Nineteen

“I’m going to cry,” Joyce said. “I know it. I’m just going to wail and ruin the whole day.”

“Mom, it’s okay,” Mel said. “You want to cry, cry, no one will judge you.”

“It’s just that I’ve waited sooooo long for you to marry dear Joe,” Joyce said. She dabbed her nose with a tissue. “I truly never thought it would actually happen.”

“Is this your pre-wedding pep talk?” Mel asked. “I have to say it needs work.”

“Oh, you.” Joyce waved her tissue at Mel, but she stopped crying and smiled before she moved to talk to Judi, the wedding coordinator, who was keeping them all on task.

They were standing in the church’s anteroom reserved for brides. Dressed and ready to go, in her wedding gown and veil, Mel had to admit that for the first time in her life, she felt like a princess. Alma had crushed it—not literally—and the dress was perfection, everything Mel had imagined it would be and more. Mel’s bouquet was a cluster of soft blue hydrangeas surrounded by sunset roses, pale yellow with deep coral along the edges, and she loved that they were cheerful.

Angie was in a charming empire-waist dress in the same shade of blue as the flowers with silver embroidery along the hem that accentuated her dark hair, which she had in a half-up-half-down style that framed her heart-shaped face becomingly. She was carrying a smaller bouquet that matched Mel’s, but at the moment she’d plopped it on top of her tummy while she fussed with a pin in her hair.

“I have to say this is kind of handy,” she said. “It’s like a built-in shelf.”

Mel laughed.

Standing beside Angie, and also laughing, was Mel’s brother, Charlie. He and his two sons had worn tuxedos with yellow roses for boutonnieres and acted as ushers for the day. Now that the guests were settled in their seats, the boys were sitting with their mother, Nancy, in the family pew. Mel was still in shock that her oldest nephew was almost the same height as his dad.

“You look beautiful, Sis,” Charlie said. “Dad would be so proud.”

He had a suspicious glint in his eye and Mel stepped close to hug him tight. Even though he lived in Flagstaff, they’d always been very close, sticking up for each other at school as kids and grieving their father together when he passed. For the past decade, they’d shared the responsibility of looking after Joyce, who had been bereft when Charlie Cooper, Sr., had left them much too soon.

“Thanks, Charlie,” she said. “That means a lot.”

He nodded. He glanced over her shoulder and jerked his chin at their uncle Stan, who was standing with their mother. He was also in a tuxedo and he looked very dashing next to Joyce in her pale pink, fitted lace dress with a matching silk jacket. She had always been a stunner and she didn’t disappoint now. No wonder Uncle Stan was smitten, although Mel knew he’d say it was her meat loaf that had reeled him in.

“Do you think they’re next?” Charlie asked.

“I don’t know,” she said. “How would you feel about it?”

Charlie adjusted his glasses as he considered. “It feels right.”

Mel smiled. “I think so, too.”

Judi clapped her hands to get their attention. “All right, people, take your places. It’s time to begin.”

Judi, petite but forceful, lined everyone up, fussing with the men’s jackets, the women’s dresses, making sure everything was just so.

“Cuz, are you all right?” she asked. She was fluffing Angie’s skirt. “You look sweaty. You’re not nervous, are you?”

“No,” Angie said. She thumped her chest with her fist. “Just a teeny bit of heartburn.”

“Gotcha covered.” Uncle Stan handed her an antacid tablet from the roll he always carried. She popped it in her mouth and smiled her thanks.

Since Tate was standing up for Joe, it was agreed that Charlie would escort Angie. Given her advanced pregnancy, no one wanted her to walk unescorted down the aisle on the off chance there was a slip, a trip, or a mishap. Angie looped her hand through Charlie’s arm as they moved into position in the doorway.

Mel moved to stand behind them with Joyce on one side and Uncle Stan on the other. She put her hand through Uncle Stan’s arm and clutched her bouquet with that hand while reaching out and taking her mother’s hand in hers.

