The Wedding & the Farewell
Written by Darren Rowe The Hudson Residence, 21 Spencer Street Pacing up and down the small area of free space at the foot of the freshly made queen size bed, Calvin looks over at his struggling wife. His heart, breaking in two as he watches her sit bent over on the edge of the bed, her elbows resting on her knees. Slowly, Georgia taps her feet against the soft, shell coloured carpet. Somehow, she thought, tapping her feet on the soft carpet would take her mind off the cancer – this horrible beast, growing, metastasising inside of her. If she only took her mind off the cancer, she wouldn’t have to think about it, wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore, and wouldn’t have to worry that it could kill her anymore. “Georgia,” Calvin begins as he walks over to his wife. Stopping just short of her, Calvin slowly turns. Bending down, he sits next to his emotionally spent wife. Reaching across, he gently strokes her silky soft hand. Running the tips of his fingers over the back of her hand, Calvin slowly looks up into Georgia’s eyes. “I know this is a difficult time for you, and I know…” “Do you, Calvin?” Georgia retorts as she turns and stares into Calvin’s eyes. “How do you know it’s a difficult time for me? You’re not here for me, you’re not supporting me.” “Oh come on, that’s not true.” “Yes it is, Calvin,” Georgia sternly replies as she turns her head away from Calvin. “You don’t care about me. You don’t stop pushing me to do the right thing…” Georgia’s voice softly breaks as she droops her head. Tears, painful tears, acid like tears swell in the corner of her eyes. The pressures of what to do about her cancer have suddenly stripped her of all her strength, all her fighting spirit. Clamping her eyes closed, a tear breaks free from one of her eyes and slowly cuts a lonely trail down her cheek, swelling at the base of her chin. “But what is the right thing Calvin? I don’t know.” Looking down at the floor, Calvin falls deep in thought. Reaching across, Calvin softly begins to rub Georgia’s back. The palm of his large hand motions backwards and forwards over Georgia’s silk blouse. Slowly, the friction of the movement begins to warm up the palm of Calvin’s hand. “I don’t know,” Calvin said softly as he looks across at his wife. “I don’t know what to tell you. This is a big decision, a decision you have to make for yourself…by yourself.” With a deep breath, Georgia lifts her head and looks at Calvin. “I…I am so scared Calvin. I am so scared that I’m going to fail, that I’m going to make the wrong choice and you’ll all resent me for it.” “Hey,” Calvin replies as he draws Georgia towards him and wraps his arms around her, holding her warmly, securely in a loving hug. “I have every faith in the world that you’ll make the right choice. But darling, it has to be for you, not us. It has to be what you want for yourself. If there’s ever a time that you have to be selfish, now is that time.” “But I’m scared. I am so…scared.” As another tear rolls down Georgia’s cheek, she quickly wipes it away, trying hard to refrain from showing any emotion. “I don’t want to die. Not yet, not like this. But…” “But what?” “But…what if…what if I choose to have the treatment and then…” Georgia suddenly stops as she fights desperately to stop more tears from cascading down her cheek like an Amazonian rainfall. “…and then I die. What would have been the point? What would I have achieved? I would’ve fought it and still…I would’ve died. I…I don’t see the point of that.” “But what if you survive?” Calvin asks. “But what if I don’t?” “Now come on,” Calvin replies with sincerity. “You can’t keep dwelling on the negative. You must keep a positive attitude about this.” Georgia closes her eyes. “And then what if I don’t have treatment, I’ll die anyway.” “Well do you want to die?” Georgia’s eyes snap open. Staring at Calvin her head races with a million possible answers to that question. What a stupid question to ask. Of course she didn’t want to die, who does? But…what about all the pain, all the suffering, all the sickness and all the heartache she was about to face. Maybe death was an easier way out. But maybe, it was also the coward’s way out. Could she really face months of excruciating torture if, after all was said and done, God still had plans to take her before her time? What would she have achieved? “No,” she says softly. “I don’t want to die; I don’t want to leave you all.” For a fleeting moment, Calvin felt a smile creep across his face. He didn’t want to smile, but he couldn’t help it. Georgia had just given herself an answer. “What?” Georgia asks as she notices Calvin smiling at her. “You just said it; you just gave me the answer you couldn’t bring yourself to say.” Georgia looks at Calvin a little perplexed. With a frown, she lowers her head as she runs the conversation through her mind, trying to pinpoint the exact moment when she answered Calvin’s burning question. Suddenly pausing, Georgia begins to raise her head. “That’s it. That’s the answer.” Calvin watches on thrilled as Georgia has an awakening. “I’ve got to fight this, honey,” Georgia says with a smile. “I’ve got to get through this. For you, for me…for our family.” Smiling with utter