Once Within A Lifetime (35 page)

He
held her close and whispered in her ear, “Yes, my sweetheart, this is for real. We will soon be Mr. and Mrs. Todd Noble. No longer will you be alone and do things alone except for your personal work. That is probably the only thing that will stay somewhat the same, though it also will be different as your perspective changes. Someday you may get into designing children’s clothes with our own children as models. What a deal! Bet you never entertained such a thought ever before. We cannot realize until we get into it how different things will be for us.”

“
They will all be good changes, wonderful changes. Our whole life has taken on a whole new hue. We will see a lot of the world together on our honeymoon. We will build up so many wonderful memories to last us for a lifetime and will keep adding to them as time goes by. Oh, my sweet and precious love, I find it so very difficult to wait until you are my wife and we will be together always. We will reach such heights we cannot imagine right now but we very soon will get introduced to them. I am sure it will be a gradual process getting better and better as time goes on and as we learn more fully and deeply about one another heart and soul.”

It
was getting dusky and the lights came on over the table. They realized they had better go in and spend some time with their guests before it all broke up. They were glad no one had come to disturb their thoughts and reverie.

They
went back inside and a number of voices said, “Here comes the dreamy couple now. Let’s drink a toast to the happy couple. To a long and very happy life.”

Another
remarked, “May they love each other for eternity.”

Still
another, “To success in all they plan to do.”

Todd
and Triessa raised their glasses.

“
Thank you, you are so very kind and we are glad you are all here with us at this time.”

Someone
spoke up and said, “I think we had better go and let the happy couple have some time alone together. I am sure that has been a rare commodity these past few weeks with all the planning and work.”

They
began to break up. Her parents came and kissed her goodnight and said goodnight to Todd. So did Matt and Chantelle and they got ready to go on back with her folks.  “It has been a marvelous day; we will see you tomorrow. A little rest will do us all good.”

Dirje
and Cord came to say goodnight and gave them each a hug.

“
We are going down to the cottage to enjoy the pond with all the beautiful lilies in it. We need a little romance too. This thing is contagious and will do all of us a world of good. See you tomorrow.”

So
they left and her folks decided to go on up to their room to get some rest and spend some time alone for a change also. Everyone had been really tied up in doing so many things.

“
Oh, I just remembered,” cried Triessa nearly in alarm. “I must call Leslie and see what we need to plan on for Saturday morning.”

She
dialed and Leslie answered. She asked her if she had figured out what she would bring for the wedding plans.

“
Yes, I have it all ready to go. How many women are there in your family who may need help?”

“
Well, there is my mother, Todd’s mother, Deanna, Dirje and Chantelle; that is five besides me. Will you need dryers or irons? I have some though I have not used them for a while. But I can find them, I am sure. What do you think of setting things up in my studio and we will have plenty of room and privacy? We will all be there together which will be helpful for you.”

“
That is great,” said Leslie. “I had wondered how we would work that out. I had forgotten about that area. That will be perfect. We can space the ladies out and I can work on them as I would here depending on what they need done. I will need to organize it for the hair sets and dryer. I need to create a schedule, but I am used to that. Of course, I will concentrate on you. This is wonderful. I feel better already. Goodnight, I will see you on Saturday morning, day after tomorrow. Aren’t you terribly excited?”

“
Oh, yes, I have so many feelings going through me I do not really know what I feel. It is hard to describe it, truly. I will be able to later but now I cannot. Thanks so much for all your help. It is a very important part of the preparation. You will make the whole thing work out so very well by making us all beautiful and happy. We will be happy and the men will be thrilled to see all their lovely ladies. Goodnight. See you then.”

As she came back to be with Todd, she smiled.

“
I happen to have a bottle of champagne in the refrigerator. I cannot remember where it came from, but shall we indulge?”

“
Oh, please, let’s do. Let me open it; you get the glasses. This is so nice, time alone again. Though we enjoy all our family being here, it is really good to be alone.”

He
poured the champagne into the glasses. They went out on the patio, sat at the table, and he put the bottle on the table.

“
It is such a lovely night and the fireflies are putting on a marvelous show for us. If we had some nice French music, we could dance. We can anyway. You can sing and we can dance. Oh, how lovely you are my precious one. We are so fortunate. I wish everyone could be as happy as we feel right now.”

They
got up and began to dance as she hummed some music and they held each other close and moved about the patio in rhythm. They danced for  a long while, just holding each other and moving with the music she made. She laid her head on his shoulder and they moved as one unit. The moon was out and they were spellbound with the ecstasy that soon they would be man and wife and never have to part again, even for an evening.

He
broke the spellbinding silence by saying to her, “I should really let you go in but I do not want to let you go. Soon we will not have to worry about that. Tonight and tomorrow night will be the last times we will have to part this way. It is like tearing a piece of me away when you leave my arms. The cool begins to fill the warm place where you were. I will go back to my lonely abode for two more nights and then I will be with you all night for all nights. That will be a wonderful and magnificent thing.”

He
let her go, then held her one more time and kissed her goodnight, a long and holding kiss.

“
What will we do tomorrow, my precious? We will have to have something to carry us through our last lonely day and night. They seem to get longer and longer. I will dream of you, my precious, of you being my loving and wonderful wife. Goodnight, princess.”

“
Goodnight, my sweet prince. I will find the night very lonely. It will be strange having Phylicia with me because I will feel I have someone seeing into my thoughts of you. It will all be over soon, my darling, very soon. Tomorrow we will do something really special. Sleep well and pleasant dreams, my precious.”

