Chapter 5

Morning of Mourning

 

Courtney slipped into her off-the-shoulder French lace wedding gown embellished with iridescent sequins. It accentuated her slender waist and ample cleavage. The generous skirt swirled in circles of sparkly tulle every time she moved. An upsweep of curls framed her face with tendrils, crowned by an Austrian crystal headpiece. Her skin radiated with the blush of a dewy rose fresh from the vine, while her eyes shone out as brilliant as emeralds.

Her maid of honor Jewel stepped into her unflattering high neck, stiff mauve satin gown with a full skirt and puffed sleeves. Silk pumps dyed the same putrid color were the finishing touch.

“Your future mother-in-law really did me in. I feel like a purple people eater in this getup.”

The girls giggled.

“Well, at least you’re being a good sport about it. Agreeing to wear this dress shows me who my real friends are, but if anyone could pull it off, it’s you, Jewel. You look beautiful. Actually, the lavender eye shadow makes your eyes look so green.”

“I was just thinking your eyes look incredibly green also, and your eyelashes are so long. Courtney, you look as gorgeous as if you walked right out of a bridal magazine.”

“Thanks, and we both know it wasn’t an easy feat at this hour. Oh, the miracle of having a makeup artist and hairdresser meet us here at the crack of dawn. I can’t blame Sherri for doing her hair and makeup herself and getting to sleep later. Can you imagine I had to wake up at five-thirty in the morning to accomplish my wedding look? At least you were the second appointment.”

They both laughed in unison.

“So how is Sherri doing? Jewel asked. “I haven’t seen her in years.”

“Me neither. The main reason I asked Sherri to be a bridesmaid is because I was one at her wedding. I haven’t spoken to her in a year-and-a-half myself, and after making her wear this dress, I probably won’t be speaking to her for another year-and-a-half.” Both girls shared a laugh. “Actually, Jewel, I’m kind of glad it was just the two of us here, especially since I’ll be meeting my other two bridesmaids for the first time today.” Both girls burst out laughing.

“It could always be worse, Courtney, imagine having an arranged marriage and meeting your future husband on your wedding day.”

“I guess I better not complain.” Courtney giggled with a grimace.

“No, Courtney, it could even be worse than that. Imagine if he turned out to be a transvestite, and he walked in wearing this mauve gown with the lavender eye shadow.”

By this time, the girls were laughing heartily. “Jewel, I can barely breathe in this gown, let alone laugh. I better go look for Seth before my mascara starts to run. I think the photographer should be here by now.”

 

Courtney headed down the quiet hallway. An airy mist filled the morning as the June day radiated in glory. The opulent grounds of the Westbury Villa were visible from the bay windows of the hallway. The promise of sunshine glistened while birds filled the air with summertime’s chorus.

Unbeknownst to Courtney, a figure followed behind her in silent footsteps. “Well, well, if it isn’t the bride!” exclaimed the vibrato of a manly voice, who Courtney assumed was Seth’s.

Amused by his salutation, Courtney turned around only to be greeted by Aaron. Stunned to see him again, especially at such a magical moment, Courtney became flustered. With his Mediterranean coloring, summertime revealed Aaron’s most striking bloom, deeming him even more handsome than before. Dressed in a double-breasted white tuxedo with a black satin collar, Aaron made a striking best man. The romantic delight of a white carnation adorned his lapel, while his dark eyes illuminated mischievously.

It became obvious Aaron got a charge out of catching her off guard. He chuckled in amusement, which sent chills to the pit of Courtney’s stomach.

“I’m sorry if I frightened you, Courtney, you look like you just saw a ghost!” His deep voice beckoned as his smile flashed the turbulence of white lightning before Courtney’s inner storm.

“It’s just that I thought you were Seth. You sort of snuck up on me,” Courtney breathlessly replied.

“Well, my dear sister-in-law-to-be, I apologize for startling you. My, you are certainly a vision of loveliness this morning. That brother of mine is one lucky devil to have found you.” Aaron studied her beauty with a look of yearning.

“Thanks. Is Seth here yet?” Courtney asked anxiously.

“No, Courtney, my mom just called me on the cell and told me he’ll be arriving with the rest of the bridal party at eight-thirty.” Aaron eyed her in mournful admiration.

“But don’t worry if Seth decides to cancel out at the last minute, I’ll take over and marry you in a hot second. And I’m sure I wouldn’t regret it for a single minute.” Aaron chuckled throatily.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure your mother would drag Seth by his coattails if he tried to cut out on me,” rebuffed Courtney.

