DASHED DREAMS (30 page)
Authors: Susan Worley-Bean
Emma got a serious look on her face. “Are you sure about this? He’s only been out of treatment for a few months.”
“I love him. Every time I look at him, I see a man not country superstar, Robert John Montgomery. We’re ready for anything, as long as we’re together. Look what we’ve been through.”
“What kind’a plans do you have?”
“Well, Jack’s offered us Tucker’s yacht if we want to be married on the lake and he said that Tucker’s would host us a reception. He told us not to worry, that everything would be taken care of. So, I guess Lynda probably knows.”
“That’s going to be really romantic. Let’s hope Mother Nature will cooperate and give you a sunny day?”
“I was thinking that.”
“What can Gary and I do?”
“Just be with us and celebrate our happiness.”
“Can do. Hey, is it a secret?”
“It’s not going to be a secret for much longer. All the girls in my office know, not to mention the people sitting around us at the Chart House last night. When we came home last night, there was a reporter hanging around the gate. I guess the news is out that he’s making his comeback. I’ve gotta go. See you tonight.”
As her best friend hugged her, she whispered into Jillian’s ear, “I’m so happy for you, Jillie. Love you.”
“Em, I love you.”
Later that evening Emma and Gary arrived, she was loaded down with bride magazines. Jillian knew that she and Em would be busy tonight. After giving them the house tour and the couple got unpacked, Gary and Robert went into the recording studio and began to plan the upcoming show.
Jillian had planned on making dinner and secretly couldn’t wait to get into the kitchen, to use all the high-tech appliances and toys it had to offer. Robert said their foursome would meet Lynda and Jack at Tucker’s Seafood Cove restaurant. Jillian was pleased. She and Emma hadn’t seen Lynda in several days, and the Seafood Cove was where she and RJ had their first date.
Dinner was pleasant; the guys talked about the upcoming shows and the girls discussed wedding plans. Only a couple of older ladies approached the star for his autograph. He was very pleasant to them, answering their questions, and signing their slips of paper. As Jillian had anticipated, she and Emma spent several hours looking at bride magazines, searching for the perfect dress. They decided to call it a night at 2 a.m., since both had to work in just a few hours.
Jillian and Emma rode down to Yerington the next morning. They decided to meet after work and commute back to Tahoe together.
Jillian met with Joy, and they moved her schedule around, so she’d have the next couple of weeks off. It’d been decided a couple of months ago at the last doctors’ meeting that the group would satellite to Tahoe, and now was the perfect time to complete their plan. In the afternoon, Jillian picked up the printed invitations to the reception at
Mason Valley News.
She quickly scanned one of them, it read:
We cordially invite you to our wedding reception at Lake Tahoe, our favorite place in the world. It will be this Saturday at one o’clock at Tucker’s Hotel/Casino. We ask for no gifts, as we feel blessed that we have family and friends, who have supported us in the past, today, and will in our future. We look forward to you coming to Tucker’s to celebrate with us.
The following days passed quickly, as Robert made plans for his return concert and Jillian planned the wedding. Marcella arrived, and Jillian helped to get her settled. Emma and Gary stayed with the couple. Emma rearranged her appointments so she could close the shop for the week. Gary worked with RJ at Tucker’s preparing for the upcoming concert. Everyone was busy in their own little “worlds.”
Chapter 32
Friday morning before dawn
Country Heart Entertainment’s
jet left Los Angeles to pick up six family members attending the wedding; the stops would be in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. The six passengers became acquainted during the flight to Lake Tahoe. They arrived at the high mountain destination at four o’clock. The pilot circled the lake and the jet’s passenger’s looked out the windows at the beautiful emerald-colored lake below. Lynda and Tucker’s limousine was waiting at the airport to pick up the three couples. After introductions and hugs from Dan and Grace, Lynda motioned towards the open door. She was bombarded with questions regarding the wedding. She told all that she hadn’t yet been really involved with the wedding plans, but was working on the reception. She also told them that they were guests of Tucker’s. Once they arrived at Tucker’s, they were escorted to their suites. Lynda informed the group that there’d be a pre-wedding dinner party at seven upstairs in the private dining room, the Tahoe Rim Room.
