Lisa
A little preamble to
this scene is in order I suppose... as well as a disclaimer for all my friends
who might be wondering where they are in this part of the tale. Well... there's this thing called the
constraints of time and space... mostly 'cause... if I wrote out everything
that happened during the wedding and the aftermath, this story would gain
another 30 pages or so. (and if I can
help it at all I'll try not to bore the audience out of their skulls with
endless dialogue and smut) Anyhow... profound apologies to any of my friends
who've been under cameoed in this scene!
My gods! The day was here...me, Lisa...the perpetually single one...was getting married! What a trip...Erik and I hadn’t seen each other all day and we wouldn’t until the ceremony. It was nerve wracking really....I had never been so nervous in my life! It didn’t help that Marie was helping Erik with his part and keeping him company while the females of my family helped me with the puzzle that is a wedding dress. (and for a girl who hasn’t worn a dress in 5 years, it is a puzzle!) At least some of my friends who were bridesmaids helped me out a bit.
By the time the ceremony was approaching I was ready for a minute to myself...every one had wanted to know how Erik and I first met...how he had proposed...after describing everything six or seven times I was beginning to think we should have eloped.
“Guys, would you mind if I stepped out for a minute? It’s hot in here and I think this dress may make me explode if it got any tighter.”
They all gave me the long suffering ‘why do we put up with this?’ looks and Danielle, who understands the need to be by yourself every once in a while, ushered me out.
I closed the door behind me and leaned on it for a moment...I was so nervous! I had the terrible feeling I was going to trip over the damn dress, or forget my vows (we wrote our own) or something equally silly. Just then, (And here I get really saccharine and cliché) Erik appeared at the end of the long hallway...and brightened my mood instantly. (like the sun breaking through the clouds...sugary enough?) Already in his tux, he looked wonderful. It was like I hadn’t seen him in a year instead of just twenty-four hours.
He was talking to someone who was standing in the adjacent hallway and I was about to call to him (yes, I know about it being bad luck to see the bride before the wedding...I care?) when Marie came into view. Even from my vantage could see that she was upset. (tears in her eyes, her stance...etc.) I paused a moment, wondering if I should find out what was wrong, then Erik swept her into his arms. Marie clung to him like she had just lost her best friend. I shook my head, what on earth was going on?
I heard Danielle call from the room and shook my head again before going in...I would have to see what was wrong later...it was almost time for the ceremony.
****
“Ready ‘Nifer? It’s time.” My dad said, drawing my attention away from the bouquet, which I had been fiddling with for the past few minutes.
I looked up and smiled nervously. “I think so...oh boy...this is a day I never thought I’d see.”
He raised an eyebrow as he took my arm. “What, your wedding day?” He leaned down and kissed my cheek. “I always knew it would happen eventually.”
“Shall we?” I took a deep breath and we started down the isle.
After days and hours of worrying that I’d trip down the isle or walk too fast or something I forgot about all of that as soon as I sighted Erik at the end of the isle. All of the rehearsals, the dancing, the dress, the endless explanations to family and friends, it was all worth it...to be walking down that isle and knowing that Erik, the Phantom of the Opera was waiting there...for me!
Erik’s
eyes locked with mine, and I think we were both gone from there...I barely
heard my uncle when he asked who was giving me away. His pale blue eyes were almost glowing when I stood beside him. They were glassy too... though I could
barely tell past the tears I was trying to blink back. Then came the vows, we had decided to write
our own vows (it had taken me about 6 drafts to get them right) and so I
imagined that Erik had written his as well.
Now this is the Phantom we’re talking about here...dramatic is his
middle name...he sang... (anyone really surprised? Well...I was!)
Taking my hand in his he slipped the ring on as he sang. (There has to be a better description for that too... Erik doesn't just sing, he creates from the very air, a caress of sound... anyway, no one in my family had heard him before... I'll just say that there wasn't one woman in the audience, married or otherwise, who didn't want to dance with the groom later.)
