Wildflower (29 page)

“And that is?” asked Hazel as she laid her
head on Abby’s shoulder.

“We have wedding plans to make, and there are
a lot of things we need to discuss.”

“Such as?”

“Hazel, I just went ahead and assumed that it
would be in St. John’s. I didn’t even ask you if you wanted to be
married in Nova Scotia.”

“No sweetie, I live in St. John’s now and it
is close for you too so it works for me,” replied Hazel.

“Honey, did you have anything in mind here?
Please tell me, I want this to be perfect for you. Tell me what
you’d like.”

“Well, would it be possible to do it here at
the house? Can we fit everybody in here or should we try for a hall
in town.”

“I’d love to be married in our house,” smiled
Abby, “but I’m not so sure we can fit everybody in here. Perhaps we
should go over the guest list then decide. In truth, I thought you
might want a real church wedding.”

“I’d love one Abby my dear heart, but there
is the cost, and what church will marry two women anyway?”

“Plenty of them,” replied Abby. “I’ve been
doing a bit of research and most of the mainstream churches are now
Ok with same sex marriages.”

“Wow, that’s amazing. That would be so very
cool.”

“Then I will make that my mission this week,”
said Abby firmly, “to find us a church.”

“Ah, sweetie...”

“Hazel my darling girl,” sighed Abby as she
lovingly held Hazel’s face in both her hands, “you are not to
mention the cost to me again. We will keep it fairly modest, but I
will take care of the cost.”

“Abby…”

“No,” replied Abby as she kissed Hazel
softly. “Please Hazel; let this be my wedding present to you.”

Hazel gazed into those deep blue eyes for a
long moment before responding. “All right my love,” she said at
last, “but we keep it modest. Agreed?”

“Agreed,” replied Abby. “Come on.” She took
Hazel by the hand and together they began to walk back toward the
house.

“So what kind of a budget do you want for
your wedding dress?”

“Actually, I want to wear my grandmother’s
wedding dress. It was her mother’s, then hers, then my mom wore it,
and now I’d like to. It will need a bit of work to make it fit me,
but it shouldn’t be all that expensive. This way I can carry on the
tradition, wear a great retro outfit, and you have more to spend on
your own.”

“Sweet thing,” smiled Abby as she squeezed
Hazel’s fingers gently. “I too plan to go in retro gown. I want to
wear Bride Murphy’s wedding gown and Wanda has already agreed to
alter it for me.”

“Oh Abby, that’s so wonderful,” sighed Hazel.
“Any ideas on what flowers we should have?”

“Wildflowers.”

“Abby MacKai, you sweet romantic you, but we
are getting married in November, where are you going to get wild
flowers in November?”

“There’s a greenhouse in St. John’s that
specializes in native species. I’ll call them this week and see if
they can help us, if they can’t I’ll have the darn things flown in
from California.”

“Dat, dat, dat,” chided Hazel gently,
“remember the budget. If we can’t get the real thing we’ll get
their more domesticated cousins that are more readily
available.”

“Yes dear, it shall be as you say. Perhaps we
should work on a guest list. You have a rather extensive family so
we will need a ....”

“No lover, just my parents and my brothers
for family. We will send pictures to the rest.”

“Are you sure sweetie?”

“Absolutely. Now what about your family?”

“Not invited,” replied Abby softly.

“Oh Abby,”

“No sweetheart,” said Abby firmly, “they are
not invited. Mother is a drunk and who knows what she’d bring for a
date, besides, she would surely cause a scene. Father is married
and his wife doesn’t like me at all. I can only imagine the
frostiness of her greeting you. No Hazel, I want our wedding to be
a warm and loving event. I want everybody there to be on friendly
terms. My family will receive pictures, end of discussion.”

“Fair enough lover, let me know if you change
your mind.”

“I will sweetheart, I promise.”

“What about a bar?”

“I’d like your thoughts on that sweetie.”

“I get the feeling that you are opposed.”

“I asked for your thoughts,” laughed
Abby.

“Well, I would have a much better time if
everybody stayed sober,” replied Hazel softly, “but there will be a
lot of complaints. Let me run this past you. Tina is a whiz at
making the most exotic drinks you have ever seen, and they’re all
alcohol free.”

“Really?”

