Christmas Wedding (12 page)

“
Do you really think I’ve got a chance?” Scarlett asked, her green eyes shining with hope.

Nelda surprised us all by giving her a big smile. “You do if I say so. Cameron may think he has connections, but he doesn’t know who I know.” She grinned wickedly. “It’s in the bag.”

I studied her. Had I just witnessed a miracle?

Binkie lifted the champagne bottle. “Let me refill your glass, Nelda. We’re pulling out all the stops tonight. Put my name on your dance card because right after I dance with my bride, I am dancing with you.”

21

At Airlie Road, we turned right, passed Airlie Gardens, and then just before we reached the waterway, we pulled into Melanie’s private driveway and parked on the circle in front of the hunting lodge. Guests were arriving and filling the spaces around the circle. Two young valets sprang forward, taking keys and moving the cars into the field.

Our little party moved into the lodge to form a receiving line in the vestibule while from the drawing room came the flow of spirited music. The rest of the wedding party, the bridesmaids and groomsmen, surged inside after us. Everyone was talking at once.

Kiki hugged me. “You done good, kid,” she said in her Bronx accent. Ray was at her side, but only for a moment, because as soon as he saw Scarlett he was off and running like a bird dog.

“
Love is in the air,” Kiki said.

“
Love? Scarlett?” I asked.

“‘
Course, Scarlett. What did you think? The woman’s a class act. And any sister of yours is a sister of mine.” And with that she let out a whoop and a holler and grabbed Melanie in a bear hug and waltzed her around, all the while knowing that Melanie would get flustered and that Melanie was in awe of her and that was a first!

The attendants formed the receiving line with us: the bridesmaids in their pretty red dresses, the groomsmen in tuxedoes.

The guests streamed in and for the next thirty minutes I received hugs, kisses, handshakes, and best wishes. Every so often I’d steal a glance at Jon and he’d look back at me, and we exchanged almost disbelieving looks. We did it! We are married!

Then it was time for the bridal couples to be presented. We paused at the entrance to the drawing room, and the DJ announced: “Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time, may I present Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Jordan and Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Campbell.”

Our guests applauded as a ceremonial piper dressed in a tartan skirt and playing a bagpipe piped the Scottish Campbell’s and Cameroons into the reception.

“
The bride and groom’s dance,” the DJ announced. I moved into Jon’s arms as the music played “our” song, Etta James singing “At Last.”

The music segued into “What a Wonderful World” with Louis Armstrong singing, and Binkie, Aunt Ruby, Nelda and Granny Campbell joined us on the dance floor. We shared dance partners, cut in on each other, laughed and loved.

Our guests moved out onto the dance floor as the music flowed into “I’ve Got the World on a String” sung by Frank Sinatra.

“
Look, Jon,” I said, indicating Ray and Scarlett. “They are dancing like lovers. Holding each other the way we do.”

Jon said, “So it was Scarlett you were seeing. Not Melanie. She was telling the truth all along.”

“
And I didn’t believe her. I feel so guilty.”

“
Well, don’t. Melanie’s history would lead anyone to believe what we were thinking. Ray and Scarlett. I like that idea. Logical that he would go for her when she looks so much like Melanie. He is attracted to that type.”

“
And you? What type are you attracted to?” I asked with a laugh.

“
Just wait a few hours. You are going to feel my attraction,” Jon said with a grin.

“
Promises, promises,” I laughed.

Wine and water were being offer to the guests. The DJ said, “Folks, Mrs. Cameron and Mrs. Campbell would like you to join them in the Garden Room. You’ve all been informed about the little ceremony Mrs. Jordan has planned there, and she’s been assured that you are eager to participate in what she calls ‘The Kindness Ceremony’.”

The guests followed the bridal couples into Melanie’s garden room. The room had been filled with flowers. Melanie stood next to the fountain and I stood at her side.

She began the little speech she had prepared. “My sister Ashley and I, and our darling new husbands, want to thank everyone for coming and for sharing this joyous day with us.”

“
Hear! Hear!” Binkie called.

Melanie smiled. “And now we’ll have our little ceremony and we will trust that a lot of good will come out of it,” she said sweetly. “First we will have the symbolic drought.”

And on cue, one of Elaine’s staff cut off the water fountain. Immediately, the water stopped flowing, the sound of the fountain’s happy splashing was hushed. Then two waiters with towels came out and mopped out the bowls of the fountain.

“
As you know, Ashley and I refused to have a bridal shower and to accept gifts. We have everything we could possibly need. And more. But in many parts of the world, people are in need of the most basic of necessities -- water. In some countries, two out of every three people do not have safe, clean drinking water. So if you will file past and fill these bowls with your gifts of money, the funds we collect today will be sent to the Episcopal Relief and Development Ministry so that wells can be dug and water systems installed in Third World countries.”

She paused and gave everyone one of her heart-stopping smiles. “I know you will give generously and give us the best wedding present we could ever ask for.”

Then we four applauded our guests as the envelopes bulging with money filled the fountain. With laughter and joy, we trooped back to the reception hall for dinner.

While we were gone, the waiters had set out the first course: curried shrimp with melon balls in chilled martini glasses. At every place there were two gift boxes, wrapped in gold paper with red ribbons. Inside were Christmas tree ornaments: white Lennox figurines of a bride and groom, embossed in gold with our names and today’s date, December 22, 2007.

Binkie rose from his place at the head table. The music stopped. He tapped his glass with his fork and a hush fell upon the room.

As I gazed up at him, I thought of how he’d always been there for me. How good he was to me. How he had filled the void in my life after my daddy died. I watched with fondness as the familiar lock of snow white hair fell onto his forehead. I wanted to stand up and kiss his forehead but I promised myself I’d do that later.