I have never felt like this
For once I'm lost for words
Your smile has really thrown me
This is not like me at all
I never thought I'd know
The kind of love you've shown me
Now, no matter where I am
No matter what I do
I see your face appearing
Like an unexpected song
An unexpected song
That only we are hearing
I don't know what's going on
Can't work it out at all
Whatever made you choose me?
I just can't believe my eyes
You look at me as though
You couldn't bear to lose me
Now, no matter where I am
No matter what I do
I see your face appearing
Like an unexpected song
That only we are hearing
I have never felt like this
For once I'm lost for words
Your smile has really thrown me
This is not like me at all
I never thought I'd know
The kind of love you've shown me
Now, no matter where I am
No matter what I do
I see your face appearing
Like an unexpected song
An unexpected song
That only we are hearing
Like an unexpected song
An unexpected song
That only we are hearing
I was speechless...hell, everyone was speechless! It took my Uncle a few minutes to recover before he could remember that it was my turn for vows. It was a good thing too...I needed a minute to recover...or I might have forgotten the vows entirely.
Marie handed me the ring (a larger version of my own, but a white gold phoenix on a yellow gold band) and I managed to take Erik’s hand without dropping it. (the ring silly, not his hand!) I took a deep breath, and looking in to the pale blue sea of his eyes, I knew exactly what to say.
(For those of you curious
about what I said, I couldn’t tell you…the only words I can recall coming from
my mouth are ‘I do’. I'm sure it's in
the wedding video...if my aunt didn't drop the camera when Erik sang.)
We both had tears in our eyes when we were pronounced man and wife.
My uncle smiled, “You may kiss the bride.”
I could see the tears still shimmering in his eyes as he bent his head toward me. My own eyes spilled over when his warm lips closed over mine. (I know, very cliché, so happy I wept…well, its true!) It wasn’t our first kiss, it wouldn’t be our last but it will always stand out in my mind. Not only because it was our first kiss as husband and wife, but because, standing there with him, I knew we were joined, in mind, in spirit, and in soul.
****
The reception was interesting…me dancing is always interesting. Actually I wasn’t that bad (I only stepped on Dad’s feet once), and Erik, well, he is good at what ever he puts his mind to.
“See?” My grandfather said, grinning down at my feet. “You’re not nearly as bad at this as you thought."
I couldn’t help but smile back. “I guess not grandpa.” I punctuated my words with a kiss on the cheek. I glanced over, doing a nice double take at Erik who was fox-trotting rather skillfully with my grandmother. (Didn’t know the old Opera Ghost could swing did ya?)
The dance ended and my other grandfather (dad’s dad) cut in. I let out a mental groan as I realized we were dancing to the Bette Midler rendition of Wind Beneath my Wings. At least it wasn’t the big headed Canadian chick (my stepmother’s name for Celine Dion.) I looked over grandpa’s shoulder to Erik (grandpa only has 2 inches on me) and nearly passed out at the sight of him taking my mother for a twirl around the floor. Erik must have been quite the charmer, because they were chatting away in low tones the whole time. Oddly enough it seemed right that she was there…ack! Was that maturity talking again?! (I really gotta learn to beat that down…*insert whip…Back Simba! Back! Back!* What? Isn’t everyone’s maturity named Simba?)
After about six dances with Erik and various family members I decided it was time for me to sit one out. Erik sat with me and we were basically mobbed by half of the family. After a few minutes I nudged him.
“Hmm?” He inquired, turning from his discussion of biblical myth with my Uncle James (What can I say, weird family, weird groom, bound to be some weird discussions... not even going to talk about the discussion my friend Megan and I were having about the inherent problems Lois Lane and Clark Kent must have had on their wedding night... c'mon, think about it...faster than a speeding bullet?)
“I think you had better save Marie…Doug may crush her feet before the night is through.” I said gesturing towards the couple. There were quite a few couples out on the floor but they were not hard to spot, as Doug is at least a head above everyone else in the room.
Erik nodded and stood, he offered his hand. “You dance dear, my legs are still weak from that song.” I said, smiling up at him.
