Stop That Wedding!

                               Epilogue

       Chauncy Somersbee was fuming in his handsome charcoal gray pinstripe
tuxedo and his elegant top hat.  He’d been trying to reconcile himself to this
marriage for weeks now. It didn’t get any easier.
       Now watching Chadwick standing at the candle lit altar waiting for his
bride to appear, Chauncy had to admit that he’d never seen Zenith happier
than she’d been these last few weeks.  Her cheeks glowed with joy, her
footsteps seemed lighter and he’d even heard her humming.  No, he must
admit that Chadwick made her an incredibly happy woman.
       And now that she worked at Somersbee’s, turning out some of the most
delightful designs he’d ever seen, he knew that nobody could break her spirit
and transform her back into that dry husk of a woman.  Why, she’d even
started calling him Grandpa again, just like when she was a child.
       But it still didn’t change the fact that Chadwick Chalmers was a toad.
He glowered in the groom’s direction, and was rewarded with a smile from the
best man.  Why Brad chose to stand with him, Chauncy would never
understand.  True, the best man had become ill at the last minute and         
Chadwick’s second choice, Zenith’s brother, wasn’t exactly sober.  Brad had
offered, as the bride’s second cousin by marriage, to fill in on her behalf.  To
Chauncy’s surprise the groom had accepted.
       He glanced around the packed room and his eyes lit on Tiffany’s new
husband, married just this morning.  They’d stayed around long enough for
Tiffany to take part in Zenith’s wedding, just as Zenith had done that morning
in hers.  Touching, really, that Zenith and Tiffany had renewed their childhood
friendship.  
       The music started, and Chauncy turned to watch the wedding party walk
down the aisle.  The wedding reeked of Camille’s touches, including the
brilliant ruby bouquets they carried that jarred discordantly with the lovely
ivory gowns.  The red and green ribbons decorating each pew reminded him
of Christmas instead of June.  Then there were the cupids on each table.  
They were painted a bright, glowing pink.
       The bridesmaids walked past him, nervous smiles plastered on their
faces.  Luna, however, didn’t even bother to smile.  Her face was like stone
and she looked neither left or right but straight ahead, as if marching to her
own funeral.  Chauncy felt the same way she looked.
       In contrast, Tiffany seemed giddy with joy.  Her face glowed, and any
moment Chauncy expected her to break out in giggles.  She was positively
nauseating.
       Then came the bride, escorted by her preening father, Cecil.  Despite his
misgivings, Chauncy glowed with pride at the sight of her.  He’d never seen
her so happy, this beautiful granddaughter of his. And tonight, she was
radiant; love blazed from her eyes to the man waiting for her.
        Her gown, although not her first choice, complimented her well.  With her
hair the color of morning sunshine piled up in becoming curls on top of her
head and decorated with delicate crystals and pearls, she reminded Chauncy
of a royal princess.
       Father and daughter arrived at the altar and Cecil, with great fanfare,
placed his daughter’s hand in Chadwick’s.  The bride and groom stared
deeply into each other’s eyes, sharing their thoughts and feelings with each
other as they held hands.  The minister stepped forward, then....
       Chadwick side-stepped while Brad came forward. With a bow to Zenith,
Chadwick placed her hand in Brad’s outstretched one, kissed her cheek, then
moved into the best man’s spot.
       The guests burst into chaos.  Zenith’s parents flew to their feet,
demanding to know what was going on, while others began to talk loudly
amongst themselves. The only ones who showed no surprise were Lydia and
her extended family.  Chauncy himself contained a loud war whoop that
demanded to be released.
       The bride and groom didn’t react to the cacophony around them.  Their
eyes devoured each other as they stood before the minister, ready to give
their vows.  Brad’s fingers skimmed over his bride’s lips; she leaned her cheek
into his hand as her eyes glowed with love.
       The crowd settled down as the minister began the ceremony.  A joyous
peace filled Chauncy.  The child of his heart was finally home.
^^^^^^^^^
       “Oh, Grandpa, I could have died when Brad switched places with
Chadwick like that!  It was a dream come true!”  Luna sighed with joy, a
frequent occurrence in the time since Chadwick’s dramatic gesture.
       The two co-conspirators stood together at the reception, waiting for the
bride and groom to cut the cake. Chauncy gazed at the newlyweds, who were
standing near the five-tiered confection.  Chauncy was positive their hands
and eyes never left each other.  The sight brought back sweet memories of
his own courtship and marriage so many years ago.
       The couple cut the cake without any of the usual in-the-face display that
secretly Chauncy found annoying.  The wait staff quickly passed the cake
around, along with champagne flutes for the toast that would occur soon after.
       “Lord Somersbee, Miss Somersbee, I was instructed by the bride and
groom to bring you these non-alcoholic drinks.”  A handsome waiter handed
each a glass filled with sparkling cranberry juice while Chauncy scowled.  He
knew that he was allergic to alcohol, but that didn’t mean he had to enjoy it.
       Chadwick stood to give his toast.  He smiled broadly, looking over the
guests until he found Chauncy.  Winking at him, he began his toast.
       “I know some of you were a bit surprised at the switch in grooms.  I,
however, was in on it.”  He laughed lightly as he gazed at Zenith.  “And I’m
very happy for them.  I get the best of both worlds.  I still have my best friend
and I don’t have to worry about seeing her without her make-up.”  The guests
burst into laughter as Zenith stuck her tongue out at him.
       “Seriously, I wish you both the best.  Your love is an inspiration to me, the
way you two have found each other despite yourselves.”  He grinned
mischievously at both of them.  
       “It’s truly amazing how the fates conspired to bring the two of you
together.  Zenith, it brings me intense joy to see the happiness Brad’s brought
you.  Brad, I’m glad to know that it’s you who will forever be picking white fur
off your clothes.”
       As the guests laughed, he held his glass aloft and shouted, “To Brad and
Zenith!”  An exuberant clanking of glasses commenced as everyone toasted
the newlyweds.
       Turning to Luna, Chauncy took a bite of cake, then sipped the sparkling
juice.  “This is the best wedding I’ve been to, I believe, except for my own.”  He
smiled at her, then his eyes caught something strange.  He leaned closer to
his granddaughter, his eyes narrowing as he stared at her.  His index finger
reached out and rubbed her bottom lip.
       She stared at him, mystified.  “What’s wrong, Grandpa?”
       “I’m not sure, but in the candle light it looks like your lips are blue.”
       “What?”  She goggled at him as she whipped a compact mirror out of her
purse.  Flipping it open, she stared at her mouth in horror.  “Oh, no!” she
wailed.  “I can’t be seen in public like this!”  She glanced at her grandfather,
and her eyes jerked back to him.  
       “Grandpa, your lips are changed too!”  She turned the mirror to him, and
he grasped it, studying his lips.  Shocking Luna, he burst into laughter.
“That little minx!”
       His eyes found Zenith across the room.  The bride, her arms around her
handsome groom, whispered at him and he looked in Chauncy’s direction.       
They both burst out laughing as Luna continued to wail and Chauncy held a
jaunty thumb’s up.
       He laughed heartily.  Yes, his granddaughter was indeed back, and once
more everything was right in his world.