STAND 41

Howard wears his jacket, checks his image in the mirror and marches toward me. He gently smacks my butt “ready love?”
“What do you think?” and I turn around
He bites his lips “…you have no idea…but last time I checked your watch we were almost running late”
I freeze, “what do you mean by ‘my watch’?”
He looks at me puzzled “the gold one I got you for our anniversary. It’s almost 10 but we don’t need to be at the church before 11… we have time”
“WE DON’T! My watch doesn’t work! Shit! What time is it? What time is it?” I crawl on the bed trying to reach my nightstand as fast as I can. I check my alarm clock.
“SHIT! It’s already 10.30!”
Howard looks at me placing his hands on his head “FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!”
I grab my handbag and follow him down the stairs “your sister and I had just buried the hatchet…” I pant
He grabs his car keys without stopping, his other hands grabs mine as we run to the garage, my arm flying in the air as I try to keep up with him.
“I bet Sam is going to bury it alright… in your back maybe?” he says laughing.
“Not funny” I pant.
We slam the car doors closed “move, move, move” I tell him
He shoots off with a squeal of tires, and grins at me “I’ve always wanted to do it!”
We enter the main road, “we can still do it” he mumbles to himself. There’s no traffic, he smiles relaxed and places his hand on my knee. “Hey mate, is everything fine back there?” and looks into the rearview mirror. He jams on the brakes and we both scream “Terrence!” as we stare at the empty back sit.
“Fuck!” he says and turns the car around. He pulls over in front of our house and we both run back in. He opens the door to his bedroom and we see Terrence smiling at the world, safely lying in his crib. We stare at him panting.
“This is going to cost as a fortune in counseling. We forgot about him. What kind of parents are we? He must have been so scared and lonely…” I tell Howard but staring at Terrence.
“He’s 4 months old, he sleeps, cries, eats, pees and poops, poops especially. I don’t even think he knows who we are”
I sigh “this is so bad…”
“I’ll buy him a brand new convertible when he turns 18. Do you think it’ll make it up to him?”
I look at Howard “It took me 10 years to realize I love you…should I list you now the reasons why I do… believe me, you would be surprised!”
He kisses my lips “because I’m hot and funny and I’m a sex god. Let’s go now. I have a sister to walk down the aisle”.

We park the car in front of the little church just outside town James and Sam chose for their wedding ceremony.
Howard takes the pram out of the trunk. “Leave it to me hun” I tell him “you go see your sister, I’ll take care of Terry”
He kisses me “You sure?”
“The wimp says: you can go”
“I love you”
“I bet, I’m the best thing ever happened to you, now bugger off”
I place Terrence on his pram and I try to make my way towards the church. Easier said than done. “Sam, what the heck! We have more infants than credit cards in our pockets and you choose a countryside church, I can’t wait for you to have kids and trying to push a bloody pram up a steep hill” I mumble to myself. My high heels get stuck in the grass almost every step I take.
I’m almost ready to give up when I see Jason’s tall figure running toward me. “Nice shoes” he says
“Helpppppppp…pleaseeeeeeee” I beg him
He laughs “that’s why I’m here, I’m Take That superhero. I fight crime, bad taste in music and I push prams! Let me take care of little Donald!”
I kiss his cheek, “You are my night in the shining armor! Thank you so much. I knew I should have never left you!”
We both laugh.
“Where’s Tricia?” I ask him
“She’s already inside the church talking to Maddi” and winks at me. I smile and stroll behind him.
We get to the church and I wave at Maddi. She’s holding her little Miriam Alessandra in her arms.
I smile taking her “How’s my favorite niece today? Have you said your first word yet? Repeat after me… Titti”
“She’s 7 months old, she doesn’t talk and you’re late” she says
“Don’t look at me like that. It’s not my fault”
She rolls her eyes, “I cannot believe it. Did you have a quickie before leaving the house? On Sam’s wedding day?”
I raise my eyebrow “Isn’t it the best way to celebrate Sport Spice? A little girl asked me why Sam will be wearing white. I had to tell her she will because she’s happy” and we both laugh.
“I need to say hello to Tricia, where is she?” I ask her
“She’s sitting inside. If you thought I was huge while expecting Miriam wait till you see her”
“She’s pregnant with twins”
“That’s a technicality”
“Whatever, would you keep an eye on Terry?”

In the meantime Howard knocks on the door of the Sacristy where Sam is getting ready.
“Come in” she says trying to fix her veil
Howard looks at her, eyes watering.
“Don’t even think about getting all emotional bro. This fucking veil is pissing me off. I should have insisted and get married in Vegas. Stupid traditional weddings!”
“You’re beautiful”
“Really?”
He nods and kisses the tip of her nose. “Are you sure? No last minute regrets? We can still call the whole thing off if you want to”
She smiles “I’m positive; I can’t wait to be married to James”
“But you’ve been dating for such a short time…”
“…said the man who got her girlfriend pregnant the week she moved into his house.”
“Titti and I had been together for more than 10 years”
“You had a one-night stand, followed by a ten years gap during which you shagged every woman walking your path…”
“Love work in mysterious ways and we’ve been together for 14 months now”
“And you have a 4 months old baby…anyway, I happen to believe in love at first sight, it saves time”
He smiles at her “I cannot believe I’m going to give you away”
“I’m not going anywhere, I’ll always be your little sister”
“Promise?”
“Promise” and pushes her veil off her face
“Let me go and get Titti, she’ll fix it for you”
“No need to, I’m fine”
“Can’t hear you!” he yells while he walks out of the room.

He drags me to his sister. We smile politely. She does look stunning. She’s trying to fix her veil. “Let me see” I tell her. She stands in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. I take a couple of pins out of my handbag and
I use them to fix her veil. “There you go”
“Thanks” she whispers
“Don’t mention it. As Glenn would say, we’re family now”
“You haven’t married my brother yet”
“As Maddi would say, it’s a technicality”
“I guess you’re right, but I can’t wait for James to read his vows. He’s going to promise he’ll always make me my favorite chocolate milkshake”
I laugh, “you’re going to be happy. He’s a great guy”
“I guess I will”
Howard walks back in “time to go”
I look at Sam and smile, she smiles back and kisses my cheek “you’re right, we’re family”.

THE END