My Fairy Godmonster (20 page)

Excitement bubbles inside me. John and I wait
our turn.

Mr. Dudley proudly takes Claire’s arm. “You
look beautiful, my dear. Are you ready, Erminia?”

Mrs. Dudley hands a small paper to Claire. “I
want you to have this.”

Claire tucks it in the top of her dress and
asks, “What is it?”

“Your real mother’s address.”

“Oh.” Glory spreads on Claire’s face. She
kisses her mom’s cheek. “You’ll always be my real mother.”

Weasel’s eyes shine with tears, then glitter
black. She adds, “I don’t ever want to discuss this again.” She
takes Claire’s other arm.

Claire tells them, “Thank you, both. For
everything. I couldn’t have a more wonderful wedding.”

Fairy Godmonster swishes past us in a slinky
purple dress.

I freeze.

“Caught your shoe, Cinderella?” whispers
John.

Then I remember, I’m the only one who can see
her now. “Er, no. I’m fine.”

Fairy Godmonster grins as we walk past
her.

It takes five minutes to weave our way around
the benches to the wedding heart. Joey drags the ring pillow and
almost runs away before he hands the pillow to John.

The rest of the ceremony is kind of like a
beautiful dream: the floating music, the sunset reflecting off the
glittering lights in the garden, the magic that makes the angel
sculpture look real.

When we pass Jac, her
expression of surprise is worth it.
How am
I going to explain my transformation to her?

I’m glad I have John’s arm to hold onto when
we turn a corner and see the bridal couple. I almost lose it until
I see the photographer hidden behind the lilacs, videotaping. He’s
such a bouncy little man that I almost burst out laughing.

Dad swipes away a tear when he sees me. I
imagine Mom standing next to him, and my heart swells with joy.

I hold Claire’s bouquet when needed. John
hands the rings to David. They speak their heartfelt vows and I
feel tears well up in my eyes. I blink fast ‘cause no way am I
going to ruin my mascara.

Reverend Hawkins pronounces them husband and
wife. David kisses Claire gently. I catch Scott staring at me and
my whole body tingles.

“It is my great pleasure to introduce Mr. and
Mrs. David Smith,” announces the Reverend.

The look on their faces makes me hope for
that kind of love in my life someday.

We follow them down the aisle to the standing
applause of the guests.

Fairy Godmonster gives me a ‘claws up’ when I
pass her.

Hurrying to the large tent, we stand in a
pre-arranged line to receive the guests. The photographer zips
around, lights flashing.

Scott peeks across his brother in the line.
“Don’t forget. You promised to dance with me.”

“I’ll check my dance card,” I tease. My heart
thumps like galloping horses.

I hear a guest’s shrill voice near the front
of the reception line. ”Erminia, outstanding wedding. Especially on
such short notice.”

I lean forward to see a tall woman drenched
in pearls. Her purple hair highlights the folds of wrinkles in her
pig face. She looks down her nose at Weasel.

Weasel stiffens and smiles through her teeth.
“I’m surprised you didn’t guess, Bledsoe. The garden dictated that
we have the wedding while the lilacs are blooming.”

“How very fortunate,” says the pig lady.

Did the pig lady insinuate that Claire is
pregnant? What is it with these people? I

never want to learn how to
sound
sweet while stabbing somebody in the
back.

The pig lady reaches me and shakes my hand.
I’m surprised at her firm grip. “Smart young lady,” she says. “Blue
is the best color for redheads.”

She swishes away and I start shaking hands
with Mr. and Mrs. Garcia and her family. It’s a relief to see some
familiar faces.

When Jac shakes my hand, she says, “You are
going to tell me everything.”

“Having fun?” Fairy Godmonster whispers in my
ear.

I jump and bite my tongue. “Would you stop
doing that?” I whisper between my teeth.

The photographer snaps my picture. Great. He
scurries around the tent.

“I wonder if I’ll be in the picture?” asks
Fairy Godmonster, holding a glass of

champagne.

“You’re kidding, right?” I whisper.

Her eyes flash. She purrs, “I love champagne.
It tickles.”

John says to me, “Why are you so jumpy now
that the wedding is over?”

Fairy Godmonster snickers and disappears.

“Just tired,” I say.

