Ava Comes Home (43 page)

Seamus and Libby took the cab back to the hotel. Lola, Maurice, and Harold followed behind. When they got to her room, Libby was able to introduce Seamus to her family of friends properly. There were a lot of hugs and thanks exchanged.

Lola called room service and asked for some piping hot tea. When it arrived, the five of them sat around the table and devoured Aunt Vi's blueberry muffins and oat cakes. When Libby opened the tin this time, she took a big sniff. “Mmm, yum.”

They laughed.

It was decided that Seamus would fly home on his own and get back to Jack and Sarah as soon as possible. He knew they'd been badly frightened and needed him. Libby and Lola decided to fly to Los Angeles and sort out her affairs there. Maurice and Harold promised to be in Cape Breton a week before the festivities to make sure the whole family had makeovers and new do's for the wedding.

Reservations were made and Maurice and Harold said their good–byes. The other three went to the airport together. Seamus could get back to Toronto that night and leave in the morning for Halifax and be back in Sydney around midday. He said he'd stay at one of the hotels near the airport. Libby and Lola got on a flight leaving almost immediately, so there was a quick goodbye near the security gate.

Lola kissed Seamus goodbye and went through. Libby and Seamus hugged each other and didn't speak. Finally they parted and he clasped his hands around the back of her neck.

“So.”

“So.”

“I'll see you…?”

“I'll let you know. I'm not sure how long it will take to get things in order, but I have a feeling it will be really quick.”

“I'll see you in Cape Breton,” he laughed.

“Oh yes, I'll see you in Cape Breton. And once I step on that island, I'm never leaving it again. Ever.”

They kissed each other one last time and he let her go. She waved as he turned around and walked away.

“Goodbye, my love,” she whispered after him.

She fell into a deep sleep on the plane and didn't wake until they landed.

It was a hectic four days. She put her expensive minimalist cube of a house on the market and used that money to buy her way out of her movie contract with the studio. Trent nearly had a heart attack when he found out she was leaving the business and berated her for being such a miserable client. Libby asked if a half a million dollars would make him feel better. He conceded it would help. Camilla was at least gracious about this change in her circumstance. Luckily she was good at her job and she wasn't unemployed for long. She gave Mercedes a very handsome severance package, glowing recommendations, and sent her on her way. Then she and Lola went through the house and sorted all the things she wanted to keep, mementoes she'd picked up in her travels and pictures of family and friends.

They packed her clothes, putting the clothes and costumes from her movies in a separate pile. These she'd keep for her nieces and sisters.

Libby sold the furniture and contents of her home with the house, and got a moving company to pack what she was taking with her. Then it was off to the bank to straighten out her financial affairs. She made sure the money she had, once everything was settled, was put into a trust fund for her family and a separate account for Jack's and Sarah's education, and hopefully someday, for children of their own.

She had meetings with her accountant and lawyers to go over any–thing that needed sewing up because she had no intention of coming back. She wanted to make sure she left no stone unturned.

Libby didn't have many friends in Hollywood, but there were a few who she'd been close to. She made sure she saw them before she left. They said they'd keep in touch, but Libby knew they wouldn't and that was fine. She wouldn't either.

Finally it was done and she and Lola parted at the airport. Lola was flying back to Chicago to be with her mom until the wedding.

They hugged each other.

“Thank you for being my sister. I'll never forget what you've done for me,” Libby said.

“Thank you for being mine. Although why I'm not as jealous as hell, I don't know. That boy of yours is a hunk.”

“He always was.”

“Some girls have all the luck.”

“We'll find someone for you. In Cape Breton maybe.”

“I wish.”

“Before you go, I wondered if you'd do me one more favour.”

Lola rolled her eyes. “I'm exhausted. Give me a break.”

“Will you be my maid of honour and general dogs-body all rolled into one? Please, pretty please?”

Lola's face lit up. “Sure! But you better not make me wear a hooped skirt. I have to draw the line there.”

They laughed and said their goodbyes.

