by Alexie Aaron
“I know these gentleman, but you are new,” Maria said to Matt.
“He is Audrey’s fiancé,” Angelo explained.
“You have done well,” she said to Audrey and smiled at the others before Angelo escorted her to their table near the front.
“She always makes me feel like Angelo is the main course and I’m dessert,” Cid said.
This caused the rest of the table to break into laughter. Mike arrived with Glenda. They had to explain their laughter which made Glenda comment, “Cid, to a woman like that, you’re but a cupcake, not a dessert.”
The other guests walked in and filled up all but the front table. The musicians walked up and took their places on the corner of the stage. A very elegant black gentleman, whom Audrey had seen several times on the Tony Awards, walked onto the stage carrying a baton.
He turned and addressed the guests. “Welcome to the wedding of Ralph Mendelssohn and Doctor Bernard Wesley. If you don’t know these gentlemen, then you must have taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque.” He acknowledged the laughter with a nod of his head and then approached the band and waved his baton.
The band started the beginning of “Lovely to Look At,” from Roberta. Ted walked on center stage wearing the expensive black tux Ralph had designed for him. Mia walked out onto the dance floor below, dressed in a white satin, floor-length cape trimmed in white feathers. She climbed the steps and shrugged off the cape to the music. Ted guided her back down the steps, and they danced the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers routine from the original movie. The simplicity of the dance and the elegant, tall line of Ted made a few of the guests sigh. Mia, striking and sexy in her beaded gown with the full skirt, moved in unison with Ted. The mismatched heights were soon forgotten as the couple seemed so at ease with the other. They laughed, and they really seemed to be enjoying what they were doing. Soon the dance was over, and Ted guided Mia to stand with him on the side of the stage at the base of the steps. A few of Ralph’s enthusiastic friends stood up and clapped.
The music changed. The conductor moved to the center stage and pointed to the back of the room. Bernard and Ralph walked through the tables from either side of the room, meeting in the middle while the conductor sang “The Way You Look Tonight.”
Mia walked down and over to take Ralph’s hand, and Ted extended his arm to Bernard. Together, the couples climbed the stairs, stopping in the middle as the music stopped.
Judge Williams walked out dressed in a glamorous, vintage, navy gown. Her brunette hair was swept back in an elegant French Twist.
She waited until Mia kissed Ralph and handed him over to Bernard.
“Well, it’s about time,” Judge Williams said.
This brought applause and cheers from the guests.
“Ralph and Bernard have been a couple since before electricity.” She waited for the laughter to die down. “Seriously, I’ve had the pleasure to be their friend since they welcomed me to Chicago. You see, I was but a tourist gaping at the street signs, trying to find my way to the courthouse. You Chicagoans can be a tough crowd, but not Ralph. He swept me into his arms and said, “Welcome to Paradise.” Bernard was a little standoffish, but soon, he too had fallen into Ralph’s mood, and they escorted me to my destination. Singing ‘No Lions, No Tigers, Just Bears! Oh my.’ That day, I fell in love with this town and with Ralph and Bernard.”
“Weddings are supposed to be solemn occasions, but I say pooh. Let’s have some fun. Ralph!” she shouted.
“Yes, dear,” he responded, jumping a little.
“Do you take this old bag of bones with the gray hair and deep sexy voice to be your husband? To have and to hold until he forgets to get season tickets for the opera?”
“I do!”
“Bernard, come here you sexy beast,” the judge said, putting Bernard’s hand in Ralph’s. “Do you take this scene-stealing, high-pressure guy from the east coast as your husband? To have and to hold until he leaves you for a younger man?”
“I do.”
“Well then, by the powers of the state of Illinois, I pronounce you husbands. May no man or group of politicians pull you apart. Enjoy your lives!”
The band played “Night and Day” as Ralph and Bernard left the stage and took the time to mingle at each table in lieu of a reception line. Mia and Ted followed them like puppies.