“Really,” laughed Hazel. “Whenever you go to
Tina’s, you always get a drink, but you never get any booze. How
about we set up a bar and ask Tina to mix the drinks. She could
make up a list of what she wants to do and that will be all she
will serve.”

“Hazel I love it,” laughed Abby, “do you
think she will do it?”

“I’ll ask her this week,” smiled Hazel as she
squeezed Abby’s hand.

“Hazel, any thoughts on a honeymoon?”

“Sweetie, aren’t we starting to hit the
budget a bit hard here?”

“Not yet we’re not. So how about it?”

“No idea at all.”

“That’s a sinful fib for you Hazel Fillmore,”
Abby chided gently as she pulled Hazel to a halt and faced her.
“Tell me what you would like.”

“It wouldn’t be a lot of fun for you
Abby.”

“Tell me,”

“I’d like to take a trip up the Great
Northern Peninsula next spring and see what kinds of flowers I can
find there,” replied Hazel softly.

“I love it,” laughed Abby.

“You do?”

“I do, I want to see the Viking Site at
L’anse Aux Meadows. I am a Norse woman don’t you know. Those folk
were my ancestors and I would love to learn more about their
sojourn here. I’ll arrange it all my little pumpkin.”

“Abby, that won’t really be what you’d like
for a honeymoon is it?”

“Not really, but I will enjoy it
nonetheless.”

“So what would you like to do?”

“Pack you off to Montreal,” replied Abby,
“show you my old neighbourhood, and do most of our Christmas
shopping while we’re there. What do you say?”

“Can we afford it?”

“Yes my love, we can afford it,” replied
Abby. “There may be a bit of flux in the Christmas shopping budget,
but we can surely afford the trip. Want to go?”

“A shopping trip to Montreal,” Hazel asked
with a laugh, “oh my darling, take me away.”

“Any particular preference in churches?”
asked Abby as they neared the house again.

“Any one that will have us will do for me,”
Hazel smiled in reply, “how about you?”

“There’s a beautiful old Anglican Church in
the downtown area. I’ll start there and see what I can do.”

“Wonderful, any thoughts on the
photographs?”

“I do actually,” replied Abby. “Listen to
this Hazel my love. Since we are both going to be in retro gowns,
how about we get all the pictures done in black and white.”

“Oh god Abby, I love it,” enthused Hazel,
“I’ve always wanted to...”

“Forget it sweet sister,” Abby chided gently,
“I know you would do an awesome job of it, but you are not going to
be the photographer for your own wedding. I will hire someone
else.”

“Awe Abby,”

“Since you are the best in town, I will see
who is in second place and hire him,” said Abby firmly. “No
arguments.”

“Yes ma’am,” Hazel sighed elaborately as she
gave in to Abby’s greater wisdom on the matter. The discussion went
on throughout the rest of the day, Wanda and Keith were pulled into
it over dinner then it went into the night as well. By the time
Abby drove Hazel back to the city and her job, Abby had a full list
of things to do and too little time to get it all done.

Abby’s cheque from Harry for the last
proposal she’s written caused her jaw to drop. “Please accept this
as our wedding present Abby,” said the note. “Alice and I know only
too well what a wedding can cost, and, as father of the bride, I
insist on paying my share. Love Harry.”

Married

The summer passed away swiftly as Abby buried
herself in the wedding preparations. Each time Hazel had days off
she spent them at Jamaica Point and Abby often spent the night in
town with Hazel. As summer gave way to autumn, Hazel became more
and more mysterious about her wedding present for Abby, and, for
her own part, Abby began to look pretty smug about something
herself.

October arrived and with it Tommy’s wedding.
Abby grinned with delight as Hazel appeared as the best woman
wearing a tux. Abby herself served as usherette dressed in her best
Jackie O. outfit. At the reception she and Hazel danced away the
night once again and this time Hazel took Abby home with her. Time
was flying by and Abigail MacKai had never been so busy or
happy.

Finally, as the big day neared, the folk
began to gather. Harry and Alice met Hazel and were introduced to
the rest of their friends. The next day Hazel’s family arrived and
filled Edna’s B&B to the brim. Walton and Harry put their heads
together and decided that since they were both fathers of the bride
they should split the cost of the wedding between them. Abby and
Hazel tried to object, but the men would not hear of it.