Lynda left the couples to unpack and relax before the party. There was a welcome note in each one of the couples’ rooms, which read:
We both would like to welcome you to Lake Tahoe. We are so thankful that you can be with us to witness our union. We feel blessed that we have family who have supported our past, and will always be there for us in our future.
Love and God Bless, Robert and Jillian
When Jillie and RJ were getting ready for the party, she said, “Why do I feel so nervous?”
“Well, you’re the bride and brides are reputed to be nervous. Right?”
“I guess so. I can’t find the dress I want to wear,” she said, moving the clothes in her closet. “I should’ve brought more clothes, more dress-up stuff.”
RJ moved into her closet and pointed to a gray tweed dress. “This is nice. Haven’t I seen this dress before?”
“Hey, you’re good. I wore this dress the first time I came to have dinner with you. And I believe you’re wearing the same outfit you wore that evening.”
He smiled. the
rabbit
.
It didn’t take long for Jillian to relax, after seeing her parents and getting reacquainted with Mike and Natalie. As always, Jillian, Lynda, and Emma acted more like sisters than friends. Their laughter made all feel comfortable. Jack made sure that Tucker’s met all explications of the wedding guests.
The party ended early, as tomorrow would be a big day for all. Only two passengers returned to Robert’s house that evening. Jillian, Lynda, and Emma were spending the night at Jack and Lynda’s house in Tahoe Keys. Lynda said that the bride couldn’t spend the night before her wedding with the groom. Jillian explained to Lynda that although they’d been sleeping together, he respected her wishes.
After Jillian was ready for bed, she called RJ.
“Hey, Doc.”
“Hey, yourself.”
“I miss you. Are you comfy? I was lying here thinking how strange life is. Several months ago I would’ve been drunk and passed out by now, not getting ready for my wedding tomorrow. You came to Seattle and the rest is history. Your two friends married my friends, and now we’re all family.”
“I know. You’ve survived.”
“WE survived. Doc, you have no idea how much I love you. Tomorrow, we’ll become one. You’re the answer to my prayers. Do you want to say prayers together?”
“Sure.”
Kneeling, they said their prayers. She promised God that she’d always feel blessed. He thanked God for today’s strength and for tomorrow.
“Good night, Robert. I love you. Tomorrow’s our special day. Just imagine! Both a wedding and a concert!”
“Goodnight, my love, until tomorrow.”
When Jillian awakened, she thought: Today is my wedding day. She felt weepy and thought she needed to control her “sap” today.
Lynda knocked and stuck her head in the doorway. “Jillie, are you awake?”
“Yep, come on in.”
Lynda came in carrying a tray, Jillian smelled coffee.
“How sweet. You didn’t have to bring me coffee.”
“Hey, it’s your day and the bride gets pampered. Girl, can you believe you’re getting married in just a few hours? And look who you’re marrying!”
Jillian shook her head. Her friend was still “star-struck.”
“Lynda, how are you going to handle all the celebs that Jack deals with daily?”
“Those are just people. Just think, a while back, we were watching him perform in Seattle, now all this.”
“Have you forgotten that he’s gone from purgatory to today? Think of all that we’ve been through. Every day’s a struggle for him, but each hill is less and less steep as the days pass.”
“You know what I mean.”
“We should be getting around, as this ship sails at ten.”
Tucker’s 56-foot yacht was docked at one of the Tahoe Key’s docks. When Jillian, Emma, Lynda, and Jack boarded, their family members were already on board.
Dan came over and put his arms around his daughter and hugged her. He kissed her on her cheek and said, “Good morning. Your mother and I are so very happy for you.” Grace also hugged her daughter.