She took a second to stare at the ceiling. Did he know? Could he see them? Was he happy for her? Mel wished, quite desperately, that she could have just one more moment, a hug, a laugh, or even a smile with her dad.

“Are we ready?” Judi asked.

“Hold up,” Uncle Stan said. “I almost forgot.”

He reached into his pocket and asked, “Hey, kid, do you already have something old?”

“We forgot!” Angie cried. “You borrowed your mom’s dress, your bouquet is blue, and your shoes are new, but—ack!—we don’t have anything old. I’m a terrible matron of honor.”

“No worries. Again, I’ve got you covered,” Uncle Stan said. He pulled a delicate diamond bracelet out of his pocket.

Mel looked at Joyce, who was staring at the bracelet with wide eyes. “Is that?”

“My mother’s?” Uncle Stan asked. “Yes. I got it out of the family vault a few days ago.”

“Oh, Stan,” Joyce sighed. She watered up, blinking hard and trying not to cry.

“Mel, when your grandmother passed away, your dad and I had to sort her things,” Uncle Stan said. “This bracelet was the one our father gave to her for their twentieth anniversary. She never took it off. When Charlie and I packed it away, we agreed that on the day you got married, it would become yours. When you miss your dad, as I know you must be missing him today, look at your wrist and know that he’s with you. He’s always with you, Mel, and he loves you so very much.”

And there it was. The sign. She glanced up at the ceiling, blinking hard, and said, “Thanks, Dad. I love you, too.”

She held out her wrist and Uncle Stan fastened the bracelet for her. Her throat was tight and a few tears slipped down her cheeks. She glanced at the others and saw they were equally choked up. Mel let go of her mother’s hand and hugged Uncle Stan.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she said.

“Me, too, kid,” he said. “I know I’m not your dad—”

“No, you’re my bonus dad,” Mel said. She leaned back to look at him. “You didn’t have to step in like you have over the past ten years but you did. You’ve been more than an uncle to me, and I’m so grateful. I love you, Uncle Stan.”

Uncle Stan stared at the ground. He cleared his throat a few times. When he glanced up, a few tears slipped free and he swiped them away.

“I feel the same way, Uncle Stan,” Charlie said. He stepped forward and hugged him and they thumped each other on the shoulders in that manly way men do. Then Charlie grinned and asked, “So, can I borrow the car tonight?”

Uncle Stan laughed and the rest of them did, too. The moment passed, and Judi, with an obvious lump in her throat, directed them to their places. Angie glanced over her shoulder at Mel and grinned. “Just think, in a few minutes, we’ll actually be sisters!”

Mel returned her smile. She couldn’t think of anyone she’d rather have for a sis. With a grunt, Angie turned back around. Mel frowned. Poor Angie—of all the times to have a heartburn attack, this was not ideal.

Judi signaled them to move forward. Mel could hear the organ playing and tightened her grip on Uncle Stan and her mom. This was it. Judi opened the door, the music swelled, and she gestured for Charlie and Angie to go. They exchanged a smile and disappeared into the church. Mel could feel her heart pounding. It took her a moment to realize it wasn’t nerves, it was excitement. She was marrying Joe DeLaura. It felt as if she had dreamed of this moment her entire life.

“I love you, baby,” Joyce whispered in her ear. Mel turned and looked at the woman who had stood by her side for every success and failure, every heartbreak and dream achieved. She leaned her head against her mother’s for just a moment.

“I love you, too, Mom,” she said. They took a few seconds to look at each other with love and appreciation, and then Judi was signaling them forward.

Uncle Stan and Joyce matched their steps to Mel’s and the three of them entered the church. The guests rose to their feet and Mel looked down the aisle and felt her heart swell. Joe stood there, looking impossibly handsome in his tuxedo. Mel was positively dizzy at the sight of him. When his gaze met hers, it was so full of love, she knew that no one had ever looked at her like Joe DeLaura did, as if she was his everything.