The wedding day arrived and Abby was in
Hazel’s apartment getting dressed. Hazel was staying with Irene and
she was getting into her gown as well. Even Hubby was at the
groomers getting tidy. Somehow Abby had made a deal with a theatre
group for costume rentals so the entire wedding party was in period
dress. Harry had arranged for horse drawn carriages to pick up the
girls and their entourages and it made quite a display as they
arrived at the old church downtown. The photographer was busy
trying to get everything in as they disembarked and entered the
church. This was the first time either Hazel or Abby had seen the
other in her wedding dress. They stood staring at each other in the
lobby until Harry got them going.

Wanda led the way with Hubby on his leash. He
was carrying a basket with the rings in it. Abby had rehearsed him
well and he seemed to enjoy the attention as he made his way down
the aisle. Abby followed on Harry’s arm and she was stunning. Her
radiant smile seemed to light up the whole building as she made eye
contact with and acknowledged each and every person there as she
walked down the aisle.

Irene followed as soon as Abby had reached
the altar; leading Walton with Hazel on his arm. If Abby was all
sunshine and golden beauty, Hazel was absolutely regal, towering
over her father in her heels. It all seemed a blur to them both
from there. They joined hands, repeated the vows they’d written
together, and signed the register then were introduced as Mrs. and
Mrs. MacKai. Once again they danced away the night, but this time
they made a point of dancing with everyone else.

The next day found Edna’s poor living room
overflowing with people and the two brides who were opening the
gifts. Each and every gift was carefully acknowledged and Abby made
a note of what it was and from whom. The thank you cards were ready
to go at home in Jamaica Point, just waiting for the final
touch.

Finally Abby passed an envelope to Hazel. She
was grinning with delight as she did so. “What’s this?”

“This is my wedding gift to you my love,”
smiled Abby as she lightly kissed Hazel’s forehead.

“Abby, what is this?”

“Open it and see silly,” giggled Abby.

Hazel slowly opened the envelope and read the
letter inside. “Abby, what is this all about?” asked a bemused
Hazel as she looked at the contract attached to the letter.

“Read it again sweetheart.”

Hazel did and her jaw began to drop.
“How?”

“I took it upon myself to become your agent
my love,” smiled Abby as she hugged Hazel gently. “I sent some of
your work and a proposal to several publishing houses, and this one
responded quite favorably. Starting next spring you have a book
contract to hike the Great Northern Peninsula and photograph the
rare and beautiful things you find there. The publisher will
advance you the money to finance the trip. All you have to do is
sign the contract and send it back to them.”

“Abby,” sniffed Hazel, tears in her eyes,
“this is so wonderful. I don’t know what to say to you.”

“Are you pleased my love?”

“Pleased beyond measure my darling,” replied
Hazel softly as she gazed into Abby’s eyes.

“Say it like you mean it,” breathed Abby.

“I am pleased beyond measure Abby my love,”
whispered Hazel as she pulled Abby close and kissed her deeply.

“Aaaawwwwwwweeeeeeeeee,” sang several voices
at once causing them to pull apart blushing furiously. “Ain’t that
sweet?”

“Now you must open our special gift to you
Abby,” said Alice as she passed a small packet to Abby.

“Special gift Alice?” asked Abby, a bit
puzzled.

“This one is special Abby.”

Abby opened the packet and looked in
amazement at her brand new green card. There was also an official
apology for the error that cause her deportation and an assurance
that she was welcome to return and work in the USA. “Harry,
how?”

“Hey, anything’s possible in America,”
grinned Harry. “I have friends too you know, and as slow as it is,
the system does work. You are now welcome to come home Abby. Your
old job in San Francisco is waiting for you if you want it.”

“Oh my sweet lord,” Abby breathed softly as
she continued to stare at the card in her hand.

“Hazel might enjoy California,” suggested
Harry.

Abby looked up at Hazel and found her trying
desperately to remain impassive. Abby gazed into her eyes for a
long moment before she reached out to return the card to Harry.
“Harry, I can never thank you enough for all you have done for me,
especially this last,” she said softly, never taking her eyes from
Hazel’s. “I will take Hazel to San Francisco someday, but only for
a visit. We will come to New York too, but we have a place out
among the rocks and the wildflowers, and that is where we will make
our home.” A tear of relief and joy leaked from Hazel’s eyes and
Abby kissed it away.