After I had everything cleaned up, I went back upstairs and cuddled my mom again. I put my arms around her to hold her. I wanted her to know that I had her back, and that I would be there for her always.
As I started to drift off to sleep, a plan started to form in my mind, and I knew that I wanted to go on the cruise with my mom. Yea. I could do that. I squeezed my mom tighter as I faded off to sleep.
The week before the cruise went surprisingly fast. Each day I could see mom’s excitement and appreciation of what I was doing for her.
Finally, we walked aboard the ship and I felt like a king as my mom had my arm. Several people looked at us and smiled. Several men, both young and old, ogled my fiance-mom. I felt so proud walking with her.
Right away we met a couple who were on their second honeymoon and had been married for five years. I shook his hand and congratulated her. They both congratulated me and my fiance for our betrothal.
They offered to be witnesses to our wedding. It was then that another idea came to me. It was Monday and the wedding was to be on Wednesday, which gave me just enough time to get everything ready for mom’s special day.
At exactly midnight Wednesday morning, the wedding organizers ‘kidnapped’ mom. A groom is not supposed to see the bride before the wedding. I knew where they were taking her and the other brides, but mom, well she was going to get something special.
I waited in the stateroom for a while, then I did a little shopping at the ship’s store. I had until 11:00am before I would be expected at the altar. To tell the truth I was looking forward to the ceremony. I hadn’t seen my mom in her wedding dress yet, but I knew she was going to be beautiful. I made extra arrangements for her to have a complete makeover, and I told them not to be too heavy on the makeup because my fiance was already beautiful and didn’t need any. Ashly, the hairdresser, promised that she would make her more beautiful. I told her that that would be the easiest job she ever performed. I got a few “Ahhhhs…” from the women around, but they had never seen my mom-fiance…
I ate breakfast in the buffet and drank decaf coffee. From there I went to the ship’s gift shop and found a really nice suit and a new pair of loafers. I didn’t like the loafers, I am a cowboy and I prefer boots, but they had none. I paid for my purchases with my dad’s credit card. He gave it to me after I threatened him with physical violence if he didn’t pay for at least part of the cruise, as he had ruined it so completely for her.
Then, as I waited for my mom’s big moment, I did nothing but pray that I could make it special for her.
Chapter five: Special Days for Mom
Anna:
I was so excited when they ‘kidnapped’ me. I guess they were making sure that my groom didn’t see me before the wedding. They took me to the front of the ship, and I was given a place to sleep. They ‘kidnapped’ me with a robe, and they let me bring my dress but no makeup. They wouldn’t even let me bring my brushes. I took my ‘Louboutin’s that I had bought just for this occasion. I forgot my stockings, but they had some in stock at the ship’s store.
I slept until almost nine in the morning.
I couldn’t believe that I was so nervous, just having a fake wedding, but I was.
The other brides were just as nervous.
I kept smiling and giggling to myself that I was marrying my son. The situation was so weird.
Then the surprises started showing up. First, Roy sent a bouquet of flowers for me to carry. Then, he had me presented with a necklace, that his grandmother had given him, for me to carry. The note said, “Something borrowed”.
Another delivery arrived with a note that said, “Something new”. It was a beautiful gold chain with a two-carat ruby pendant.
Just as I thought it couldn’t get any better, a further delivery arrived with a note that said, “Something old”. It was an antique broach that I had seen at a jewelry store and fallen in love with. It was so ridiculously expensive, that I knew I could never have it, but now it was mine. I felt the tears start to flow. I was so happy.
Then, as if someone knew me better than I knew myself, a final delivery man tapped me on the shoulder and presented me with a blue handkerchief. The note read, “We mustn’t forget “something blue”… I love you mom… Anna…”
I both laughed and cried at my son’s attempt at humor, and at the way he was wooing me. I felt like I was on top of the world.
I loved it. My cheeks glowed and my smile lit up the room. But the surprises weren’t over yet.
I was taken to the ship’s beauty salon. There a woman, named Ashly, told me that she had orders to make me beautiful. I laughed and said, “That will take some work.”
“That’s not what your fiance said.”
I looked at her closely.
“I told him that I would make you beautiful”, Ashly continued, “And your fiance said, “That will be the easiest job you ever undertook; she is already beautiful.””
I stared at her for a long moment. Finally I said, “He did not.”
“Yes, he did”, all four of the stylists said, in unison with two of the other brides. I was dumbstruck.
“He also gave me orders not to use too much makeup… he said you didn’t need it.”
I felt tears drip from my eyes. Eric never would have said anything like this to me, ever.
“OK, let’s get the waterproof mascara for this one”, Ashly teased, as she wiped a tear from my cheek.
It was like there was a whirlwind picking me up and placing me here and there. It was nothing like when I married Eric. Here everything was so pleasant and unexpected. I couldn’t believe it. I had never been so happy and moved. How on earth was I going to pay Roy back for what he had given me this day?
I was sitting with the other brides in a small room. Drinks and snacks were provided for us, but no alcohol. They wouldn’t let us get drunk first. As I sat chatting with the other four brides, we seemed to be getting along really well. With the deliveries and the comments Roy made to the stylists, I was definitely the envy of them all.
One of the brides was Roy’s age, and I tried to imagine him with her, but unexpectedly became extremely jealous as I thought of her touching MY fiance. I couldn’t believe it.
Finally, they called us to the ship’s chapel, one at a time, each bride walking down the aisle to the traditional ‘wedding march.’ Their future husband was waiting with the captain and each couple was given a quick ceremony. Each couple then walked arm-in-arm back down the aisle. We all smiled and said our congratulations as they passed.
I was the fifth bride in line and, when they called my name, I had yet another surprise.
“Mrs. Brown?” asked the man from the couple that we first met. I looked at him.
“Your fiance asked me to walk you down the aisle, if you would like.”
I had felt my knees almost give way when they called me and, again, my son knew me better than I knew myself. Roy had asked this man to look after me, and I gratefully took his arm.