“That’s not what I’m worried about,” Aaron spoke soulfully. “I’m worried I’ll never be able to show my brother up with a more beautiful bride.”

“You know, looks aren’t everything,” Courtney retorted in spite of herself.

“Oh, I know, dear sister-in-law-to-be, but you’re a total package! You have inner as well as outer beauty. I hate to sound envious of my little brother, but this is the one thing he has over me! My mother has not stopped raving about you. She thinks you’re the cream of the crop, too good for Seth, I might add.”

Aaron’s face softened. “I guess that was unkind, and you’ll have to forgive me, Courtney, but after all these years, I’m just not used to Seth having one over on me.”

 

The rush of Edith escorting the bridal party upstairs came into view. Seth lagged behind the bunch of women wearing hideous mauve dresses. Courtney set her eyes on Seth. Finally, the magical moment she had been waiting a year for seemed less jubilant than she had envisioned. Seth’s complexion looked unnaturally pale in the light of early morning, and his blue eyes stood out eerily against his crown of black ringlets.

Courtney studied her husband-to-be in distress when it dawned on her, Seth would have made a beautiful woman. Jewel’s transvestite joke suddenly hit a sour note of truth as Courtney envisioned Seth in makeup and the hideous mauve dress. She realized with dread, it would have looked best on someone with his coloring.

Seth approached with an innocent smile. “Courtney, you look beautiful. Wouldn’t you say so yourself, Aaron?”

Seth strained his neck to look up at his statuesque brother.

“Beautiful is an understatement!” Aaron raised his eyebrows suggestively.

“Thanks,” Courtney blushed, feeling more fraught than flattered.

“What can I say? You’re a lucky guy, Seth. I have never seen a more beautiful bride. In fact, I hope Courtney will reserve a dance for me since I’ve come stag.”

“What are you worried about?” Courtney retorted jokingly. “I’m sure your grandmother would love to fill in as your dance partner.”

 

Courtney headed up to the bridal suite where she found her cookie-cutter bridesmaids standing in a row. They looked like cutout dolls from the worst-dressed list. Sherri made a perfect trio with Seth’s cousins, Cynthia and Liz, from Atlanta, Georgia. Both cousins were more than a little overweight, and the modest dress did not help to slim them in spite of the effort. The dress also made Sherri look bottom heavy. The 1980s-style dresses with puffed sleeves and full skirts made them look like modern-day relics. Each girl had her hair done upward, and intermingled with a scattering of baby’s breath.

The bridesmaids gasped in admiration at Courtney’s extraordinary vision. Sherri came rushing over. “Courtney, you look so beautiful, Mazel Tov!”

“Thank you, Sherri, purple is a great color for you.” They both agreed the dresses were laughable with a knowing glance.

Edith rushed over and lifted Courtney’s face within the palms of her icy hands. “Courtney, you look absolutely gorgeous!”

Edith’s lilac fragrance, combined with her hairspray, overpowered Courtney first thing in the morning. Edith’s hair had been smoothed into a sophisticated bun with a few face-flattering tendrils.

Courtney thought. Thank goodness Edith has chosen a suitable hairstyle and given her ponytail a rest. Doesn’t she realize, at seventy-five years old, she is not Barbie-doll worthy anymore?

“Come, the photographer is waiting for us in the foyer.” Edith gathered the ladies together.

The women followed Edith down the winding staircase of cream and gold walls, and into the reception area where they were greeted by the men of the bridal party. Poses were arranged, and photos were shot in a whirlwind. Courtney felt overcome by Aaron’s presence. She regretted how she would one day be looking at her album, and remember only how her infatuation of Aaron had overshadowed her wedding day.

The guests began to pour in as the bridal party got situated for the ceremony. Due to the threat of rain showers, they had opted to exchange their vows indoors instead of outside in the garden. The reception room had been set up with seats on both sides of a center aisle. Magic stirred in the opulent room after all were seated and wedding music played its traditional melody. Courtney stood behind the tall oak door as the rest of the bridal party preceded, and waited to walk down the aisle with her brother Taylor.

The impeccably dressed Taylor whispered to her, “You look beautiful, Courtney, but I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Taylor laughed lightheartedly. “Courtney, it’s not too late to back out. I could always take you out for pizza.”

“I might be a little overdressed for Gino’s. I have a better idea, why don’t you and Gwen join us and make it a double wedding.” Courtney laughed wryly.

Taylor rolled his eyes disdainfully. “I thought you knew Gwen and I are over. I’ll introduce you to my new girlfriend Lana later on.”

