Destiny: Will do !
Natalie: Honest...they can be when there are no showers...no invitations...no halls nor DJ's or bands to hire and people who just keep their noses to themselves. Liz doesn't give anyone a chance for input, including Maria. How I wish I was like that sometime.
Jan:Having Nun cousins I know for a fact that they love to get involved in stuff like this. It's a change of 'scenery' for them.
Carolyn: Thanks, it gets a little angsty for a while but it's still fluffy!
jEsSaH: I am so glad that you are enjoying this. I always feel like I spend too much time on incidental b.s...Oh, and take a look at my banner...you can see the dress...I did give it to my granddaughter and it fit...honest.
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A/N: Happy Easter Everyone, Happy Passover and all the other things going on today.
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Chapter 10:
Tuesday
Max stopped by the girls’ apartment on his way home on Tuesday morning and found Liz and Maria both up and ready for work.
Liz always left about 6:30 a.m. and since she was off due to illness she had a lot of catching up to do. Liz poured Max a cup of coffee, gave him a quick kiss on the lips and asked him if he was hungry. Max kissed her back and said ‘no’ and then he asked her if there was anything she needed done that he could help with and she just gave him a great big smile and told him not to worry, everything was under control…then she thought…pictures!
“Max, would you see if we might be able to hire a photographer for a couple of hours on Saturday. I think it would be nice to have some formal pictures. What do you think?”
“I think it would be great Sweetheart, I’ll be glad to take care of it.”
“Oh, Max, I can stop by the hospital tonight after work and maybe we could grab a bite to eat in the cafeteria if you would like.”
Max smiled a huge smile and said, “Of course I would like…just check in at the receptionist’s desk, I’ll tell her where you can find me.”
Liz said “great” and then she gave him a nice big hug and a quick kiss on the lips before heading out the door.
“How are you holding up?” Maria asked Max with a little grin on her face.
“Great really, I can’t believe this is all happening but I am so happy that I feel like I’m floating.” Max said with a huge grin on his face that matched Maria’s.
“You don’t know how really happy Michael and I are for you two.” Maria told Max, looking as sincere and happy as anyone could possibly look.
“Yes I do Maria. We have known each other all of our lives and this just makes it seem better. I don’t know how to explain it…it’s just better. I feel like something is finally complete.” Max was extremely sincere in his reply…and Maria knew what he meant, they all felt it and she replied…
“Yeah, I know what you mean.”
After he left the apartment Max stopped by the local donut shop for a quick cup of coffee and a few “krispy-kremes”. He grabbed the local telephone book and started checking out photographers and found the one that they used for his graduation pictures.
He didn’t know if the guy did weddings or not because the ad didn’t give much information so Max just wrote down his number along with a few others and then decided to check out the local hotels for Saturday night.
A honeymoon would be in the future but he wanted something nice for this weekend so
he took out his cell phone and proceeded to call the hotels first…a man has his priorities after all.
He found out that the Regency had a lovely bridal suite and it was available this weekend so Max made the reservations and closed his phone, he was beaming. ‘Who said you need months of planning to make things right?’ he thought to himself.
After booking the hotel suite he called the photographer and told him who he was and what he wanted. The photographer recognized Max’s name from his high school girlfriend, it’s Isabelle Evans’ little brother Alex said to himself.
He wondered what ever happened to her. He hadn’t seen her in years; he wondered if she was as beautiful as she was in high school? He hoped that she was at the wedding… unmarried.
The photographer asked Max if he could swing by and they could discuss what Max wanted…Max said,
“Sure, I’ll be there in about twenty minutes.”
Max hurried on over to the photographer’s studio and the man introduced himself as Alex and asked Max to come into his private office. He told the receptionist not to disturb them and proceeded to ask Max some questions.
“How large of a wedding is this Max?” He asked.
“Just the family and a very few friends, it will be at the hospital chapel on Saturday at 2:00 pm and then a small dinner at the home of the bride immediately following. We don’t want anything elaborate…just a few formal pictures for remembrance.” Max replied.
