***
February fourteenth dawned cold and clear. Excitement filled the air and Chrissy and Johnny both admitted to nerves as raw as hamburger meat.
Penny started the day in a tizzy; she suddenly remembered Chrissy had to have something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Grandma Keara had taken care of the “something old” the evening before. She had given Chrissy a beautiful Irish linen handkerchief she had carried at her own wedding when she and Grandpa Patrick had married back in 1955. It had also been carried by her grandmother at her wedding when she married Christopher O’Hurley. In the corner of the snowy white handkerchief was a perfect “O” complete with the apostrophe embroidered in royal blue floss.
Now for “something new." She had just bought a new pair of pantyhose. That should take care of that. Grandpa Wroe had the answer to “something borrowed." Grandma Marcie had had a beautiful diamond and pearl wristwatch that he told Chrissy he would like her to wear for the wedding; but he didn’t really want to part with it permanently just yet. So that could be something borrowed. Now, all she needed was something blue. At her own wedding, Penny had worn a blue garter. Chrissy could wear that. She had bought a maroon garter to match her colors; but she could wear two of them. She could tell Johnny to throw the maroon one and Chrissy could give the blue one back to her. That would take care of it. Alright!
Even the ghosts ‘slammed’ their approval. Someone wanted to know why a door would be slamming three times in a row. Penny had to explain again about the ghosts and their manifestations. Everyone was intrigued with the idea.
Genevieve showed up as Chrissy was getting dressed and gave her a small square box.
“What’s this, Aunt Genny? You and Uncle Jack gave me a beautiful set of silverware last night.”
“I didn’t have enough money to get your mother anything especially nice for her wedding, so this is sort of a ‘make-up gift.’ Any way I wanted to get something personally for you. The silverware was for both of you for your home.”
Inside the box, Chrissy found earrings that matched her necklace Johnny had given her for Christmas. She hadn’t had anything that nice to wear and she had about decided to leave her ears unadorned; but these were just what she needed.
“Oh, Aunt Genny, thank you so much! They’re just perfect; that’s what they are—absolutely perfect. I’m so nervous, though, you’ll probably have to put them on for me, please.”
It was the ideal finishing touch and everyone insisted she was the most beautiful bride they had ever seen.
Johnny actually got tears in his eyes when he saw her walking down the aisle toward him on her father’s arm.
“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” Bro. Mosser asked.
“Her mother and I do,” Ed answered, according to tradition and the rehearsal.
“So do we,” Andy and Candy answered, too.
There were amused murmurs from the congregation before the ceremony continued. They had decided to do the “unity candle’ rite and while Flora Mae sang, “Wind Beneath My Wings” each of the mothers, Penny and Janet, came forward and lit the candle on each side of the middle one. Then the bride and groom took another candle each and taking flame from the ones their mothers had lit, together they lit the center one signifying the union of the two families. It was a beautiful ceremony and everything did go well.
After it was over, it was picture time. The photographer got pictures of all the families and every aspect of the wedding itself, including the kiss after Bro. Mosser pronounced them husband and wife.
The reception went well, too, and more gifts needed to be opened from friends and other well-wishers. Several of the friends and neighbors from Fairmont, North Carolina came and, of course, they brought gifts. The Tinsleys, Sheriff Lampton and his family and several others of their acquaintances from the surrounding area came to wish them well. Chrissy still found it very difficult to relax. She kept thinking: It’s over now; we got through it. There’s nothing to be nervous about, now. Relax, darn it! But in a few hours, we’ll be taking off for Ireland—on an airplane. I’ve never flown before; will I get airsick? Did I put the Dramamine pills in my purse? I’m Johnny’s wife, now. I’m Mrs. Christina O’Reilly. Why can’t I relax?
The next announcement didn’t help her nerves a bit.
“It’s time for Johnny and Chrissy’s first dance as a married couple. Everyone join in after they’ve had the spotlight for a few bars." Sean started the CD player and the strains of the “Anniversary Dance” began. Johnny took Chrissy tenderly in his arms and waltzed her around the room. Then her father cut in and Johnny danced with Penny. Bruce cut in and Johnny danced with his mother. Finally, everyone was dancing and changing partners until every person at the reception was exhausted.
Next came the toasts. Several of the Irish toasts had the whole group in tears from laughing so hard. It was a truly fabulous time.
“What time does your plane leave, Johnny?” one of his uncles asked.
“Take-off is scheduled for five o’clock in the morning,” Johnny answered.
“Which means you’ll need to be there by four. If you’re going to get any—sleep, that is,—you’d better get going. You’re staying at the Executive Inn Rivermont, right?”
“Yes, and you’re right. We had better get going. Our bags are in the car.”
“Yes, and thank you, again, to all of you for everything. Grandpa Fred, here’s your watch back and it is beautiful. Thank you for letting me wear it.”
“You’re more than welcome, Chrissy. Give an old man a kiss and you and Johnny come out to California and see us.”
They said good-bye to their parents and the rest of their grandparents. Lydia cried like a baby when they left but she managed to wait until they were out of sight. She loved those two as if they were her own.
While they were being pelted with birdseed (they had opted for birdseed rather than rice because of the danger rice posed to the birds) Grandmother had handed Chrissy an envelope and kissed her again. When they had driven out of sight, Chrissy opened the envelope. It contained Five thousand dollars in travelers’ checks and a note. The note read:
The Ghostly Hideaway Page 23