First Class to Portland

by Aj Harmon

  They slid in at the end of the bench, just as Father Todd began the service, Janie sitting next to Mark, with Matt on the end. Janie smiled at Maureen and Maureen mouthed ‘hello’ and seemed to be immensely pleased she was there. Mark leaned over and whispered ‘Congratulations’ and Janie’s mouth dropped open.

  “You know?” she choked out.

  Mark chuckled and whispered. “He was a real pain in the ass after you left, you know. And he’s been all but a saint since you guys got back. So, yeah, I knew. Plus he told me.” Mark winked at her and patted her free hand. “I am really happy for you both.”

  Father Todd was speaking so Janie turned her attention to the service, very aware of the looks she periodically got from both Matt’s mother and his brothers. Her foot starting tapping on the floor and she chewed on the inside of her cheek. Matt grinned and held her hand a little tighter.

  By the time the service was over, Janie was a nervous wreck, exactly why she wasn’t sure. She knew without a doubt that she was deeply in love with Matt, even though they had known each other for such a short amount of time. She trusted him completely and knew that he loved her without question. And although she really liked his family, she was uncertain of what the reaction to their engagement would be.

  People began exiting the church and Mark stood and hugged his brother, patting him soundly on the back. Janie remained seated as each brother moved past them, curiosity apparent. Maureen hurried to her and Janie quickly sat on her left hand.

  “Lovely, absolutely lovely to see you again Janie,” she gushed.

  “Thank you Maureen. I’m very happy you invited me.”

  “Hi Mom,” Matt bent over and kissed his mother’s cheek. “Shall we all head back to the house then?”

  “Oh yes. Peter? Let’s go,” Maureen said.

  Matt reached for Janie and she took his hand and in that split second Maureen screamed.

  “AARRGGHH! It’s a ring!!”

  Everyone within twenty-five feet of them swung in their direction as Maureen lunged for Janie and swept her into an embrace. Matt rolled his eyes and his dad shook his hand.

  “Well I can’t speak for Janie, but you’ve made your mother very happy,” Peter chuckled.

  “Oh, Janie! This is wonderful! When is the big day?” Maureen asked.

  “Oh. Well, we um, well,” Janie stumbled.

  “Mom! Let’s talk about this later okay? Janie and I have yet to make any decisions like that. Can you let her breathe please?”

  Maureen pulled back from Janie, tears in her eyes. “Yes, we can talk about this later,” she smiled.

  “Not we,” said Matt. “Janie and me.”

  Matt returned Janie’s hand to his and led her down the aisle to the doors where Father Todd was shaking hands with his congregation as they left. Matt acknowledged the priest but kept walking through the doors, hoping to avoid another scene. Too late.

  “Father Todd,” Maureen yelled, scurrying towards them. “My Matthew is finally marrying a wonderful girl.”

  Matt rolled his eyes, and now Janie had understood why Matt had been worried. But she wasn’t nervous anymore. Somehow his mother’s overwhelming excitement and approval had relaxed her. She squeezed his hand and winked at him, Matt smiling back.

  “You can do this,” she whispered. “We can do this.”

  Father Todd smiled at them both and shook Matt’s hand. “Well, congratulations,” he said.

  “Thank you,” Janie said.

  “We’ll call you later with the date so we can make arrangements. Hopefully, we won’t have to bump anything from the schedule,” Maureen said as she walked to them.

  Janie’s eyebrows raised and she looked at Matt, equally surprised.

  “Oh that’s wonderful that you will be married here. I would be honored,” said Father Todd sincerely. Then he noticed their expressions and added, “Are you getting married here?”

  “Well,” Matt said. “We haven’t discussed any plans yet.” He glared at his mother.

  Maureen didn’t take any notice of Matt. “Why wouldn’t you get married here?” She looked right at Janie.