Everyone finally gets through the reception
line.

The Dudley’s escort some of their friends to
the dining tables. They must be very important in Boston. Most of
the their guests and relatives flew in and hired limousines for the
drive to our house. We only have friends from town and Dad’s
business associates since Mom and Dad were both only children.

Weasel deserves credit for a beautiful
wedding and reception. Imagine a sit-down dinner for two hundred
people. I look for my name at the head table and sit. Scott
rearranges his name and sits beside me.

“Don’t let Mrs. Dudley see you,” I warn.

He smiles. “She won’t make a scene in front
of all these people.” He raises his nose in the air. In a proper
British accent he adds, “Have to keep up appearances you know.”

We laugh together.

After a dozen toasts, we are served a prime
rib dinner fit for a king.

Thousands of tiny lights brighten the tent as
the dark night closes around the party. We are eating cake and some
kind of whipped ice cream when a sudden whoosh of wind splatters
the dessert all over Daria.

“Eeekkkk!” she screams. Pieces of cake and
ice cream drip down her face.

I hear a roar overhead. Fairy Godmonster revs
the Harley, laughing. The exhaust pipe blows more cake on
Daria.

“Mommyyyy!” she screams.

Everyone stops talking and looks over at
Daria.

“Ssh, Daria,” says Weasel. “We have guests.
Please go to your room and change.”

I giggle. Daria glares at me and stomps into
the house.

When everything is cleared off the tables,
the orchestra begins playing dance music. David and Claire start
the first waltz. After a few minutes, Scott smiles at me. “Your
turn.”

He stands up and pulls back my chair. Taking
my hand, he leads me to the dance floor. You know when they talk
about a guy sweeping a girl off her feet? It’s totally true. We’re
so close, I can smell the pine scent of his cologne. We dance as
one. Chills

bubble through me.

“Where did you learn how to dance?” I ask
breathlessly.

“Mom. She thought every guy should know
how.”

“You?” he asks.

“My Fa-friend,” I say.

He blurts out, “I have a surprise for you.
I’ve been trying to decide the best time to tell you. I hope you’ll
like it.”

Chapter 29: Exit

“What is it?” I can’t imagine a surprise from
Scott.

He laughs and whirls me around the dance
floor.

“Tell me this minute.”

“Your dad hired me for the summer. I get to
stay here. Isn’t that great?” He grins.

My heart does somersaults. Visions of long
horseback rides zip through my mind.

I smile. “I don’t know. You’ll have to learn
how to shovel manure better.”

Scott laughs. “Fine. I’ll shovel manure.
Thought I’d stick around, so you don’t get lonely without the
brat.”

I step on his foot. “Oops. “Sorry.”

He smiles down at me, “Maybe you’ll have to
learn how to dance better.”

“Good idea.” I laugh.

Mr. Dudley taps Scott on the shoulder. “May I
cut in? I’ll only be a moment. I want to talk with Winifred before
I leave tomorrow.”

What could Mr. Dudley want to say to me?

He dances me away, light on his feet for
someone so meaty. “I’m sorry Daria tripped you.”

I look at him in surprise.

“Claire told me all about it.” Mr. Dudley
says. “Although I must say, your makeup covers the cut well. I’ll
pay all expenses if you need plastic surgery.”

“Thank you,” I say in a tiny voice.

He continues, “Daria will be dealt with when
we return home. I know it hasn’t been easy for you to cope with
Mrs. Dudley. Especially in your own home. You handled it well and
worked hard. When you graduate from high school, I want to give you
a full scholarship to the college of your choice.”

I’m speechless.

He continues. “Knowing your father, I imagine
he will put up resistance to the idea of my paying for your higher
education.” Mr. Dudley smiles down at me. “I hope you can convince
him.”

“Thanks, Mr. Dudley. I’ll try.”

“I have no doubt you will succeed in any
endeavor you put your mind to. I want to thank you, young
lady.”

Mr. Dudley frowns and adds, “I realize that I
have neglected my job as a father, as well as the social education
of my youngest daughter.”

John taps on Mr. Dudley’s shoulder. “May I
cut in?”

Mr. Dudley smiles. “Of course. Thank you,
Winifred.”

I dance in a daze.

“You okay?” asks John.

“Better than that.” I smile.