It was the longest flight of her life. She was so impatient to get there it felt like fifteen hours. She finally transferred from the big jet that flew into Halifax to the Dash Eight that would fly her home.

Home.

Libby looked out the window the entire time. Every minute was another mile closer to him. It was a clear day. She saw the trees and the water and the rivers that meandered along. She looked over the clouds and thought of her parents. She'd visit them when she got home and tell them about the new life that waited for her.

Finally, they touched down.

She remembered how upset she'd been when she arrived in Sydney in February. A lifetime ago. Now it was pure joy. She got up with the other passengers and slowly made her way to the front. She said goodbye to the flight attendant and walked out of the plane. She looked over at the big window and there he was.

He waved. Jack and Sarah waved too.

Her family. Hers.

As soon as she touched the ground she ran. He disappeared from the window. She stepped through the two open doors and into his arms. They didn't say anything as they hugged each other. Then Libby felt a small tug on her sweater. She looked down and there was Sarah with a bouquet of daisies wrapped in cellophane. She reached for them.

“For me?”

“Yeah.”

She bent down and held Sarah's chin in her hand. “Thank you, sweetheart. They're beautiful like you.”

Sarah smiled at her. “Yeah.”

She looked at Jack, who hung off his father's pant leg. “Hi, Jack.”

He hid his face and mumbled, “Hi.”

She knew better than to go near him.

They drove to Aunt Vi's and Uncle Angus's house. Everyone was in the yard, waving and jumping up and down. She got out of the car. Aunt Vi ran towards her.

“Oh, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!” Aunt Viola screamed. “It's herself, in the flesh.” She grabbed Libby in a death grip. “Oh girl, we can't believe it. We're so happy to see you. Welcome home, darlin'. Welcome home at last.”

Then Aunt Vi ran over and hugged Seamus and ran after Jack and Sarah. Jack hid behind his father's knees again, though Sarah took Aunt Vi's hand and followed her happily.

“Do you like sugar cookies?” Aunt Vi asked her.

“No.”

“A girl with a mind of her own. I like that,” she nodded. “I bet you like ice cream.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, Auntie Vi will get you some. Let's go.”

Libby walked into the house with Seamus on her arm as Teddy Bear trailed happily behind, but not before waving to Geranium, who had a big “Welcome Home” sign in the window.

The next two weeks were a whirl of planning and cooking. Maurice and Harold arrived as promised and it was one big hair dressing salon at Aunt Vi's. Lola flew in three days before the wedding and she and Libby, along with the sisters and nieces, headed to Jacobson's to buy a dress.

This time it was reversed. Instead of watching, she was the one in front of the mirror as the gang deliberated. And while the gowns were beautiful on her, there seemed to be more dress than her. They had to be taken in to such a degree that it was hard to get a sense of what they might look like. She tried not to show her disappointment but she didn't succeed. It wasn't what she had imagined.

Then Lola snapped her fingers. “My God, Libby, we're idiots.”

“What?”

“There are gowns in your trunk. Remember that one you wore when you played Guinevere? It's made to fit and it looked divine on you.”

She clapped her hands. “You're right, it's perfect.”

She didn't want to leave the poor sales lady without taking some–thing, so she bought some satin high heels. Then it was off the florist to order the flowers and, once again, the gang finished off their day with a great lunch.

The day of the wedding, everyone was up at the crack of dawn. There were a million things to do and it was Grand Central Station for a while. They were to be married in the small United Church in Albert Bridge, which overlooked the Mira River, with a potluck supper at the Albert Bridge Fire Hall afterwards.

The food was taken over by the carloads throughout the day by husbands and brothers. Most of the MacKinnon women hadn't seen the fire hall. Colleen called Aunt Vi and asked if she and her friends could decorate it, to help them out. Aunt Vi whispered to Libby, “God love her. It makes her feel included.”

Maurice chased Aunt Vi around the house until she finally agreed to sit for him and have her hair done. He patted her head. “Aunt Vi, what am I going to do with you? This cast-iron hair has to go.”

“Go where?”

