Chapter 9 – The wedding Day
They put on their robes and went to make some coffee. When they stepped out of the bedroom door, they smelled the coffee already brewing. As they entered the kitchen, Frederica was cooking. She had made pancakes, bacon, juice, and eggs, everything they loved. Ronnie told Frederica that he did not know she was such an incredible cook. She blushed, but held her own when Ronnie teased her and explained to him that it was better that she learned to cook than to have to endure the burned meals, he prepared. Ronnie grabbed and hugged her, telling her he never burned anything, and she knew it.
As Janet stepped into the kitchen, Frederica was explaining to Connie that Ronnie really was a good cook, and his lunch yesterday was incredible. Janet rubbed her daughter’s neck as she walked by, and said the breakfast smelled wonderful. Janet told Frederica, “Your father would be proud of your cooking skills.” Frederica smiled and said, “Father just loved food, no matter who cooked it.” Janet giggled and said, “You are probably right about that.” Connie realized she had never heard anything said about the girl’s Father, but did not feel as if she should discuss him without asking Ronnie first. Janet must have sensed that Connie felt uncomfortable talking about the girl’s dead Father and told Connie that discussing the girl’s Father was perfectly okay, that they had all cried the tears. Janet told Connie her husband was better off with his God than here suffering in horrible pain the rest of his life.
The girls had run into the bedroom giggling about something they were doing, trying to keep a secret. Janet explained to Connie that her husband (severely injured by a laser beam at work) had so badly burned his internal organs that he suffered horribly. He had died two years ago, and even though they all missed him and cried daily over his memory, they knew he could not have continued to face the world in such incredible pain as he had endured. Janet said that she had decided to speak her late Husband’s name in this house every day, and to remind the girls of his love for them. Janet looked at Connie and said, “Better to cry the tears than to hide the pain, I always say.”
Just then, the girls come carrying a small box into the kitchen, neatly wrapped in white paper. Frederica nudged Monica and whispered to her that it was okay; she could give the present to Connie and Ronnie now. Monica sat the nicely wrapped present on the counter, looked at Connie and said, “This is for you and Ronnie for after the wedding.” Connie giggled and touched Monica’s hand, then said, “Thank you my friends, thank you for being with us on our wedding day.” Connie, slid the beautiful box towards Ronnie to open, but Frederica said, “Connie, you should open the box, Ronnie will get involved with the present a little later on today,” then she snickered and blushed bright red. Monica was not sure why big sister blushed, and did not really care.
Connie looked at Ronnie and then began to open the present. When she pulled the top off so she could see the contents, she also blushed bright red, stood up and hugged both of the girls very hard, then kissed each of them on the cheek and said, “Thanks, Ronnie will really like your present tonight, it is just the most perfect gift.” The girls giggled and skipped off to their room to put away the wrapping paper. Connie looked at Janet and said, “You’re such a good mom, you just made their day, maybe their whole week better.” Connie stood up and hugged Janet, then stepped back and began wiping the tears from her eyes. Connie looked at Ronnie and said she had better get started or she would be holding up her own wedding.
Ronnie explained to Janet that he had less to do to get ready, and would take care of the kitchen. Janet put her arms around her brother, and said, “I think you finally found the prize in the crackerjack box, big brother. She is a keeper.”
Everyone was ready a little early, which was perfect. Ronnie was nervous and the girls not being late seemed to calm him a little. Ronnie explained that he had arranged transportation to the church and back home after the luncheon. As the girls readied themselves, Ronnie heard the girls begin yelling about the long black car that was out front, and that a man was standing with the back door open. Ronnie said, “That must be our transportation.” Frederica ran over to Ronnie and hugged him until his ribs hurt. The girls danced at the front door waiting for Ronnie to escort them out to the waiting limousine. Ronnie took the two young girls to the limousine first. The driver carefully seated them, making sure they were comfortable. He then poured two tiny glasses of water from a bottle, placed them on napkins and handed each of the girls a drink.
Then Ronnie escorted Janet and Connie out to the limousine, handed Janet off to the driver who also got her seated, then poured her a tiny glass of water and a napkin. Then he dipped low, and waved his hand towards the open center door and said, “Madam, if you would carefully step into your transportation, I will deliver you to the most splendid event on the calendar for today. I believe the marriage of Mr. Ronnie Sam Yutaka to the most stunning Miss Angela Irene Smith is our intended destination on this beautiful sunny day.” Connie blubbered something, and stepped into the limousine. Ronnie passed the man some Milli-Galax, but Connie could not actually see how much money Ronnie had passed him.
