Christmas on 4th Street (Fool's Gold #12.5)(71)
“Then let’s make it a big one.”
* * *
The last strains of music faded. Evie Jefferson walked out onstage. “Thank you so much for joining us tonight,” she said as her dancers waited behind her. “Before you go, we have a little something special prepared.”
She moved off the stage and her students began to dance to a special arrangement of the wedding march. Four girls twirled into view, each dressed as a bride. Then two teenaged boys walked down the center aisle, carefully unrolling a white carpet.
In the audience, whispers were heard as the townspeople realized this wasn’t a simple encore. As if to confirm the murmurs, Mayor Marsha walked out, a microphone in her hands.
“Good evening. Tonight as we celebrate a season of miracles, I am pleased and honored to tell you there will be four weddings performed here. Four beautiful brides join with four handsome grooms and begin their lifetime journey of love and commitment.”
Gladys nudged her friend Eddie. “Another wedding. It’s a Christmas miracle.”
“I hope one of them is wearing Vera Wang. I just love Vera Wang.”
The music changed and Lillie and Carter walked down the aisle together. They separated and stood on opposite sides of a podium someone had put in front of the stage. Four men started down the aisle, each in a black tux.
Seventysomething Eddie sighed. “Now that they’re getting married, we’ll never see them naked. Wives have a way of objecting to that.”
“What about those football players moving to town? We can suggest another calendar as a fundraiser. Butts of Fool’s Gold.”
“Good plan.”
The music swelled to the wedding march. Everyone rose and turned to watch as four brides started down the aisle. Patience, Felicia, Isabel and Noelle.
The bouquets were done in shades of pink, ranging from very pale to nearly fuchsia. The dresses were all strapless, but otherwise as different as the women themselves.
Dellina watched the ceremony begin from the far side of the convention center. Once the couples started speaking their vows, she turned back to the flurry of activity taking place to get the reception ready. Huge trays of food were being set out for the buffet. The tables and chairs were set up and the kids area prepared. She was exhausted, but pleased. Everything had turned out perfectly.
Noelle stood next to Gabriel and listened to him recite his vows. He slid the diamond band on her finger, sealing their love in a tradition that stretched back for generations. She felt the warm, loving presence of her mother and grandmother, as if they were there, holding her close. And for one brief second, she saw her future with Gabriel. Decades of happiness, children and grandchildren, and the miracle that was the true meaning of Christmas.