Uncle Stan set a slow and steady pace. So many faces that she held dear surrounded them. As they walked down the aisle, she took a moment to take them all in. The entire DeLaura family was there. Ray was on the aisle, sobbing quite loudly. Mel looked past him at his date, Tara Martinez, who shrugged. She and Mel exchanged a smile. It was the first time Mel had ever seen the detective smile, and she realized she was quite pretty.

Manny Martinez, Tara’s cousin, was there with Holly Hartzmark and her daughter, Sidney. Manny looked happy, and Mel was delighted to have them here. He winked at her when she walked by and Mel grinned. Oz sat right behind the family pew with Marty and his girlfriend, Olivia. Mel was relieved to see that Oz looked well rested, as if he’d finally gotten some sleep. Marty was dabbing at his eyes with a handkerchief while Olivia gently patted his back. Maybe Angie’s softening towards Olivia had caused a cosmic shift in their relationship. Mel didn’t know, but she realized it would have felt odd not to have Olivia in attendance. Weird.

When they reached the altar, the music faded and all Mel could see was Joe.

“Who gives this woman to this man?”

“Her uncle and I do,” Joyce answered.

Mel hugged them both and Uncle Stan escorted Joyce to their pew, where they sat with Charlie and his family. Mel handed her bouquet to Angie, who smiled at her, and then Mel clasped hands with Joe. Father Francis, whom Mel had known for years through the DeLaura family, beamed down at them. He was always smiling, and Mel couldn’t think of a better man to perform their celebration of matrimony.

The words poured over them in a swirl of hopeful blessings and prayer. Mel stole glances at Joe every now and then, and each time she found him looking at her with an expression of wonder that she knew was reflected in her own eyes. They were finally really doing this.

With Father Francis guiding them, Mel and Joe declared their consent. Mel heard a small noise behind her, something between a groan and a gasp, and she glanced over her shoulder at Angie, who held both bouquets cradled in one arm, while holding a tissue to her nose. Poor thing, her pregnancy was probably making her overly emotional. Mel smiled at her and Angie gave her a weak one in return.

Mel turned back to Joe for the vows. He stated his with warmth and affection, but Mel, feeling a bit overwhelmed by her feelings for him, found that her voice quavered as she was a bit undone by how much she loved him and how happy she was to be marrying him. It was too much. When a tear slipped down her cheek, Joe tenderly reached up and brushed it away. He held her gaze and suddenly it was just the two of them. Mel spoke directly to him and her voice was sure and strong, just as she knew their marriage would be.

Then it was time for the blessing of the rings. Father Francis took the rings from Tate and Angie. Mel glanced at Angie’s face and noticed that she looked a bit pale and rather sweaty. She probably needed to sit down.

“Go ahead and sit down if you need to,” Mel whispered.

“I can have someone bring you a chair,” Father Francis offered.

“No,” Angie said. Her voice was tight and she smiled through gritted teeth. “I’m fine. Please, continue.”

Tate peered around Mel and Joe at his wife, his face creased with worry. She waved him off and Mel looked at Joe. Something was going on with Angie. They needed to move this along.

They slid the rings on, and just as Father Francis was about to pronounce them husband and wife, Angie let loose a howl and doubled over.

“Oh, dear,” Father Francis said.

Tate abandoned his post to go to his wife.

“I’m fine, really,” Angie panted. Her face was red, she was sweating. She reached out for Tate and hissed, “Give me your jacket.”

Mel turned to help, but Joe tugged her back around. Angie let out another moan and there was the sound of running water. Angie’s water had broken. Right now!

Joe looked at the priest and said, “‘Man and wife. Say man and wife.’”

“Princess Bride,” Marty identified the movie quote from his seat. Oz hushed him.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Father Francis said.

Joe kissed Mel and then spun her around so they were facing Tate and Angie. Angie was standing over Tate’s jacket, which she had strategically dropped on the floor below her.

“You okay, Ange?” Joe asked. She nodded, clearly lying as she leaned back against Tate, obviously in so much pain she couldn’t speak. Joe looked at Tate. “The limo is waiting right outside. Let’s use it to take her to the hospital.”

