Mrs. Needleman said a few more words, but Rick hardly heard them. He was too focused on his brides beautiful face, on those delightful lips that hed be privileged to kiss for the rest of his days.
He truly thought he heard Mrs. Needleman say he could kiss the bride, so he did. As soon as his mouth landed on Josies, the laughter erupted all around him, Teenys guffaw the loudest. Rick popped up his head in embarrassment.
Who am I to stand in loves way? Mrs. Needleman said with a dramatic shrug. Go and be joyous. Know you are protected and blessed in your union.
So thats it? Rick asked, to more laughter, including his wifes. This wasnt going as smoothly as hed planned, but then again, the fact that he was getting married at all was a surprise. A surprise of the sweetest kind.
So can I kiss her now? Rick whispered. Mrs. Needleman nodded and Rick dove into his love, his wife, his life. A moment later, they were walking across the lawn hand in hand to cheers and hoots. Bea let loose with one of her Superdome-worthy whistles.
After the bride and groom spent an hour or so eating wedding cake and sipping champagne with their guests, Rick escorted Josie to the Harley.
It was parked at the top of the lane, festooned with white sparkly streamers. While the guests took their places along both sides of the road, Rick helped Josie gather her skirts and straddle the back of the bike. He fastened the helmet under her chin and kissed her nose. They might only be cruising to the end of the dirt road, where their white stretch limousine waited, but he would take no chances.
Rick didnt miss the irony: They were headed to the North Pole via Finland, then Rus sia, and a week at sea on a nuclear-powered icebreaker, yet, for him, this short motorcycle ride would be the most difficult leg of the journey.
You want to try this with me? Josie asked.
More than anything.
She smiled at him. I have a feeling its going to be a grand adventure.
Rick kissed her quickly and put on his own helmet. Her arms reached around his middle as he revved up the Harley engine. Under a shower of flower petals and best wishes, Rick and Josie rode off into their future, moving at a cautious fifteen miles an hour.
Gloria Needleman rested her head against the back of a wicker porch chair, propped her feet on a matching stool, and adjusted an uncomfortable twist in her support hose. She closed her eyes. It had been a glorious dayone of the most delightfully tender ceremonies shed ever officiatedbut, without a doubt, Josie and Ricks wedding was not the end of this assignment. It was just the beginning. /Im getting too old for this drek,/ Gloria thought, sighing.
Fifty bucks says shes pregnant in a year.
Giggles erupted from Josies friends when the oldest one, Beatrice, made that observation, which was likely correct.
Gloria cracked open an eye just enough to study the women undetected.
They sat not more than fifteen feet away on the front porch of the main house, the late afternoon sun casting a golden glow over them, their matching dresses fluttering in the breeze from the ceiling fan. Their shoes were off. Their faces were happy and relaxed.
It amused Gloria how these women thought it was a coincidence that theyd befriended each other at the newspaper and stayed together all these years despite their obvious differences. Gloria knew better. She knew that people entered your life to help you learn the lessons you needed to learn, and Josie and her friends were no exception.
Wrong again, Bea, said the dark-haired beauty named Roxanne. I say itll be nine months to the day. Just watch.
Gloria shook her head imperceptibly. This Roxanne had driven them all to the ranch yesterday in a car advertising that she vomited on all men. It said so right on her bumper sticker! The girl thought she had it all figured outat the age of twenty-eight, no less. Oy! Was this one ever in for a shock!
The gorgeous Ginger chimed in next, and Gloria watched as she stretched out a pair of legs that went from here to forever, as the men back in her day would say. But goodness, the womans bridesmaid dress was tight!
It was a wonder she could breathe!
I dont care when it happens for Josie, just so long as it does, Ginger said, pulling at the sleeveless bodice of the dress. Today was so romantic it almostIm saying /almost/makes me willing to believe in love again!
Gloria chuckled to herself. The comely Ginger wouldnt know romance if it bit her in the tuchus. Which it was about to do. The dear girl was so afraid of being over the hill that, if she wasnt careful, she would miss her chance to be over the moon.
I bet I know what made you a believer, Bea said, with enough of an edge that Gloria knew a punch line was coming. Casanova the cameraman!
Excuse me? Ginger sat up straighter.
Roxanne nodded. Your gawking radiated so much heat I worried the wedding party would spontaneously combust.
Ginger eyed Roxanne with suspicion. Really? What about you and the new puppy head-peeper Rick invited here today? You two sure got chummy real fast.
That was business, Roxanne said, pulling back her shoulders. Eli is a pet behaviorist and hes going to help me with Liliths aggression issues.
It was business for me, too, Ginger said. Lucio is going to take a portrait of me and HeatherLynn.
Fine, Roxanne said.
Wonderful, Ginger said, draining her drink. Does anyone know if theyre still serving mimosas?
Gloria giggled. Roxanne and Ginger were less prepared than most shed dealt with. The women had been hurt so badly that theyd become resistant to enchantment. They were skeptics at a time when embracing the mystery would come in handy. The stumbling block for Roxanne was anger. For Ginger, it was fear. And from the beginning of time, anger and fear had been loves most formidable foes.
Not that there was any way to prepare for meeting your beloved, Gloria knew. There was no training for that sort of thing. It happened once in a lifetimeand that was if you were very, very lucky. Or had help.
In a nutshell, thats why she couldnt retire. Not quite yet.
Mrs. Needleman, did you fall asleep? Do you want to go to your room and rest a little before dinner?
Gloria opened both eyes to the vision of Beatrices concerned face. It was a kind face. It was a wise face. It was the face of a smart-ass who couldnt keep her nose out of other peoples affairs.
No wonder Gloria liked her.
Help me up, dear, she said. Bea was so strong she nearly shot-putted Gloria over the porch railing and into the gardens below.
Sorry, Bea said.
No worries. Gloria patted her arm, thinking now was as good a time as any for Beas first lesson. Finesse, Beatrice. The more subtle your intercession, the better. Keep that in mind.
Uh, okay, sure. Bea took Glorias elbow and helped her down the back steps, past the kitchen entrance, and down the walkway to her first-floor guest room.
Once the women made sure Gloria was settled, they told her theyd come by in three hours to take her to dinner. When Josies friends turned to leave, Gloria tapped Ginger on the shoulder.
Yes? Ginger asked, smiling.
It broke Glorias heart that a woman as pretty and good-hearted as Ginger had spent the majority of her adulthood with the wrong man. A real /schnegegi,/ shed heard. It happened more often than anyone dared admit, and, in Glorias opinion, it was one of the greatest of human tragedies.
But in Gingers case, the problem was fixable.
My dear girl, could you stay a moment? Gloria asked in her sweetest old-lady voice. Theres a little something Id like to discuss with you.