 

Instead of floating down the aisle in the joy Courtney had envisioned, she became besieged by her fickle heart. Standing beneath the huppah, Courtney felt no heaven above. Rabbi Glass’ ceremony captivated the teary-eyed spectators, but Courtney’s eyes welled in bittersweet triumph as they listened to the rabbi while facing each other. In the midst of Seth’s reciting his vows, Courtney noticed he and Aaron had a similar mannerism when they spoke earnestly, sort of a half smile trying to contain itself. Courtney gazed at Seth during the tender part of the ceremony, but she saw only Aaron in her mind’s eye.

While reciting her vows, Courtney tried in vain to erase Aaron from her thoughts. Despite her efforts, she could not control herself from glancing slightly to the left where Aaron stood, haughty and herculean.

Courtney struggled to avert her glance as she heard the words. “I pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”

Seth leaned over toward her, but his lips left her cold and dazed, sealing her fate with confusion and deceit.

 

The newlyweds stood beside Edith in the bridal procession when Aaron approached and gave Seth backslapping hugs of congratulations. Aaron then leaned down to affectionately embrace his new sister-in-law. Courtney became tantalized by the scent of his spicy cologne combined with the pheromone of his body chemistry. When Aaron released Courtney, her obsession had gotten to the point where she tried to read into his reaction of her. She could not help, but wonder, if Aaron had perhaps held her in his arms for a little longer than appropriate.

“Courtney.” Her name upon Aaron’s lips had the same devotion as a prayer. “I never envisioned I would have a sister-in-law anything like you. You’re a real special lady and an asset to the family.”

“Thanks, Aaron.”

Courtney felt off kilter to have been embraced in his arms when Aaron implored, “Courtney, I would like to speak to you about something.” He motioned her to edge away while Seth conversed with an uncle from Philadelphia.

Courtney became transfixed as Aaron gazed earnestly into her eyes. “I was just wondering if you and Seth have a son. Would you consider using Stein as his middle name? This way, when they’re older, they could always drop the Stephens and pass down the family name.”

“It’s fine with me. I’ll see how Seth feels about it,” Courtney said with hesitation.

“I can tell you right now, Seth has no sentimentality to our family name whatsoever, trust me on that one!”

“Well, what about when you get married and have a son of your own?” Courtney pictured the scenario somberly.

“Courtney, I don’t do something unless I get it right! I’ll probably remain a bachelor forever now that Seth has married the only girl for me.” Aaron leered at Courtney in flirtatious chagrin.

A latecomer, Joanne Reading, a high school friend of Courtney’s, who she had not seen in twenty years, entered the reception room. Joanne approached Courtney with an overzealous embrace and exclaimed, “Look at what a beautiful bride you make!”

Joanne then directed her attention toward Aaron who stood beside her. “You two make the most gorgeous couple! You look straight out of Hollywood!”

Courtney’s heart sunk to the bottom of her forlorn soul, while Aaron’s dark face lit up in a swarthy glow. He then bellowed out a chuckle that reverberated deeply in his gut. “Unfortunately for me, I’m only her brother-in-law, Aaron.”

“Please forgive me.” Joanne blushed. “I couldn’t make the ceremony. So I just assumed you were the newlyweds when I saw you standing off to the side and talking so intently.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Aaron added. “It’s a classic case of mistaken identity, one that I’ll remember fondly. Always a best man, never a groom,” Aaron teased with a cagey grin.

“So where is the lucky groom?” Joanne asked while scanning the room.

“There’s the groom.” Aaron pointed to the wall where Seth and his cousin James, a college freshman, and one of the ushers, were speaking. Again, Joanne became perplexed.

“Wait a second; don’t tell me that’s your husband with the brown hair? He looks like a kid.”

“No, my husband Seth is the one he’s talking to with the black curly hair.” Courtney became embarrassed by the mix-up, especially considering James and Seth looked around the same age anyway.

“That’s your husband Seth?” Joanne exclaimed in a question. “How old is he? He looks like a baby.”

“That’s understandable. After all, he is my baby brother,” Aaron answered suavely.

“Come on!” Joanne said in disbelief. “He’s got to still be in his twenties.”

“I know Seth has a baby face, but he’s thirty-four,” Courtney rebutted with difficulty, trying to recuperate from the mix-up.

“Thirty-four! He doesn’t look it in the slightest. I didn’t know you were marrying a younger man; robbing the cradle, eh, Courtney,” Joanne said with surprise.

