Chapter 1

"I'm sorry Jack could not make it tonight, sweetheart." Cece's mother said as she hugged her in welcome.  Cece hugged her back then said, "Mom you know Bridget of course, my maid of honor. You remember Marisol, don't you. She went to college with me."

Marisol had never taken any of Dr. Vickes Theology classes while she had been in college. (She had preferred Dr. Weston's classes) Yet his daughter Cece had been her best friend then, though, so she had been to his house before.  Now Cece was getting married, and she was going to be a bridesmaid. Now Cece's parents had invited her, and Cece's other two bridesmaids who were friends over for dinner.  One was Cece's childhood best friend Bridget, the other was her current roomie and co-worker and good friend Mako. Also to be bridesmaids at Cece's wedding were her two soon-to-be-sisters-in-law and also her six sisters. "Yes," Cece had explained to Mako as they had carpooled over, "I have six sisters and five brothers.  We are a family of fifteen. But don't worry, only Monica will be here tonight." 

"I remember you a little," Mrs. Vickes said shaking Marisol's hand, "How is it pronounced again? Marysole?"

"Marisol. It's lovely to meet you again, Mrs. Vickes.  Dr. Vickes, how nice to see you again, Sir."

"And this is my roomie and good friend and bridesmaid, Mako.  Bridge, Marisol, Mako, this is my youngest sister and the baby of the family, Monica. Say hi to everyone, Monica!" 

Monica was fifteen and forced a self-conscious half smile. "Hi."

All during dinner, Cece was not her calm, cheerful self.  She was not even her elated, lovestruck, bride-to-be self.  Her mouth was forced into its smiling stance, and stayed there so long and only relaxed when her mother was not scrutinizing her.  She was nervously fidgeting with her engagement ring.  Mrs. Vickes too, was smiling like a barbie doll but she kept talking and she never seemed to take her eyes off Cece. 

"So have you and Jack set a date yet?"

"Yes, we want to get married on May 15th next year."

"But that is only in six months. I'll need more time to prepare everything. There is so much work that goes into planning a wedding, sweetie."

"Yes, Mom, I know. But I am going to be the one planning it and making the arrangements.  Jack is starting his career. We have already been dating for three years and we don't want a long engagement."

"She's right, Cathy," said Dr. Vickes, "If you ask me three years is too long for two young people to date anyway, and long engagements are dangerous. The whole point of marriage is to ward off fornication."

Cece cast her eyes down uncomfortably.  Bridget stole an annoyed glance at Marisol.  Mako just said it out loud, "Really? The WHOLE point of marriage?"

"Yes. Why didn't you know that? If you ask me the requirement that engaged couples in the US wait six months before getting married causes more fornication than it does any good."

Mako got very interested in her salad and offered no further comment. 

A doctorate in Theology and a professorial position at a Catholic College, ladies and gentlemen.  Marisol fretted ruefully to herself.  She knew that Mako was hoping that he was making an awkward attempt at being facetious. 

Cece's mother went on trying to persuade Cece to move the wedding date back to at least when the school year was over. 

"You need to think about our extended family, Cece. Think of how hard it will be for some of them to travel at that date."

"We want to have a small wedding and we are planning it, Momma." 

The intense smile was fading off Mrs. Vicke's face, "What do you mean by that? You are still going to invite the whole family. You are not thinking of not including them?"

"Mom, we have a very large family and sometimes some of them do not get along very well. I want my wedding to be peaceful."

"Without your own family?"

"Mom...I'm just trying to be practical and considerate. Jack and I are the ones paying for it and we have a budget."

"That's the best news I've heard all night! Good work marrying a lawyer! Paying for John and Anne's wedding nearly killed me. And we split the expenses with Steve's parents for Tess's wedding. The thought of having nine other children who will also want my help paying for their weddings is enough to turn my hair white!"

"Maybe one of our sons will be a priest and one of our daughters will be a nun." Mrs. Vicke said reproachfully. 

"Our daughters are too attractive to be nuns!" Dr. Vickes muttered under his breathe. 

Cece tried not to look at her friends because she knew her mother was watching them and trying to decode what all of their glances meant.  Her mother had difficulty deciphering social cues.  But she just kept talking.  