The driver shut all the doors, and then drove them the short distance to the church. When the limousine stopped, it was like a well-rehearsed play. The driver opened the door for Janet and helped her exit, then stepped to the side. He then assisted the two girls out and onto the sidewalk, beside Janet. Then he offered Ronnie a hand out, and then assisted Connie out onto the sidewalk. Ronnie once again greased his palm as Janet had called it. Three escorts stepped from the church, one was a very young boy who cocked his elbow and began escorting Monica. A slightly taller very handsome boy, escorted the blushing Frederica, and another gentleman, that Ronnie did not know, stepped up and offered his hand to Janet. She called him by name as he escorted her towards the church entrance. Ronnie escorted Connie to the front entrance where they kissed, and then the wedding party whisked them away to different ends of the church. They had arrived at precisely five minutes before the ceremony was to start and the ushers had seated everyone else. They did not have time to get nervous. Ronnie walked up and stood with the minister along with a gentleman from the church that offered to be Ronnie’s best man and handle the rings.
Ronnie was again afraid of forgetting his vows even though he and Connie had spoken them to each other a dozen times or more and had memorized their own vows along with their partners. Connie had assured Ronnie that he would be fine, but also knew how he got nervous in crowds, and this time a hundred eyes in this church were watching their every move. Ronnie remembered that Connie had memorized his vows and could easily coach him if he failed to deliver. What cruel words they were, if he failed to deliver.
The minister began the ceremony as soon as Connie was standing beside Ronnie, and the congregation had quieted. The organ player stopped and the silence in the church was deafening. Ronnie felt himself take a very deep breath and Connie looked at him and smiled, knowing he was at least breathing now. Ronnie’s was to speak his vows first, and he felt a twinge of panic, but then he felt a squeeze of his hand and the panic was gone. The minister turned the couple towards each other, spoke to Ronnie to help him relax, and then guided him into speaking his vows.
“I, Ronnie Sam Yutaka, take you, Angela Irene Smith, to be my lawfully wedded wife, my dearest friend, and my faithful partner from this day forward. In the presence of God, our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, never to judge you, to support you in your goals, to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and to cry with you, and to provide a shining light over your darkest fears. Angela, I love you with all my heart, with all my soul, and for all eternity.”
Then it was Connie’s turn, and the minister asked her to take a deep breath. When she looked into his eyes and calmed her heart, he guided her into her vows. She turned back to Ronnie and stared deep into hi
s soul.
“I, Angela Irene Smith, take you, Ronnie Sam Yutaka, to be my lawfully wedded husband, my constant friend, my faithful partner, and my love from this day forward. In the presence of my God, your family, and our friends, I offer you this solemn vow, to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you for all the days of my life, to provide you a reason to smile when you rise in the morning, to provide you with a child to carry on your heritage, a child to love as much as I love you. I promise to honor and respect you, to laugh with you, to cry with you, to share my deepest secrets with you, to hold you when your heart seems broken, to share with you my God, who loves you as much as I do. Today my love, I give you all I have to give, my love for you, my faith in you, my undying trust in you, and the dreams that I will share with you. Ronnie Sam Yutaka, I love you my friend, my husband. I will love you always.”
The minister finished the ceremony, and Ronnie and Angela kissed as husband and wife. Ronnie remembered that his wife’s name was now Angela, a name she had chosen to take once she was married. When they turned back to the minister, he winked at Angela and then at Ronnie. They both had said their vows without missing a beat. They had decided earlier that Ronnie would say his vows first, because he had tried to say them after Angela, but could not look into her eyes and speak the words after listening to Angela’s vows. Angela was not sure she could complete her vows without crying, but was determined to say them to Ronnie even if she had to stop, blow her nose, then continue on. She was going to tell him how she felt, in front of his friends and family, no matter what. She did it without faltering, because she had remembered something that the computer had said to her. Something said just after she had stepped into the light from the inventory bay on the day the lights went out. The computer had said to Ronnie, “My friend is much better now.” Those words had suddenly popped into Angela’s head while she was taking a deep breath, and the minister was struggling to calm her emotions. When she began speaking her vows, Angela did in fact, feel much better now, and was able to say her vows without any fear of crying or forgetting the words.
