The Way We Wed

by Pat Warren

  Sitting down on a red fake leather two-seater, Jeff pushed in the code for East. His dad answered on the second ring.

  “Hey, Dad, it’s me. You called?”

  Standing at the kitchen counter in his suite at the Condor Mountain Resort in California, East tried to gauge his son’s mood by his voice. “Yes. How are things progressing?”

  Briefly, he updated East on Tish’s condition. “So now we’re waiting to see if lessening her pain medication will bring her back.”

  East sat down on the tall stool at his island counter. “I see.”

  “How’s the baby and how’s Ally doing?”

  “All Annie wants to do is eat. She was nearly nine pounds at birth, can you believe it? Ally’s fine, nursing her every two or three hours. I worry she can’t rest, but she feels strongly that mother’s milk is best.”

  “I’m sure she’s right.”

  East heard the weariness, the underlying fear of losing someone you love that was next to impossible to cover up. “How are you holding up, son?”

  Jeff closed his eyes as he leaned back. “Hanging in there, as they say. What else can I do?”

  East read between the lines. “I don’t suppose you’ve slept any? You could go check into a hotel, you know, and catch up on your rest. They’d call you if there’s a change.”

  Jeff took his time answering. “Would you if Ally were in that room hooked up to machines, not knowing if she’d ever awaken?”

  East had known before he’d suggested the hotel what his son’s reaction would be. “Point taken. Listen, I called because I’m catching the red-eye to Kennedy tonight. As I said earlier, they want me to visit the bomb site, though I don’t know how much help I’ll be. Years ago, I was involved in something similar so I guess the powers that be think I’ll spot something they missed.”

  “I’m glad you’re coming. I’d like to see that scene myself, but I can’t leave here just now.”

  “I’ll check it out for you. Before I go there, I intend to stop at the hospital right after I land.” And see for himself how Jeff was faring, insist they go get something to eat, maybe spell him at Tish’s bedside so his son could get several hours of uninterrupted sleep.

  “All right, then. I’ll see you sometime tomorrow morning. Sorry I can’t meet you at the airport.”

  “Don’t worry about that.”

  “Dad?” Jeff waited for his father’s response. “I’m glad you’re coming.” And he hung up before he embarrassed himself.

  Leaning forward, his elbows braced on his knees, he hung his head, trying to regain his composure. Nobody would blame him, he supposed, if he broke down. Even strong men wept when someone they loved was threatened in some way. Jeff liked to think of himself as strong, but he wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep up the facade. East, he knew, would see through it in a moment.

  Scrubbing a hand along his unshaven jaw, he knew he should get up, take a shower, shave, put on clean clothes. And he would, in just a minute.

  Leaning back, stretching out his legs, he closed his eyes, needing a few minutes before he could call up enough energy to get cleaned up. He was agitated to think about the future.

  Instead, he thought back to a happier time—the week he and Tish ran off together to Las Vegas and got married….

  Las Vegas, early October

  It hadn’t been easy, getting time off from the hospital after his emergency R and R while he recovered from his kidnapping ordeal. The medical administration would be only so understanding before they’d toss you out of the program. He’d come too far to let that happen. Yet he didn’t want to lose Tish nor to delay the wedding because of her pregnancy.

  A real dilemma. East had taught him that honesty was the best policy so he’d gone to his supervisor and basically outlined the situation, leaving out some of the more personal aspects. Dr. Wilson was a decent guy and a fair man. But he wasn’t too tolerant of slackers. However, he knew that Jeff worked his butt off, taking double shifts to help out others, a team player. He’d given Jeff from 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning, after working all night, until midnight Wednesday when he’d have to report for another eight-hour shift. That was all the time he could spare.

  Tish thought that was pretty ghastly. Jeff just felt grateful he had at least that much time.

  Neither of them had ever been to Las Vegas. They couldn’t take the time to drive, so they’d flown, not telling a soul. As tired as he was after ten hours on the job, Jeff knew he’d never be able to make the long drive anyway.