Alex looked at Max with a friendly smile and said, “Max, pictures are a way of recording the events that make up our lives. Now, you let me take care of everything. Please inform the bride that I will be at her home at 1:00 pm on Saturday to take some pictures there before heading over to the chapel.” Then he asked Max where he lived and Max told him right next door to the bride. “Great, Max. You can expect me at your house around 12:00 and be dressed and ready by then.” Max agreed and said he would tell Liz. With that he headed home for some much needed rest.
Still Tuesday morning:
Liz got to the office and started to open the door when she realized that it was already open. She walked in and there sat Jeremy, the new lawyer, in the receptionist’s chair. She asked him what he was doing there so early and he said that he needed to talk to her.
“To me?”
“Yes” he said.
“About what?” Liz wasn’t too sure what was going on but she had a gut feeling that it wasn’t going to be good.
“Well, I wanted to know if you would like to go out with me on Saturday; maybe have some dinner and catch a movie.”
And with that Liz about choked. Oh God, how do I do this diplomatically? She was frantic…she could hardly tolerate the man as a coworker how was she going to be diplomatic?
‘Oh my God! I don’t need this today; I don’t need this on any day! Oh God Liz’, she told herself, ‘just do what you do with any business communication …short and to the point’.
‘Here goes!’
She tried very hard to maintain a calm demeanor but she could feel her body tensing up and when she got this upset she had a tendency to stare daggers at people, but she tried…
”Well Jeremy, since we really don’t know each other and you are not aware of my private life I feel it’s only fair to inform you that I am getting married on Saturday and I don’t think my husband would like it if I left our honeymoon to have dinner with you.
Now, I am not making fun of your request, so please don’t take this the wrong way… but, (now her voice grew stronger) I am so happy to be marrying the man of my dreams that I cannot think of any other way to tell you this except… other than… (now she was just about shouting) a pure and simple NO.”
Liz had never really liked this man…he has always given her the creeps…made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. God, why couldn’t she have said it nicer…but you can’t just grab the words out of the air and put them back in your mouth…she was so frustrated with herself.
Jeremy just looked at her stunned. He couldn’t believe he didn’t know that she was seeing someone. She never mentioned anyone. She always seemed to be heading home alone. When did all of this take place? She is not wearing an engagement ring. Doesn’t the guy think enough of her to buy her a ring? I think I will check with Diane and see if she is lying to me. His mind was going in five different directions at the same time.
He looked at Liz with an unrecognizable expression on his face and said,
“Oh, I’m sorry Liz. I didn’t know you were seeing someone.” His voice was very smooth and almost creepy sounding.
Liz felt a sudden chill go up her spine…’just shake it off’ she told herself. She knew she should have handled this differently but the man just creeped her out.
“It’s alright Jeremy…let’s just forget it, ok?”
Liz went to her office and proceeded to get things in order for the rest of the day. Diane showed up at 7:30 and as always headed straight to Liz’s office to make sure she had things under control for the rest of the day and to just say good morning.
Liz told her about Jeremy being there when she got in at seven and what he wanted. Diane wasn’t really too shocked since she had noticed that Jeremy was always watching Liz when she didn’t know it but she was a little discomfited to think that he would open the office and wait for Liz to come in. She got the same eerie feeling that Liz had…’what’s wrong here’ she thought to herself?
She asked Liz what she told him so Liz repeated what she had told Jeremy practically verbatim.
She told her that she wasn’t very nice about it either and was very apologetic, she didn’t know what came over her.
Diane assured her that she was not out of line. Then Diane wanted to know if Liz wanted her to tell Jeremy whom she was getting married to. Liz told her she felt that it was none of his business and Diane agreed. Liz was flabbergasted, what was causing her to act like this. She’d turned men down before and it never affected her like this.
Diane then went to her office and Jeremy knocked on her door before she even had a chance to put her jacket and purse away.
Jeremy proceeded to ask Diane if she knew that Liz was getting married and she said she was very aware of it and why was he so concerned. He said he hadn’t realized that Liz was seeing anyone let alone engaged to anyone and Diane informed him that what Liz did outside of the office was her business and no one else’s. Jeremy had to agree with her on that one and then Diane noticed that he looked a little strange…she asked him if he had something else on his mind and he told her “no.”
