Chapter 76

“Genevieve! How could you?” Helen Redlin gasped as she grabbed Gennie’s arm and pulled her aside. She was still obviously in shock over the events of the last few minutes. “How could you get married and not tell anyone?”

“Mom, you were here. You didn’t miss anything.” Gen sighed knowing that this would be more of an argument with her mother than she had intended.

“I didn’t miss anything?” her mother shrieked. “Of course I missed something! I didn’t get to help my only daughter plan the most important day of her life!”

John looked at his feet, not really sure what to say, or if Gen even wanted him to say anything at all.

“Well, Mom, you got to do that last time, y’know, and as you can see,” Gen smiled, looking casually around the room, “there really wasn’t a lot of planning involved. We put this together in a few days… less than a week, actually. Nobody knew about it ahead of time… not even us, really.” She looked to her new husband and smiled ever so subtly. “Just be happy for us.”

“Oh, honey, we’re so happy for you both. But I’m just disappointed that I didn’t get to be involved in all this. I would never have picked to wear this dress to my daughter’s wedding,” she sighed.

 Gen giggled. “Mom, don’t worry about it. Stacey’s a little disappointed too that she didn’t get the fancy bridesmaid dress, but she’s dealing with it.”

 “It appears that even your friend knew about this before your mother. I just don’t think that’s considerate, Gennie. I wish you would’ve told us.” Helen had a sad pleading look in her eye as she spoke, addressing not only Gen, but John as well.

 “Mother, Stace was my witness, my matron of honor… I had to tell her, y’know. But she only found out this afternoon. It’s not like she knew from the start or anything.”

 “Oh, Genevieve,” her mother sighed with tears in her eyes. She reached to hug her daughter and put this behind them, but it was evident that the left out feelings would continue to haunt her. “Why did you have to do it this way, honey?”

 John hated to see his mother-in-law like this; she tried so hard to be a mother to him too, that it pained him to see the look in her eyes. It was a look he knew his own mother would’ve had in the same situation. He took a deep breath and as Mrs. Redlin put her arms out to hug him as well, he gathered the courage to speak. “I’m really sorry we didn’t tell you,” he offered penitently. “But, um…” He looked Gen squarely in the eye, then awkwardly forged ahead with his plan. “I…um, we want you to be the first to know…”

 Gen’s eyes went wide knowing what his next words would most certainly be- a little bit nervous, and actually a lot relieved that she wasn’t the one who had to say it.

 Helen caught the semi-panicked expression on her daughter’s face and immediately turned to John for understanding, seeing as he was trying to compose his thoughts to her.

 “We…um, Mr. and Mrs. Redlin…” he stammered nervously.

 “Honey,” Gennie’s mother said compassionately, “You call us Chuck and Helen, Ok?”

 John’s face blushed shyly. “Yeah, um, Chuck, Helen…” He took one more deep breath before diving in and making one of the most proud, yet terrifying statements he’d ever had to make in his life. “We’re gonna have a baby.”

 This time it was Mr. Redlin who spoke; Helen was too stunned to say a word. “Congratulations, I guess,” he smiled as he reached to shake John’s hand. “Double congratulations,” he repeated with a chuckle.

 “You… you’re….” Mrs. Redlin teared up again. “I’m gonna be a grandma!” she cried, throwing her arms around them both.

 “Shh,” Gen reminded her. “Nobody else knows yet.” She paused and with a simple look, thanked John for allowing her parents be the first to know. “And, uh, Mom… you’re already a grandma,” she blushed, nodding to her brother who sat silently with his wife and young son.

 “Oh, I know,” she said in a weepy but joyful voice as she patted her grandson on the head,  “But I never get to see my little Cole. Promise me this,” she said as she turned to John. She spoke pointedly. “Please don’t be as distant as my son Scott’s been. I want to see more of you two… and your baby.”

 “Good,” John smiled. “I’m glad you feel that way.”

 Gen offered her brother an uncomfortable glance. She knew they both hated it when their mother tried to play them against each other. Proudly straightening her back and taking her new husband by the arm, she introduced him to her brother. “John, I’d like you to meet my brother Scott and his wife Tara and my nephew Cole.”

 The couple exchanged pleasantries with John as he tried to gauge this veritable stranger. Gen never spoke of her brother, and frankly, John was a little surprised that he’d made the effort to come tonight. He supposed the relatively short distance between Buffalo and Cleveland, Ohio had something to do with his appearance. In fact, he couldn’t be entirely convinced that Scott’s presence didn’t have something to do with Helen Redlin’s persuasive nature and desire to see her grandson.