joy, Calvin throws his arms around Georgia as he pulls her in closely for a warm hug. “I love you Georgia. I truly do.” – spencer street – April’s Office, Somerset General Hospital “What?” April hisses as she glares at Nicole, seated opposite her at her solid oak desk. “My brother is the father of your child?” “Yes.” “W…well does he know this? Have you told him?” An uncomfortable silence fills the room as Nicole sits in the soft armchair nervous, scared. Sighing, April snaps Nicole’s medical file closed as she quickly rises from her chair. “You haven’t told him!” ”No,” Nicole snaps back. “And I don’t see why I have too.” “Are you serious?” April stares at the young Goodwin with intent, her heart thumping in her chest. “You have to tell him, he is the father of your child. He has rights you know.” “No he doesn’t,” Nicole retorts as she shifts in her seat. “He has no rights as far as I’m concerned.” April walks out from behind her desk and begins to head towards the large window on the far side of her office. Stopping, she leans all of her weight on to her left hip as she looks out of the window across the magnificent sprawling hills of the Somerset Ranges. With a deep sigh, she lifts her hand and runs her fingers through her thick, dark chocolate coloured mane. “I can’t believe you’re not going to tell him. You’re baby is sick Nicole, he should be told.” “We don’t know that, April,” Nicole states as she rises from her chair and heads towards the direction in which April is standing. “You said yourself there’s only a fifty percent chance of any problems.” Turning, April stares at Nicole. “Yes, that is true.” “You see; there’s nothing to worry about.” April stands staring at Nicole, her mouth slightly ajar. “Nicole, I’m involved now, whether you like it or not.” “Oh, I don’t think so.” “No,” April says as she takes a few paces forward, stopping just millimetres away from Nicole. “I am. You are carrying my brother’s baby. I can’t just let you go about your life knowing that I have a niece of nephew out there that Connor doesn’t know about.” Nicole sighs as she turns her back on April. She doesn’t want to hear this now; she doesn’t want to listen to some ‘do the right thing’ lecture. “You have to tell him Nicole. And if you don’t…I will.” As April’s words ring through her head, Nicole stands frozen, debating whether or not April’s right. – spencer street – Somerset International Airport, Somerset Sitting in a small, uncomfortable black leather chair in the departures lounge of Somerset International Airport, Chloe looks around as busy passenger’s whiz around her, rushing to make their flights to begin the next exciting chapters of their lives. Passenger’s coming and going; passenger’s leaving old days behind and taking the next step forward to beginning new ones. Turning her attention to her boarding pass, clenched in her left hand, Chloe wonders if leaving so suddenly is the right thing to do. She’s leaving so suddenly, so abruptly. Not even giving anyone any time to say goodbye. With a soft sigh, Chloe looks up slightly as she quickly wipes a tear from her eye. Sliding her cell phone out of her pocket, Chloe stares at it for a moment. Having witnessed the forbidden kiss between her boyfriend, Jack, and best friend, Shaznay, only last night; Chloe wonders whether or not to say goodbye to either of them. Slowly the thought of Jack and Shaznay slips from her mind as her thoughts soon turn to her close friend and confidant, Leo. Slowly, a smile creeps across Chloe’s face. Punching in a phone number on her cell, Chloe then raises the phone to her ear. Chloe takes a deep breath, trying and calm her nerves. “Sorry, the mobile phone you are currently trying to call is switched off. After the tone, please leave a message.” With one, last reassuring deep breath, Chloe begins to speak. “Hi, it’s me. I’m at the airport…but I don’t want to go without seeing you one last time. I…I know this is going to sound crazy and all, but…I think I love you. I’m hoping you get this message in time. My plane leaves in an hour. I…I just can’t leave without seeing you one last time, saying goodbye to you one last time. I hope you get this message in time. All my love, Chloe.” Slowly moving the phone away from her ear, Chloe lightly licks her lips. – spencer street – The Goodwin Residence, 23 Spencer Street Standing at the top of the large stairwell in the luxurious home of her family, Grace smiles as she watches Kate walk up the stairs towards her. “Mum?” Kate asks as she makes her way up the stairs, noticing her mother in a beautiful ivory white suite with white floral embroidery. “Why are you doing this? Why are you marrying John so soon? You’ve only known him a few weeks.” “It may be only a few weeks darling, but its love in its most pure form.” Reaching the top of the staircase, Kate stands in front of her mother, staring into her eyes. “But mum…” “Please Kate, believe in me this once. Trust in me that I know what I’m doing.” “But it’s only been a couple of weeks, I…” “Kate, darling,” Grace says as she takes Kate’s hand in hers and softly strokes it. “I know you may think I’m a blithering old fool…” “No I don’t.” “…But,” Grace says, interrupting her daughter. “I love John and he loves