Love Letters From the Grave(33)
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“What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That’s a pretty good idea.
I’ll give you the moon, Mary.”
George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life
Molly arrived at work early on Monday, concerned about how they would tell their colleagues about their impending marriage. She went directly to George's office, and was surprised at how open he was with her as they held each other and kissed.
‘Aren’t you worried about how the manager will react?’ she said, once she’d caught her breath.
George grinned, looking about as far from worried as could be. ‘Not really,’ he said, ‘because I don’t work here any more.’
‘You … you don’t?’
‘About a year ago, the manager at the factory on the other side of town tracked me down and offered me a job. I refused at the time, but when you accepted my proposal, I gave him a call and asked if the position was still available.’ George inspected Molly’s engagement ring, obviously quite pleased with himself. ‘So we won’t be in the same department in the same factory, and I won’t be your boss as well as your husband. And the new job pays better and is closer to home.’
‘It’s a wonder you didn’t take the job last year – it sounds perfect!’
‘I didn’t have you last year,’ said George earnestly. ‘Now, it’s perfect.’
‘And I can show off my ring!’
‘You certainly can.’
That was no bad thing, considering that the wedding had been set for 4th July which was less than two months away. They’d agreed this date for several reasons: it was a holiday, so their family members and friends could more conveniently attend; it would be an opportunity for the two of them to express their patriotism in a very special way, and significantly, it heralded one of the biggest motorcycle races of the year - and, perhaps, they would be able to work their wedding and wedding reception in with this great event. ‘And you’ll never forget our anniversary,’ Molly had joked.
Now, as soon as Molly got to her nearby office, she held up her left hand to show off her beautiful engagement ring. Everyone oohed and aahed over it, and although many were surprised to hear that her fiancé was George, they all expressed their congratulations and pleasure. If the "confirmed bachelor" was getting married, they were glad that it was to one of their own.
They went about informing everyone of their engagement throughout the day, and then began the serious discussion of where the wedding would take place. At lunch, the next day, George reported some good news. That morning, he’d had a meeting with Benjamin, his friend and manager of the racetrack, about the possibility of both the wedding and reception being held there. Ben had agreed enthusiastically, as it would fit in wonderfully with the spectacular program which was being planned for the first 4th of July since the end of the war.
George was even more excited by the prospect of the wedding than Molly – perhaps, she thought, because it was his first.
‘I know the owner of a company which specializes in custom-made motorcycle outfits,’ he said, sketching designs on a work-pad. ‘What do you think to us wearing matching bike gear? I’m sure he could make it classy enough for a wedding and patriotic enough for a 4th of July celebration.’ He glanced up from his sketching. ‘Or … did you want a white dress and all that?’
‘I’ve had all that,’ said Molly, quite content to let George lead. ‘I want whatever you want.’
So George and Ben planned and organized. The wedding ceremony would occur during the half-time ceremonies between the morning and afternoon races, and the reception would be held in the track's clubhouse during the two-hour break. It was to be a very patriotic theme race day, honoring the area's veterans by encouraging them to wear their uniforms and decorations, and providing free admission and lunches for themselves and all members of their families. Admission for the evening program and fireworks would be free and completely open to the public, and all of this was to be made possible by donations from local companies.
George agreed to pay a substantial proportion of the total costs, in compensation for accommodating the wedding ceremony and reception, again with free admission and lunches. He asked Jesse to be his best man, and Carol, with whom Molly had remained close friends, was to be maid of honor.
George was certain that both of their factories and some of the factory's suppliers would make contributions to help pay for the veterans and their families’ admission to the event and the cost of their lunches. Within a couple of weeks, George had raised more than half the funds needed to pay for the entire event from Molly's factory, his factory, and many of the factory's suppliers, with the suggestion that if there was more money raised than was needed to cover the costs, they give the excess to either the USO or use it to buy war bonds to help pay for the country's remaining war debt. His philanthropy and commitment to the veterans was above and beyond anything that Molly had ever experienced before, and she was warmed through by a quiet pride in her husband-to-be.
On the Sunday before the 4th of July, after one of Aunt Dolores' famous dinners, Molly and George tried on their well-tailored, white linen outfits, beautifully trimmed with red and blue designs. Both suits had a spectacular large, spread-winged, bald eagle embroidered on the back. They fit beautifully, with Molly's set off by a veiled bridal tiara and George's with a handsome red, white and blue boater, and finished off with white boots. George would drive the two of them, the outfits, and Jesse and Dolores to the track in his Cadillac, and there they would be met by two hundred family members and friends at the wedding and reception spread across the prime sections around the clubhouse. Everything was now set for the wedding.