When they got everything in the truck Ben fished Daniel’s game from the bag and handed it to him. The young man grinned from ear to ear and thanked him again.
Ben just smiled. “You earned it!”
Rain opened the door for them when they arrived and helped them carry the stuff downstairs. They left the wall mount, TV, and one of the consoles in its box against the wall where the equipment was going to be set up. Daniel connected the new console to the existing TV as Karen and Penny excitedly bounced on their toes behind him. Daniel was having some difficulty concentrating with all the jiggly movement of their abundant boobage. He glanced at Ben who told the ladies to sit and be still so Daniel could finish.
“I’ll install the second set once I pick up a small cabinet for its game console. I also need to pick up the wall plates for the in-wall cable channel,” Ben said.
Daniel got the console set up and their favorite game running. Karen and Penny jumped up and gave the young man hugs until his head was spinning.
Ben snorted in amusement and headed out after getting kisses on the cheek from his daughters and a delightful kiss from Rain. Daniel made his exit as well clutching his new game happily. He had camera duty later so he’d have to put off playing until much later.
After he drove home, Ben went inside and settled back down in his chair to relax with his ladies.
It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon.
The banquet hall Catherine and Chanel arranged to have their wedding in was gorgeous. The beautiful archways, high ceilings, and elegant chandeliers were only outdone by the huge, floor to ceiling stained glass windows overlooking the gardens which let the late afternoon sun in, splashing the room with dazzling colors. Rows of chairs were arranged to face the window with a central aisle and the chairs were filled with guests. Neighbors and family on one side, coworkers and friends on the other. Catherine knew a lot of people through her charity and some of Chanel’s fellow officers had attended as well.
The ordained minister they hired was standing at the windows smiling at the guests.
Ben and Jack stood in the hall outside the main room glancing in the doors.
“I can’t believe how nervous I am!” Jack grumbled.
Ben smiled at the war veteran and shook his head. “Have you forgotten what to do?”
Jack smirked. “No. It’s just… I missed the first time she did this and I don’t want to screw this one up for her.”
Ben looked him right in the eye. “You can’t. She’s probably floating two feet off the ground right now. Just being there to keep her feet moored to the ground is going to be all she needs.” He caught a nod from Sophia. “It looks like we’re up. I’ll go get Chanel. As I recall, we go first. After Catherine’s daughters and Gabriella. See you up there.”
Ben turned and walked down the hall to knock on the door of the room where Chanel was getting ready. He went in and saw her standing by the window. She turned and the late afternoon light painted her lovely white dress until she shone like gold. They had opted for simple, slim dresses without the huge skirts, loads of lace or beadwork. Still, the dress was stunning on her amazing figure.
“You look breathtaking!” he sighed in awe and she smiled fondly at him.
He moved closer. “It’s time,” he said as he held out his elbow. She took his arm and he led her out into the hall. There they stopped to wait their turn. Through the doors they heard a very talented guitarist begin playing a beautifully intricate piece of music on his twelve string and the guests stood to face the hallway and aisle. Miriam went first and dropped flower petals on the white runner down the aisle. Megan was next with Rachel then Sophia following.
Ben watched them approach then turn left to enter the doors to the main hall. Each gave them a wide happy smile as they turned. Gabriella was last and would be standing at the front beside Chanel as her ‘best woman’ with flower girl Miriam next to her.
Then it was their turn. Ben stepped forward with Chanel on his arm and felt her tremble.
“You ok?” he whispered.
“This… this feels like a dream!” she whispered back.
“Do you love her?” Ben asked.
Her eyes snapped to his face and saw his gentle smile. Her expression softened. “More than I thought possible.”
“As much as Catherine loves you then. Good!” Ben finished as they moved down the aisle.
He saw Daniel moving around with his camera, taking photos from unexpected angles and vantage points. He smiled as he could only imagine how interesting these shots would be. He saw the intensity in the young man’s eyes and knew he was in the zone.
When they reached the front, Ben kissed Chanel’s cheek and moved to stand between Tina and Lucy who looked stunning in their swept up hair and elegant gowns. Tina was hiding her baby bump as well as she could. Gretchen was on Tina’s other side in one of the fancy dresses Rainor had bought her. The only good thing he’d done. She flashed him a smile which he returned.
