Twilight's Child (Cutler 3)

"I can't wait to get out of here," I whispered, "and be on our honeymoon."

He brightened and kissed me softly. Then Sissy brought Christie to us, and we took her out on the dance floor and held her between us as we danced and enjoyed the music.

Philip returned to tell me that Randolph had fallen asleep on the sofa in his office.

"I didn't have the heart to wake him," he said.

"Maybe it is for the best," I admitted.

Suddenly the band stopped playing and the emcee came to the microphone.

"Many of you know," he began, "that our beautiful bride is a very talented singer. Perhaps we can coax her into coming up here and singing at her own wedding."

"Oh, no," I cried. But the guests all cheered. I looked helplessly at Jimmy and Trisha.

"Go ahead," he said.

"Yes, show them what a Sarah Bernhardt student can do," Trisha added excitedly.

"Oh, Jimmy . . ." Reluctantly, I let myself be led to the microphone. The band waited for instructions. I remembered an old love song Momma Longchamp used to hum sometimes. To my surprise, the band knew it, too. They started playing, and I began.

"I'm confessing that I love you . . ."

The guests grew quite attentive. Many swayed to the melody. When I was finished there was thunderous applause. I looked at Jimmy and saw him beaming with pride. To his right Bronson Alcott sat staring at me with a wide smile. Mother fluttered about, accepting congratulations from everyone near her. I hurried back to Jimmy's side.

Shortly afterward the wedding cake was wheeled out, and Jimmy and I had to go down to do the traditional cutting. Once again our guests applauded, and the waiters and waitresses began taking pieces of the cake around to the different tables.

The dinner and the dancing lasted well into the early evening. I was so tired from the excitement and from getting up so early, I was frankly glad to see it coming to an end. Mother, who often cried and moaned over doing such simple things as brushing her own teeth, seemed to have endless energy. She fed on all the attention she was receiving, especially the male attention, and tried to talk people out of leaving when they came to say good-bye.

"But it's so early!" she exclaimed.

Gradually, though, the guests began to thin out until there were just a dozen or so remaining. Mr. Updike, Mr. Dorfman and Bronson Alcott were the last to go.

Jimmy and I were all packed for our honeymoon. We had our plane tickets, and the hotel car was set to take us to the airport after we both changed. I helped Sissy put Christie to bed, explaining to her that Momma would be away for a while and asking her to be a good girl for Sissy. She seemed to understand, for she hugged me tighter than usual and kissed me longer.

"Don't you worry none, Dawn," Sissy said. "I'll take good care of her."

"I know you will, Sissy. Thank you."

"You was a beautiful bride," she said, tears coming to her eyes.

"You will be one, too, Sissy."

She smiled, and we hugged. Jimmy had already gotten our bags down and was waiting in the lobby. On my way to meet him I met Mother, struggling to get herself up the stairs.

"I'm so tired," she said. "I'm going to sleep a week."

"Thank you, Mother," I said. "It was a wonderful wedding." Once again, I had to give the devil her due. She beamed.

"It was, wasn't it?"

"All except for Randolph," I said. "I do hope you will look after him now," I added. Her smile withered.

"Please," she said. "Don't remind me." She pulled herself past me, moaning about her feet. I bounced down the rest of the stairway and rushed out to join Jimmy. Trisha, who was going to ride to the airport with us, was waiting beside him at the door.

As I started across the lobby Philip, who was leaning against the reception counter, stepped forward.

"Have a good time," he said.