  To say that their first impression of Vegas was like visual overload was definitely accurate.

  They’d stepped off the plane at noon on Tuesday, each carrying one overnight bag. Although it was October, it was quite warm, more so than in L.A. They’d taken a cab to their hotel, the Venetian, and on the way, gawked at the sights like every other tourist. Huge skyscraper hotels fought for attention along The Strip, each with neon lights flashing in every imaginable color. On one corner was New York, New York, the hotel that featured a working roller coaster at the very top, the screams of passengers carrying all the way down to the sidewalk which was crawling with people. So many people, all presumably going somewhere.

  In front of the MGM Grand was a huge gold lion silently guarding the entrance and the walkway to Caesar’s Palace had magnificent Roman statues along each side leading to the mammoth pillars surrounding the front entrance.

  “I’ve never seen anything like this,” Tish said as the cab swung into the circular drive of the Venetian, which was fashioned after Venice, of course.

  “Look over here,” Jeff said, pointing to the gondola making its way along the canal that circled the property. A young couple snuggled together while the gondolier guided the boat and serenaded them, barely able to be heard above the street noise.

  “It’s utterly amazing,” Tish decided, stepping out of the cab as Jeff held the door open for her.

  Still gaping wide-eyed, they strolled through the gold-and-ivory splendor of the lobby to the check-in desk. Pocketing their coded card key, Jeff refused the bellman’s offer of assistance, preferring to carry their two small bags himself. They headed for the bank of elevators, passing through a huge expanse of gambling machines.

  Awestruck, Tish just stared. “I never imagined there’d be so many people sitting around gambling so early in the day.”

  “Almost every slot machine is being used and look over there at the Twenty-One tables. Every seat taken.”

  Just then, a nearby player hit a jackpot and the slot machine’s lights flashed on and off while bells and whistles rang out louder than ever. The players in the vicinity crowded around the man who’d put in the winning coin, trying to see how much he’d won. Suddenly a man in a black suit pushed through the crowd and shook the stunned player’s hand before inserting a key and turning off the ringing bells.

  Fascinated, Jeff and Tish stood watching as an attractive, scantily clad woman with a camera came rushing over and asked the man to stand next to the machine while she snapped a couple of pictures. Jeff and Tish pressed closer, curious like everyone else.

  The man in the black suit was telling the winner to follow him to the payoff window. Beaming a smile, the stunned tourist marched after him. As the crowd began to disperse, Jeff finally caught a glimpse of the amount. “Wow, look at this. He won just over ten thousand dollars.”

  “I wonder how much he’s poured into these machines before this big win,” Tish commented.

  “You’re a cynic,” Jeff told her as they resumed their search for the elevators.

  “You’re probably right. I think the fun is in trying to beat the house, if you can afford it.”

  They spotted a sign that read Elevators and stopped at a huge arch where a tall, barrel-chested man was seated at a desk with a name plate that identified him as Max, part of the security staff.

  “May I see your key, please?” he asked.

  Jeff dug it out of his pocket and showed him.

 
“Thank you. Take the elevators to the left, please.”

  Impressed, Jeff took Tish’s hand. “Nice to know they have good security. No one without a key can get past Big Max.”

  They rode the elevator up to the fourteenth floor where the doors silently slid open and they stepped out. After they located their room, Jeff inserted the card key and swung open the door.

  Tish walked in as Jeff flipped on the lights and set down their bags. “Now this is something,” she said, looking around.

  “All the rooms are suites in the Venetian,” Jeff explained. He opened the door to the bath, which was decorated in gold and white and was almost larger than his whole apartment.

  Tish checked out the big king-size bed, then she walked down two steps to a sitting room with a couch, two chairs, a huge television set and windows along one whole wall. She pulled back the drapes and sheers. “Look at this view!” Las Vegas was spread out below with all its glitzy splendor and in the distance were magnificent mountains jutting up into a cloudless sky.

  Jeff came up behind her, sliding his hands along her bare arms as he leaned her against his body. “Not bad, eh?”