"I think my youngest sons Thomas and Dominic would make beautiful priests. I keep trying to help them to listen for God's will if He is calling them.  A mother always knows about these things. I thought my eldest John could have been a priest but he is married and he is a wonderful husband and father. I have three beautiful grandchildren. I love my daughter in law Anne and could not be happier in his choice of a wife.  I only hope that my sons Jacob and Mark are so blessed. They hope to marry someday. But if none of my sons become priests I will be so so sad. I will feel like such a failure."

This time Bridget spoke, "Why would you feel like a failure?"

Mrs. Vickes looked at Bridget as if she was scandalized," Why because there is a vocation crisis in the Church. And young men are being selfish and not responding to God's call. And if none of my sons become priests, that will mean that they grew up to be selfish despite all my hard work careful teaching and love!"

"Let's change the subject! So how much money is Jack making right now?"

"I've never asked him, Daddy." 

"I only ask because he and his family can afford to invite our family as well as his, I assume. Why do you want a small wedding? And when you say small, how small do you mean?"

"We only want our immediate family and close friends there."

Mrs. Vicke stopped her fork in mid air. She set it down deliberately, then looked down at her plate with an air of chilly injury and pronounced disappointment.  

"You will just have to find it in your hearts and wallets to be a little more inclusive of your family,"  she said softly. 

"Mom, I'd really rather not have the whole extended family over..."

"We're not discussing this any more, Cecelia.  You will need The Vickes cousins to sing at the wedding, We can ask the Crewman cousins to help serving the liquor and the Heplers to help with cleanup..."

"Mom, I'm not going to have a repeat of Tess's wedding, okay? Stop telling me what to do. I do not want any of the guests working if I invite them."

"That is what family does, Sweetheart. I really think you should be more appreciative of your mother's experience in this matter."

"We are only asking the Newman-Vickes cousins to sing if we can pay them. I am going to discuss it with Jack and Marisol."

"Why are you consulting Marisol and not your mother about this?"

"Marisol is going to sing the Communion Hymn and Marian Hymn, Mom.  She is in charge of the Ceremony music."

"Can you sing, Marisol?"

"Mom! I just said that she IS singing!"

"I really do not like your tone of voice, young lady. Marisol, you would not mind singing for me right now, would you? Just so we can hear how you sound?"

"You do not have to do it if you don't want to Marisol!" Cece stage whispered in shame. 

"I hope you understand Marisol, I know you are trying to be a good friend and help Cece with her wedding. It's just that the Newman-Vickes cousins are such talented singers and work so well together. They are one of the best choirs I have ever heard and I have heard LOTS of choirs sing!"

Marisol's eyes were sparkling with supressed laughter. " How lovely to have so many gifted musicians in your family, Mrs. Vickes! But I would not spoil the surprise for the world and you must not ask again!"

"But-"

"Of course I am willing to work with Cece's cousins if the Bride and Groom so desire it. As it is their wedding, I am sure they will discuss all details with me in due course. This veal is sublime! You are such a splendid cook, Mrs. Vickes!" 

"Oh thank you! It is the same I cooked at the reception for my daughter Tess's wedding last year. Everybody was raving and blown away by how good it was. But really its the same way I have been cooking for my family since the beginning. Some people said it was the best veal they had ever had. I have always thought it was very important to show your family that you love them by cooking beautiful food for them. And the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Years ago when Peter and I were dating, when I was going to meet his parents for the first time, I invited them over and served them my Ham with Asparagus and Mornay sauce. Peter likes to tell everyone that that was when he knew that he had better marry me! I always taught my daughters how to cook, now they can catch their own husbands and take care of families of their own.  Cecelia dear, do you me to make veal cutlets like this for the wedding just like I did for Tess?"

"Um...Well, actually Mom...I was thinking. You had to work SO hard last year at Tess and Steve's wedding-"

"Oh it was worth the sacrifices I made, sweetie! I have joy through serving my family. Love serves. That's what mothers do. You'll understand when you become one-"

"-Mom, but I was thinking since Jack and I are planning the wedding that we should discuss together later how we are going to manage the catering and staff and the menu-"

"-Catering! Nonono! Sweetie, I'll manage everything, let me handle the food. Now for the Hor'de'ourves during the cocktail hour, I was thinking of something I would not have to bake. We can just serve shrimp and-"

"-Mom I really would actually prefer it if you had nothing to do with the food preparation or the reception."

