A Love for All Seasons (24 page)

When I'm Sixty-Four

Docena, Alabama

One year later

“'T
il
death
do us part,” Alicia repeated. Her emphasis on the word “death” made their guests chuckle. She wanted to remind Jack that they would be together the rest of their lives, grow old together…and that he'd better not even think about leaving her. He'd walked out on her once. She'd see to it that he'd never do it again.

A few minutes later they sealed their vows with a kiss to raucous applause. All of Jack's nieces and nephews were present, with the youngest two serving as flower girl and ring bearer. Jack suggested that little Fletch fill the latter role, but Alicia pointed out that at not yet four he was still a little young to handle the spotlight. Besides, she said, the logistics wouldn't work. She and Jack decided to be married in the small church in Jack's hometown, where his family had worshipped for generations. Alicia attended services there on her first trip to Docena with Jack and immediately fell in love with the well-tended country church with huge oak trees on both sides and a cemetery containing the graves of former parishioners about twenty yards away. She knew that Daphne would never consent to traveling to Alabama, which she regarded as a totally unsophisticated place. Besides, Daphne was now five months pregnant with her second child, which gave her an ideal excuse for skipping the festivities.

Alicia hadn't even been upset when Martha confided that Daphne commented, “Who the hell takes a dog on a honeymoon?” It sounded like such a typical Daphne observation.

It delighted Alicia to be part of a family again. Because she had moved back to the family home she and Daphne did see each other, but they had little to say, behaving mostly like polite neighbors. Alicia spent most of her time with Jack in his condo in Stamford, and when they returned from their leisurely cross-country drive that would be their honeymoon she would officially move in.

They wouldn't leave on their trip until Monday morning, after rush hour ended. They wanted to spend the next day enjoying their guests. Her new sisters-inlaw, Felice and Donna, were holding a brunch tomorrow for the family and close friends that would probably last into the afternoon. Monday they would say goodbye to Jack's parents, pick up Lucky, who stayed with them and had made friends with their pet Dachshund, and hit the road from there.

The ceremony over, the newly married couple stood in the back of the church to receive their guests. They had done away with the customary bride's guests on the left and groom's guests on the right because the majority of the guests had been invited by the Devlin family.

Alicia did feel fairly well represented. Most of the people who counted the most in her life had booked travel to Birmingham, staying at the Wyndham Tutweiler Hotel, where the reception would be held. One by one she greeted the guests, many of whom she met for the first time. She graciously accepted their good wishes and thanked those who told her she made a beautiful bride. She wore a simple sleeveless white chiffon dress and white sandals, with a short veil, in line with her nature of not liking anything fussy. But she was happiest when she saw familiar faces: Her good friend Jenny Walters, Shannon and her new lawyer boyfriend, Pete and Rhonda, who'd left their nearly year-old son in the care of his grandparents, and most of all, the entire Lewis family.

She cried happy tears as she embraced Martha and Marvin. “I can't tell you how happy I am to see all of you,” she said. “If there was anyone I wanted to be here in that first pew, it was you.” Their son Tyrone, a recent high school graduate about to begin his freshman year at U. Conn, pretended not to notice the stares of the teenage girls in attendance, while Melody, just promoted to senior, seemed transfixed by it all, probably imagining her own future wedding day.

Martha and Marvin had remained at the guest house in Green's Farms, and Martha continued her role as cook and chief housekeeper. Daphne hadn't made life as difficult for Martha as Alicia feared she might, perhaps motivated by the prospect of having to reach into her own pocket to pay the property taxes. Martha reported that it wasn't the pleasantest working environment she'd ever had, but it was bearable. But already she and Marvin had discussed moving on. Marvin had spoken to the corporate office about relocating to the Mid-Atlantic area, perhaps Delaware or Pennsylvania, after Melody finished high school next year. Melody planned to attend U. Conn with her brother Tyrone, and Martha didn't want to be too far away from them. “But it's time for Marvin and I to live in a house of our own, preferably in an area where we can see ourselves living the rest of our lives. Because of your parents' kindness to us, we're pretty well fixed.”

“I'm happy for you, Martha.”

 

While the reception went on around them with old school music and dancing, the newlyweds, who had no bridal party and skipped the traditional dais, found themselves sitting alone at their table. The other occupants, Jack's parents, Pete and Rhonda, and the Lewis family, were all dancing. Jack leaned over and said, “Where do you see us five years from now, Alicia?”

She thought for a few moments. “Five years from now. By then you'll probably be a VP, and we would have sold the condo and bought a house. I'll probably be tired of trying to hide the fact that I don't live in my apartment anymore, so I see myself giving it up and letting the landlord charge a new tenant the market rate. I'm sure I'll still be part owner of the stenography service with Shannon. I see us driving out to visit Pete and Rhonda, wherever they decide to settle down.” The Robinsons, still living in Alicia's Upper West Side studio with their small son, had begun house hunting throughout the greater metropolitan area and hoped to be moved in by the holidays.