  Considering her options, Janie thought about having the wedding in Portland versus New York City. She had married Robert in Portland anymore. And they had lived a very happy life there. And Matt had not made any demands of her. In fact, it had been quite the opposite; he had said he would live wherever she was. But she didn’t feel the pull to stay in Portland. Yes, her boys were there, but that would change next year. And yes her mother was there, but her sisters weren’t. Elizabeth lived in Atlanta with her husband and their four children, and Lilly was an up and coming architect in Chicago. She didn’t get to see them very often and New York would make her much closer to them.

  Then there was Katy. Could I leave Katy? If the tables were turned and Katy was in her shoes, she would be mad as hell if she found out she had refused to move to where her new husband was because of her. Yes, Katy would want her to go. And they could always fly back and forth to see each other. There was nothing keeping her in Portland and every reason to be in New York so why not have the wedding here? Why not?

  Janie looked up at Matt, a small smile forming on her face. Matt’s eyebrows raised and he mouthed ‘really?’ She nodded. “You’re sure?” he asked again.

  She squeezed his hand and spoke softly. “Can you think of a better place?”

  He sighed and smiled and kissed her on the forehead. “Well, mom, round one goes to you. We will be getting married in St. Luke’s.”

  *****

  By the time they had finished Sunday dinner, Maureen had all but planned the entire wedding. The service would be at St. Luke’s and the reception would be in the Ritz Carlton at Central Park. Janie had thought it a perfect idea until it dawned on her how much it was going to cost. As they sat eating the lemon cream cake for dessert, Janie played with her fork, not sure how to suggest something more affordable. Matt noticed and excused himself from the table, pulling her with him.

  Stepping onto the back terrace, he asked her, “What is it? Do I need to tell my mom to back off?” He swept away a tendril of hair from her eye.

  “No, it’s just that, well, umm, I don’t have, you guys are way more, and I’m not, and it’s too…”

  Matt stopped her and tilted her chin up to him. “Is this about me being Catholic?”

  Janie bit the inside of her cheek and moved her head out of his hand, lowering it to her chest.

  “Fuck, Janie! You HAVE to tell me what you think, what you feel. We can get married in a deli for all I care. Just tell me, please?”

  “I, I can’t,” she began.

  “Is it Robert? Are you having second thoughts?”

  Janie’s eyes flew open and she lifted her eyes to him. “God, no! I can’t afford a reception at the Ritz. My once-in-a-lifetime stay there took all the extra cash I have. There’s no way I can afford it,” she admitted.

  “Shit Janie! You had me scared to death there for a minute,” he exhaled. “Money will never be a problem for you again.”

  “But the bride pays for the reception,” she began.

  “In the nineteenth century,” he scoffed. “We have more money than we will ever be able to spend. Tell you what, we’ll open our first joint checking account tomorrow and you can use that to pay for the wedding. All of it. If money is your only problem then we don’t have any problems at all!” Matt grabbed her around the waist and lifted her from her feet, spinning her around and laughing.

  As he put her down, Matt kissed her softly, relieved beyond relief.

  “I have the insurance money,” she said.

  “Give it to the boys,” he smiled.

  “And I will get the money from the house,” she added.

  “Give it to the boys,” he said again. “Janie, Robert was your husband and he took care of you, as he should have. But it’s my turn now and I promise that you will not want for anything, ever. What’s mine is yours, all of it, everything. Okay?” He lowe
red his head and kissed her ever so sweetly once more.

  “Okay,” she smiled.

  He took her by the hand and they went back into the dining room where all eyes swung to them as they sat down.

  “Everything okay?” asked Mark.

  “Perfect,” Matt replied.

  “Good,” said Maureen. “Now let’s set a date, shall we?”

  *****

  Matt had watched his mother and his future wife plan the entire wedding down to the smallest detail in about an hour. He was astounded at how they were suggesting the same things, mostly in complete agreement with each other. These two are a force to be reckoned with, he smiled as he gazed at them. They were animated and happy. Matt didn’t care about location or colors or the menu. All he cared about was the bride and as long as that was Janie, the rest was fine with him.

