Part 18
"Okay, whose bright idea was it to change my alarm clock?"
Cassy stood in the doorway of her bedroom and tried to focus on the living
room couch.
Denise emerged from the kitchen. She looked at Cassy's wrinkled pajamas,
tangled hair and scowl on her face. "I thought brides were suppose to glow
on their wedding day."
Cassy made a noise that could only be classified as a growl.
She walked over to the couch and lay down.
"The alarm changer would have been me. I wanted you to get an early start.
And this is a no-no." She took Cassy's arm and pulled her up.
Cassy, who was too tired to fight, followed Denise into the kitchen. "You
are not my friend. Friends don't force each other to wake up after only
three hours of sleep."
Denise got Cassy positioned at the table and poured her a glass of orange
juice. "Now, whose fault is that? Who wanted to stay and party long
after everyone, including the stripper, had left?"
Cassy grinned. "Okay, so maybe it's my fault I went to bed late, but
the wedding isn't until eleven so that gives us five hours and I plan to
sleep for three of them." She stood up but Denise pushed her back down.
"There is no time for sleep. We have a dozen things to do before the
wedding."
"What dozen? Get dressed and get to the church."
"Yes, but I have a surprise for you. My friend Andre will be here at
seven."
Cassy's eyes lit up. "Andre? Your friend Andre? The masseur Andre?"
Denise laughed. "Yes, all of them. I wanted you have a very special wedding
day."
Cassy leaned back in her chair. "Oh wow. I can't believe this. I have
always wanted to, but I never could afford him."
"That's not all. At nine Eileen will be here to do your nails and makeup
and Cynthia is coming to do your hair."
Cassy got up and hugged her best friend. "Thank you so much for doing this.
See you in an hour." She walked into her bedroom and closed the door.
"It's time to rise and shine."
Tom opened his eyes and saw his mother standing over him. "Mom," he
mumbled.
"Yes, it's me. Here's your coffee." She set it on the coffee table. "I'm
meeting your father in the hotel restaurant for breakfast."
Tom sat up and swung his legs around. He rubbed his hands over his face. He
grabbed the coffee cup and took a long swallow.
Sylvia picked up her purse. "We'll bring you back something to eat. In the
meantime, there are some eye drops on the dresser. Tom, you really should
know better than to stay out all night on the eve of your wedding. I'm sure
Cassy had the good sense to stay at home."
He let out a snort, which either his mother didn't hear or chose to ignore.
Sylvia kissed him on the cheek and left.
Tom walked over to the mirror above the vanity. His mother was right, he
looked like hell. Well, if he did, it was all Cassy's fault. When he drove
by her house at 2:30, she was still partying. How could she have a party
when she told him that she was going to turn in early?
Not to mention the rather lengthy lecture she gave him earlier in the evening
on the proper etiquette for a bachelor party. He thought about the
voice he heard over the phone, the male voice that led him to believe that
a stripper had been invited to the party. He pushed that thought away
and focused on the idea that in less than three hours Cassy was, once again,
going to be his wife. He grabbed a towel and headed for the shower with a spring
in his step.
"How do I look?" Cassy turned and faced Frannie.
"Just perfect." Cassy handed her another tissue. "I can't seem to stop
crying and the wedding hasn't even started yet.
Cassy critiqued herself in the mirror. Andre's massage gave her skin a
glow. Eileen and Cynthia did wonders with her hair and makeup. She barely
recognized herself.
The baby moved and her hand went immediately to her stomach.
"Cassy, are you all right?"
Cassy smiled at Frannie. "I'm fine. The baby's active today."
Frannie placed a hand on her stomach. "I can't imagine what that must feel
like."
"Sometimes it's all I think about and other times I forget I'm even
pregnant." Cassy smiled. "The first time she moved, Tom thought something
was wrong and grabbed his car keys and an empty suitcase and tried to get
me into the car."
Frannie chuckled at the image. "You said 'she'? Do you know that it's a
girl?"
"No, we don't know anything for sure, but I'm hoping for a girl."
"What about Tom? What does he want?"
"He says either one is fine, but I suspect a little boy is what he's
hoping for."
Denise entered the bedroom and whistled at Cassy. "Looking good
Babe."
"You don't look so bad yourself."
Denise did a model strut around the room. "You know, this is the first
bridesmaid dress that I ever wore that afterwards I didn't want to rip
into shreds and use as rags."
"Mmm," said Cassy thoughtfully. "Could it be because you picked it out
yourself?"
"Could be." Denise looked at Frannie. "You look terrific Mrs. Lipschitz."
Frannie beamed. "Thank you, Dear. I'd say we all look like million
bucks." She glanced at her watch. "Ladies, we need to go."
Denise turned to Cassy. "You ready to start a new life?"
Cassy smiled. "Ready and willing."
"All set, Tom?"
Tom finished tying his tuxedo bow tie and glanced at his father. "Has
Mom stopping crying yet?"
Lyam chuckled. "Tom, these are her pre-wedding tears. She's saving up the
good stuff for the actual wedding."
Tom sighed under his breath.
"Nervous?"
Tom grabbed the small ring box and handed it to Lyam. "As long as you don't
lose those, I'll be fine."
Lyam tucked the ring box in his pocket. "I hope you realize what a special
gal you have there, Son."
"I know, Dad. And this time we are going to make it work. I always knew we
were destined to be together again. She is my life and together we created
a new life."
Lyam's eyes lit up. "I know. My first grandchild. I can't wait and neither
can your mother. Do you know what it's going to be?"
"Nope. Cassy has strict orders on that. But, between you and me, I'm hoping
for a little girl. And I bet Cassy wants a boy."
"Oh my."
Tom and his father turned around and saw Sylvia standing there with tears
in her eyes.
"Mom, you have to stop crying. People are going to get the wrong idea."
She pulled her son into a hug. "I'm just so happy." She gently pushed
herself away from Tom. "We need to get going. There is a woman waiting
to become your wife."
Tom grinned at his parents. "Then let's go."
To Part 19