She hoped he was telling her the truth.
*~*~*
Jeremy left Diane’s office and headed to his own, he was very deep in thought. His mind was working overtime on this new development with Liz. He felt that if she just gave herself time to get used to him that she would be more than happy to start seeing him.
“Why is she marrying someone else?” he asked himself…”After all he is really a great catch…he has a fine job, good career opportunities and is quite handsome. After all that is what his mother always told him, isn’t it?” He continued to wonder,
“What is wrong with her, can’t she see this?” He will have to do something quickly. Saturday is only four days away
*~*~*
Grandma Claudia arrived on Tuesday afternoon and called Liz at work. She asked her to stop by to see her before going home and Liz couldn’t wait to see her grandmother and also could hardly wait to see what she had brought her…she knew she didn’t forget it!
Before leaving the office Liz told Diane not to make any plans for tonight that Grandma Claudia arrived today and she would be stopping by her mom’s and dad’s before heading home…but she was meeting Max for dinner at the hospital first so she would be a little late.
“OK sweetheart, I’ll be there.” And then Diane finished up her last little job before heading home.
Liz left her office at 6:00 p.m. and headed straight for the hospital for her quick little dinner date with Max. You take what you can get when there isn’t a lot of time.
She started her truck up and didn’t notice the small green sport car idling in the parking space next to her. She put in her favorite CD and headed out onto the main highway with the sport car right behind her. The sun was inching it’s way to the west as Liz headed east down the interstate.
She finally arrived at the hospital and headed straight for the information desk in the main lobby. She had the receptionist check for Max’s duty station and the girl told her that Dr. Evans was waiting for her in the cafeteria already. Liz smiled at the young woman and headed on down to the cafeteria where she spotted Max standing with a group of young doctors over by the vending machines; he spotted her immediately and excused himself and hurried over to take her into a quick embrace before heading to the buffet line. He guided her up to the buffet display with his hand held protectively at her back. He was so proud of her and wanted the world to know that she belonged to him.
Little did they know that someone was watching them and was really taken aback with what he saw.
Jeremy recognized Max from the picture on Diane’s desk in her office. Why didn’t he know that Liz was seeing Max Evans? She didn’t have any pictures of him in her office. Well, she really didn’t have any pictures of anyone in her office so I guess this is no surprise. Maybe he should leave well enough alone, “No” he thought, he will call his mother, that’s what he’ll do. The longer Jeremy thought about it the more obsessed he became.
Father O’Brien spotted Max and Liz over in the corner having a quiet meal and talking to each other,
“They don’t seem to look like they would mind some company.” He thought to himself and he took his food tray over in their direction and both kids invited the old priest to join them for dinner. Father was really impressed with Liz and told Max this and Max thanked him, Liz just blushed and told the old priest “thank you.”
“Father, do you think it will be possible for us to have a rehearsal on Friday evening just to make sure we all do the right thing at the right time?” Liz asked with a smile on her face…it was almost impossible for her to wipe it off these days.
“Of course Liz. Will 7:00 pm be alright for you? I make rounds at six and will certainly be finished by seven.”
“Of course it will Father. There will only be the four of us, Max, Michael, Maria and me. We’re fairly intelligent I think…we should be able to wrap this up in about 15 minutes or less.” Liz said with a little giggle. Then she added…
“Father, can you come for a small dinner and reception at my parents home after the wedding on Saturday?”
“Liz, I would love to come. Do you think we should invite Sister Margaret as well?”
Then Max interrupted and said…
“Father, I was planning on asking Sister myself, tomorrow. Don’t you think it would be better if I asked her?”
The old priest looked at Max and smiled,
“Of course, you’re right Max. You do that.”
They continued on with their meal, sharing unimportant pleasantries and then it was time for Max and the old priest to make their rounds. Liz shook Father’s hand and gave Max a quick peck on the cheek before leaving the cafeteria.
Meanwhile all the young interns were standing around waiting for Max and wondering who the little fox was that was with him. Michael didn’t offer any of them any information what so ever. He promised his friend not to say a word and he would honor that promise. They’ll find out soon enough Michael thought to himself.
*~*~*
When Liz got home she was so excited to see her Grandma Claudia that she could hardly speak.
