Chapter Twelve
Toots had awakened at 5:00 A.M. every single day of the week for as long as she could remember, but today, on her wedding day, she woke up at three o’clock. She had so much to do, she was afraid that she wouldn’t manage to get everything finished in time for the wedding in less than ten hours.
She went downstairs and made a pot of her special coffee. While she waited for it to brew, she stepped outside to smoke her first cigarette of the day. She no longer enjoyed them as much as she once had. Now that she had those two precious grandchildren to consider, she desperately wanted to be around for a long, long time. She wanted very much to watch them grow into fine adults, just like their parents had.
Abby was a terrific mother, and Chris was an excellent father. Garland would be so proud of him. He would’ve adored the twins had he lived. But today was a day for new beginnings, so she didn’t want to dwell on anything that wasn’t in the here and now.
It had been three weeks since Phil proposed to her. Three weeks of pure, happy, goofy bliss. At first, she hadn’t wanted to tell anyone. Adamant that she would never marry again, she feared being judged by those who claimed to love her.
She had been so very wrong. Not only had they not judged her, they were thrilled and happy and excited and fun-loving. Abby and Chris adored Phil, and he adored them. Phil had been there when Abby had been kidnapped and recovered. They’d instantly formed a bond that day.
All the special people in her life were gathering here today to celebrate her and Phil’s promise to share their lives. Toots smiled. But she and Phil weren’t walking down the aisle alone. No sirree.
When Bernice and Robert heard her news, they decided a double wedding was in order. Robert reminded them just how much money they could save by splitting the cost between them. Toots assured him money was no object, but they’d agreed to share some of the expenses. When Daniel and Ida found out that Toots and Phil were tying the knot, they shared some good news of their own. Ida held out a hand, revealing a three-carat diamond. Daniel had proposed to Ida the night after he returned from his conference. And if that weren’t enough, Mavis and Wade had been secretly engaged for the past three months. They explained that they had been waiting for the right time to share their news.
So, here Toots was, over seventy but happier than she’d ever been. John Simpson was the love of her young life. Garland Clay had been the love of her middle years. Phil Becker was the love of her mature life. She had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. Life was good. And it would get even better this afternoon when she and Phil, along with Bernice and Robert, and Mavis and Wade, Ida and Daniel, all walked down the aisle together. Four couples, four best friends finding love once again.
Tears of happiness sprang from her eyes. Joyful, beyond her wildest dreams. She didn’t remember being this happy. Ever.
Toots filled a mug with coffee and took it outside. She sat down on the top step and listened to the early morning sounds. Birds chirped brightly, frogs croaked a tune that only they understood. A slight breeze scented the warm air with gardenia and night-blooming jasmine. Toots breathed in the aromatic steam from her mug of coffee. If only she could, she would bottle this moment in time so she could capture these feelings again. But since that wasn’t possible, she closed her eyes and imprinted the scene on her mind, the smells, the complete serenity. A perfect beginning of her brand-new life.
She could not wait any longer. She had to talk to someone. She went inside and dialed Sophie’s cell phone.
“Happy wedding day,” Sophie said when she picked up the phone. “Are you shaking in your shoes yet?”
“Not at all. I’m so happy, my insides are tingling. And not the kind of tingling you’re thinking either.”
“You have such a dirty mind, you know that?”
“I learned it from you.”
They laughed and agreed that it was true.
“Sophie, do you think I’ve lost my mind? I swore I would never marry again after burying that cheapskate Leland. And here I am doing it all over again.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Toots. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Remember, your husbands all died. It’s not like you divorced them.”
“So that makes it a little better, you think?” Toots asked.
“Absolutely.”
“Okay. I guess I needed to hear that again,” she said.
“You’re not having doubts, are you?”
Toots chuckled. “No, I haven’t had the first doubt, not even an inkling of one.”
“Then you have your answer. Phil is a good man, and he adores you. Plus, he’s about to be a little bit famous. Now think of the fun you two will have.”
“Thanks, Sophie, that’s just what I wanted to hear. Did I ever tell you how special you are to me?” Toots’s eyes pooled.
“Oh shit, don’t start that ball-bagging crap! Yes, you’ve told me a million times how much you love me, and I’ve dittoed it every time. Now go upstairs, wash your face, and take a little nap. The hoopla begins at noon on the dot.”