Mike and Natalie greeted Jillian. “Dear, we’re very happy for you and Robert. We know you love each other very much.”
“Thank you. I’ll make him very happy.”
“You already have. If it hadn’t been for you, he’d probably still been drinking... or worse.” Natalie shook her head, implying that he would’ve been dead.
Chapter 33
They shoved off and bound for the east side of Lake Tahoe. They arrived at Robert’s dock right on time. Gary and Robert boarded, and then the yacht continued its course. The women of the wedding party gathered in the master stateroom. Jillian changed into her dress with the help of both mothers. Her dress was a snow-white satin A-line princess style with an empire waist. Across the bodice were several rows of crystal beading, forming an X across her bust. Attached to the dress was a full cathedral train with several layers of webbing. White pumps completed her ensemble.
As soon as she was dressed, Emma did her hair into a French twist. They clipped the veil and its several layers of webbing to the back of her head. The same crystal beading as on her dress was on the veil’s outer edges.
The ladies had her something old: a snow-white hankie that was Robert’s grandmother’s; something blue: a blue and white lace garter; something borrowed: Angyne’s hair clip for her veil; and something new: in her shoe a penny for good luck.
Natalie got the bridal bouquet from the fridge and handed it to Jillian. The bouquet consisted of white roses, gardenias, and baby’s breath, wrapped in a white satin ribbon with long tails. The gardenias, pungent in fragrance, caused the ladies to remark about their being the most beautiful gardenias they’d ever seen.
“Jillian, what are your wedding gifts to each other?” Angyne asked.
Jillian thought,
sex,
but decided not to say it, as both mothers were listening.
“Well, my gift from him is our garage. He bought me a red 1956 MG Roaster, complete with the tan convertible top. As for what I got him, well, since we have a dock, I bought him a boat…nothing fancy, just something for him to play with.”
Lynda said, “Well, we’ll know where our husbands will be out on the lake.”
Jillian caught the word “husband.” Tears sprang to her eyes.
A knock on the door startled the group. Natalie partially opened the door, “Yes.”
It was Gary. “We’re ready whenever you ladies are. I’ll escort you ladies and Dan’s here in the hallway for Jillian.”
The ladies had a group hug and left with Gary. Dan stepped into the stateroom, “Wow, honey you are one beautiful bride! Ready?”
“Thanks, Daddy. Yes, I am.”
“Sweetheart, I want you to know I’m so proud of you…proud of the woman you’ve become, proud that you still consider yourself my little girl.”
Jillian felt the tears rising again. Her dad handed her his handkerchief, and she dabbed her eyes. He kissed her cheek and took her by the hand. “Come on, there’s someone waiting on deck for you.”
The yacht dropped anchor near Incline Village. The sun was shining with only a slight breeze now and then. The ceremony was being held on deck. The minister stood beneath an arbor of flowers and greenery. Robert and Gary stood at the minister’s side. The small number of guests stood when the bridal march started and they looked towards the salon’s doorway.
When Jillian and Dan appeared in the doorway, the sun was shone on her face. Dressed all in white, she looked like an angel. Robert John Montgomery smiled at her, the
rabbit
. She acknowledged his gesture.
When Jillian and Dan stood in front of the minister, he began, “We are joyfully gathered today to witness and celebrate the joining of two lives in marriage. Robert and Jillian have invited you to be with them and rejoice with them, as they make this most important commitment. Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”
“Both her mother and I do,” Dan said as he shook hands with Robert. He placed his daughter’s hand into Robert’s. He kissed his child on the cheek, then sat down beside Grace.
The minister continued. “We’ve come together with the hope that the love which has brought you together will only deepen. May your union be strong enough to endure the difficult times. May life's challenges not separate you; may you always be able to turn to each other. The rings please. The wedding ring is a sign of an inward and spiritual union, a symbol of the commitment you are making to each other.”
As the minister held up both of the wedding bands, the sun reflected from them as if they were glowing.