After hugs and greetings Grandma asked her where Max was and Liz told her that he had night shift today and tomorrow…so he will be by to see her tomorrow afternoon before going to work. Grandma was almost as excited to see Max as she was Liz, she has known him since he was a baby after all and she has known his mother as long as she’s known her daughter-in-law.
After Diane got to the Parkers Grandma Claudia took Liz upstairs to take a peek at what she brought her.
Liz just looked at her and smiled, she wanted to mess with her a little,
“Grandma, Maria and I went to the Bridal Shop today and…”
Grandma gasped and said to Liz,
“God Liz don’t tell me you bought a dress!”
Liz started giggling and told her,
“No Grandma, we bought Maria a beautiful dress since she’s the maid of honor. I know you brought your dress for me. I was just messing with you.” Liz giggled at her grandmothers horrified expression.
Grandma heaved a huge sigh of relief and Liz continued on up the stairs to Grandma’s room.
Grandma just looked at her and smiled…’she knows me too well’ she thought to herself.
Liz could hardly stand the wait. Grandma had taken the dress to the seamstress before leaving home and had the gown steamed to freshen it up and to make any repairs that might have been needed. It looked brand new. Liz could hardly wait to try it on.
It had cost Claudia a pretty penny for the oversized trunk she had put the gown in to transport it but it was worth it. Liz could have the trunk as well as the gown. It fit perfectly in it and was as dust proof as anything on the market. After all, it kept the dress clean and dust free for over 50 years…some things are just timeless.
Grandma helped Liz into the large hooped petticoat and then tied on the buskets.
Liz looked at grandma with those big brown eyes of hers and said, “Grandma, what in the name of God is…this…thing hanging over my waist upside down?” as she flipped the buskets with her fingers.
Grandma explained with a little smile, “They keep your waistline looking small by fanning out the dress over your hips. The weight of the skirt pulls everything down and the buskets will keep it up where it belongs.”
Liz just looked at her wide-eyed and said “Oh” as though she understood exactly what her grandmother told her when in truth she hadn’t a clue as to what this THING was.
Grandma then slipped the gown over Liz’s head and proceeded to button the back, one lonely button at a time, there must be thirty of them and then she started on the sleeves, tiny little self-covered buttons, twelve on each arm, from the wrist to the elbow. They are going to have to allow an extra half hour just to button this thing.
Then grandma stood back and looked at her granddaughter, ‘what a sight!’ If anyone didn’t know better they would have thought the dress had been tailor made for Liz. It was perfect.
Liz asked her if she brought the veil as well and Grandma told her that it didn’t hold up as well as the dress but the seamstress was making a new one for her and it would be overnighted to her tomorrow.
The seamstress had grandmas’ veil and is going to make it exactly like the old one. It will be fingertip length with a border of lace around the entire circumference. She did buy Liz a new headpiece but that was a surprise. Liz just smiled and hugged her all over again.
Through all of the tears coming from both ladies you would have thought that it was a funeral instead of a wedding.
Grandma reached up and pulled Liz’s hair up away from her face, gave it a twist, and held it up with a clip. She looked ravishing, Max is going to faint at the sight of her.
Liz had grandma head down stairs to make sure everyone was in the living room and then she proceeded to walk down the steps in her bare feet holding the dress up in the front, being very careful not to catch it on anything.
When she entered the living room they all looked at her in awe. Her father was the first to start crying and then both Diane and her mother started tearing up. (There wasn’t a dry eye in the room) They had no idea where this beautiful dress had come from and then Jeff recognized it…it was his mothers dress, but how did she get it to fit Liz so perfectly?
Jeff asked his mother…”How did you get it to fit so well?”
Liz looked at her dad and said “dad, she didn’t do anything to it…it just fits, that’s all.”
Now it was Nancy and Diane’s turn…”You mean its’ Claudia’s wedding gown?”
Claudia, Liz and Jeff all answered together, “Yes.” The mothers sat in awe, they couldn’t believe that the dress was that old. And then…Liz swore all of them to secrecy….