“Can you imagine the awkwardness if Mia and Ted were still fighting?” Burt said.
“Oh, there was a plan B,” Mike said, putting his thumbs under his lapels.
“No,” Audrey said, not believing what Mike was insinuating.
“Yes, that’s why Mom’s my date, just in case I had to step in for Ted.”
Burt roared with laughter. “The way you two fight, I can’t imagine how dance rehearsals would have gone.”
“We had a different song. Maybe Mia will dance with me tonight. We’ll show you how in step we can be,” Mike bragged.
“Okay, I’m in. I bet Mia won’t dance.” Burt put down a twenty.
“I bet she will.” Audrey put down a twenty.
“I bet they will dance, but Mike will end up with a groin injury,” Cid said.
“Oh, I didn’t think of that,” Glenda said. “I’m in with Cid.”
Matt looked at the pile of money in the middle of the table and asked, “Do you guys always bet on…”
“Mike,” Audrey filled in. “It’s usually when he’s going to say something stupid.”
“I’ve won a lot of money off these losers,” Glenda said. “I know my son.”
“Thanks, Ma, you’re a real treat,” Mike said.
Mia was glad when the tour of the tables was finished. She was hungry, and her feet hurt. It was all worth it. She never saw Ralph and Bernard happier.
“Let’s sit down and get something to eat,” Ted said.
“You’re wonderful,” Mia said.
“That’s the hunger talking,” he replied, leading her to their table. Ralph and Bernard were absent, but as soon as Mia sat down, a waiter was there with their meal. “The place looks so different,” Mia said, forgetting that her being there before may upset Ted.
He wasn’t.
“What happened to the herb garden?” she wondered aloud.
“It’s under the stage,” Angelo said, walking over. “They’ve weathered Chicago springs, so a few hours under there won’t hurt.”
“You’ve been very generous,” Ted said.
“Ralph and Bernard are good friends. It was no bother. I came over because I wanted to say that the countess and I were enchanted by your dance. Ted, you have hidden talents.”
“No, I have three sisters,” he said. “I had to be the practice partner for every occasion when dancing was involved.”
“Your learned grace shows. You have my compliments,” he said and gave a courtly bow.
Mia ignored the small talk and continued to eat. Angelo looked at her, amazed, as she swiped food off of Ted’s plate while he was talking.
Ralph walked up onto the stage and tapped the microphone. “Bernard and I would like to thank you for coming to our wedding. We’ve had a lot of years to talk about what we like most about weddings.”
Someone called out, “Free booze.”
Ralph nodded. “Yes that, and of course dancing. Please take advantage of this wonderful band. Mia, could I see you a moment?” he asked before putting down the microphone.
Mia swore and set down the roll she was buttering. She smiled at Ted, and he wiped off any food she had on her face before she walked up to the stage and over to Ralph.
“We’ve had a request.”
“What does that have to do with me?” she asked sweetly.
Ralph nodded at the conductor. He began to play a song that had been drilled into Mia’s skull for the six hours she had to practice dancing it.
“Are you going to dance with me?” she asked, surprised.
“No, I am,” Mike said, walking up the steps and taking her hand.
Mia smiled but said through her t
eeth, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Mike swung her into his arms while Ralph picked up the microphone and sang, “I’m not a clever one…”
They danced while Ralph sang “I’m Old Fashioned” by Jerome Kern and Johnny Mercer.
Mia closed her eyes and concentrated on the steps while Mike glided her across the floor. It was coming to the lift that worried Mia the most. Every time in practice, Mike dropped her on the ground. This time, he held her a bit too long. His face looked strained for a moment, but he grinned and finished the dance. There was applause for Ralph’s singing and the brave couple trying to recreate Rita Hayworth and Fred Astaire’s dance.
Cid and Glenda split the money, and Mike spent the rest of the evening with an ice bag in Angelo’s bedroom.
Mia and Ted moved to the PEEPs table. Ted asked Glenda to dance. She graciously accepted.