He kissed the back of her hand. “I don't know about that part about my making VP, but I appreciate your optimism. Anything else?”

“Let's see…I want to get down here at least once a year to visit the family, maybe start a tradition of having your family up to Connecticut for Christmas. It's so beautiful there in the cold and the snow. And I want to see Martha, wherever she and Marvin end up. She's my true sister, Jack.”

“I agree. Anything else?”

She looked at him, instinct telling her he was hinting at something but not knowing exactly what. “Like what?”

“Do you think there'll be more than just two of us living in that house you're so sure we'll have?”

She broke into a grin. “Of course, Jack. I think of us starting a family well before five years from now. I think it's great how Pete and Rhonda took time for themselves before starting a family, but you and I don't have that luxury. I'll be thirty-seven in December, and you'll be thirty-nine. We don't want to be too old to play with our kids.”

“I'm looking forward to having fun with little Ben.”

Her eyes misted. “What was that?”

“If we have a boy, I always assumed you'd want to name him Benjamin, after your father.”

“I did think about it,” she said, “but it seemed premature to mention it. Would you really be willing to do that for me, Jack?”

“He was your father, Alicia. He loved you as much as I do. I can be as jealous as the next guy, I guess, but not of him. I know that if it wasn't for him you and I might not be sitting here as husband and wife.”

She nodded. “I think you're right, Jack.”

He kissed the back of her hand. “Don't go getting morose on me. A good life awaits us, Alicia.” He looked out of the window at the sunny, clear day. “I'm glad we got married in the spring. It was spring when I got that first quick glimpse of you.”

“Dozens of springs, summers, falls, and winters. And I'll be with you through every one of them.”

He leaned in for a quick kiss, and even with their eyes closed they saw the flash of camera bulbs going off. They broke apart and smiled wide for the cameras that captured the moment for posterity.

 

Alicia blinked away happy tears. She hadn't expected to see everyone at her in-law's home. She and Jack said good-bye yesterday afternoon when they left his sister Donna's house, the site of their brunch. They'd all surprised her and Jack by being there when they made their last stop before getting on the road. Alicia didn't even mind saying goodbye to everyone a second time. She would never be afraid to feel love for anyone again.

Daphne might have called her “an orphaned little nobody,” but that name had no truth to it. She'd been born to parents who loved her, despite their youth and poverty. Her father worked hard for them and had been willing to fight for them. Her mother, perhaps a little frustrated and feeling life would pass her by, nonetheless died out of a wish to protect her.

Alicia might have had a miserable childhood in foster care. Instead she'd been adopted by a well-to-do couple who'd sought her out and given her every advantage. Being born was great, but being chosen was every bit as special. So what if her new father went a little overboard in his enthusiasm when a natural child was born to them three years later? He'd loved her in his own way.

And then there was her dear new mother, Caroline, who always looked out for her best interests, to the point of arguing with the husband she adored.

Alicia's eyes grew misty. She'd been more fortunate than most. Her parents were all gone now, and she had little to do with her so-called sister, but she had Martha and her longtime friends. And she had Jack…her husband.

With his help, she'd met her memories head-on, had triumphed, and now she'd became a member of a large, loving family. The children she and Jack would have would know where they came from and feel part of something. She could practically feel the love as she hugged each person goodbye.

She turned back to look at them all and wave, her hand high as Jack drove away, one hand resting on the back of Lucky's head. The dog, his upper body resting on the center console, made a whining sound in his throat, indicating contentment.

“Attaboy, Lucky,” she said. “Daphne might think it's ridiculous to bring you with us on our honeymoon, but I'd never want to drive cross country without you.”

“Good thing he doesn't get car sick,” Jack quipped. He took his eyes off the road for a second to smile at her. The dark eyes were covered by sunglasses, as were her own, but she knew what expression they held.

Love.

Alicia closed her eyes to enjoy the feel of the wind on her face. That orphaned little nobody had become one lucky woman. She now set off with her new husband and their dog on a cross country trip with three long weeks to see the sights. Jack had been right when he predicted that a great life awaited them.

Her parents would be so happy for her.

All four of them.

H
e opened the champagne with a loud pop, then poured two glasses' worth. He raised his glass to her. “Happy birthday, Alicia.”

“Happy birthday, Jack.”

They clicked glasses and sipped, their eyes never leaving each other's face. “Funny,” she whispered. “All of a sudden I'm not hungry anymore.”

“I am, but not for chocolate cake.” He leaned in close, and she closed her eyes expectantly, only to be surprised when he pressed his lips to her forehead.

He pulled back, looked into her eyes, and leaned forward again, this time diverting at the last minute and kissing her chin. She held her breath as he pulled back twice more, pressing his lips to each of her cheeks. Excitement built up in her like a rapid snowfall. She wanted to scream at him to kiss her….

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