Cutler 3 - Twilight's Child (12 page)

We kissed, and there was applause as we hurried down the aisle together. It was over. I was Mrs. James Gary Longchamp.

The cocktail party and reception was set up in the hotel lobby. Mother, Jimmy and I stood in a reception line as the guests entered. It was Mother's idea that Mr. Updike stand beside Jimmy and myself so we could be introduced to some of the important guests that I hadn't met yet. It saddened me a bit because I knew it was something Randolph should really do but was incapable of doing. In fact, I didn't see him anywhere. When I asked Philip if he knew how he was, he said he would see.

Once the guests passed through the line they could go to either side of the lobby, where two bars were set up for drinks. Waiters and waitresses were dressed in the new uniforms Mother had designed especially for the occasion. The waiters wore bright red vests, white shirts and red bow ties with red slacks, and the waitresses wore white vests, red blouses with white bow ties and white skirts. They threaded through the crowd, offering guests hot and cold hors d'oeuvres: fried and boiled shrimp, egg rolls, won tons, caviar and pate. Some waiters carried trays of champagne.

In the far corner was the five-piece cocktail band. Once everyone had passed through our reception line, Jimmy and I and Trisha got ourselves some food and drink. Christie was down by the band with Sissy, clapping her hands and swaying to the music. It was a very lively cocktail party. Everyone seemed to be enjoying it immensely. Philip returned from looking for Randolph and told me he was all right, just doing some small things in his office.

"He's a bit confused, but nothing more," he explained.

"Isn't he coming out?" I asked.

"Sure. Soon," Philip said, and he mingled with some of the younger guests he knew.

Just before the announcement was made for everyone to proceed to the ballroom for the dinner and the dancing, Bronson Alcott came up to me and pulled me aside.

"I hope you aren't angry about what I did during the ceremony," he said. "Your mother was in a panic and begged me to do something when Randolph wandered off at the most inappropriate time."

"It's all right," I said. "I understand and appreciate it." He smiled widely.

"Might I give the bride a congratulatory kiss?" he asked. I nodded, and he kissed me rather softly and lovingly on my cheek, squeezing my hand as he did so. "The very best of luck to you," he said. "You two make a very handsome couple."

"Thank you," I said, and I watched him stroll over to Mother, who was obviously having the time of her life greeting people who were showering her with lavish compliments. She had already gathered a small herd of male admirers about her and was holding court.

A little bit later the band stopped playing and the bandleader went to his microphone to announce that he had been asked to tell everyone to proceed to the ballroom. As people entered they had to pass through a giant arch covered with red and yellow roses that spelled GOOD LUCK DAWN AND JAMES. On the other side of the arch, the maitre d' awaited at a desk upon which he had everyone's name and assigned table. The entire ballroom had been decorated in a wedding motif. Enormous white, green, blue and yellow styrofoam cutouts of bells and flowers, chapels and angels were hung on the walls. At the far end were gigantic cutouts of a bride and a groom at an altar.

All of the tables had real flower centerpieces. Beside them were bottles of champagne set in silver ice buckets. The guests received small mementos of the wedding: gold-trimmed matchbooks with "Dawn and James" printed on them in a gold heart and the date underneath, real leather bookmarks with our names embossed and figures of a bride and groom at the top and small makeup mirrors for the women with DAWN AND JAMES AT CUTLER'S COVE printed on the back.

While the guests were parading in I asked Mother if she shouldn't go see about Randolph.

"What for?" she said, grimacing as if I had shoved a tablespoon of cod-liver oil into her mouth. "He's so depressing," she added, "and he has already embarrassed all of us to no end."

"But . . ."

Before I could say anything more she saw someone turn her way and wave. She released a peal of laughter herself and hurried away.

"I'm going to see about Randolph, Jimmy. It will take these people a few minutes to get seated anyway," I said.

"Okay. I'll―wait right here." He kissed me on the cheek, and I rushed out to Randolph's office.

I found him seated at his desk, scribbling over a pad. He didn't look up when I knocked.

"Randolph?" I said, approaching him. "Are you all right?"

He lifted his eyes toward me and then looked at the pad. I could see he had just been doodling. Suddenly a single tear broke free of his left eyelid and began to trickle down his cheek. His lips trembled, and his chin quivered.

"She's gone," he said. "Mother's gone."

"Oh, Randolph," I said, both happy and sad that he was finally willing to face up to it. "Yes, she is."

He shook his head and looked at Grandmother Cutler's picture on his desk.

"I never really had a chance to say good-bye," he said. "We were always so busy . . . ." He looked back at me and shook his head. "We never really said the things that we should have said to each other. At least, I didn't say the things I should have said to her. She was always protecting me, looking after me."

"Randolph, I'm sorry," I said. "I know you have been avoiding the reality for so long, but maybe this is good. Maybe you can achieve things again, become what she would have wanted you to become."

"I don't know," he said. "I don't know if I can. I feel so lost."

"You will get better with time, Randolph. I know you will."

He smiled at me gratefully.

"How pretty you look," he said.

"Thank you, Randolph. You know it's my wedding day," I said softly. "The ceremony and the cocktail party are over. Now we're all going into the ballroom for dinner. Don't you want to come and celebrate with us? It's time for us all to enter together," I emphasized.

He nodded. "Yes," he said, looking around. "I'll be there," he said. "In a moment. I just want to get myself together." He lifted his heavy, dark eyes toward me again. "Good luck to you," he said, as if he would never see me again.

"Don't be long, Randolph. Please," I said. He wiped his cheek with the back of his hand and nodded.

"I won't," he promised. "Thank you," he said.

Mother was waiting impatiently beside Jimmy when I returned.

"It's time for us to enter," she said. "Where were you?" "I went to see Randolph. He's snapping out of it, facing the truth," I told her.

