RICHIE

Richie threw on his sweats and went downstairs looking for coffee. Andy saw him coming as he was delivering a plate and brought him a cup.

"Today is the big day, Richie. Still gonna do it?" he asked, smiling.

"Oh, yes, too late now." Richie grinned. "Thought I’d go out and see what’s happening."

"Big tent going up right now. I told them where to put it. Hope you don’t mind. It’s for the food."

"Don’t mind at all, Andy. Hey, we need all the help we can get. That’s your gig anyway." He sipped his coffee. "You haven’t seen Jim Braddock around, have you?"

"No, not this morning. Is he supposed to come in?"

"God, I hope so!" Richie took his coffee out the door.

TONI

Pulling on a tee shirt and pair of shorts, Toni went downstairs to the kitchen for coffee.

‘Hi, Mum, you’re up early," she said, pulling down a cup.

"I had to get the flowers cut before the sun hit them," Gena smiled. "How are you this morning?"

"Fine…in fact absolutely wonderful." Toni felt good this morning, full of energy, and the sun was out. She took her coffee out on the terrace and noticed the buckets of cool water and the flowers spilling out the sides. "Wow, Mum, you’ve cut enough for several brides today!"

Gena came to the door. "Well it’s always better to have too many in case some don’t work, and look, you still have blooms. You’ve done a marvelous job with your garden, Toni. Your grandmother Stanley would have been proud of you."

Toni turned at this unexpected compliment. "Why thank you, Mum."

Hearing voices behind her, Gena went back inside. Jude and Carol were making more coffee and Michael passed her with his cup out onto the terrace.

"Toni, I’ve been thinking about this carriage business. Do you think your friend Liana might have someone who could drive it?"

"Why, Dad, I thought you were going to drive?"

"I’ve had visions of a runaway horse and buggy all night."

Toni smiled broadly. "I’ll give her a call…chicken," Sse said as she passed him going back inside.

Gena Stanley  late morning

Gena dusted off her hands. The flowers were in place and she especially liked the arrangement before the altar she and Joimus had created. It looked like the flowers were growing around it. Everything was in place now and ready. She walked back down the little isle formed by the rows of chairs lined on either side of the grassy pathway to the altar and turned once again. Tears filled her eyes for it was the beginning of one marriage and, she knew, the end of another. She had made up her mind to call her lawyer when she returned to Virginia.

Carol came out of the tent and called to her, "Are you ready, Mum?"

"Yes, I’m ready. Let's go back to the house and get ready. It really looks lovely, don’t you think?"

"Yes, Mum, it does...a perfect day. I saw Richie. His best man is still not here and he’s asked me to tell Jude to be on standby."

"Oh dear, what’s happened?"

"Something to do with delayed flights. There’s still a chance he’ll make it. Somehow I don’t think anything will spoil this day. Shall we go?"

Richie

Richie walked back to his room after talking with Ivy. A sudden storm had delayed flights out of JFK and though Jim was in the air, it was going to be iffy.  He really wanted Jim to be by his side. Although they had different backgrounds they at least spoke the same language and he felt a connection to Jim.

He looked out his window and saw Gena and Carol drive off. Carol told him Gena was going to file for divorce. He had expected it. He hoped she didn’t dump this information on Toni today.  He checked his watch again…what the hell was he going to do for the next three hours?

He wandered back downstairs and into the tavern. It had been nice of the guys to buy him a few drinks last night. He looked around. A few late lunches were still being served and, finding a barstool, he sat down.

"Need a glass of courage?" asked Steve, smiling and winking.

"I’m full of that," smiled Richie. "No fear at all but a beer would be welcomed."  Fear, no, Richie had no fear. He knew this was the right thing to do and the right time for it. Marriage would be different this time and he was ready. Hearing a gurgling sound he looked over the bar. "I see you’ve got help today?"

"Yeah, Brook ‘s my barmaid today. Millie’s busy with lunch.  Did you eat lunch? Need to keep up your strength, you know?"

"Yeah, I had a sandwich. That will see me through until the reception."

