8:02 p.m.—I have to sit down.
8:05 p.m.—Grandmère and Vigo in deep consultation. They seem to have realized that neither the bride nor the groom have shown up.
8:07 p.m.—Amber Valetta whispers that if we don’t get a move on, she’s going to be late for a dinner engagement with Hugh Grant.
8:10 p.m.—A hush falls over the guests as my father, looking excessively princely in his tux (in spite of his bald head) strides to the front of the White and Gold Room. John Tesh stops playing.
8:11 p.m.—My father makes the following announcement:
Father: I want to thank all of you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to come here tonight. Unfortunately, the wedding between Helen Thermopolis and Frank Gianini will not take place . . . at least, not this evening. The happy couple have given us the slip, and this morning they flew to Cancun, where I understand they plan to be married by a justice of the peace.
[A shriek is heard from the far side of the baby grand. It does not appear to have come from John Tesh, but rather, Grandmère.]
Father: You are of course urged to join us in the Grand Ballroom for dinner. And thank you again for coming.
[Father strides off. Bewildered guests gather their belongings and go in search of cocktails. No sound whatsoever is heard from behind baby grand.]
Me: (to no one in particular) Mexico! They must be crazy. If my mother drinks the water, my future brother or sister will be born with flippers for feet!
Amber: Don’t worry, my friend Heather got pregnant in Mexico, and she drank the water, and she just gave birth to twins.
Me: And they had dorsal fins coming out of their backs, didn’t they?
8:20 p.m.—John Tesh begins to play. At least until Grandmère barks, “Oh, shut up!”
What the letter from my mother said:
Dear Mia,
By the time you read this, Frank and I will be married. I am sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner, but when your grandmother asks you if you knew (and she will ask you), I wanted to be sure you could say truthfully that you didn’t, so there won’t be any ill feeling between the two of you.
[Ill feeling between Grandmère and me? Who does she think she’s kidding? There’s nothing but ill feeling between us!
Well, as far I’m concerned, anyway.]
More than anything, Frank and I wanted you to be there for our wedding. So we have decided that when we get back, we’re going to have another ceremony: This one will be kept strictly secret and very private, with just our little family and our friends!
[Well, that certainly should be interesting. Most of my mom’s friends are militant feminists or performance artists. One of them likes to stand up on a stage and pour chocolate syrup all over her naked body while reciting poetry.
I wonder how they are going to get along with Mr. G’s friends, who I understand like to watch a lot of sports.]
You have been a tower of strength during this crazy time, Mia, and I want you to know how much I—as well as your father, and stepfather—appreciate it. You are the best daughter a mother could have, and this new little guy (or girl) is the luckiest baby in the world to have you as a big sister.
Missing you already—
Mom
Friday, October 31, 9 p.m.
I am in shock. I really am.
Not because my mom and my Algebra teacher eloped. That’s kind of romantic, if you ask me.
No, it’s the fact that my dad—my dad—helped them to do it. He actually defied his mother. In a BIG way.
In fact, because of all this, I’m starting to think my dad isn’t scared of Grandmère at all! I think he just doesn’t want to be bothered. I think he just feels it’s easier to go along with her than to fight her, because fighting her is so messy and exhausting.
But not this time. This time, he put his foot down.