This time Mrs. Vickes made such an exaggerated tragic face of shock, Marisol thought that had she been Klytemnestra discovering the death of Ephigenia in a silent movie she could not have been more shocked, horrified and heartbroken.  

Cece was trying not to sound guilty as she continued as gently as she could,

"I would really consider it more of a gift if you could be fully present and relaxing and enjoying the celebration. Jack and I will discuss what caterer we should get and what we will serve the guests."

"You 're rejecting my help?...You don't want my help? You don't want me to cook for you at your wedding?"

"Mom, please don't be like that-"

"Be like what? I'm not being like anything, Cecelia. Are you accepting my gift of helping you with your wedding or are you rejecting it?"

"Mom, please try to understand, I don't want you to wear yourself out. I don't want a repeat of what happened at Tess's wedding."

"I don't know what you are talking about! It was a lovely wedding! It was a great success! Everybody said so! Everybody!"

Peter interjected, "Cathy, please don't get overly excited, it is just that it was draining on you to do all that work and your daughter wants you to be able to sit down and dance and enjoy it!"

"You are supposed to be on my side Peter! I worked so hard for Tess and gave her the most beautiful reception and this is the thanks I get for it!?" She started to cry and buried her face in her hands.

"Cathy-"

"Did Tess say something to you? Wasn't she appreciative? Is she against me too?"

"Mom! Nobody is against you! That's ridiculous!"

"Then why won't you let me give you this gift? All I want is to make you happy!"

"If you want me to be happy then please listen to me and stop crying and accept the fact that I don't want you slaving over the stove on my wedding day. Just be happy for me and enjoy my wedding! That is what I want! That is what will make me happy! Please stop crying and just accept that that is how it is going to be."

Monica and Peter start hugging Cathy and patting her back. Cathy stops crying after a minute, dries her tears.

"Very well, dear. If you are very sure that that is what you want...I will only cook for the rehearsal dinner." 

She blew her nose, smiled and said, "Of course we are going to host the bachelorette party here in this house. I was thinking that it would be so lovely to have you spend your last two nights before you are a bride here. Oh my sweet child! It will be so wonderful to have you sleep in your old room before you fly the nest forever!"

"Mom...I really appreciate the thought, but I need to be near my bridesmaids the day before the wedding, and I don't want to impose-"

"Oh they can stay here too! I thought of everything. Grandma and Grandpa are going to stay in the guest room downstairs, Stasi, Thomas and Dominic will still be at school. Jacob will move into Mark's apartment for the wedding. So this way, you can have your old room with Lucy, Katie and Monica and I will have the large room ready for your other bridesmaids!"

"But can you fit Jack's sisters and Mako, Bridget and Marisol all in there?"

"Sure, we have three sets of bunkbeds in there! They will be just fine, won't you girls?"

The girls all looked at each other. 

Cece says, "We will all think about it and discuss it. Thank you for your generous offer, Momma. Now excuse me."

"Where are you going?" Her Dad asked.

"To the bathroom," Cece muttered. 

She leaves and Monica clears the dishes. The others offer to help. Soon Peter has gotten out his guitar in the living room and is playing while the women are putting the leftovers away, washing the dishes and cleaning up. 

"I'm so happy we are going to have you girls over for the wedding. Now during the Bachelorette party I am going to manage the food and drinks and Grandma will be there! I hosted the bridal shower here for my daughter in law, Anne. I have spoken to Mrs. Green and she is hosting the bridal shower! Will all of you be able to make it for that?"

They all chimed that they would.

"Bridget I have not seen your mother in years! How is she doing?"

"She is very well, thank you Mrs. Vickes," Bridget answered.

"I really miss her, please send her my love... I know we have had our disagreements about things, but I am always ready to forgive her. How have you been doing, though? I heard that you are a nurse now! That is wonderful!"

"Yes, it's very rewarding work. I love my job." 

"That is a great career for a woman! We can never have too many good nurses in this crazy time. You are the same age as Cecelia and now she is getting married. What about you? Are you dating anyone right now?"

"Um...No, not really."

"Why not? You are such a beautiful girl! And you have your career all set up now, you've graduated college-You should be with someone."

