occasion, the florist had slipped to the side of the archway and now opened a large box releasing scores of doves into the air.
“They’re beautiful, Henry!” Anne shouted with glee as the graceful birds flew up into the sky.
“We had to do it,” Henry declared as George looked on in approval. Millie was also in complete accord. She knew exactly what he was referring to. Henry had explained to her what doves had meant to Mary. Millie also understood what they had come to mean to him. In Henry’s mind, they were symbols of redemption, renewal, and forgiveness. Millie knew that if it hadn’t been for Henry’s visit to the cemetery and the mysterious appearance of a dove, he would have never been able to love again. She was grateful for Mary’s absolution of Henry and thought that the gesture was the perfect way to honor her memory.
Following the ceremony, the wedding party boarded the carriage and were promptly taken up to the house so that Joe could be safely deposited indoors to rest. While they were there, Henry directed everyone to refresh themselves as needed and then reconvene out front for a ride through the countryside. When they returned to the carriage, it had been decorated with balloons, crepe paper, and a traditional “Just Married” sign that had been affixed to the rear. A tub of ice with bottles of champagne and glasses at the ready was also waiting for them.
Henry explained that since it was their wedding day, he’d expected Millie to want something to drink that was fancier than the usual. Instead, she protested that though champagne was the drink of tradition for a wedding party, it would have to wait.
“We’re Engels, and Engels don’t celebrate with champagne. We’re the kind of folks who talk about important things with a guy named Jake,” she proclaimed proudly. All were in agreement, and soon the tub of champagne was replaced by a bucket of ice, several bottles of water, a couple of glasses, and their old friend. The women preferred to do their toasting differently and boiled some water for tea. After all the preparations had been concluded, they were off.
The wedding party’s sojourn through the surrounding back roads lasted for more than an hour, and Jake was quite talkative along the way. By the time they pulled back into the estate, everyone was feeling quite relaxed and happy but they were getting just a tad hungry.
“When we get up to the house, I’ll fix something for us all to eat,” Millie announced as they headed up the hill.
“No, you won’t,” Henry objected.
“What are you talking about? Of course I will,” Millie countered. “That’s what I do.”
“It’s your wedding day, my dear; you aren’t cooking. I’ve got it all taken care of. There’s a snack waiting at home, and then we’re off to dinner.” George and Henry looked at one another and smiled as the ladies were left to wonder what was coming next. The men had conspired to create a final adventure that they were hoping would leave the bride speechless.
Upon their return to the house, Millie was surprised that th
e others had gone. She felt badly that she hadn’t said goodbye or thanked them for their wonderful efforts to make the day so special. She also noticed that George’s car was missing and urgently informed him that someone must have stolen it. He assured her it was nothing to worry about, and they went inside to find a supreme pizza from Lou’s Tavern waiting on the island.
Anne and George were happy to see the snack but didn’t quite understand the significance of it. So, Henry relayed the story of their movie night date and explained how much they had enjoyed their first Saturday night pizza together. He also decided that it was time to open at least one of the bottles of champagne for a toast. Millie was thrilled by his romantic gestures, and all savored the delicious treat that he had arranged.
“Do you know where we’re having dinner?” Millie asked Anne as she finished up her slice of pizza.
“No, no idea,” Anne answered honestly.
Overhearing them from across the room, Henry stepped in. “It’s top secret, girls,” he said cryptically.
“You’re just full of surprises today!” Millie declared as she put her arms around her husband. Henry smiled with satisfaction as George patted him on the back. Thus far, it was a perfect day, and Henry was saving one of the best surprises for last. Just before 6:00 p.m., he announced that they would be leaving in fifteen minutes and that they should get ready accordingly.
Millie was stepping out of the bathroom when she first heard the sound of the aircraft passing overhead. It was unusual to hear such a thing these days at Oak Forest. However, once upon a time, Henry had occasionally commuted this way to business meetings. It didn’t register at first that the helicopter was arriving to pick them up, but she soon realized what was happening when it landed in the meadow below the house.
Soon, all were safely buckled in and on their way to dinner. Because of their careers, George and Henry had each traveled via helicopter many times over the years. Likewise, Anne frequently had occasion to fly this way in the various parts of the world where jets and airplanes were impractical or impossible to utilize. But for Millie, this was a first, and she was awed by the experience. The others chatted during the flight, but the bride was utterly mesmerized by the view. She sat at the window and stared at the passing landscape below as they flew toward their mystery destination.
When they arrived at Spirit of St. Louis Airport, Millie was sorry to see the exciting ride come to an end. Nonetheless, she quickly regained her exuberance when Henry mentioned that they would be returning to Oak Forest the same way they had come. A black stretch limousine was waiting for them to land and promptly swept them away to the restaurant. Henry and George remained tight-lipped about where they were going until at last the limo stopped in front of one of the premier steakhouses in the entire city.
“The Ranch,” Millie read aloud as she stepped out of the vehicle and onto the sidewalk. The large neon sign above the door was turned off, and the windows were blacked out by heavy curtains. The parking lot to the right looked to be mostly empty, but there were some cars parked toward the back including a Mercedes just like George’s.
“Henry, I think this place is closed. Are you sure this is where we’re supposed to be?” she asked worriedly.
“It’s not closed to us,” Henry assured her as Millie noticed that the air smelled awfully good for a vacant restaurant.