“He felt bad since I ruined her dance partner,” Mia said.
Cid laughed. Burt let her in on the bet. Mia blushed. Audrey and Matt returned from the dance floor. Matt was flushed with too much wine but happy. The music moved on to a boogie just as Burt got up his nerve and asked Audrey to dance.
Cid grabbed Mia’s hand. “Come on!”
“Careful, sailor, I critically injured my last partner,” Mia said as Cid twirled her around.
Ted stopped and watched his best friend toss Mia up and catch her. “My poor wife, everyone’s always carrying her around,” he said to Glenda.
“So how’s it going?” she asked him seriously. “Heard you hit a bump in the road.”
“We’re working on it.”
“Glad to hear it. She loves you. Never forget that.”
“I won’t.”
Matt was dancing with the countess. Audrey was fuming. Everyone was at the point of the night where they were just drunk enough to do stupid things and not sober enough to stop themselves.
Mia sought out Ted. “I asked the conductor for a tango. Would you dance with me?”
Ted smiled and said, “It would be my pleasure.”
The tango only brought the brave to the dance floor, but it also drew a crowd watching the dancers. Ted and Mia moved together, feeling the dance. Mia was the aggressor in most of the dance, but Ted enjoyed being ordered around by his diminutive wife.
“Now for a challenge,” the conductor announced. “Dancers, change partners with the couple to your right.”
Ted looked over, and Angelo and Maria were standing there. “We could leave the floor,” he offered.
“It would be rude. I’ll dance with Maria,” Mia said, walking over.
He caught up with her and guided her over to Angelo, and he took hold of the countess’s hand.
The music started. Mia craned her neck upwards. “You know this is going to be a disaster,” she said.
Angelo took control. He moved her around the floor with strength and style, and when they had finished, both had a better understanding of the other.
“Fighting is like dancing. The better the partners, the better the result,” Mia said.
“Those are very wise words,” Angelo said as he returned her to Ted.
“They’re not mine,” Mia admitted.
“I know,” Angelo said and walked away.
“What’s that about?” Ted asked.
“Not sure,” Mia said. “I’m hungry. Have they cut the damn cake yet?”
Ted laughed. “I don’t know. I’ll go see.”
Mia was massaging her instep when a young man came up to her. He couldn’t have been more than fourteen, fifteen tops. “Excuse me. You’re the ice queen, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Oh my god. My friends are not going to believe this. “I’m here with my dads. Could I get a picture with you?”
“Sure.”
“Wouldn’t you rather dance with her?” a familiar voice asked. “I’ll record it with your phone,” Sariel offered.
Mia danced with the youth, making sure he occasionally looked at her face. She thanked him for the dance and started back to the table.
“Not so fast,” Sariel said, taking Mia’s hand.
The music changed. It had a Latin beat to it.
“I don’t know how to samba, rumba or anything with a ba in it, and you shouldn’t be here.”
“Let me teach you,” he said and took her to the middle of the dance floor.
Bernard heard the music change. He turned Ralph around and asked, “Who’s that with Mia?”
“I don’t know. Wait. The man in the square. Oh, we’re going to have to run some interference,” Ralph said and grabbed Ted and turned him around. “Why don’t you be a dear and take that cake to Mike. I feel so bad he’s injured.”
Ted nodded. He worried that Mia would be looking for him, but he did as Ralph told him.
Angelo watched while Mia was expertly maneuvered around the dance floor. She seemed to pick up the steps quickly and danced them with precision. He wondered which of Ralph’s friends her partner was. The man was small, not much taller than Mia. He must have sensed Angelo’s interest because he turned around so Angelo could see his face. Angelo’s anger bubbled to the surface. Sariel was in his home, dancing with his Mia!
“Leave them be,” Maria said from behind him. She put her arms around Angelo’s strong shoulders. There is no passion to their dance. She has not committed to him.”