“My flight leaves later tonight,” he says. “I
have to go.”

Realizing how much John feels like family, I
hug him. “I’ll miss you.” I tease, “Especially in the stable.”

John laughs. “I don’t think you’ll mind my
replacement.”

My cheeks get hot. “Good luck with the bar
exams.”

“Thanks,” he smiles. “I’m really going to
miss it here. Take care of my brother and don’t let him slack
off.”

The song ends.
I reluctantly say goodbye to John. He hugs David
and Claire, shakes my dad’s hand and makes his way to the house
with Scott.

Jac hurries over to me. “When can you come
over and tell me everything?”

“I’m not sure. Give me a couple of days after
everyone leaves and I’ll call you.”

“Promise.”

I laugh. “I promise.”

Jac’s dad leads her away for a dance.

David comes up behind me. “May I have the
honor of a dance?” He pulls me onto the dance floor.

I don’t say anything, feeling as awkward as
when he first arrived home a month ago.

“Thank you, Win. For everything.”

Surprised, I look into his face.

He continues, “I haven’t been much of a big
brother since I got home. Been too wrapped up in what I wanted to
do. I’m sorry I didn’t come to talk with you after the disaster
with the wedding heart.”

“It’s okay,” I croak.

“No, it isn’t. I know you wouldn’t do such a
thing, but I didn’t support you. I’m sorry.”

“You can make it up to me.” I grin.

He laughs. “I should have known you’d think
of some way to get back at me. All right. Out with it.”

“Make Claire happy.”

Speechless, he gazes into my eyes. “You
really have grown up this summer.”

“I mean it, David. She deserves to be happy.
Promise.”

“I promise.”

“You haven’t even told me where you’re going
on your honeymoon,” I say.

“Her mother wanted to send us to Paris.
Claire insisted that we would decide where we wanted to go and her
mom backed down. We both love the ocean. Claire hasn’t seen the
Pacific. We rented a secluded cottage in Cannon Beach that’s right
next to the ocean.”

“Cool. There are so many things to do there
with the galleries, recreation …”

He interrupts me, eyes twinkling. “I imagine
we’ll keep ourselves busy.”

I blush as the song ends. How stupid can I
get?

Claire joins us. David asks her, “Ready to
leave?”

“I can’t wait. Thank you for everything,
Winifred,” she says hugging me.

“See you after your honeymoon.”

David claims the orchestra’s microphone.
“We’d like to thank all of you for coming. You have made this day
one Claire and I will never forget.”

After the applause, David continues, “All
eligible females and males please line up for the bouquet and
garter throwing.”

Scott comes up behind me and takes my hand. I
can’t begin to describe the sensations in my mind and body. I
thought they would go away, but they keep growing stronger.

“Don’t you want to catch the bouquet?” he
asks.

“No way. I don’t want to get married.”

“Never?” he asks looking into my eyes.

I can hardly breathe. “I haven’t
decided.”

Scott laughs and hands me a silk flower.

“What’s this for?”

“It’s filled with birdseed. You hang on to
the stem and toss it at the bride and groom. The petals open, and
out come the seeds.”

“How do you know this stuff?” I ask.

“Some people pay attention instead of
cleaning houses, birthing horses and getting into trouble.” His
eyes twinkle.

Bouquet and garter throwing over, we toss
birdseed at David and Claire. When they leave, I’m so happy for
them that I hardly notice the slight twinge in my heart.

Scott says, “Can I get you some punch?”

“Please.”

Dad comes up behind me. “You look as
beautiful as your mother.” He takes a small box from his pocket. “I
want you to have this. It belonged to her.”

My world stops. I gaze into his eyes.

Holding my breath, I open the lid. Inside is
a sparkling diamond ring.

I gasp.

“I hope you don’t mind if I keep the wedding
band,” he adds.

“Thank you,” I whisper. I slip it on my
finger in reverence. It sparkles into my heart.

“I should have told you about your mother a
long time ago. Can you ever forgive me?” He holds his arms out,
pain and longing crossing his face.

I rush into his arms, holding back the tears.
When my Dad hugs me, his arms open

as wide as the world and close me safely
inside. Heaven.

“
When our company leaves,
I’ll tell you anything you want to know about your mom.
Okay?”