They
parted; he went down to the cottage and got ready for bed. The others had turned in much earlier. They were more tired than they had realized and he was glad because he did not want anything to break the spell of this enchanting evening. He hoped he’d go to sleep right away but feared he may not. He was so tense and wound up. Maybe a shower would help calm him down and soothe his ragged nerves.

Triessa
liked to talk to her friend but was glad that when she got to her room that her friend was sound asleep. She knew the time factor was still a big difference with her. She got ready for bed, lay down, and stared at the sky through her sky light. It had been such a grand day and evening. She did not want anything to break in to spoil her thoughts of their recent time together. She knew Todd was getting tense at this point and so was she. They were really close. She was amazed for she had not been in a situation like this and it was very new and frustrating. She did not know such feelings existed; she had never experienced them before. But soon they could let go of all the restrictions and be natural, then he would be relaxed as he needed to be. She could not imagine the feelings and ecstasy which lay in store for them very, very soon. It was a wonderful thing to bring them closer all the time.

Friday
was a misty day and they were all concerned about the wedding day tomorrow.
Tomorrow, it was so hard to realize. One more day as a
single couple.
The mist seemed like it was ordered for the flowers. It was happening to make the flowers fresh and beautiful tomorrow. A mist would dry up quickly and the ground would not be too wet. But what would they do to occupy the day? There had been so much going on every day it seemed strange not to have something planned. And what about Phylicia? She could not be left here by herself.

They
all gathered about for coffee in the dining room. The large pot was  ready this morning, for there was quite a large crew. They all slept in today because they had a long day the day before and a lot had happened. In fact, Triessa and Phylicia were not downstairs yet. Nor were the Nobles. Todd, Dirje and Cord were having coffee in the living room when they all began to arrive on the scene. Todd got up to get coffee for his parents and for the girls. He was such a kind, thoughtful gentleman. They went into the living room to sit and talk while Nancy prepared breakfast. She was waiting to see some signs of life before she started cooking. Soon she came into the dining room with a tray and set it on the buffet. Everyone was to help themselves to some cheese crepes, fruit, and sausage. There was still plenty of coffee left for everyone.

They
get up, helped themselves to the great food lined up on the buffet, and found a place at the tables to sit and eat. Everyone was hungry and everything tasted really super.

As
they finished eating the phone rang. It was Triessa’s mother calling to see what their plans were for the day.

“
I am sorry it is misty outside except for the fact that it will be good for the roses. It will not saturate the ground hopefully, so it won’t be wet tomorrow. I thought since it is a rather nasty day we can take our guests for a drive and show them some of the sights here, the ocean and seascapes. The children will enjoy playing on the beach a little even though it is misty. I heard on the weather report that it may clear by early afternoon, and that way, it will dry out nicely in the garden. Then it will dry a little more in the morning while we are getting ready. Don’t worry, dear, it will be just fine. We will see you later.”

She
turned to Todd and said, “That was my mother. They are going to take your family on a ride to see the sights. We could do that but we don’t have a large enough car to get everybody in. Maybe we could borrow one and Matt could drive and follow us. He could take Chantelle and your parents and we could take Phylicia. I think we could do that if you’d like. Then, if you want, we could stop some place for a little lunch and afterward come back here to rest some. Does that sound like a plan?”

Todd
went over the plan with the others and asked if they wanted to do that. They heartily agreed so he and Triessa went to get another car and returned to pick everyone up.

“
Matt, you drive and follow us. Mom and Dad can go with you and Chantelle. We will take Phylicia. Our car is small but we can fit in without a lot of difficulty.”

So
off they went to the ocean to see all the things she had shown Todd a couple days ago. They were all really enjoying themselves and had a great time. They saw her folks and the rest there and chatted for a bit. They did not stay outside long for it was nasty and a little chilly, as it is on the ocean at such a time. They all agreed to go to the little restaurant nearby for lunch. They got in the cars and reached the restaurant. They all went in and got seated to order. The children had some shells and starfish they had picked up on the shore. Their mother took them to the restroom to wash their hands and rinse off the shells before they ate. The food was brought promptly and they enjoyed local seafood, which was a new thing to them. Todd told his folks how glad they were to have them here to share some of it with them.

“
Triessa and I had just been talking yesterday about how we could manage this. We did not think we would get time for this trip. But here you are. Don’t you just love it? We had hoped you could come here before you left.”

After
lunch the sun began to come out and this really pleased everyone. They went to see a few more sights and then went back to the house. They wanted to check to see how the garden was to feel assured that it would be dry for tomorrow. The garden was getting more attention than a newborn and it was one, in a sense, as far as the plan for it goes. Everyone was a little tense about the situation. It simply must be a grand day tomorrow.

They
arrived back home, got out of the cars, and rushed immediately to the garden. Everyone was really concerned about this special area. It was wet but not saturated. The roses would be in great shape tomorrow and the ground would be just fine. The rain was a perfect solution for that; what a wonderful thing for Mother Nature to help out this way. They all went into the house and sat around a while covering some of the plans for the trips home and getting back into the swing of things. It certainly would not be easy. Everyone would be leaving soon after the wedding. Leslie and her friend had offered to take them all to the airport so Triessa and Todd could be alone. Mitch had a van and could carry all the luggage in it. Her parents would take care of the ones with them. They were not leaving until the next day but they would be at her folk’s house and would not be a problem to the newlyweds.