me.” Kate looks away from her mother, annoyed and disapproving that she can’t seem to get through to her. “Please Kate, trust in me. Trust that I’m doing the right thing, the right thing that will make me happy.” “I don’t you to be unhappy mum, its just…how do you know if it is love?” “My heart,” Grace replies. “I know in my heart.” “But…” “There are no but’s Kate. Your heart is the only object in this entire universe that knows true love and true beauty when it comes across it. When you find love, your heart is the thing that lets you know. And right now, Kate, my heart is screaming at me that what John and I share is love.” Falling silent, Kate stares at Grace. “Now please, darling, support me in this decision.” “Haven’t you heard of ruling with you head not your heart?” “I thought it was the other way around?” As Kate looks down at the ground, frustrated that their conversation doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, Grace smiles as she softly tilts Kate’s head upwards, drawing Kate’s eyes level with her’s. “I’m old Kate, in case you hadn’t noticed. And I didn’t plan to fall in love again, but I did. It just happened. And I know that I don’t have long for this world…” “Mum, don’t talk like that.” “Well its true, isn’t it?” Grace asks. “And in my declining years I want to be happy, I want to live and love. And with John I can achieve all of this.” Listening to her mother, Kate tries to fight back tears. “But,” Grace begins. “If you don’t want me to marry John, I won’t. I would never do anything to hurt you, Kate. You must understand that. I would never put my happiness before yours.” Kate’s heart swells with emotion as a tear slowly trickles down her cheek. “Oh mum,” Kate says as she takes a step forward and hugs her mother in a warm and loving embrace. “Marry John; do you this one thing for yourself. I want you too.” Parting, Grace looks at Kate and smiles. “Thank you darling, you are a true gem.” Smiling at her mother, Kate quickly wipes away her tears. “Now,” Grace says as she takes Kate’s hand, “Shall we get this over with?” – spencer street – Somerset International Airport, Somerset “This is a boarding call for Virgin flight 826, Somerset to Milan. Could all passengers please make their way to boarding gate 6 in the departures wing. Thank you.” Glancing down at her watch, Chloe sighs. 6.37. Looking across the room at the boarding gate, Chloe watches as the line steadily grows as passenger after passenger lines up to board their flight to Milan, Italy. Still waiting for Leo to arrive and say goodbye, Chloe begins to nervously tap her boarding pass against her thigh. Desperately wanting Leo to come and confess his undying love to her, Chloe lets out a nervous sigh. – spencer street – The Goodwin Residence, 23 Spencer Street Appearing in the doorway to the Goodwin living room, Grace smiles as she looks at her beloved John, standing a few short metres away from her. With Kate by her side, Grace begins her small walk towards her future with John. With every step, Grace moves closer to her new life. Looking at her gathered family, Grace smiles, struggling to contain her joy. With Cain, Nicole and Stuart gathered to witness her union; Grace knows this is going to be a special moment that would live on with her until her dying days. As she is drawn closer to John, Grace’s heart sinks a little as she remembers Chloe is absent. Grace had totally forgotten about her departure, she hadn’t even said goodbye. The burden of keeping this secret was going to take its toll on her, she could tell. Eventually standing next to her husband-to-be, Grace smiles as John takes her hand. Kate steps back and stands next to her children, glaring at her estranged husband. Looking into John’s eyes, Grace smiles. Turning to face the celebrant, John takes a deep breath. “Friends and family,” The celebrant begins. “You were invited here tonight for a party - a celebration. And you were not deceived. For what we are about to witness between John and Grace is indeed a celebration of their love for one another. But it is also much more. For the bond of marriage is a sacred covenant, instituted by God. It should not be entered lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and after sincere reflection. Into this holy estate John and Grace come now to be joined. And by our presence here, we not only witness and bless their union, but we accept responsibility for encouraging them in their new relationship as husband and wife.” Nicole wipes a tear away from her cheek as she watches John and Grace wed. She’d love to marry Luke one day, but with the burning secret of her baby’s paternity, she knew she never would. “If any of you can show just cause why they may not lawfully be married, speak now or else forever after hold your peace.” Grace’s gathered family falls silent. Grace turns and looks at everyone, smiling, she then turns back to face the celebrant. “John and Grace have chosen some readings that have special meaning to them,” The celebrant says with a smile. John accepts a page from the celebrant. Turning to Grace, he smiles. "Put on them, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” As she watches John read the words, a tear of joy rolls down Grace’s