STAND 42 - EPILOGUE

Or… what the queen gives, the queen takes.


I’m sitting on a bench inside the small church feeding Terrence. It’s a sunny day, perfect for a wedding, but the temperature inside is rising. I gently wipe little drops of sweat from my son’s forehead. He’s so focused in sucking his bottle he doesn’t even notice. I smile at him.Someone gently pats my shoulder. I turn and I see Lara.
“Honey, we need to go home. The kids are getting out of control. And I need to feed to Taylor”
“Don’t worry, I understand” and I smile faintly “Maddi and Mark left half a hour ago”
“Where’s Howard?”
“He’s talking to Glenn”
“Are you feeling ok? You look pale”
“I am, I’m just tired” I look around me. The church is almost empty only family members and some of the closest friends are still here. “What a disaster La…”
“He should be here with you”
“He was”
“You are definitely pale”
Terrence finishes his bottle, looks up at me and burps. I smile “It’s hot in here”
She takes him from my arms “Let me put the little rascal in his pram”
“I don’t think so, you have three kids to take care of”
But she’s already placed him down “Better love?” she asks him and he yawns in reply.
“I’ll go get Doug”
“I’m right here La” he mutters and squats right in front of me brushing my thighs with his thumbs.
“Good” she answers me, “we’re going now” and kisses his head.
“How’s your sister?”
“Out of her mind” and rests his face on my legs.
“That’s understandable” I say and I can still hear her screaming in my ears. During our small walk from the room where she got ready and the entrance to the church Matthew, James’ best friend handed her a note. She smiled faintly, hands shaking while she opened it. She had stared at it for a very long time and then she read it out loud “I’m sorry, I can’t. Don’t hate me”.There, 3 simple sentences to leave her almost at the altar.Sam lost it, she started screaming and smashing things. Howard had to hold her tight while she was kicking the air. People in the church wondered what was going on. Glenn pushed his sister back into the Sacristy while Howard and I stared at each other.
“I’ll do it” I told him
“You don’t have to” he whispered
“Yes I do” and he kisses my lips “thanks”
So I walked down the isle, all eyes on me. Maddi squeezed my hand smiling. I sighed and stepped by the altar.
“I would like to thank you all for coming here, but I’m sorry to announce there will be no wedding today” there was nothing more to say. No words could change what was happening, especially because we could still here Sam yelling obscenities. People started to leave the church and I went sitting on a bench by one of the side chapels. And I was still there.“I’m taking you home now Titti, we all need to rest” Howard says “Are you ok love?”
“Why is everyone asking me that? Do I look so bad?” and try to laugh “It has been a long day”
“Where’s your sister?”
“Still back there, my mother and Glenn will take care of her. I’m taking my family home now”
“How, James called me…”
He looks at me surprised “what did he have to say?” he hisses
“He said she talked to Sam this morning. She told him she couldn’t wait to spend the rest of her life with him…”
His touch on my thighs his becoming heavier.
“And the only thing he could think of was the fact he would miss next Rangers’ game.”
He sighs “I just wished he realized it before she made a fool of herself in front of our family and friends”“We’ve been there babe, you don’t choose who to love”. He nods and we kiss.I run my fingers through his hair “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you”
“Are you proposing?” he whispers in my mouthI nod.
“It was about time. My answer is yes. I want to marry you”
“Nothing fancy though. Just me and you, and we should do it fast”
“I said yes and I’m not going anywhere” he says amused
“I know, but I’ve the feeling we’re having another baby and I would like to look human in my wedding pictures.”