  “I think I could get used to this,” she whispered.

  He turned her in his arms and kissed her long and deeply. “And could you get used to that, every day, every night?” He still wasn’t comfortable with her insistence on secrecy, but he’d agreed, feeling certain she’d change her mind in time.

  “Oh, yeah,” she whispered and reached on tiptoes to kiss him again.

  Ever since they’d agreed to get married two days ago in his apartment, Tish had been very loving, and much less skittish and hesitant, Jeff thought. It was as if once the decision had been made, she was content. He prayed her mood would last, that he could make her happy.

  Stepping back, Jeff looked around and spotted a telephone book on a large desk alongside the phone and a fax machine. Did people really come here to work? he wondered.

  “I’m going to look up the address for the Chapel of the Bells. According to one of the doctors who got married there, it’s a very nice wedding chapel.”

  “Okay.” Tish wandered off to examine the bathroom.

  In minutes, Jeff had the address and phone number jotted on the notepad he’d found on the desk. He dialed the chapel, hoping they weren’t booked solid. Unfortunately, they were, but they recommended another wedding chapel nearby, the Chapel of Dreams. By the time Tish returned, exclaiming over the gold faucets and mirrors everywhere, he had their appointment confirmed.

  “How does four this afternoon in the Chapel of Dreams sound to you?” he asked.

  “As good as any, I guess.” Suddenly serious, she walked over to where Jeff was seated in one of the chairs and sat down on his lap. “Are you sure, absolutely sure, you want to go through with this, Jeff? I seriously doubt that fatherhood was on your mind when we made love back in Arizona. I can handle this on my own if you—”

  He cut off the flow of words by kissing her soundly, then framing her lovely face. “The operative word here is we, Tish. We made love and as a result, we made a baby. You didn’t do it alone and I would’ve been furious if you hadn’t told me. I want to be this baby’s father, not because it’s the right thing to do, but because I already love him or her. It’s part of us, a miracle. I’ve delivered babies, Tish, and every time, I’m blown away.”

  “You’re not just saying what you think I want to hear?”

  “Absolutely not. What can I say to convince you?”

  A mischievous smile started at the corners of her mouth, then traveled to her eyes as she glanced over his shoulder at the big bed just waiting for them. “Don’t tell me. Show me.”

  Smiling, Jeff tugged her up two steps and, falling back onto the mattress, he pulled her atop him.

  They made love for over an hour, slowly, perfectly, then they called down for room service and ordered a gargantuan late lunch. However, they discovered they weren’t all that hungry after all and, after nibbling around the edges, they dived back into the luxurious king-size bed and made love again.

  Finally aware of the clock ticking away, they showered and dressed carefully, for this was their wedding day. At Tish’s insistence, Jeff wore a charcoal-gray suit with white shirt and striped burgundy tie, a somewhat sedate outfit she’d bought for him yesterday while he’d been at the hospital. Pausing, he gazed again at the platinum wedding band with small diamonds all around that he’d purchased just yesterday, then tucked the velvet box in his inside pocket.

  As he inspected the knot of his tie, remembering again why he hated to wear the darn things, Jeff heard the bathroom door open and turned from the mirror.

  She was wearing a pale-peach dress that had a filmy layer of material over silk, and matching shoes. Her dark hair curled at her chin and her beautiful brown eyes were shiny and bright. She was stunning, Jeff thought, every man’s dream.

  He walked toward her, afraid to touch, to spoil the perfection. But Tish felt no such reluctance as she looked him over, brushing imaginary lint from his broad shoulders then reaching up to stroke his face. “Perfect,” she said then kissed him lightly.

  “Lady, you light up the room. You’re absolutely gorgeous.”

  “Mmm, I bet you say that to all the women you marry.”

  “No, there’s only you. Always you, Tish.”

  The eyes that gazed into his were serious. “For me, too, Jeff. From that first moment, it’s only been you.”

  He reached for a package on the table and held it out to her. “This came while you were showering.”