Half listening to my cousin Sasha talking about her impending arrival at NYU, I watched Erik cut in and dance with Marie. Half of the women there wanted to dance with the dashing groom (can you blame them?). My attention drifted back to the conversation I was supposedly engaged in. It was several minutes later when I happened to look back at the dance floor. Marie had been dancing with my cousin Ken, my father, and my Uncle Mike but now she was dancing with Erik again. At first my attention was focused solely on Erik, almost wishing I had my sketchbook to catch the grace inherent in his movements. My attention drifted to Marie, the memory of the incident in the hall that afternoon nagging at me. She had seemed happy enough during dinner and earlier in the dancing but now that ‘malaise’ as Erik put it seemed to be coming back in full force. The look in her eyes while she danced…it brought to mind Jenny from Black Velvet. I shook my head, of course she would remind me of Jenny, she is Jenny!
My cousin Jaclyn, noting the direction of my gaze, broke me out of my reverie. “Don’t you think she’s dancing with him entirely too much?”
I turned to look at her rather quizzically. “What? C’mon Jaclyn, they’ve had maybe four dances all night, not to mention that she and I are his best friends…it makes perfect sense to me.” I said a tad more sharply than I had intended. (I don’t like it when my relatives question the loyalty of my best friends)
She held up her hands in defense. “Forget I said anything ok? Jeez!”
I sighed and shook my head, Family!
****
The throwing of the bouquet was the last thing between us and the limo. (We had talked about doing the garter too…but Erik said no…He didn’t know if he could control himself that far up my leg in front of all those people. I agreed that we shouldn’t try that in front of my grandparents.) All of the girls gathered round behind me. I turned around and with uncharacteristic good aim, actually sent the flowers toward the group. (Our family is fraught with bouquet related injuries…at her third wedding my mother nearly broke my aunt ‘s collarbone because she chucked the bouquet at her so hard.) I turned around to see who got it (or who was fighting over it…some people get vicious over these things! Pulling hair, rug burns…it isn’t pretty!) and was mildly surprised to find Marie, whose catching ability is almost as bad as mine, looking down at the roses.
I smiled and rushed over to hug her. “I told you you’d be next!”
Marie gave me a pained smile.
“Trust me dear!”
After a flurry of good-byes and hugs we rushed out of the hotel.
We leapt into the car under a shower of birdseed (more environmentally friendly than rice). Waving to everyone from the safety of the car we sped away from the crowd.
I laughed at Erik who was trying to shake the birdseed from his tuxedo jacket. “Give it up dear, mom said she was still finding the stuff in her clothes 3 hours after her last wedding.” I advised.
“Well I suppose all of the seed in my tuxedo is worth it.” He sighed dramatically, pulling me into his lap.
“Well, as long as you were to go through all that trouble for me.” I drawled sarcastically, smacking the cheek of his silk mask.
His demeanor suddenly serious he tilted my chin up so I was caught in the blue of his eyes. “I would do anything for you…this day is a dream, one from which I hope to never wake. I never thought I would have a wedding day.” He said softly, stroking my cheek with the tips of his fingers.
“Erik, if this is a dream I hope we never wake.” I leaned closer and kissed him gently.
His arms tightened around me, his hands roaming over my back. I kissed him again, this time lingering. When it ended Erik laid a train of light kisses down my neck to the neckline of my dress.
“Erik?” I called, remembering that we were not the only ones in the limo.
He looked up questioningly.
“We are not the only ones in this vehicle dear.” I reminded him gently.
He nodded and allowed me to slide off his lap so I could sit next to him. I rested my head against his shoulder and took his hand in mine, looking at our matching rings with wonder. “They’re beautiful.”
“The workmanship is superb.” He agreed, kissing the top of my head in a tamer form of affection.
“Not only that…what they symbolize is beautiful too.”
“I can think of nothing that has greater beauty.”
I brought his hand to my lips and kissed it softly. “I think your hands might pull a close second in beauty.”
“If anything, you win that distinction.” Erik asserted.
“The dress may be nice, but I’m thinking I’d much rather be in my Jncos…” I paused finally feeling the pinching of the dress shoes I had worn all day (I’m a slippers and boots sort of girl…hell I even wear my slippers to classes.) “…And out of these confounded heels!” I exclaimed, flinging the shoes across the car.