  After much discussion, it was decided to get married sooner rather than later, which made Matt very happy. He did not want to wait. He wanted Janie as his wife and the sooner the better.

  “Adam’s schedule will be accommodating, but Tyler’s will not be. He has camp starting next month,” she exclaimed.

  “Oh, is he in scouting?” Maureen asked.

  “No,” Matt chuckled. “He plays football for the Oregon Ducks.”

  “Camp starts again in June and his first game is at the end of August,” Janie added.

  “Oh my,” frowned Maureen. “I can’t believe that there will be a slot open for us that soon.” She stood and left the room, leaving the men to talk sports until their mother returned and made them listen to descriptions of toile and roses and poached salmon.

  “Well you will all leave this afternoon and not have to hear any more,” Peter finally spoke. “But I’ll still be here with her.”

  The boys all laughed at their father. As Maureen returned she shushed them all, her hand over the receiver of the phone.

  “They actually have a cancellation on the 21st,” she said looking at Janie. “August 21st.”

  “That’s only two months away!” she gasped. “It’s not possible to…”

  “Oh yes it is!” Maureen interrupted.

  Matt threw his arm around Janie and kissed her on the temple. “You can be mine in two months,” he growled. “Not a day too soon.”

  “Really?” she turned to him. “August 21st?”

  Matt smiled that smile that melted her heart and weakened her knees. “Okay then! In two months it is!”

  Maureen squealed with delight and returned to the phone, hurrying away from the voices all congratulating the happy couple.

  Matt couldn’t stop grinning. He felt like a fool but didn’t care. Everything he didn’t know he always wanted was just two months away.

  9.

  As promised, Matt took Janie to his bank the next morning and opened a joint checking account. He transferred an obscene amount of money into it and the senior account rep said they would rush the new check order and the appropriate credit cards associated with the account. They would be delivered to his office on Wednesday. With input from the bank manager, it was decided that the account would be opened with Janie’s soon to be married name on the account, Janie Lathem. They had asked her repeatedly if she was going to be taking Matt’s last name to which she had the same answer of ‘of course!’, Matt’s obvious satisfaction apparent.

  As they entered Matt’s apartment, Matt stopped just inside the door and frowned. “It’s not very homey here is it?”

  Janie looked at him with puzzlement. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, it’s very magazine-ish. Do you want to move?”

  “Why?” she gasped.

  “We should probably talk about that huh?” Matt shrugged out of his jacket and tie and through them on a chair. “Thirsty?” He walked to the bar and pulled two bottles of water from the fridge. “If you could live anywhere, where would it be?”

  Unscrewing the cap from her bottle, Janie looked at him intently and answered truthfully. “I honestly don’t care. As long as we are together it really doesn’t matter. I kind of thought that we’d live here, though.”

  “Really? Do you want to live here?”

  “Why not? Unless you want to move,” she added.

  “I want you to be happy.”

  “I can be just as happy here as anywhere else. We can make a home together here.”

  Matt smiled, a plan formulating in his mind, and pulled his phone from his pocket. “I need to make a couple of calls. You okay for a bit?”

  “I’ll make lunch,” she smiled.

  Matt kissed her on the forehead and headed for his office.

  *****

  “Okay,” sighed Janie. “No, it’s great news Amanda. I’m thrilled, I really am.”

  Matt listened to Janie on her cell phone. She didn’t seem very happy.

  “Yes, I will. Thanks. Bye.” Janie pushed the off button on her phone.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, concern in his eyes.

  “The home inspection went well,” she explained.

  “That’s great news,” he said.

  “Yeah, but we close next Wednesday,” she pouted.

  “Again! That’s great news,” he insisted.

  “I have to go back to Portland,” she whispered.

  “Oh my sweet Janie,” he grinned. “You’re gonna miss me.”

  “Yes,” she blushed. “Very much.”

  “Well then let’s make the most of the next few days to tie you over till you come back to me,” his devilish grin back, bigger than ever.