Mia was spun away from her partner when the music ended. She looked back, and Sariel was gone. “Cheeky bastard,” she said and went in search of Ted and her cake.
Ralph gave her a look as she passed him. Mia stopped, backed up, and asked, “Is something wrong?”
“Is Ted your plus one, or have you another guest?”
“I don’t know what that was,” Mia said honestly. “But I’m not going near that dance floor. Between Angelo and him, they are going to wear my legs off. Have you seen Ted? He was supposed to be bring me some cake.”
Ralph pointed her in the direction of the bedroom.
Mike was propped up on the pillows of the giant bed, watching television and eating cake. Lying next to him was Ted, sleeping, still holding a cake plate and fork in one of his hands.
“Gee, my ideal threesome. But one is sleeping, and the other has injured his groin,” Mia said, taking the cake plate out of Ted’s hands.
“You are a horrible woman, Cooper,” Mike said, adjusting the ice pack.
“I know.”
“What am I missing out there?” Mike asked.
“Your mother is playing poker with some lesbians. I danced with a fourteen-year-old boy who danced a lot like you.”
“He was looking at your boobs?”
“Yup.”
“I suppose I better get up and escort my mother home. If she’s hustling lesbians, she could get hurt.”
Mia lay back.
“Or I could stay here and enjoy this large bed with you.”
“Choices,” Mia said.
Mike had a feeling she wasn’t talking about the same thing he was.
Chapter Thirty-three
Mia walked through the mall one last time. She was looking for Inmate 6457, otherwise known as Danny Kent. She gave the center court a wide berth. Ted was beside her taking readings. They found him near the pit that was once the toy store.
“Danny,” she called to the ghost.
The man turned around and tried to figure out why the woman looked familiar, and where had he seen her before?
“Would you like to find your way out of here?”
“I’ve been trying that for half a century, Miss.”
“You need to leave this property. There are several ways I can help you to do that. I can either move your bones, burn your bones, or you can walk out that door and into the light.”
“Who’s in charge up there?”
“I really don’t know,” Mia said honestly. “It’s supposed to be heaven, but if you don’t believe in heaven, then I don’t have a clue.”
“Who’s the stiff next to yo
u?”
“Be kind, he’s my husband.”
“He lucked out,” Danny said. “Girls like you don’t marry guys like that.” He looked from the pit to the door and said, “I think I’ll choose the light.”
“Good choice,” Mia said. She walked him as far as the door.
“Why are you doing this for me? I haven’t earned the chariot ride.”
“I’ll never forget you tried to warn me to get out. I should have listened. You’re worth saving, Danny, don’t you forget that.”
“I won’t.”
Mia kept her back to the light and kept her eyes on Ted. She didn’t hear anyone call her name or hear the beat of mighty wings. Mia wasn’t sure if this was a relief or a disappointment.
“One down, six to go,” Mia said, looking at the list of names Audrey gave her.
“You don’t have to do this, Mia,” Ted told her.
“I think I do. It’s part of what I’m supposed to do with my life.”
“What are the other parts?” Ted asked.
“I’m supposed to be with you and Brian, but beyond that, I’m clueless.”
“That’s just the hangover talking,” Ted said.
“It was a pretty interesting night,” Mia said. “Imagine my surprise to see you and Mike sleeping together in Angelo’s bed. That’s an image that is going to take a long time for me to forget.”
Ted laughed. “We need to get a bed like that.”
“We can’t afford one like that. I like our bed. It’s the right size, and I doubt I can get Batman sheets for a bed Angelo’s size.”
“That reminds me, I received this invitation from Maria.”
“Who?”
“The countess of Sardinia.”
“Oh.”
“She would like us and Brian to stay with her in her villa while Angelo is giving you flying lessons.”
“Oh, I forgot. I wasn’t sure I was going through with it.”
“You’re giving up a chance to learn how to fly? Are you nuts?”
“Ted, I’m confused. Do you want me to fly? That means feathers and that whole magical transformation shit.”