"Well, thank you for saying that I am beautiful, but college is expensive and like you said I am busy working. There is plenty to do from now until I get married, God willing."

"Well, think about marriage, and don't wait on it. If you put off marriage for the sake of your career, then by the time you finally start looking for a husband it might be too late. I told Cece the same thing." 

"Cece met her husband through work, Mrs. Vickes. If she had not gotten that job working as Mrs. Green's PA, she might not have ever met Jack. And I did not say that I was putting off marriage. Excuse me."

Cece had come out of the bathroom at last and Katie led her outside on the porch. Marisol considered going after them to make sure that they were okay. But then Mrs. Vickes started talking to Mako and she thought she had better keep her occupied. 

"What about you Mako? You must have a boyfriend," Mrs. Vickes was saying. 

Mako laughed good naturedly and said, "No Mrs. Vickes, I am not seeing anybody seriously at the moment."

"Why not? You are a pretty girl, don't you get dates?"

"Why...yes, of course I get dates...why do you ask?"

"Aren't any of the guys any good? Why are you still single?"

"Um...I'm picky? How am I supposed to answer that? How is anybody supposed to answer that question?" Mako squirmed with a blush.

"Truthfully, I hope," Mrs. Vickes answered, "And I know it is none of my business, but it is good to be picky so long as you are not too picky. You don't want to wait too long to get married.  How old are you?"

"I'm twenty-six," Mako answered a bit stiffly.

"Then now is an excellent time to commit to someone. Maybe you just need to put yourself out there more. I keep telling the same thing to my elder daughters, Katie and Lucy. You just need to keep putting yourself out there. The right man will come. My eldest daughter Katie smokes and she is overweight. She is thirty years old and not married yet. It worries me. If you are thirty years old you should either be married or go become a nun. I keep telling her that if she just stopped smoking and lost the weight I am sure she would find someone..."

"Excuse me, Mrs. Vickes, I need to use your restroom."  Mako said hurriedly and slipped off.  

Before Mrs. Vickes could speak again Marisol blurted out loudly, "Now your family is growing even larger. You will have even more in laws to invite to the next wedding. How wonderful! And your third grandchild was born a few months ago, wasn't it? "

"Yes, little Kateri is two months old now. And little Becket is two and Damien is four. They are such blessings and I love them so much! It is so wonderful that John and Anne live so close by so they can visit so often.  I hope soon Stephen and Tess will have children..."

" I saw the new Marian grotto at the University when I visited yesterday. It is so beautiful!

"Thank you Marisol!  I had not heard how you were doing through after you graduated? Are you working? Do you have a job?"

"Yes, I have a job-Well that looks like the last of the dishes-Shall we join the gent with the guitar?"

She went over and sat next to Mako on the couch. Mrs. Vickes and Monica sat on the other sofa. Dr. Vickes was playing a folksy rendition of a seventies tune.  "Where did Cece go?" Mrs. Vickes said, "Is she outside?" She opened the sliding door leading to the porch and said, "Let's all sit on the porch, Peter! It's such a pretty night out."

They all grabbed their wine glasses and bottles and migrated outside. It was lovely out. Some clouds were veiling the moon, and filtering drowsy splendor on the shadowy woods and the hills beyond them.  For a minute they sat listening to the music of the crickets, frogs and owls. Marisol drank the moonlight with her wine. Beauty of nature and the pleasure of wine and music...they can lure the soul into forgetting its unrest. But sometimes they only nurtured one's melancholy. Poor Cecelia. She still hoped that if there were enough beautiful surroundings, enough beautiful music and enough food and wine for everybody; It could camoflauge the lack of harmony and happiness within her family.  She glanced at Bridget and Cece.  Cece looked pale and sick in the moonlight, and Bridget had her arm around her consolingly.  Dr. Vickes sang in a light baritone voice, soothingly playing his guitar. Mako looked tense and worried.  She understands why Cece was worried now. Marisol thought.  Cece has a huge production of a charade to endure. And she is too eager to please to escape it, but too honest not to suffer from it. 

Dr. Vickes ended his song and Mrs. Vickes went to prepare the Irish coffee for everyone.  "So, Cecelia, have you talked to Fr. Michael at Mother of Perpetual Help?"

"Yes, we are going to have the Mass there, of course. He is doing pre-cana with us now. I was hoping to have the reception all rustic chic in a barn..."