He led her by the hand to the front door as George escorted Anne closely behind. Upon arriving at the entrance, Henry executed a series of knocks that seemed to Millie like some form of Morse code. Almost immediately, they could hear locks clicking, and the door swung open. A heavyset man opened the door and greeted the wedding party warmly. He was quite affable and after shaking Henry and George’s hands, he explained to the ladies that he was the proprietor of the establishment.
“My given name is Benjamin Franklin,” he said to their amusement, “but for obvious reasons I prefer that my friends call me Blimpy. I guess I get my sense of humor from my parents, huh?” His words made them laugh, and he then invited them inside. Millie was astonished yet again by what Henry had orchestrated for their special day. He had bought out the entire restaurant for the night so that they could dine in privacy.
The center of the dining room had been cleared and a lone, beautifully appointed table was all that remained. As they entered the room, the violinists from that afternoon began to play soft sweet music to welcome them. All around the restaurant, various flower arrangements had been strategically positioned to create a festive setting. The young woman who had been taking photographs that afternoon was also in attendance and was working feverishly to capture the moment. Standing off in the corner, under a spotlight, a glorious three-tiered wedding cake stood majestically on a small table. With all in place, the complete staff stood at attention at their stations throughout The Ranch and waited to go to work.
Before seating them, the owner made an announcement that temporarily halted the music. “Can I have your attention everyone? It is my great honor to present for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Engel.” The room erupted into polite applause as the wedding party made their way to their table.
Henry and Millie’s reception was an unmitigated success. They enjoyed a fantastic meal that was amongst the best they had ever eaten. Millie wasn’t sure how Blimpy was able to get a steak to taste that good, but afterward she milked him for his secrets. The music was pleasing, and the atmosphere was cozy and romantic. After dinner, the bride and groom shared their first dance as husband and wife while everyone looked on. It was a touching scene and even Blimpy teared up slightly at the sight of true love. Following that, Henry and Millie invited everyone in attendance to join them for cake and coffee. From the owner to the dishwasher, all came and sat in the dining room with the wedding party. As it turned out, it was one of the best moments of the day. While the excess of the once-in-a-lifetime occasion was certainly enjoyable and unforgettable, Henry and Millie truly preferred just sitting around talking with good people to opulence.
Following their farewell and thanks to those inside, they stepped out to the limo. For George, it was also time to say goodnight. He explained to Millie that one of the violinists had driven his car into the city so that he wouldn’t have a long trek home from Lewis after the full day. Everyone agreed it was a wise plan but was sorry to see him go. Anne and Millie said goodbye and got into the limo leaving George and Henry alone on the sidewalk.
“What a day!” George exclaimed as he put his hand on Henry’s right shoulder.
“Best day of my life,” Henry agreed.
“You really pulled it off, pal! She’s a wonderful gal. I am so happy for you.”
“I couldn’t have done any of this without you, George.”
“Are you kidding? You did almost all of it by yourself. I got the preacher and made a couple calls, but you did the rest pal.”
“Hey, it was your idea that I bring Millie to dinner here, remember?” Henry said, reminding George of the conversation they had during the weekend of the coin show that spring before Henry had ever approached Millie. George shook his head.
“But that’s not what I’m talking about. I didn’t mean just today. I meant everything since we ran into each other again. If it wasn’t for you, I’d have never gone to see Mary and we wouldn’t be here right now.”
George now understood what his friend was saying, and he was deeply touched.
“Henry, everything I have in life I owe to you. If you hadn’t pulled me out of the pond that day, I wouldn’t have had my life with Claire, my kids, or my grandkids. All I’ve ever wanted to do is be worthy of what you did for me that day and to find a way to pay you back.”
Henry was moved by George’s sentiments but didn’t see things that way. “Let’s finally call it even, ok?”
“I promise I’ll try,” George said as he embraced his friend. “I love you, pal.”
“I love you too, buddy. Thanks again for everything.”
*
Just before 11:
30 p.m. the newlyweds were finally back home and alone together for the first time. They had asked Anne to sleep over rather than drive back to town, but she insisted that it would be bad form to intrude on the wedding night and that she couldn’t wait to get busy writing. After the long and eventful day, that seemed crazy to Millie, but Henry knew what it was like to be obsessed by business and could relate to her passion.
“I’m ready to ditch this penguin suit,” Henry declared while pulling at his collar button.
“I hear you; these heels have got to go. I won’t be able to walk for a week,” she said, observing her swollen feet. “It sure was worth it, though.”`
“Can I interest you in a nightcap? We haven’t had a chance to be alone and talk all day. It just sounds good to me right now.”
“Yeah, that would be really nice. Can you get Jake ready? I’ll be right back. I want to find Joe,” she said as she ascended the stairs.
Henry began preparing their drinks as Joe lazily wobbled into the room to see what was going on. She was nearing the bursting point and was stiff from an all-evening nap.
“Hey honey, here’s Joe down here,” Henry called as he topped off the highballs with water.
“Oh ok, I’ll be right down,” she called back.
Henry sat the drinks down on the island and scooped Joe up while he waited. She liked his affection and began to purr as a means to hopefully encourage him to continue rubbing her ears and neck. Millie seemed to be taking longer than expected, but Henry was distracted by Joe and didn’t mind. Jake was also patiently waiting for the return of Mrs. Engel and said nothing.
Finally, Henry heard Millie coming down the stairs. He was about to ask what had been delaying her when he saw the reason for himself. The wedding dress was no more and had now been replaced by a racy black satin negligee.
Celebrations With Jake and Joe Page 25