"Andy’s been cooking since we got here. Looks like a good spread. Did I ever thank you for picking him up on the side of the road and bringing him here?"

"I believe you did, Steve." Richie finished his beer

"The next one is on me." Steve set another beer before Richie, "I’m thanking you again."

Toni

Toni ran to the front door. The mobile salon had arrived.  What a stroke of luck for Lucy to find her, she thought as she opened the door.

Betty Franks pulled her gear out of the back of the pink mini van and walked up to the door. "Hi, you must be Toni."

"I am. So glad you could come out today."

"Where do you want to set up, honey?" she asked, hoisting the large bag onto the porch.

"My bedroom, I think. Follow me."

For the next hour and a half Toni would be manicured, pedicured and coifed.  She already had her soak in the tub and the itchy irritation on her bum seemed to have passed. 

"What are we going to do, updo?"

"Um, I don’t know. Mum brought these flowers up thinking you might be able to do something with them in my hair."

Betty walked around, pulling and fingering Toni’s long thick wavy hair. "Let’s put some of it up and pin it with flowers. That your dress?" she walked over to the dress hanging on the closet door.

"A little old-fashioned do might work for you," she smiled and set to work.

Richie-afternoon

Richie was showered and shaved and fastening the silver Star of David around his neck. His suit hung on the closet door. Throwing the last of his toiletries in his wash bag he checked to make sure his bag was packed. He began to sing softly to himself, tonight, tonight won’t be just any night…

He checked his watch again, one hour left. He dressed and carried his bag downstairs and stowed it in the boot of the Rover. The band was tuning up, stroke of luck that had been. He’d hired the musicians from their favorite restaurant in Coffs. Along with strings they had a trumpet and a keyboard. 

Jim had arrived, tired and a bit bruised from his fight and the long flight back. He was upstairs with Ivy.  That had been a relief. Jude would have stepped in but he wanted someone, if not family, at least from his neck of the woods to stand up for him. 

He wasn’t going to be nervous, he told himself as he paced about the parking lot smoking cigarettes. THE RING, he ran back upstairs and into his room. There on the nightstand set the box. He opened it and smiled at the circlet of diamonds and stuck it in his pants pocket.

Michael Stanley

Michael walked out the front door and lit a slim cigar. He looked up at the sky, clear blue with just a puff of clouds way up high. He smiled. A great day for a wedding. The house was abuzz and he was looking for a little quiet time. He checked his watch, less than an hour now.

A motion at the end of the drive caught his eye. It was the carriage. Two beautiful dark brown horses pulled into the drive. He could make out ribbons or something attached to the carriage. He watched as the driver brought it up the drive and stopped in front of the door.

"Hello there, am I at the right place?" the driver asked.

"You are, indeed. I’m Michael Stanley, father of the bride."

"Charlie Prince, carriage driver today," the man smiled slightly.

Gena left with Jude and Carol after helping Toni dress. Jude had her overnight bag in the car with instructions not to forget to give it to Richie.

"She looked beautiful didn’t she, Mum?"  Jude commented.

"Yes, she’s all aglow today...a happy bride," Gena smiled.

"Wow, the parking lot is nearly full," said Carol, sitting up on the back seat.

Gena got out of the car and walked through the tent nodding. Everything was being done perfectly. She smiled at Andy, rushing in and out with Lucy. She was impressed with the presentation and told him so.

The arch was in place with the altar in front of it, the flowers looked lovely. She took a deep breath and walked back to the edge of the green.

Toni walked down the stairs and met her father, who took her arm. "Ready, my dear?" he asked

"Oh yes, I’m ready, Dad. Is the carriage here?"

"Ah, wait until you see!" He opened the door.

Toni gasped. It was adorned with flowers and ribbons draped along the sides. "It's gorgeous! I have to remember to thank Liana today. I feel like a princess." She smiled

Charlie jumped down and helped them into the carriage. "Anyplace in particular you folks want to go?" he asked as he clicked his tongue and the horses started to move.