In the next row back were Lisa and Lori. Their red hair was piled high as well but some fell artfully over their bare shoulders. They’d chosen to wear matching red sheath dresses which immediately caught Ben’s attention as he saw them. The twins drank in how sharp he looked in his dark and crisply cut suit. They smiled at his own appreciative stare. He nodded to them as Catherine entered the room holding her father’s arm.
Ben thought she looked absolutely beautiful and his heart did a little jump in his chest. She smiled to her guests and her eyes caught his as they got closer. He felt her love for him as an almost tangible pull and he smiled at the joy on her face. Then her eyes were on Chanel and she bit her lip as a visible shiver went through her body. She smiled at the woman waiting for her at the altar.
When they stopped, Jack kissed Catherine’s cheek. He leaned in to whisper something to her and she put her hand over her mouth as happy tears came to her eyes. Jack was smiling at her with tears in his own eyes as he stepped back beside his wife. Catherine waved at her face to dry her tears and took the final step up beside Chanel. Sophia handed her a tissue she quickly used to dap her eyes. Sophia took the tissue back and it magically seemed to disappear… somewhere. There certainly weren’t any pockets on her lovely cream dress.
The minister asked everyone to be seated and she began the ceremony as the last of the sunset painted their gowns with its fiery reds and splashes of other colors from the stain glass.
The ceremony was mostly traditional but each said a brief statement of their personal promise to each other and the minister continued. Gabriella handed the ring Chanel picked for Catherine to her and she placed it on the blonde’s trembling finger as she spoke the words. Her voice wobbled but she made it through.
Sophia handed Catherine the ring she’d chosen for the woman she wanted to spend her life with. Cat grinned and spoke the words boldly. She was almost giddy with happiness as she put the ring on Chanel’s finger.
The minister announced them married and they kissed as everyone cheered. Daniel caught the moment when they turned to the gathering holding hands and smiling blissfully.
They signed their marriage contract, Gabriella was Chanel’s witness and Sophia was her mother’s. To make it official the minister put her signature and seal on it. Gabriella took the document with her.
The reception hall was a short distance down the hall and the guests made their way to it. Due to the short time span their preparations took place in, they’d opted for an informal self-serve buffet but they had a huge variety of delicious dishes so everyone found something they liked.
Daniel was able to relax and hang out with Miriam, Karlene, Savannah, Madison, John, and Jane. There were no formal seating arrangements and no head table. The atmosphere was very relaxed and happy. Catherine and Chanel made the rounds and greeted everyone.
Ben was sitting at a table enjoying his dinner with his three ladies and the twins around him when the music began. A section of the dancefloor was cleared so the older guests could enjoy the mellow classics before the faster tunes began. That’s when the younger members of the party would get up to dance.
He saw Jack and Lynda getting up to dance and smiled at them as they began to move. He felt a tug as he watched them dance but he looked away and the pull slipped back into the recesses of his mind.
As the next song began Sophia showed up at his elbow with a hopeful smile. He nodded to her and swept her out onto the dancefloor. They began to move and Sophia’s eyes sparkled with joy as he moved with the grace he’d shown in the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles.
From the hours he’d spent with Dr. Granger in hypnotherapy he could now tap into his memories of Margaret Cosburn without losing himself. He didn’t have to think about dancing, it just… happened. The muscle memory from the lessons she’d drilled into him every day until he was exhausted remained. The unfortunate caveat of addressing these memories was that, for now, he felt the pain of her loss as a fresh wound each time he did. Dr. Granger assured him that now that he wasn’t suppressing the memories the pain would diminish over time. For now, he bore the pain silently as dancing like this made Sophia so happy. He dipped her and they flowed around the dance floor as time stopped for them.
Jack and Lynda were sitting this one out and watched Ben and Sophia in amazement. Gabriella was sitting with them so Jack turned to her with a wide grin. “The man moves like Fred Astaire did on his best days. Where did he learn to dance like that?”
Gabriella’s smile was slightly pained as she watched Ben move. Jack’s smile faltered. “I’m sorry if I brought up something painful for you.”
She shook her head. Hannah had filled her in on the details. “No, not for me. Ben was taught to dance by a foster care mother when he was twelve. He… fell in love with her at that tender age. It must have been a profoundly deep and pure love. Even for someone so young. Her husband discovered they’d been dancing and had been for some time. In a drunken rage he beat her to death. Ben took her death extremely hard. Submerged the entire ordeal in his subconscious. It was what caused his recent issues.”