Tate leapt into action, scooping Angie up in his arms and hurrying down the aisle with her.

“I can walk,” Angie insisted.

“Not on my watch,” Tate said. Mel and Joe fell in behind them, and Joe called back over his shoulder, “Change of plans, everyone, we’re going to the hospital.”

Father Francis called the final blessing over them as they bustled from the church with their wedding guests following in their wake.

The limo driver’s eyes were huge when Tate arrived with Angie in his arms. Joe and Mel opened the doors and Tate assisted Angie into the vehicle, helping her to lie down on one of the long seats, using his lap as a pillow. He tenderly brushed the hair from her face and said, “I’m here. I’ve got you. It’s going to be all right.”

“My water broke in the sanctuary,” Angie said. “That’s bad form, isn’t it?”

“Or it’s the most blessed birth ever,” Tate said.

“Let’s go with that,” she said. Her face scrunched up as a contraction hit.

Joe told the driver which hospital to go to and they were off. Angie started to pant, her face went an alarming shade of gray, and her dress became soaked in sweat. When the contraction passed, she turned to look at Mel and then she started to cry.

“I ruined your wedding.”

Mel left her seat with Joe and knelt on the floor in front of Angie and clutched her hand in hers. “No, you didn’t,” she said. “You are the very best matron of honor and I’m so glad you’re mine.”

“You have to just dump us off at the hospital and then go on to your reception,” Angie said. Her grip on Mel’s hand was fierce. “Promise me.”

“I promise we’ll go on to the reception,” Mel said.

Thankfully, another contraction hit before Angie caught on that Mel had not said where or when they were going on to the reception. As far as she was concerned, the reception was dusted and done. There was absolutely no way she was leaving her best friend while she gave birth to her first child.

Tate looked about as frazzled as Mel had ever seen him. He called their doctor and she promised to meet them at the hospital. The drive was mercifully short as the hospital was in the neighborhood. Still, it gave them an opportunity to time Angie’s contractions, which seemed to be getting stronger and closer together. Once they arrived, Joe rushed into the hospital to get a wheelchair while Mel and Tate assisted Angie out of the limousine. The driver said he’d park and wait.

Angie’s doctor, a middle-aged woman with short hair and glasses and dressed in tennis clothes, met them at the door as she was just arriving. She took in their clothes at a glance and said, “Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” Joe said. “My sister—”

He seemed to run out of words, and the doctor said, “Don’t worry. I will make sure she has the very best care.” She looked at Angie and Tate and said, “All right, parents, let’s meet our baby. Yes?”

Tate and Angie exchanged a look and then nodded. There was fear and excitement on their faces. Mel hugged Angie tight, and then Tate wheeled her away. As the doors closed behind them, Mel slumped against Joe.

“I’m scared,” she said.

“I know, but this is Angie,” he said. “She’s the feistiest person I know.”

“You’re right,” Mel said. “It’ll be fine.”

They rode up the elevator to the maternity ward and found the small family waiting room, where Joe called his parents to let them know what was happening. His mother promised to tell the others, including Mel’s family, which was great because Mel had run out of the church and didn’t have her phone or anything. Mel sat down, expecting the family to start pouring in. Thirty minutes passed. Then an hour.

“Aren’t they coming?” she asked. “I mean, they didn’t just go ahead to the reception at the Sun Dial, did they?”

Joe shrugged. “They said they’re on their way.”

He laced his fingers with hers and looked at the wedding ring on her finger. “Hey, you’re my wife.”

Mel reached over and took his free hand in hers and ran her index finger over his wedding ring. “And you’re my husband.”

The words made something warm bloom inside her chest. This feeling right here, of loving someone with every breath she took and knowing he felt the same way, this was what the songwriters and poets meant when they wrote about true love. She smiled at him and he pulled her close and kissed her.

“Excuse me.”