“My, that was dramatic.” He chuckled.
I stuck out my tongue at him.
“Now don’t stick that out unless you intend to use it.”
I laughed and leaned back against him. “So how long till we get to the cabin?”
“Approximately an hour, do you think you can restrain yourself that long?”
I rolled my eyes. “This from the man who had to be reminded that there was someone else in the car, sheesh!”
“Well, I was distracted…” he defended.
“Uh huh, wow, a cabin to ourselves for a week, what ever will we do with all of that free time?” I wondered looking up at him with my best innocent expression.
“Oh, I think we can find things to keep ourselves occupied, don’t you?” His tone was low and suggestive and I was beginning to doubt I could restrain myself for another hour.
“I would hope so.” I sighed, this had to have been the perfect day…but something was still bothering me. After a long moment of just reveling in his warm embrace I broke the silence. “Erik?”
“Yes my love?”
“Do you know what was wrong with Marie today, she was upset but I was never able to get her alone and ask her about it.”
Erik paused for a moment. “When did she appear upset?”
“This afternoon before the ceremony…I went out into the hallway for some fresh air and I saw you holding her when she burst into tears…what was wrong?” I had turned so that I could look him in the eye. Erik looked distinctly uncomfortable.
“Erik, I’m her friend, I just want to know what’s troubling her.”
Erik let out a sigh and closed his eyes.
“Erik, what is it?”
“It’s just that I can’t come up with a suitable lie on such short notice and I promised Marie I would not tell you.”
“Okay…” I was a bit confused at this point…I had definitely missed something.
Another dramatic sigh from Erik. “It seems…our friend Marie is in love…”
“Uh huh, I knew that…what happened, did you find out who it is?” I pressed.
“Well…” If it were possible to survive a jump from a moving car I think he would have done so to avoid the question.
“A place where you get water…now what’s going on?”
“This is really not the time for levity.”
“Ok, tell what’s up and I’ll cut the puns…who is she in love with?”
“Me.”
“Huh?” I replied intelligently.
“Marie is in love with me.” He repeated softly.
“Oh.” I took a moment to ponder this new bit of information. “So her outburst this afternoon was because of the wedding?”
“More or less. She had a similar outburst while you were in Florida. That’s how I found out.”
“Holy…well, holy something…that really sucks.”
“To put it bluntly if somewhat crudely.” He agreed with a sigh.
I thought over the past months for a moment and came to a conclusion about my friend. “You know…she’s got a noble streak about a mile wide.”
“I was thinking two miles at least, but yes, she is noble. And she may never forgive me for telling you.”
“Don’t you think it’s better that I know…after all, now you don’t have to think of any really colorful lies.” I commented letting a trace of irritation into my tone.
Erik sighed. “There was a reason she asked me not to tell you Lisa.”
I continued as my train of thought took me to the next station (all aboard for ‘dawning realization’) “Gods, all those times I sat there gushing over you…”
“All of the times I did the same of you.”
“Wow, I really feel like a heel.” I flopped back onto the seat and closed my eyes. Some friend I turned out to be.
“Which would be why she asked me not to tell you. She didn’t want you to feel guilty about it.”
“Too late.”
“If anyone should feel guilty it is I.”
My eyes popped open at this and I turned to Erik. “No, it’s no fault of yours that two women fell in love with you…or that polygamy is illegal in this state.”
“Somehow I don’t think you would be this grieved if I had chosen Marie instead of you.”
“True, that would involve me actually thinking I was worthy of you…but now that I have you,” I said, taking his hand in both of mine, “Your mine.”
“That was not a threat to leave you.” He corrected, wrapping his arms around me. “But I still have warrant to feel guilty.”
“Why?”
“Because, of the two of you…I was attracted to Marie first.”
“I wonder if most grooms admit being attracted to the maid of honor on the way to the honeymoon…not that I find that hard to understand.” I admitted looking down.
“Now Lisa…let’s not have that whole conversation again.”