cheek. “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." John looks at the celebrant and smiles. The celebrant then hands Grace her page to read. Clearing her throat, Grace begins. "Give all to love. Obey thy heart. ‘Tis a brave master. Let it have scope.” John’s heart swells with joy and love as he watches Grace. “Follow it utterly. Hope beyond hope. It was never for the mean. It requireth courage stout. Souls above doubt, valor unbending. It will reward. They shall return. More than they were and ever ascending.” As Grace hands the celebrant back the piece of paper, she takes John’s hand. The celebrant looks at them both. “John and Grace...I ask you now in the presence of God and those gathered to declare your intent. John, will you take this woman to be your wedded wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honour and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?” John smiles as he gazes lovingly into Grace’s eyes. “I will.” “Grace, will you have this man to be your wedded husband? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?” “I will.” The celebrant smiles as she clears her throat slightly, fighting the urge to cough. “And will all of you who witness this coming together do everything in your power to uphold and care for these two in their marriage?” “We will,” the entire Goodwin family replies, almost in prefect harmony. The celebrant switches her attention back to John and Grace. “John and Grace have chosen to write their own vows to each other.” “Grace,” John begins as she stares into Grace’s eyes. “Once I was lost but now I am found. You are my one, my only. From this moment forward, in good times and in bad, I will be your partner, lover and friend. I offer you all that I am and all that I may become. I give you myself - exclusively, and eternally.” Watching John recite his vows to Grace, Cain smiles, knowing that this union is meant to be. “John, yesterday, I was one. Tonight, we become so much more than two. The love I feel for you is as immeasurable as it was unexpected. You have renewed my life, and so now I join it with yours without reservation or fear. Because I know this love will be our joy and our strength all the rest of our lives. From this moment forward, in good times and in bad, I will be your partner, lover and friend. I offer you all that I am and all that I may become. I give you myself - exclusively, and eternally.” The celebrant looks at both John and Grace. “The rings please.” John hands the celebrant the wedding band for Grace, and Grace, likewise, does the same for John. The celebrant takes the rings and places them on a bible. “Bless, O Lord, these rings, a sign of the vows by which this man and this woman have bound themselves to each other.” Turning to John, the celebrant smiles. “Place the ring on her finger.” John picks the ring up off of the bible the celebrant is holding. Softly taking Grace’s hand in his, John looks into her eyes as he rests the ring on the edge of her finger. “In token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love with this ring, I thee wed.” John then slides the ring onto Grace’s finger. Grace smiles, picking up her ring for John from the bible and softly takes his hand in her’s. Looking into John’s eyes, she rests the ring on the tip of his finger. “In token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love with this ring, I thee wed.” Grace then slides the ring onto John’s finger. The celebrant smiles as John and Grace turn back to her. “You have declared your consent and vows before God and this congregation,” the celebrant says. “May God confirm your covenant, and fill you both with grace. By the power invested in me by the city of Somerset, I now pronounce you husband and wife. What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. You may kiss your bride.” As the gathered Goodwin family cheer, applauding the wedding of the couple, John and Grace slowly move in before sharing a soft but passionate kiss. – spencer street – Somerset International Airport, Somerset “This is the final boarding call for Virgin flight 826, Somerset to Milan. Could all remaining passengers please make their way to boarding gate 6 in the departures wing; the plane will be taxing out to the runway in 30 minutes time. Thank you.” Slowly standing, Chloe takes one last look around the departures lounge, searching for Leo. With no sign of him anywhere, Chloe sighs as she makes her way over to the boarding gate. Running into the departures lounge, Leo frantically looks around the room for Chloe. Reaching the boarding gate, Chloe smiles at the gate attendant, unaware that Leo has arrived and is looking for her. “Good evening ma’am, may I have your boarding pass,” the gate attendant asks as Chloe stands before him. As Chloe is about to hand over her boarding pass, Leo suddenly spots his one true love. “Chloe!” he bellows as he races towards her. “Chloe wait!” Hearing her name being called, Chloe spins around. Spotting Leo, she smiles as she drops her satchel and begins running towards her true hearts desire. As Leo and Chloe race towards each other, Leo sweeps Chloe into his arms and, securely holding on to her, spins around in a small circle. “Oh Leo,” Chloe says with a