"Well, good for him. It's about time," she said sharply.

"He needs you, needs someone to help him," I said.

"Oh, Dawn, why bring up all this dreary business at a time like this?" she moaned. "It's your wedding day, for goodness sakes! Enjoy it!"

"He said he would enter with us," I told her, and I looked back for him.

Just then we heard the band inside stop, and then a drumroll begin. The master of ceremonies took the microphone and announced us.

"Ladies and gentlemen, your hosts, the Cutlers, and the bride and groom, Mr. and Mrs. James Gary Longchamp." "Where is he?" I cried.

"We can't wait any longer. He's probably forgotten what you told him by now anyway," Mother said, starting toward the door. "Dawn," she snapped when I hesitated.

"I guess we'd better go in," Jimmy said.

I nodded and put my arm through his. I looked back one more time before we went under the arch, but Randolph was nowhere to be seen. Mother, undaunted, passed through first, bathing in the applause. The guests were all standing. Jimmy and I walked in after her, smiling and waving to people. The three of us went directly to the dais.

Seated with us were Mr. and Mrs. Updike, Mr. and Mrs. Dorfman, Philip and Bronson Alcott, who was placed on Mother's right. Randolph's empty chair was on her left. Sissy and Christie were on the far right end with Tricia beside them. Jimmy and I took our seats in the center, and everyone sat down. Almost as soon as we did, Mr. Alcott stood up.

The first thing the waiters and waitresses had done was to be sure everyone had his or her glass filled with champagne. Mr. Alcott lifted his.

"It's appropriate at this time," he began, "for someone to have the honor to offer a toast to the bride and groom. I am truly honored to be the one selected."

He turned toward us.

"The people of Cutler's Cove joyfully welcome Mr. and Mrs. James Gary Longchamp to our community and wish them health, happiness and success. May you two have a long and wonderful marriage and be blessed from this day forward. To James and Dawn," he cried, and the crowd of guests repeated, "To James and Dawn."

Immediately someone began to tap his glass, and the entire place reverberated with a chorus of tinkles. We knew that meant they wanted to see us kiss. We did so quickly, because Jimmy was quite shy about it. There was laughter and applause, and then the music and the meal began.

There was fresh melon and salad and a cup of soup. The main dish was filet mignon with baked potatoes and stir-fried vegetables. Mother had had the baker design bread in the shape of wedding bells. The courses were well spaced so that people could get up and enjoy the dancing while they feasted.

Jimmy and I got up and danced twice, and then Philip requested a dance. I looked at Jimmy. His eyes narrowed, but he nodded gently, and I accepted.

"I have to hand it to Mother," he said while he held me close to him, "she outdid herself this time. I've never seen such an affair at the hotel. You can be sure Grandmother wouldn't have spent this much."

"Mother doesn't know a thing about money and costs, nor could she care."

"Spoken like a true Cutler," he said, smiling.

"Stop saying that, Philip. I'm just trying to be realistic. I see the plus and minus columns every day," I replied. He looked impressed.

"Anyway," he said, "I'm glad she didn't spare the expense. I can't think of anyone I'd like to see enjoy it more than you.

"I wonder," he continued, "if my wedding will be anything like this. I expect it might."

"Have you become formally engaged?" I asked.

"Not yet, but soon," he said. "My fiancée’s parents are very wealthy."

"I'm happy for you, Philip."

"Of course," he said, swinging me to the side, "money isn't important if you're not with the one you want to be with."

"But you are, aren't you, Philip?" I pursued.

"You know, I'll always wish it was you and I, Dawn," he replied. His eyes were soft, limpid pools of desire.

"Well, we both know that can't and never will be. So there's no sense talking about it, is there?"

"No, you're right," he said. "It's only painful to do so." When the dance ended I asked him if he would go look in on Randolph.

"See what's keeping him," I asked.

"Your wish is my command," he replied, bowing like a dutiful servant, and he left. Before I could return to the dais the music started again, and I felt myself being turned. I looked up into Bronson Alcott's eyes.

"May I have this next dance?" he asked. I looked toward the dais. Jimmy was talking to some of the hotel staff. "Yes," I said. He took hold of me firmly, and we began. "You know," he said, "I'm quite envious of James. He's landed the best catch at the shore."

"It's the other way around, Mr. Alcott. I've landed the best catch."

He laughed.

"Please, call me Bronson," he said again. "I don't like feeling older than you."

"No wonder you and my mother get along so well," I said petulantly. His smile widened. "She never wants to act her age either."

He roared and swung me around. I had to admit to myself that in his arms I did feel like a princess. He was so graceful. Our dancing caught the attention of a number of the guests, many of whom stopped dancing themselves to watch us. Before long it seemed as if the entire wedding party was staring our way, especially Mother, who wore the most unusual look on her face—a mixture of jealousy and sadness. When the number ended there was some applause.

"We're a hit," Bronson said. "Thank you."

"Thank you," I said, and I hurried back to Jimmy, who looked overwhelmed.

"I can't wait to get out of here," I whispered, "and be on our honeymoon."

He brightened and kissed me softly. Then Sissy brought Christie to us, and we took her out on the dance floor and held her between us as we danced and enjoyed the music.

Philip returned to tell me that Randolph had fallen asleep on the sofa in his office.

"I didn't have the heart to wake him," he said.

"Maybe it is for the best," I admitted.

Suddenly the band stopped playing and the emcee came to the microphone.

"Many of you know," he began, "that our beautiful bride is a very talented singer. Perhaps we can coax her into coming up here and singing at her own wedding."

"Oh, no," I cried. But the guests all cheered. I looked helplessly at Jimmy and Trisha.

"Go ahead," he said.