I looked up. “What? Marie is definitely cuter than I am.”
“I don’t think you’re cute, I think you’re beautiful."
"Shameless flatterer... not that I'm saying I don't enjoy it." I admitted, kissing his masked cheek. "But there has to be something we can do for her, I can't seeing her mope all the time when we're so happy."
"Short of kidnapping some young man and beating him over the head with Marie's obvious attributes what can we do?"
“Well…I’ve been doing a bit of research…”
“Research? On what, the mating rituals of modern humans?”
“Well, that too, but that wasn’t the research I was referring to…I had been thinking…and surprisingly it didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would. Anyhow, I was thinking, we brought you out of the past, why not another time travel jaunt to bring someone else back?” I leaned my head against his chest and sighed. I still wasn’t quite sure the idea would work.
“There’s an idea…after all, Marie’s figure and looks would be better appreciated in times other than this one.”
I raised my head to look at him. “Erik…this is where you’re supposed to ask who I have in mind.”
“all right then, who do you have in mind?”
“Think France…think 15th century…” I trailed off wondering if he could guess.
“Not Claude Frollo, he’s a priest!”
“Give the man a cigar folks, he guessed it…and I know he was a priest…was being the operative word ‘cause he resigned from the priesthood a month before his assassination.”
“Are you sure you know what you are doing…Claude Frollo was the Minister of Justice, that’s almost as bad as being the president of the Christian Coalition. On top of that, priest or not, he was still a devout Roman Catholic. Translation: any odd behavior at all will set him thinking witchcraft in two seconds. Now, correct me if I am wrong…but Marie would seem quite odd to him.”
I gave him my best ‘I am not impressed’ look. “Are you quite done dear?”
“I suppose.”
“Oh, good…my turn! First off, we’d go in period garb, with translators-courtesy of Doug-Secondly, he was not nearly as bad as Hugo made him out to be…he wasn’t the tyrant Vic wrote about. And thirdly, just ‘cause I like that word, we have to try.”
“I was not referring to Hugo’s rendition.” Erik corrected.
“Then what were you referring to?”
“I was referring to the general fear of witchcraft and sorcery that gripped most of the population at the time. And the fact that the king of France was the one on Frollo’s back to ‘clean up’ France.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled at him thoughtfully. “Have I told you how cute you are when you try to talk me out of something?”
“No.”
“Oh, well you are…at any rate, I’m going to do this, with or without your help darling…so, want to take a trip to Paris?”
“I suppose I have no choice.” He conceded, sighing dramatically.
I stroked his cheek below the mask for a moment. “You make it sound like a trip with Marie and I would be a bad thing. C’mon, wouldn’t you like to help us snare another unsuspecting man from the past?”
“Well…I will have to keep the both of you out of trouble, and truth be told, if Claude can see past Marie’s…shall we say…modern oddities, I think he would find her quite attractive.”
“Cool, we going to France!” I exclaimed, hugging him with childish delight. (Hey, I get a kick out of helping my friends) He returned my fierce embrace and I had trouble remembering what else I wanted to ask him (so being held by Erik is distracting, so sue me!) “The only problem I really see is clothes…can’t do this trip in Jncos.”
“Oh…I don’t see that as a problem.”
“I’m pretty sure my pants would be frowned upon in the Middle Ages.”
“No…I meant finding costumes would not be a problem.”
“Oh, why?”
“Because all we have to do is visit…my opera, we could borrow a few costumes from Faust.” He explained, pulling me closer so I was in his lap.
“Groovy…a little side trip…I mean, remember what Marie said, we wouldn’t want Carlotta to get too comfortable.”
“Indeed…but first…” He paused, letting his hands stray up and down my sides, “…I have more pressing business.”
“No pressing until we get to the cabin dear.” I said, pressing myself closer nonetheless.
“None at all?” He sounded slightly disappointed as he nuzzled my neck.
“Well…maybe a little…”
I would tell you all about the honeymoon and our little side trip…but as Marie put it “You don’t need to go into that…all you did was find costumes and christen the opera!” …so, I’ll forgo the gratuitous smut…on to our return!