 Chuck interrupted. “You guys better hurry up and get some food. The rest of us are waiting on the newlyweds so we can eat!” He reached over to hug his daughter. “Especially now that my little girl is eating for two!” 

“Thanks Daddy,” she smiled as they hurried off to the set up the caterers had prepared.

 “So, who’s next?” Gen asked as she loaded up her plate.

 “I dunno,” he shrugged.  “My sisters, I guess.” He turned around and looked at them sitting at multiple tables with their families. Getting them all in one place so they could break the news discreetly, privately, was going to be tough. But in the end, they played right into their hands as, one by one, the Rzeznik sisters left their families and found their place at a large table to eat with their little brother and his bride.

 “So, what’s up with you? Were you planning to shock us all along? You could’ve said something, you know,” Gladdy chided them good-naturedly. She stepped behind their chairs and hugged them both as they sat eating. “Congratulations, you guys. And Gennie, welcome to the calamity we call the Rzeznik family,” she grinned as she patted her new sister-in-law in the shoulder.

 The other sisters weren’t far behind, each offering their good wishes and expressing their surprise at the whole affair. They took the shock much better than Gennie’s parents did, but it was about typical for the easygoing nature that seemed to pervade the family. They sat casually visiting, embarrassing their brother with stories from his youth and enjoying their meal. When they finished eating, John reached under the table and held Gen’s hand. Things were working out perfectly this evening, just as a wedding night should be.

 Kate sat beside Gennie. The two were fast becoming friends. “This is just so great!” she beamed. “You’re my sister-in-law, you’re moving to Buffalo…. Life is just full of happy surprises, isn’t it?” she chuckled.

 Gennie let go of a little laugh, squeezing her husband’s hand tightly. “Actually, Kate, that’s more true than you realize.” She glanced around the table taking in the sight of the four sisters, now sitting silently, staring at Gennie, wondering what the next startling announcement would be.  She gazed into John’s eyes as she composed herself to make the big announcement.  “I’m pregnant.” 

That simple, declarative sentence hung in the air like a fog as the Rzeznik women slowly took to the realization that their little brother was going to be a father. John looked on as his sisters sat in shock, surprisingly silent. “Be cool about it, y’know. We haven’t told everyone else yet.”

 Finally, Glad broke the silence. “Well, Johnny, you don’t mess around!” she winked and gave him a poke in the arm. “Are you happy about this? Cause I, for one, am ecstatic!”

 “Yeah,” he smiled, looking at Gen. “We’re happy.”

 “Then you can’t ask for more,” she smiled approvingly and threw her arms around him for a congratulatory hug. That hug was followed by others from the sisters as they shared in John and Gennie’s happiness.

 After all the well wishing, John felt the need to cut away from the family gathering and break the news to their friends. Across the room they spied the table in question. At it sat Robby and Sasha, Mike and his girlfriend, and Stacey, Josh and family.  Under the auspices of making the rounds to their guests, they sauntered up to the group.

 “Hey, you guy’s having fun?” John inquired.

 “Sure!” Mike grinned. “But I almost didn’t come, you know. Keeping it so secret nearly meant that I missed my buddy’s wedding and I would never’ve done that on purpose, man.”

 “You’re telling me!” Robby exclaimed. “Dude, I tried like hell to get out of this. If it weren’t for Sasha here, I might ‘ve backed out at the last minute, y’know.” He looked at John with a big smile. “Just be glad all the right people made it, pal. You know you woulda caught some shit if one of us didn’t show up and ended up missing this!”

 “Man,” John laughed, “I woulda caught shit? Dude, it’s you who woulda caught shit! But we’re glad you all made it, y’know.”

 “Yeah, Gen, John, really. Thanks for having us.” Josh nodded at the couple happily. “I’m really glad you two decided to finally tie the knot. I knew this was coming you guys,” he said with a wink.

 “Oh, you did not!” Stacey nudged him in the arm. “You were as shocked as everyone else out there when Fr. Morelli told you what was going on.”

 “Well, sure, I didn’t know it would be today, but I knew it was coming.”

 Gen giggled. “So was it worth missing a game for?”

 “You know what? I’d have to say it’s much better than going to a game. That broadcast booth gets pretty stuffy and the food sucks. You’ve far outdone Gallagher-Iba arena at OSU!” he joked.

 “Hmm…” John observed, “That sounds like a dubious distinction, at best. I certainly hope we can do better than a college arena. And the food better be good, it sure cost me enough!”

 “Anyway, Gen, we’re glad we could be here,” Stacey smiled.