  *****

  Tuesday morning came far too quickly for Janie. She didn’t want to leave Matt, but she had to be in back in Portland the following day and she had to tell Katy and her family about the engagement and the wedding date.

  Matt reached for her hand in the back of the BMW as Ray drove them to La Guardia. She squeezed it and smiled at him. She didn’t think she had stopped smiling the entire time she had been in New York this time and she was already counting down the minutes till she would be back.

  Angela had made all of the travel arrangements for her. She had to admit that is was certainly nice having someone take care of her for a change. She was already booked to come back to Matt in a week. It’s only seven days, she thought.

  Her cell phone rang and Janie reached for her purse and smiled when she saw it was Maureen. They had been in constant communication with wedding plans. Janie was actually relieved that Maureen really wanted to take care of all the details. Maureen didn’t have any daughters so she would never have the opportunity to be the mother of the bride and Janie didn’t know the first thing about planning a social event like a Lathem wedding reception. And fortunately, the two women had the same taste in just about everything. The only thing that Janie had to worry about was her wedding dress and the maid of honor dress for Katy. Maureen had offered to shop for those with her, but Janie decided that this was something she wanted to do with Katy. She didn’t need a ten thousand dollar designer dress, so she hoped she would be able to find something in Portland with Katy at her side.

  “Hi Maureen,” she smiled. Matt rolled his eyes.

  “Lilies are my favorite. Yes, white. That would look lovely. No I trust your taste Maureen. I will. Bye.”

  Janie put her phone back in her purse and bit her lip trying not to smile.

  “I love my mother, but…” Matt began.

  “I adore your mother!” grinned Janie. “And this wedding is going to be beautiful, the event of the season,” she giggled.

  “You are a saint to let her do it,” Matt kissed her hand, her engagement ring sparkling on her finger.

  “Matt, she doesn’t have girls. Every mother longs to help her daughter plan her wedding,” she said wistfully.

  Matt watched his fiancée and wondered if she spoke for women in general or just for herself.

  Ray pulled up the airport curb and jumped out to retrieve Janie’s bags from the trunk.

  Matt wheeled her suitcases in to the te
rminal and walked straight to the first class ticket counter. Janie handed the agent her driver’s license and Matt lifted her bags on to the scales. The agent produced her boarding pass and wished her a good flight.

  “Another stop in Denver,” she sighed.

  “They have a nice lounge there,” Matt offered.

  “I’ve heard that before,” she said. “And I didn’t enjoy it much last time.”

  They walked hand in hand to the beginning of the security checkpoint. Janie could feel her eyes filling, her throat tightening. She turned and placed her hand gently on his cheek and looked into his eyes.

  “I don’t want to leave you,” she whispered.

  Matt kissed her sweetly and smiled. “I will be here next week waiting for you,” he promised. “And I will call you more often than my mother does,” he chuckled. “I love you, my sweet Janie.”

  “I love you,” she smiled, and she turned and walked to the TSA agent sitting on the stool.

  “Janie!” Matt yelled.

  Janie swung around to see him smiling. “I love you!” he screamed through the airport.

  10.

  Katy was getting ready to leave for the airport to pick up Janie. She had her purse and her keys, but she couldn’t find her sunglasses. She was sure she had left them on her kitchen counter but they were nowhere to be found. This was the second thing she had apparently misplaced in the last week, the first being her favorite pair of running shorts. She had searched everywhere for them. She had told herself that the washing machine ate socks so maybe hers had graduated to shorts.

  “I’ll have to go without them,” she frowned.

  She backed her Subaru out of the driveway and pulled onto the street, never seeing Danny poised at the corner of her house.

  *****

  Janie met Katy at the curb, dragging her suitcase behind her. Katy jumped from the car and threw her arms around her best friend, thrilled to hear about the romantic trip to New York with the sexy Matt Lathem.

  As she helped Janie with hefting her luggage into the back of the car, she screamed as she saw the ring.

  “ARGH!!! Janie!!”

  Janie laughed and held her hand in front of her friend, showing off the exquisite piece of jewelry.