  Tish recognized the lobby florist’s box, opened it to reveal a perfect white orchid. “It’s so beautiful, Jeff.”

  “It’s for the wrist, but we can pin it on your dress if you’d rather.”

  “No, like this.” She slipped her hand through the elastic band, then held out her arm. “Lovely.”

  “Almost as lovely as you.” He stepped closer and kissed her hair, breathing in her special scent. “One more thing.”

  He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small black jeweler’s box, holding it out to her.

  “You’ve already given me so much,” she protested, but her curiosity got the better of her and she opened the box. Two small diamond earrings winked as they caught the light. “Oh, they’re lovely.”

  “I wanted you to have something special to remember the day.”

  She smiled up at him. “As if I wouldn’t remember this day.” She noticed a hint of sadness on his face. “Are you sorry that East and Ally aren’t here?” she asked with a worried frown.

  Yes, he was, but he hoped he could be forgiven one small lie. “All I need is you.” He checked his watch. “We’d better go.”

  Jeff had stashed away some money, an old habit from his street days, and had dipped into that fund to try to make their impromptu wedding as special as possible under the circumstances. He’d hired a white limo and it was waiting at the circular entry of the Venetian when they stepped out. As Tish settled in, Jeff popped the cork on the champagne he’d also ordered, and poured some into the two flutes.

  Handing her one, he smiled. “To us,” he said. “The three of us.”

  Tish’s smile was a bit nervous, but she touched her glass to his and echoed his toast before taking a small sip.

  “I don’t believe your doctor would want you to have alcoholic beverages, but a sip or two won’t hurt.” He took the glass from her. “But that’s all.” He set his own glass down and leaned back, slipping an arm around her, drawing her near.

  He noticed that her hands were trembling. “Nervous?”

  “A little,” she admitted. “You?”

  Jeff held out his hand, fingers splayed. “Steady as a rock.”

  “Good. One of us should be.”

  He’d grown serious again. “I want you to know that you can always count on me, Tish. I’ll always be there for you and I’ll always tell you the truth.” Because of her past experiences with her father and Eric, he wa
nted her to know that he was different.

  “I know, Jeff.” She snuggled into him as they rode the rest of the way in silence.

  Afterward, they could laugh about it, and did. Actually, they almost had a fit of giggles as soon as they stepped into the foyer of the Chapel of Dreams to the sound of an overhead bell tinkling, and looked around.

  Red, apparently, was the color du jour, Jeff decided since it was everywhere from the flocked fleur-de-lis wallpaper to the crimson chandelier and the scarlet carpeting. Two ruby-red brocade chairs placed at an angle by the wide window draped in vermilion damask were the only furniture in the room. A carved wooden door on the far wall was closed, but the muted sound of voices on the other side could be heard.

  This might have been a mistake, Jeff thought as he turned to Tish. “I know this isn’t exactly what you’ve dreamed of for your wedding.”

  She took his arm, shaking her head. “Listen, I’m fine with it. Don’t worry.”

  He relaxed fractionally as he checked his watch. “We’re right on time. I wonder where—”

  Just then the wooden door swung open and a plump blond woman wearing a full-length wedding dress, her train trailing behind her, stomped into the waiting area. Whipping off her veil, she swiped at tears streaming down her chubby cheeks. “I’m not marrying you, Norman,” she wailed. “Not now, not ever.”

  As Tish and Jeff stepped back out of the way, the groom, resplendent in a pale-blue tuxedo with frilly shirt, came charging after her. “Denise, wait a minute. I did not hesitate. I had something in my throat is all.”

  Swirling her skirts around angrily, Denise glared at the man she’d obviously planned to marry. “Don’t lie to me, Norman. When the minister asked, do you take this woman for better or worse and all the rest, you hesitated. For a full minute. Were you thinking about Zelda, Norman?”

  “No, honey, I swear to you.” The man, sweating profusely, tried to take her hand, but she shook him off. “Zelda and I are through, over, finished. It’s you I love, honest.”