They broke apart to find a nurse peering around the doorway at them. She was smiling. “The doctor said to tell you that she expects the delivery will take a couple of hours yet. She suggested you go get something to eat. The father said he’ll call you if anything changes.”

“Thank you,” Joe and Mel said together.

The nurse nodded and turned to leave, then she popped back in the doorway and said, “Congratulations!”

Mel and Joe grinned and thanked her again.

“What do you think?” he asked. “Should we go see what the dessert menu looks like?”

“I hope they have something more than toxic-colored gelatin,” Mel said. “All this stress makes me want to eat an entire chocolate cake by myself.”

“I’m sure they must have donuts at the very least,” he said.

They rode down the elevator and Mel pretended not to notice the hospital staff and patients staring at them as they passed. Was she overdressed for the occasion? Yes, but what was a girl to do? Her best friend was having a baby, and she wasn’t going to miss it.

The cafeteria at the hospital sounded crowded. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she really wanted to wear her wedding gown into a room full of people eating off trays.

“There’s a big outdoor courtyard beyond the main dining room,” Joe said. “We can sit out there. I’ll double back and get us some food.”

“Okay, but let’s find a corner where I can hide myself,” she said. “We probably should have ditched the wedding duds and changed into scrubs or hospital johnnies. People probably think we’re escaped mental patients.”

Joe led her across the cafeteria. Sure enough, everyone stared. Mel smiled and waved, pretending this was all perfectly normal. When they stepped outside, music began to play.

Mel’s jaw hit the ground. Her gaze swept across the courtyard, which had several big trees and large tables, at which the guests from their wedding were seated in all of their finery. As she stood there, taking it all in, Ray DeLaura stood up and started clapping. The rest of the guests joined in. Mel turned to Joe.

“What? How?” she asked.

“The DeLaura brothers to the rescue,” he said.

Mel glanced around the courtyard again. Everyone was here: their parents, families, and friends. She felt her throat get tight. She and Joe couldn’t make it to the reception, so their people had brought the party here. She glanced around the space until she saw her mother. Joyce greeted Mel with a hug and handed her the purse Mel had left in the church.

“This space will do nicely,” Joyce said with a smile and Mel laughed. Joyce was going to have her mother-of-the-bride day after all.

Oz’s amazing cupcake tower was set up on a table. The floral centerpieces that she’d ordered for the resort tables had been brought here, too. Joe led her through the tables and they greeted their friends while she took it all in. It was then that Mel noticed Sarah Lincoln arrive in her chef whites with carts of food that had been boxed. She paused beside Mel and Joe.

“The banquet chef and I agreed that the food for your wedding shouldn’t go to waste, so we boxed it and I brought it over,” she said. “Consider it my thank-you.”

Before Mel could say a word, Sarah wheeled the cart across the courtyard and began to set up a serving station next to Oz’s cupcake tower.

“Mrs. DeLaura, may I have this dance?” Joe asked.

Then he held out his arms and Mel stepped into them. The small band that they’d hired for the resort was playing on one side of the courtyard and an area in front of them had been cleared for dancing. As Joe twirled her around the stone floor, Mel couldn’t think of any place that could be better than this.

She danced with Uncle Stan and then worked her way through the DeLaura brothers and her new father-in-law. She was enjoying a glass of lemonade when she noted Oz standing off by himself. Knowing how he felt about her, she wondered if she should just let him be, but that wasn’t who they were.

She sidled up next to him where he was monitoring the cupcake tower and asked, “Dance?”

Oz looked painfully uncomfortable but nodded and followed Mel out to the crowded dance floor. As they danced, she looked up at him and asked, “How are you?”

He gave her a closed-lip smile and said, “I’m happy for you and Joe.”

Mel grinned. “Thank you. I’m sorry about you and Lupe, but I know you’ll find your someone out there someday.”

“Maybe,” Oz said. He sounded doubtful, but Mel let it go.

They worked their way around the floor, passing Uncle Stan and Joyce, Ray and Tara, as well as Manny and Holly. Mel felt a surge of joy. It was pretty great to have the gang all together.

