"Ah bought this adorable liddle dress fo' Jasmine to wear at the weddin'." said Lila, "She's gonna look laik an angel in it."

"Lila, we need to talk." said Matthew.

"Not now, Matt! Ah've got to put on mah weddin' gown!"

****

Claudia answered the telephone. "Hello - Hutchins Residence."

"May I speak to Amanda Cory, please?"

"Who shall I say is calling?"

"Zack Wilder. Hurry, please!"

"It's for you, Ms Cory: Zack Wilder."

Amanda picked up the phone: "Hello?"

"Amanda! I've got to warn you - No! No! ARRGH!"

"Hello?" said Amanda, "Hello?"

No answer. She shrugged and hung up.

"Who was that, Darling?" said Rachel.

(In another part of Bay City, Zack's cell phone lay open, atop a pile of dust :-D)

"Are you wearing a new perfume?" said Rachel.

"No." said Amanda, "It's probably this."

She showed her mother the silver locket she wore.

"David gave it to me." she said, "It's a good-luck talisman, filled with flower petals and herbs."

"Stephanotis!" said Rachel, "That's the scent."

****

The Cory Chapel was decorated with masses of roses and jasmine.

"Look on the bright side, Matt." said Sofia, "At least Lila will be out of our lives for good."

"Yeah." said Matthew.

****

"Nice tux." said Cass, when he saw Felicia.

"Well, after all, I'm your 'best man'." said Felicia, adjusting the angle of her fedora.

"I really think I'm too old to be a flower girl, Daddy." said Charlie.

"But you look so cute!" said Cass.

****

Lila had invited most of Bay City to the wedding, so the small chapel was filled to capacity.

Charlie entered first, looking martyred, with a basket of flowers; then Cass and Felicia; then Matthew, carrying Jasmine.

Then, finally, it was Lila's turn. Even her enemies had to admit that she was a beautiful bride. She seemed to float, rather than walk, down the aisle, enveloped in a cloud of silk and lace.

"Wow!" said Cass. Lila smiled demurely.

"Dearly beloved," said the minister, "We are gathered here -"

"STOP!" said Matthew.

Everybody stared at him.

"Lila, Jasmine deserves to have a real home, with her mother, and her father. Don't marry Cass - marry me!"

"Matt?" said Sofia, "What about - US?"

"Sorry, Sofia, but if it comes to a choice between you and Jasmine - I choose Jasmine." said Matthew."Well, Lila?"

"Fo' Jasmine's sake - Ah accept yo' proposal."

"Lila!" cried Cass, stricken.

"Ah'm sorry, Cass, but you and Ah wouldn't really have suited, anyway. Yo' so moralistic, and Ah'm - not."

"You planned this all along, didn't you?" said Sofia, "You never meant to marry Cass at all. You just used him to make Matt jealous!"

"Whatevuh Ah've done, Ah did fo' mah chile." said Lila.

"Reverend, will you do the honours?" said Matthew, handing Jasmine to Rachel.

"You need a marriage license." the mininster pointed out.

"I think you can waive that requirement, under the circumstances." said Matthew.

Cass and Felicia stepped aside, as Matthew took his place beside Lila.

"Let's go!" Felicia whispered, tugging at Cass' sleeve.

"No, I want to see this farce through to its end." said Cass grimly.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered -"

****

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Matthew's lips brushed Lila's, briefly.

"Let's go home, Daddy." said Charlie."Don't feel bad. I never wanted Lila for a stepmother anyway."

****

In the confusion as everyone headed for the wedding reception at the Harbour Club (it had been intended to be Cass and Lila's wedding reception, but it seemed a shame to waste it), Sofia got a moment alone with the new Mrs Cory.

"You got what you wanted!" she hissed.

"Ah always do." said Lila.

"It won't last!"

"Mebbe not." said Lila, "But now Jasmine is legitimate, and entitled to her share of the Cory money. Cain't nobody evuh take that away from her!"

"Matt's never gonna love you!"

"But he's gonna be glad he married me!" said Lila, "Ah'll make sho' of that - startin' tonight!"

****

"Stephanotis?" said Mr Akageno, "Are you certain?"

"I think so." said Rachel, "Is it dangerous?"

"Not in itself, but it is used as an ingredient in spells to weaken the will and make one susceptible to suggestion. I'd like to take a look at that so-called 'talisman'."

"I'll see if I can get it away from Amanda." said Rachel.