"I don't think your mother is going to like that. She is already talking about having it at the country club."

"Well...since I am going to be having the whole family over, I suppose I won't be able to have it exactly as I planned. And Jack's family have actually offered to host the reception at their home and to have the Wedding in their parish at Sts. Peter and Paul..."

"Well, that is not exactly traditional...It's supposed to be at the Bride's home parish...But if the church is impressive enough I suppose you will have to get permission or jump through some hoops to get that done."

Mrs. Vickes came out and handed each of them an Irish coffee. Marisol remembered getting the recipe from Mrs. Vickes years ago.  The rich coffee caressed the salty, creamy butter, the brown sugar, the whiskey and Baileys Irish Cream. It was a perfectly orchestrated, heavenly symphony of flavors. Marisol slipped her hand into her pocket and discretely popped one of her pills to aid dairy digestion.  She never liked to draw attention to her lactose intolerance when she was a guest.  Why do all of my favorite foods have to be dairy?  Marisol complained to herself. She was suddenly jolted out of her reverie by the shrill, scratchy voice of Mrs. Vickes.

"What do you mean, you don't want me to make your wedding dress!?"

"I already bought my wedding dress, Mom."

"You bought your wedding dress before he even proposed?"

"Yes. I already knew he was going to propose, and I found it in this sweet little boutique that specialized in vintage style clothes. It fit like a glove, Momma. It was so perfect! Wait till you see it!"

Cece's face was transfigured with happiness just remembering the visionary magic of that special garment. 
But Mrs. Vickes did not seem impressed.

"What does it look like? Is it modest?"

Cece groaned.

"No, Mom. It's purposefully and unmistakably risque," she hissed. 

Mr. Vicke seemed to have all the talk about women's clothing that he could take and got up and slunk off toward the side of the house. 

"I don't like your tone of voice, young lady! It is a perfectly reasonable question. I know you are dressed like a lady tonight, and I always see you dressed like a lady. But I have seen how Katie and Lucy dress-"

"Please stop talking about Kat and Lucy Mom. You are always putting them down and I don't want to hear it right now."

"I don't always put them down!" Mrs. Vicke shrieked, "You are so disrespectful and unkind to me! I don't know where I went wrong with you children that you should think its acceptable to talk to your mother that way!"

"Stop calling my sisters immodest! I'm sick and tired of the way you talk about them and the way you treat them. And you better remember that on the day of my wedding because I am over your childish tantrums! You did it to John and you did it to Tess and you are not doing it to me!" 

"What are you talking about! I did not do anything to deserve this. I have always been very clear with all my daughters about the importance of modesty in dress and set rules for you to follow. Then you all left the house and think just because I can't see you that God can't see you. God can always see you, Cecelia..."

But Cecelia was already getting up and storming away into the house.  Bridget glared at Mrs. Vicke and followed after her.  Mako was very uncomfortable. "Come on, Mako. You're the DD." Marisol said cheerily, finishing her coffee in one gulp. She got up and went into the house to get her purse. "Thank you for the lovely dinner, Mrs. Vicke!" she called.  They grabbed their purses and almost scurried out the door before Dr. Vicke could beg them to stay. 

Once they had piled into their car, Cecelia broke down in sobs.  Mako started the car as Mrs. Vicke came out to watch them with rebuke written all over her face.  Mako drove away quickly before Mrs. Vicke could approach and say anything more.  

"Are you okay Cece?" Bridget asked, "You don't look so good."

"Cece threw up her dinner," Mako said. "She tried to clean it all up but she missed a little. I cleaned up the rest when I was in the bathroom.  It was a good thing her Dad was playing music or they might have heard it."

"I feel like throwing up all over again!" Cece sobbed, "She always makes me so sick to my stomach!"

"I have a ginger chew in my purse," said Mako, "You get it Marisol. Front flap pouch, green wrapper."

Marisol found it and gave it to Cece who was looking very grey indeed. Cece chewed it and throwing her head back took some deep breaths.  "We could all use a stiff drink!" Bridget boomed brightly, " There's nothing open in this poky little town after six but I've got a whole bar at my place! 'Wagons forward, yo-o!'"  


Maria Ford, 2014. All Rights Reserved.