“Do not tell Max or Maria. This is to be a surprise to them.” They all agreed that they would keep her secret and she and Grandma headed back upstairs to take the dress off. Then Liz got her things together and headed on home.
Tomorrow will be another busy day for our young bride.
*~*~*
Liz looked in on the parents before leaving and she told them that a cleaning crew would be in on Friday to get the house ready for dinner on Saturday and the caterer will be coordinating his visit with the cleaning crew to make sure the furniture is arranged for a sit down dinner for thirty people.
“There are twenty-two people that are definitely going to be here and that gives you eight places for whomever you want to invite. It is not necessary to invite anyone other than Maria and Michael’s parents but if you want to there will be enough food for that many people, so be choosy about who you really want to come and share this with.
The list included:
Max, Liz, Michael, Maria, Diane, Diane’s parents, Philip’s parents, Jeff, Nancy, Claudia, Nancy’s parents, Michael’s parents, Maria’s parents, Father O’Brien and Sister Margaret and if we’re lucky, Isabelle. We should probably have a place set for the photographer too since he will be here and he should be allowed to eat.”
Max’s sister Isabelle works in London for a high power fashion designer and they are almost positive she won’t be able to make it on such short notice but they can always hope.
Both mothers were speechless. Liz informed them that they will be getting married at the hospital chapel on Saturday at 2:00 pm by Father O’Brien and all they have to do is show up.
“And, don’t forget, no one besides the people in this room is to know that I will be wearing a wedding gown. This is going to be my surprise to Max and we all know how good Maria is at keeping secrets!” Everyone laughed and bid her good night.
*~*~*
Meanwhile, as soon as Father O’Brien talked to Sister Margaret she had an organ moved into the chapel from the recreation hall and made arrangements for the school choir to sing the wedding mass for the young couple. She also had the kneeler from the Nun’s chapel moved down to Father’s office.
Then she called a local furniture store and asked the owner if he might be able to LEND her a bench covered in a pretty white fabric, preferably a satin type fabric. The owner of the store chuckled to himself and told her of course, and asked if she would like it delivered. She told him that would be great and she needed it in the hospital chapel by 12:00 noon on Saturday. He told her it would be there.
He had been dealing with the Nuns from St. Joseph’s for years and they were just too cute in the way they manipulated people.
She then called to get the color scheme of the wedding from Michael and Michael told her he would have to get back to her; he immediately knew what was happening.
Michael then called Maria,
“Hey Maria, do you know if Liz has a particular color scheme in mind for this little get together?”
Maria giggled at Michaels terminology and answered her sweetheart,
“Sure spaceboy…she using a lot of peach…very pale peach. What’s up?”
“Sister Margaret just called and asked me if I knew and I told her I’d get back to her. How’s your day going?”
“Great Michael. Will I see you when you get off your shift?”
“You know it blondie…behave.”
“Will do…take care and do good things.”
“Always, love you, later!”
“Love you spaceboy. Night.” And they hung up.
Michael then called Sister Margaret back and told her,
“Light peach is the color of the day.”
“Thank you Michael and I’ll see you on Saturday.”
Sister just smiled at Michaels’ description, short and to the point but an excellent doctor.
Sister then had the ladies auxiliary cover the kneeler in white satin and smock it together in peach and white silk roses with green spider fern for accent. She had the kneeler placed in Father’s office just in case the couple should come to the chapel for any reason before Saturday and smiled to herself. There’s no such thing as a small wedding regardless of how many people there are.
Sister knew both Michael and Max very well, they are two of her finest interns and she is hoping that both young doctors will continue to work out of her hospital when they finish their internship next month.
*~*~*
Michael wasn’t supposed to know where the wedding was to be taking place but the cat was out of the bag now. Should he or shouldn’t he let the rest of their friends know. He would check with Max’s mom first.
After talking to Michael and some careful consideration Diane told Michael that she didn’t think it was such a good idea since the kids wanted this to be a very small and intimate group. Michael agreed with her and kept his promise to Max.
Michael also went to see Father and told him that Max and Liz wanted this to be a very small and simple affair so Father went along with it. But, he allowed Sister Margaret to do her little bit to make it nice for the kids. After all, she is everyone’s boss around here so he should cut her some slack.
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