glorious and deliriously happy smile as she gazes lovingly into Leo’s eyes. “I didn’t think you were going to make it.” “I couldn’t let you go without saying one last goodbye now, could I,” Leo replies. Chloe smiles as she stares lovingly into Leo’s eyes. “No…I suppose not.” “Oh Chloe, I’m so glad you called.” “So am I.” “This is the final boarding call for Virgin flight 826, Somerset to Milan. Could all remaining passengers please make their way to boarding gate 6 in the departures wing; the plane will be taxing out to the runway in 20 minutes time. Thank you.” Chloe wipes a tear from her eye. “I’ve got to get going.” Slowly leaning in, Leo softly kisses Chloe on the lips. Closing her eyes, Chloe’s body becomes electrically charged from the excitement racing through her. For so long Leo has longed to just hold Chloe in his arms, to passionately kiss her and tell her how much she means to him. Now he had it all, everything he’d ever wanted, but she was going to leave him, walk out on him. Slowly parting, Leo looks deep into Chloe’s eyes. “I love you Chloe, I always have. You’re the perfect woman to me and I have waited for this moment for so long.” Blushing, Chloe smiles. “I…I just want you to know how I feel.” “I love you too,” Chloe replies with a smile. “And I’ll be back soon.” Leo smiles as he kisses Chloe tenderly on the lips one last time. With deep breath, Chloe takes a step back from Leo. “Well this is it.” Turning away from Leo, Chloe starts to head back towards the boarding gate. “Hey, Chloe,” Leo calls out to his new love. Turning, Chloe takes one last look at Leo. “Goodbye gorgeous,” Leo mouths as he blows a kiss to Chloe. Smiling, Chloe turns and walks back towards gate 6. – spencer street – Spencer Street, Somerset Having just witnessed Grace and John’s wedding, Stuart sneaks out of the front door of the Goodwin home and begins to head down the driveway. Standing at the front window of the Goodwin living room, Kate stares out and watches as her cheating husband begins to walk up the street towards Louise’s house. Rapidly filling with rage and resentment, Kate quickly decides its time to follow her husband and find out once and for all what is going on between he and Louise. Approaching Louise’s house, Stuart smirks. The bubbling temptation inside him for just one more kiss, one more seductive began to overpower Stuart. Knocking on Louise’s door, Stuart waits for his mistress, his new love to open the door and welcome him in with open arms. Standing just metres away from Louise’s house, Kate shields herself from view by standing behind a tree, one of the many that stretch down Spencer Street. Watching on as Louise opens her door to Stuart before passionately kissing him; Kate can’t believe what she’s seeing. Louise is her best friend, her confidant, the closest thing she had to a sister, but in an instant, that one fleeting moment, her entire world was torn down around her. Jumping startled as Louise closed her front door with a loud thud, Kate’s heart sank. She knew what was going to happen, she knew what they were both about to do. Overcome with a powerful urge to see for herself what everyone else had been telling her, Kate found herself crossing the street, heading straight for Louise’s door. Placing her hand on the cold, brass door handle, Kate turned it and opened the door. With a soft sigh, she entered Louise’s house. – spencer street – The O’Connell Residence, 22 Spencer Street Sitting at his desk in his small home office, Ronan sits staring blankly at the many folders of business transactions and bank statements from his architecture business. In a numb state, Ronan leans back in his chair. “Bankrupt,” he whispers in a soft voice. “We’re bankrupt.” – spencer street – Louise’s Residence, 25 Spencer Street Looking around Louise’s living room, Kate scowlers the house, searching for a sign that Louise and Stuart are having an affair. Hearing a giggle come from upstairs, Kate freezes. The urge to go up and see if Stuart is having an affair begins to overpower her. Standing at the foot of the staircase, Kate takes a slow breath. Resting her right hand on the rail of the stairwell, Kate feels herself shaking. The horrible reality of the situation suddenly hits her like a ton of bricks. Taking step after step up the staircase, Kate begins to make her way down the corridor, being drawn to Louise’s room like a moth to a flame. Resting her hand on the doorhandle, Kate feels her heart thumping in her chest and the blood pumping in her ears. Turning the doorhandle, she swings the door open. With her eyes widening and her jaw dropping, Kate can’t believe what she’s seeing. “Oh my God!” – spencer street – The Goodwin Residence, 23 Spencer Street “Congrats Gran,” Nicole says with a smile as she kisses Grace on the cheek. “You truly deserve all the happiness in the world.” Suddenly there’s a knock at the front door. “I’ll get it,” Cain says as he leaves the living room and walks down the short corridor towards the large redwood front door. Turning the doorhandle and opening the door, Cain’s eyes widen as he looks at the person standing before him, stunned. “Hope.” “Hey lil’ brother,” Hope says with a warm smile as she hugs Cain. “It’s good to be home.” |