“Have you figured out what you’re going to do?” she asked Oz.

He hesitated for a second and then said, “Yes.”

Mel stared at him. She wanted to support whatever he chose, but she really didn’t want him to go too far from home.

“I’ve signed a contract with Simon to do twelve shows, to be filmed at the Sun Dial, featuring me as a pastry chef, making my specialties,” he said.

Mel stumbled but he caught her before she fell. She stared at him, trying to grasp what he’d just said. “You’re going to be on the Foodie Channel?”

“Yes,” Oz confirmed. Then he laughed. “It’s crazy, right?”

“It’s amazing,” Mel said. She hugged him tight and then pulled back to look him in the eye. “If you’re happy, I’m happy.”

“I’m happy,” he assured her, and Mel believed him.

Marty appeared at Oz’s side and cut in. Mel told Oz they would talk more later and he seemed okay with that. Wow, Oz was going to be a star—of that she had no doubt. Mel made it around the floor only once with Marty when Olivia cut in, which was fine, because Mel was getting tired and she wanted to be with her husband. She checked her phone for the thousandth time. There was no word from Tate. She tried not to worry.

The band downshifted to background music while everyone ate their meals out of the brown paper boxes with utensils borrowed from the hospital. There was laughter and chatter and they all waved to the hospital staff, patients, and visitors who watched them through the windows that looked onto the courtyard. Tony DeLaura took it upon himself to pass out some of the extra Jordan almond wedding favors to the onlookers.

When Joyce saw him, she turned to Mel and said, “See? It always helps to have extra.”

Joe checked his phone about every ten minutes while the DeLaura family took turns going up to the delivery floor to pace the waiting room while they waited for word.

Mel saw Emily Harper and Maria DeLaura, grandmothers-to-be, reach out and hold hands every now and then, as if reassuring each other that all would be well. Mel and Joe bit into the delectable bride and groom cupcakes Oz had created while the rest of the cupcakes were passed out to the delight of the guests. Oz’s creations had serious wow factor, and Mel knew that the response was exactly what his battered chef soul needed right now.

And then it came. All at once it seemed every cell phone at the party chimed with an incoming text. It read: She’s here! Mother and baby are doing fine! A video was attached, and everyone scrambled to open the file. Joe held up his phone so he and Mel could watch it together.

A wizened little face peeked out of a blue-and-pink-striped baby blanket. As they watched, she let out a howl that could have peeled paint. The camera panned up to Angie, who gave the baby an exhausted smile. In a gentle mama voice, she said, “Oh, you’re mine, all right.” Then she kissed the baby’s head and waved to the camera.

Tate’s face appeared and it was clear from his red nose and damp cheeks that he’d been crying. In a voice that was hoarse, he said, “My incredible, amazing, courageous, brave, and beautiful wife and I would like to introduce you to our daughter.” He paused, clearly too choked up to speak. He glanced away then gathered himself after a moment and said, “Welcome, Emari, named for her grandmothers, Emily Harper and Maria DeLaura. Isn’t she beautiful?”

He panned back to the baby, who squinted at them through puffy eyes, then opened her mouth and let out another bellow. Tate grinned like a fool in love and Angie laughed. The video ended on the three of them, huddled together on the bed, a happy little family.

Mel hugged Joe and he kissed her head and the rest of the wedding guests hugged and cheered and cried and clapped. The grandparents all headed to the elevator to see their new granddaughter while Marty took up a glass and toasted the newest member of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery crew.

They toasted the baby, the parents, and everything else they could think of, from Ray’s shiny suit to Oz’s amazing cupcakes. While everyone was occupied toasting and cheering, Joe pulled Mel aside and said, “Let’s get out of here, Mrs. Cupcake.”

“Okay, Mr. Cupcake,” she said. And she knew as she followed him out the door to their waiting limousine that she was stepping into a brand-new life, and she couldn’t wait to get started.