As they left the church, Janet introduced them to all of her friends, and one male friend that she seemed to hang onto an awful lot. Janet introduced him as James. As they left the church and the driver had seated Janet and the girls in the limousine, Ronnie and Angela ran from the church thru the rice thrown by the guests. The driver quickly waved to the crowd and began driving them down the streets blowing his horn. There were tin cans on strings behind the limousine, and the girls were beside themselves with the sound and excitement of the event. The limousine dropped them off at Janet’s house around six o’clock that evening. They had all eaten too much food, met many wonderful friends, and now were very tired.
Ronnie had told the girls earlier that if they wanted desert when they got home, that they needed to stop eating, or they would puke after their desert. That put an instant damper on Monica’s constant eating; she hated to puke and would do anything to prevent the occurrence from happening. Janet said she would remember that technique when the girls ate too much for their own good. After they had taken their showers, Janet allowed the girls to have their desert. They sat at the kitchen counter and smiled the entire time they stuffed their faces with brownies, topped with strawberries and just a touch of whipped cream. Angela was sure the girls would explode, but Janet seemed unafraid. How could two skinny little girls eat so much food in one day? Ronnie said they would poop logs tomorrow and Janet swatted him on the arm, saying, “Little girls do not poop logs.” Angela was not so sure, Ronnie might be right!
When it came time for the girls to go to bed, as tomorrow was Monday, a school day after all, Ronnie tucked them in and closed the door to their room. However, neither girl stayed tucked for very long. Soon they were sitting on the couch, quietly listening to the adults discuss the wedding, and if Ronnie had forgotten to pay or thank anyone involved. Janet seemed satisfied they had taken care of everyone, but said she would send Ronnie a message if they had missed someone. Monica was yawning, so this time Angela took the girls to their room to settle them in, and this time would make sure they were sleeping before she left them. As they walked to the bedroom, Angela was explaining to the girls that she and Ronnie were going to spend the night at The Empress, but would be back when they got out of school to say goodbye. They had customers that needed supplies and they would be gone for a few weeks.
As Janet and Ronnie discussed her friend James, they heard Angela singing. Janet stood up to go into the girls room to hear the song, but Ronnie gently pulled her back to the couch; then put his finger to his lips to shush his sister. She sat back down and listened, listened to Angela sing to her girls. Angela was singing a nursery rhyme that Janet had never heard before, one that made Janet cry as she realized the meaning of the words that Angela was singing. As Janet listened, she cuddled up in her brothers arms and quietly cried.
Hush, little darling, don’t you cry
Mama’s going to keep you safe tonight
If that nightmare makes you weep
Mama’s going to hold you, until you sleep
When you find your prince someday
One small child you’ll have I pray
If that child should wake at night
Hold her tight until the light
Hush, little daughter I love you
Mama’s going to have to hug on you
If the hugging can’t still your cries
Mama’s going to have to kiss those eyes
If those kisses don’t work on you
Mama’s going to have to tickle you
If those tickles put a smile on you
Maybe you’ll sleep the whole night through
Hush, tiny dreamer, I love you
If you dream about the dark
Hug me close and calm your heart
Feel my love that mends the fright
Let my love show you that life
Will guide your way to the light
Please my God, please help this child
Don’t let her take her life tonight
Her love you see is dear to me
Show her life is the way to thee
Hush, little darling, please hold tight to me
I am the light that will set you free
A boy named Ronnie, will fight for thee
A girl child he will give to thee
If you see the light in He
The child he gives will set you free
Hush, little darling, don’t you cry
Close your eyes and sleep with me
The song Ronnie had heard last night had contained only the first stanza, but now Angela continued with the complete song. A song obviously composed just for her, by her mother, Ronnie was now certain of that. Janet said, “The last stanza must have been composed by Angela, her mother surely did not know she would marry you, Ronnie.” Ronnie kissed Janet’s forehead and said, “Are you real sure of that, little sister?” Janet wondered what her brother knew that he was not sharing with her, but decided to remain silent. Janet sat and listened, until her heart was breaking for this child in Angela’s song, this child that her mother tried so desperately to comfort. Janet then asked Ronnie if Angela had said anything about suicide. Ronnie said that she had discussed it with him, but she now loved her God and understood that he needed her alive, not dead. Angela had told him the story in bed this morning, and Ronnie whispered what he knew to Janet, who was still crying over the beautiful sound of Angela’s voice as she sang to the girls.