“Aren’t you and Seth the same age?” asked Aaron with a puzzled expression.

“Are you kidding? Courtney and I both turned forty this year,” Joanne carelessly replied.

“You have to be kidding! Courtney, when did you turn forty?”

“In September,” Courtney admitted despairingly.

“Now I’m really confused. What is a beautiful, sophisticated forty-year-old woman doing marrying my baby brother?” Aaron asked in disbelief.

“People don’t go around counting numbers, at a certain point, we’re all adults,” Courtney replied with gumption.

“You must mean consenting adults,” Aaron chuckled salaciously. “Well, as a fertility specialist, you better come to my office right away if you’re serious about having a child...That is, if you ever find me an office.” Aaron laughed again.

Joanne then headed to the bar to have some refreshments as Seth returned to reclaim his bride.

“So, buddy, you didn’t tell me Courtney was in the role of Mrs. Robinson,” Aaron snidely remarked.

“Mrs. Robinson?” Seth became perplexed by the analogy.

“I guess that was before your time, little brother,” goaded Aaron. “Mrs. Robinson is a character from the movie The Graduate where an older woman has an affair with a younger man. An old friend of Courtney’s just spilled the beans about Courtney turning forty this past September.”

“I will not stand here and discuss my age on my wedding day. Excuse me,” Courtney said snippily, leaving to speak to a cousin she had not seen in eons.

 

“I would appreciate if you kept Courtney’s age quiet, Aaron. As you can see, Courtney is very sensitive about it,” Seth said stone-faced.

“I can see that, brother. You should have seen the way her face dropped when her friend told me her age. Anyway, I was telling Courtney she should come into my office as soon as I’m set up. There are things she can do to help her become pregnant. Once a woman reaches forty, every month is crucial.”

“Will do, Aaron, I’d like to start a family right away.”

“You’d better be patient.” Aaron’s face became somber. “Do you realize how many women can’t have a child once they reach forty? Seth, I have a whole office full of them. It’s not easy even with intervention, but I have confidence you’ll become a father.”

“I didn’t find out about Courtney’s age until I was seeing her for a while. She looks so young, I got fooled.”

“She looks amazing,” agreed Aaron. “When her friend from high school walked over and told me they were the same age, I was thinking that can’t be possible. Her friend Joanne looks at least fifteen years older than her.”

“Just look at the two of them!” Aaron pointed over in their direction with the discrepancy in their appearances being quite pronounced.

 

In the meantime, Joanne looked animated even from a distance as she raved to Courtney. “Your brother-in-law is absolutely gorgeous!”

“I know he’s a good looking guy.” Courtney admitted with vexation.

“So tell me, Courtney, how did you end up with the other one? Don’t get me wrong, your husband is cute, but his older brother has such a presence about him. I can’t believe he’s not married. When he said he’s always a best man and never a groom, I was shocked. I wish I was with a hunk like that, but I’m still married to good old faithful back home. After fifteen years of marriage, Steve’s stomach is bigger than his brain.” Joanne laughed with the maturity of one settled into the compromises of life.

Seth came waltzing over to the chatting ladies. “Seth, this is Joanne, an old friend, and, Joanne, this is my husband Seth.”

Joanne shook Seth’s hand in an offhanded manner. “It’s nice to meet you, Seth. You know, when I first saw Courtney, I congratulated her, thinking your handsome older brother was her husband, but then Courtney pointed you out. I became completely baffled. I thought you were a college kid!” Joanne laughed condescendingly.

Seth’s face turned stern. “Really? Well, I myself can’t believe you and Courtney attended school at the same time. You must have been many grades higher.”

“No, dear, we were both in the same grade. I just look the way a woman is supposed to look when she turns forty. I’ve been married for the past fifteen years and have had four children. I’m no longer a stick figure, if you’ll excuse me.” Joanne’s expression of scorn quickly changed to wrath.

Courtney shouted wildly at Seth, “I cannot believe the way you just insulted my friend Joanne! That was a terrible thing to say!”

“Oh really, and she didn’t just insult me by telling me she thought you and Aaron were a couple, and I looked like a schoolboy! I know her type and I didn’t appreciate her snide remark. ‘Congratulations, and it’s nice to meet you’ would have been a lot more appropriate.”

“Maybe so, Seth, but still, this is our wedding not a roast of the guests! Joanne has always had a little fire in her personality, but she’s harmless. She and I have been friends for life, and now you’ve offended her and embarrassed me!”