 “Gennie,” Meggy chimed in, “don’t you know that brides don’t wear purple? You can’t get married because you don’t have on a wedding dress!”

 “Yeah!” Alex giggled, along with the rest of those seated at the table.

 “Honey, a bride can get married in anything she wants, you know. I thought this was a pretty dress, don’t you?”

 “Yes, it’s pretty, but it’s not white.”

 Stace tucked a strand hair behind her daughter’s ear. “Sweetie, Gen’s favorite color is purple. I think it’s way prettier than any white dress.” She looked at her little girl, hoping things would make some sense to her, but apparently, a six year old’s world is very black and white and she wasn’t quite willing to deviate from her accepted theories on what a wedding should be like.  “Sometimes, when you get married, you don’t need the big white dress.”

 “But…” 

“Guys,” Gennie began as she crouched between Megan and Alex’s chairs. “You know I was married a long time ago, right? I know you’ve seen pictures that your mom has.”

 Both kids nodded.

 “I wore a wedding dress then, didn’t I? And I’ve told you how things didn’t work out, right?”

 “Uh huh,” the two nodded in unison.

 “Well, I thought this time I’d do things differently. Besides, I had to do it quickly this time too. Remember how long it took for your grandma to make your Halloween costumes last year?”

 Again, they nodded, eyes wide with sudden understanding.

 “It takes even longer to get a wedding dress made. I was as anxious as you guys were, you know. I didn’t want to wait forever while someone made a dress for me. I wanted to get married!” She laughed at her simplistic explanation, but was pleased that the kids finally understood.

 “You looked pretty at your wedding, Gennie!” Alex finally admitted before he and his sister hurried off to join John’s nieces and nephews at a game of hide and seek.

 “Thanks, buddy!” she called to him as John helped her back up to once again stand by his side.

 “So, when does all the fun begin?” Stacey asked excitedly. “Because I know you well enough to know that there’s more to this party than just food!”

 Gen smiled appreciatively at the acknowledgement that she could throw an awesome party. “As soon as the caterer’s get things picked up, the music starts.”

 John looked to his friends and shrugged almost apologetically. “It’s just a DJ. But, man, it’s my house, y’know. Don’t need any cracks in the plaster or broken windows.”

 “Hey, as long as there’s an open bar, no one’s complaining!” Robby chuckled. He looked around and noticed that drinks were empty, so he volunteered to get refills. Minutes later, he returned with a bottle of champagne and a tray full of champagne flutes. “I say this calls for a toast!” he grinned at his best friend as he passed around the glasses. When everyone had one, he raised his glass. “To Johnny and Gen! May your happiness last a lifetime.”

 Next, Stacey stood with an enormous grin on her face. “To my best friend and her new husband. Thank God she listened to me when I told her to do the MTV thing!”

 While everyone at the table laughed and drank their toast, John placed a quick kiss on Gen’s lips.  He turned back to their friends and held up his glass. “I wanna make a toast to my beautiful wife, without whom my life would be somehow empty and incomplete. Thank you, Genevieve, for making everyday feel like an exhilarating gift and for making me the happiest father-to-be in the world!”

 While Gen fought back tears of emotion, a dumbfounded silence dominated the table. Jaws dropped and eyes went wide on everyone but Stacey, who immediately jumped up from her seat and hugged her best friend. “Oh my God!” she shrieked. “I knew you were keeping something from me! I’m so excited for you! This is just… just… amazing news!” She then hugged John and gave him a peck on the cheek. “Congratulations! You’re gonna be so happy!”

 “Yeah, man, congratulations!” Robby smiled as he enthusiastically clapped his buddy on the back. “Wow, dude! Kids!” he grinned, shaking his head in disbelief. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

 John smiled. “Well, um, thanks… I think.”

 “So when’s the blessed event gonna be?” Josh asked.

 “October,” they replied in unison.

 “October’s a cool month to be born,” Mike winked.

 “So, man, why don’t you stay and hang out a while?” Robby grinned as he refilled his glass. “Drink a toast to fatherhood, or something.”

 John and Gennie took a seat and spent most of the evening laughing and having a great time. When the music began, dancing and more trips to the bar by their friends occasionally punctuated the boisterous good times. It felt odd to Gen to be the one abstaining from all the champagne and drunken merriment, not that she was having any less fun, but she was relieved that aside from the champagne toasts, John had decided to join her in her tee totaling effort tonight.

 As the evening wore on, friends and family dwindled considerably as they and their kids tired and returned home to tuck in sleepy heads. The party, however, raged on at the table of friends and would have continued into the wee hours of the morning, were it not for a bride who pleaded sleepiness not long after midnight.

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