When Angela came back into the living room, she said the girls were asleep and she and Ronnie should go to The Empress. “Now please. I have waited all day for your love my husband and Frederica says I can now make love to you, and I shall.” She smiled at Ronnie, then said, “I like the sound of that word, Husband,” then extended her hand to hel
p Ronnie up from the couch. Angela spoke to Ronnie and said, “I am certain you will not hesitate very long before escorting your bride to The Empress.” Janet put her hands over her mouth, but the sound of her laugh still found the way to the married couple’s ears. Ronnie quickly stood up, ready to get his wife home, to consummate this marriage. Angela picked up the glass of water she had been drinking, and swallowed a tablet. Janet remembered why Angela was taking medicine; it was Misenall to prevent teleportation sickness.
Janet walked over to Angela, and began hugging her. She hugged so hard, Angela had to say, “Quit hugging please, I can’t breathe.” Janet released her bear hug, and stepped back from Angela, tears in her eyes and obviously sorry for hugging so hard. Angela reached out and gently hugged Janet and said, “Thanks for being my friend; may I come back and visit you again if I promise not to scream and wake your girls?” Janet said, “You had better come back often, and maybe you can stay a week or so the next time, and you can bring your new husband if you feel you must.” Ronnie just shook his head at his sister, and then hugged her goodnight. Angela said, “Janet, I like your man James, his eyes say he loves you, and the way his speaks to your daughters says he loves them also,” then turned and walked out onto the porch to teleport to The Empress. “See you tomorrow,” Angela said as she waved to Janet.
When they stabilized inside the ready room of The Empress, Angela looked around, and then said, “Good evening computer, do you approve of my new name, Angela Irene Yutaka?” The computer spoke back saying, “Good evening, Angela my friend, I hope you and Ronnie had a very pleasant wedding day.” Angela began talking to the computer like a long lost friend, “We had to most wonderful time at Janet’s house with the girls, and the wedding was spectacular. Janet and her girls were positively radiant in their pink dresses. Ronnie and I said our wedding vows without forgetting the words and I managed not to cry when I said my vows to Ronnie, as I was afraid I might. You should have seen the limousine that picked us up at the house….”
Ronnie threw his hands up in the air, and said, “I feel like an empty candy wrapper, once needed, now just so much garbage.” Angela walked back into the ready room and said, “I am sorry to have ignored your presence my wonderful husband, I did not mean to ignore you, but the computer and I have so much to catch up on, and I got carried away.” She put her arm around Ronnie and escorted him to her bedroom. She pulled her clothes off, helped Ronnie quickly get his off.
When they were under the covers, Angela said, “Computer, I need your assistance once again if you would not mind.” The computer spoke very softly, “Angela, I will assist you how ever I can, you just need to ask the question.” “Computer, would you keep watch of the light switch again. I would like to make love to my husband in the dark, but I may need the lights back on quickly, if I should panic. Would you be so kind to listen for my request for the lights to be turned back on, as we did before?” The computer replied, “I am here for you my friend, enjoy your wedding night.”
When the lights turned off, Ronnie felt Angela tense, herd a muffled word of panic rise in her throat, but she comforted herself without Ronnie saying or doing anything. Then she relaxed in her husband’s arms and let his hands touch her body, in the dark; she found the touch of his hands actually comforting, not frightening as in her dreams, her nightmares. The sounds that the computer heard, the sounds of Angela yelling, were not cries of distress or pain, not cries for the lights to come back on, but cries of passion as she discovered that she could allow her man to pleasure her in the darkness.
“Computer, would you be so kind as to turn the lights on so that Ronnie and I can make love with the lights on, I would like him to see the love I feel for him. Thank you.” The computers response to Angela made Ronnie giggle. “Let there be light my friend; let your pleasures in the light be good.” As Ronnie’s bride rolled over on her back, he wondered if his programming of the computer had somehow created more than just an artificial intelligence. Somehow, this computer was interfacing with Angela as if it was a living thinking…, a very best friend. Ronnie decided that it did not matter why the computer acted as it did with Angela; the fact was, it did, and Ronnie certainly wanted to change nothing. Ronnie would share Angela with the computer if needed to calm her fears, and allow her to love her God, and dismiss the thoughts of taking her life.