“
Thank you all for sharing this joyous day with us. I know it means a lot to Ashley and Melanie to have you here with us. I’ve known these girls for many years. And when you are as old as I am,” he paused to chuckle, “it is not politically incorrect to call women of their age ‘girls’. To me, and to my wife, they have been the daughters we never had. This is the happiest day of their life and, except for the day this lovely lady sitting next to me said yes, it is the happiest of mine.”

He lifted his glass. “Ashley, Jon. Melanie, Cameron. I wish you long life and happiness.”

“
Here Here.” Our guests chanted and toasted us with bubbly.

Endive salad was served next. Not to be outdone, Nelda rose and held her glass aloft dramatically. She still had the ability to command a room and conversation died.

“
It is written, when children find true love, parents find true joy,” she said. “To my son Cameron and his wife, Melanie. And to my son’s new sister- and brother-in-law, Ashley and Jon. Salute!”

For dinner our guests had the choice of a traditional Christmas feast, Beef Wellington with Yorkshire Pudding, or Pasta Primavera. There was roasted green and white asparagus, red and white wine, champagne, and mineral water to go with either.

At one of the round tables, Willie Hudson rose, looking dignified in his tuxedo. His wife of fifty-three years sat at his side. His children and several of his grandchildren who had worked with Jon and me on many restoration projects filled one of the round tables. The little boy who had been our ring bearer sat in his mother’s lap.

“
Blessed is the day the Lord hath made,” Willie said. “And blessed is the day these young people begin life together as newlyweds. My wife, Esther, and I can testify that there is nothing in this world that will buoy you up and keep you strong like a solid, happy marriage. It is the foundation of a good life. That and your church. Those two things and you can withstand just about anything.”

He laughed heartily. “Like finding them dead bodies in just about every house I worked on with Jon and Ashley. Me oh my, but that woman sure has a knack for finding them dead bodies! And for getting us involved with murderers.”

The room filled with laughter. Willie lifted his glass. “Now Jon, it is up to you. You gotta set this woman on a better course. In all seriousness, I wish Ashley and Jon, and Melanie and Cameron, a life as happy as I’ve had with my dear wife, Esther.”

“
Ladies and gentlemen,” the DJ said into the microphone. “The father-daughter dance.”

Rod Stewart’s gravelly voice began to sing, “Have I Told You Lately.” I danced with Binkie. Melanie danced with Aunt Ruby. Cam danced with Nelda. Jon danced with Granny Campbell, towering over her by a foot.

Then we all changed partners, and changed partners again. And finally I was in Jon’s arms. There were others on the dance floor, but with Jon holding me in his arms, there was no one there but us. The room full of people, the waiters, the DJ, the whole world fell away, as time stood still.

Too quickly we were cutting the cake. Jon’s hand covered mine and he said to me so that everyone could hear. “Here’s to the prettiest, here’s to the wittiest, here’s to the truest of all who are true; here’s to the neatest one, here’s to the sweetest one, here’s to them, all in one – here’s to you. Ashley, I’ll always love you.”

On the opposite side of the cake table, Melanie stood with Cam. He had a little speech for her as well. “Happy marriages begin when we marry the one we love, and they blossom when we love the one we married. May our love blossom forever, Melanie dearest.”

We fed each other cake, a symbolic gesture that we would not go hungry in our lives together.

The DJ played one of the songs Jon and I had requested, “Could I Have This Dance” sung by Anne Murray. Jon and I danced and sang the lyrics softly to each.

As the song neared its end, Jon said, “As soon as you toss the bouquet, we are out of here.”

I leaned back in his arms to look up at him and asked in mock surprise. “What? Leave our own wedding reception?”

“
Ashley, this is Melanie’s party. It’s not yours. It’s not mine. Never has been.”

“
Yes, my love, you are right about that. But what about Aunt Ruby and Binkie? They’ll miss us. And Willie. And what about our clothes? We’re in our wedding clothes.”

Jon grinned. “There’s a change of clothes for us in Melanie’s guest room. And your Aunt Ruby packed your suitcases for you. We can make a clean get away.”

“
So they’re in on this too, you scoundrel.”

“
Yes, they are my co-conspirators. We have our own party to begin, Ashley.”

“
Are you finally going to share the big secret with me? Are you going to tell me where we’re going on our honeymoon?”

“
Willie is bringing my car around to the back entrance now. As soon as you toss the bouquet, we’ll change and be on our way to Pinehurst.”

“
Pinehurst. I never would have thought of that. It’s so beautiful there.”

“
Yes, and a short drive. We’ll arrive with plenty of energy and in time for bedtime. That is, I’m feeling very energetic. How about you?”

I brushed his lips with mine. “Surprisingly energetic.”

“
Willie’s right. It’s up to me to set this woman of mine on a better course. To get you away from Wilmington and these murders you are continually stumbling into. There will be no murders to solve in Pinehurst. Just a few rounds of golf, the Carolina Inn, biking into the village. Good food. Lots of snuggling. No murder mysteries.”

“
Yes, darling,” I said agreeably, sounding like a good wife. “No more murder mysteries.”

But in my heart, I knew better.

###

MURDER AT THE BELLAMY MANSION

When Ashley Wilkes, historic preservationist, and her husband, Jon, volunteer to restore the belvedere atop the Bellamy Mansion, they have no idea the restoration project will unleash a rash of bizarre murders. First, their general contractor is wounded by a sharp-shooter from a fifth floor window at the Carolina Apartments. Then a guest dies mysteriously at a fund raiser. And a body is found floating in the old cistern. The police are baffled. If the belvedere is ever to be restored, Ashley will just have to catch the murderer herself and get her project back on schedule. Unless, of course, the murderer catches Ashley first!

“
Hunter juggles her clues efficiently and delivers solid entertainment.” – Star-News, Wilmington NC