“I wouldn’t worry about it, friends like that are worthless. Who does she think she is telling me I look like a schoolboy?” Seth ranted with flaring nostrils.

“I’m sure she didn’t mean any harm. Joanne came here all the way from California, and that’s what you say to her! I’m completely humiliated!”

Edith cheerfully walked over. “Come on, you lovebirds, everyone is finding their seats in the ballroom, and we’ll be making our grand entrance soon. Let’s line up here and wait until our names are announced.”

“Lovebirds, not quite,” Courtney blurted out with a snarl. “Seth just insulted a lifetime friend of mine, by telling her she must have been many grades above me in school when he knew damn well we graduated together!”

“Is that true, Seth?” Edith’s features became strained.

“Yes, and she deserved it. That nasty broad told me she thought I looked like a schoolboy and was smirking at me!”

“That’s Seth for you, Courtney. He never did have the gift of social grace. What do you expect? He defends criminals,” Edith said flippantly.

Courtney thought. There she goes again. I don’t know who’s worse, Edith or Joanne!

“No disrespect, Edith, but I’m proud of Seth being a lawyer, not all of these criminals are guilty. Someone has to defend the innocent ones.”

Ire reigned in Edith’s eyes. “The law seems to protect the criminals more than the innocent people these days. Even back in the day, what could be a better example than O. J. Simpson and his defense lawyer Johnnie Cochran? Trials have become fit for Hollywood and are a complete mockery of justice. No wonder Johnnie Cochran died from an inoperable brain tumor. There has to be some price to pay when lowlifes are let off scot-free.”

Courtney tried to regain the wedding spirit in their grand entrance to the ballroom. The tables were set with lavender tablecloths with centerpieces of somber mauve roses, lilacs, and violets intermingled with off-colored baby’s breath.

The music began, and the newlyweds initiated the first dance to the tune of “Endless Love.” Once again, Courtney became hindered by Seth’s two left feet, especially when he clumsily stepped on the bottom of her tulle and tore an edge of lace trim. Courtney quickly pulled it aside while they continued the dance.

The others celebrants soon joined the newly married couple, while the wedding band played ballroom music. Seth sat the tango out when Aaron approached Courtney with a seductive swagger. He embraced her as they tangoed across the floor, looking like the champions of a dance contest. Their presence and contrast of dark and light looked so striking they took over the entire room. Everyone gathered around and cheered them as they expertly meandered in and out of fancy footwork.

Then the band began to play swing, the passion of both Courtney and Aaron. Once again, they danced like two pros in synch with one another.

 

Afterward, Courtney and Aaron were bombarded by curious relatives asking if they were professional dancing partners. Courtney felt a bit overwhelmed by the interrogation and by how right it felt to be moving to the tempo of Aaron’s body.

George Prim, a great-uncle on Edith’s mother’s side, arrived late, but just in time to watch the Aaron-and-Courtney show. He struggled out of his chair afterward, being the oldest relative there at ninety-eight, and approached the pair.

He grabbed a hold of Aaron and Courtney’s arms affectionately. “Congratulations, Seth, I see you’ve chosen a beautiful wife for yourself. I wish you all the happiness in the world. You both look great on the dance floor, nothing short of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.”

The music played loudly, and Aaron caught only part of what his great-uncle had to say. Courtney, who was the same height as the elderly man, quickly tried to clear the mistake.

“He’s not Seth, he’s Aaron.”

Great-uncle George could not hear her as the band revved up their volume. Aaron bent downward to inquire. “What did you say, Uncle George?”

Patiently and slowly, George repeated. “I just wanted to compliment you on your beautiful bride and to tell you what a great pair you make on the dance floor, Seth.”

At this point, the wedding had become a comedy of errors. Aaron and Courtney just looked at each other dumbfounded when Aaron patted his great-uncle on the back and grinned. “I’m not Seth, I’m Aaron.”

“Oh dear,” George said in discomfiture

“Don’t worry about it, Uncle George, you’re not the first one to mistake us for the bride and groom.”

Aaron placed his arm around Courtney’s waist. “I guess it’s unanimous, Courtney, we make a great couple! Now that we know how fabulous we look together, what are we going to do about it?”

Aaron chuckled in a devil-may-care attitude as Seth walked over to fetch his bride. Once more, Seth stumbled on the bottom of her gown. This time he tore a huge section of the tulle in his ungainliness.

Courtney looked at her damaged gown and scolded, “Seth, that’s the second time you’ve ripped my wedding dress. Can you please be a little more careful? It’ll be in tatters by the end of the evening if this keeps up.”