“Anywhere! Just not on your head.”

When he was done, she said, “Hand me a mirror.” He did. She looked at herself and didn't say a word. Then she looked at her rela–tives. “What do you think?”

No one said anything. Finally Libby blurted, “Sorry, Maurice. It's lovely, but it's not Aunt Vi.”

Aunt Vi handed Maurice the mirror. “Just as I thought. If anyone wants me, I'll be in the shower.” With that, she limped upstairs.

Maurice and Harold looked heartbroken. Rose walked over to them. “Cheer up, girls. One out of ten ain't bad.”

Because Uncle Angus was giving her away, Libby's oldest brother Johnnie was driving her to the church.

Everyone waited for her downstairs. Libby looked at herself in the bedroom mirror.

“Goodbye, Ava. Thank you for taking care of me when I needed you, but I don't need you anymore. Wish me luck.” She smiled and blew a kiss at her reflection. She walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. There was a collective intake of breath.

Aunt Vi started to cry. “Oh, I wish your Ma could see you. What a pretty picture.”

Her dress was simple—a creamy colour with a small gold embroi–dered trim. It had a straight bodice across the top and flowing bell sleeves. It was tight to her body with a ‘V' seam that started below her waist. The skirt fell full to the floor. She wore her hair down but the front was caught up and entwined with a coronet of white flowers. She carried a small bouquet of white and cream roses, tied up with ribbon.

“I'm ready.”

“Then let's go,” Uncle Angus shouted. “I'm starvin'.”

There was a mass exodus of the clan down the back stairs. Geranium wasn't in the window. She ran out of the house and joined the other guests. Johnnie stood by his pickup truck in a suit that he might have bought when he was eighteen. He looked about as comfortable as a boy on his first date. His white socks didn't help.

He came forward and escorted her to the truck. “You look pretty. I washed the truck for you.”

“I see that. Thank you.”

“Couldn't get the fishy smell out of it though.”

“It smells like you. Suits me fine.”

They drove in a convoy but Libby asked Johnnie to take her into the cemetery so she could show her mother the dress. The others con–tinued on. He stopped the truck and helped her out. The marker was very close to the road so she stepped on the edge of the grass and looked down at her mother's name written in granite.

“Ma, it's my wedding day. Seamus and I are finally together and I know you'll be with me in church. Thank you for bringing me home. I love you.” She knelt down and touched her mother's name, then turned around and smiled. “Let's go, Johnnie, I'm starving too.”

When they pulled up to the church, Uncle Angus was there waiting with Lola and Colleen, who held Sarah's hand. Sarah was the flower girl. She had on a sweet little white dress and a coronet of flowers in her hair too. She carried a basket of white rose petals.

Johnnie helped his sister out of the truck, kissed her and went inside the church. Colleen came over and hugged her. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

Colleen held her arms. “He's so happy today. You should have seen him. And best of all, his in-laws are here, said they wouldn't miss it for the world.”

“That's wonderful.”

“Okay, I'll see you in there.” She knelt down by Sarah. “You do what Lola says, sweetie. When she says go, you walk up the aisle to–wards Daddy and scatter your petals, okay?”

“Yeah.” Sarah turned to Libby and held out her foot. “New shoes.”

Libby held out hers. “Me too.”

They went up the stairs and Colleen disappeared inside. Lola put Sarah in front of her, then turned around and looked at Libby. “This is the role you've waited for your whole life. Enjoy every moment.”

Libby shook her hand at her. “You're going to make me cry. Stop it.”

“Don't you dare look at me up there,” Lola said. “This isn't water–proof mascara.” She turned around.

Uncle Angus took her arm and gave it a pat. “This is it. Are you ready?”

She hugged his arm. “I've never been more ready for anything in my life.”

The organ started to play the wedding march. Lola said, “Go, Sarah.”

Sarah walked ahead like a little pro. Everyone smiled and whis–pered at how sweet she was. She scattered her petals and only stopped three times to show people her new shoes.

Lola followed in a simple cream, knee-length dress with a wide gold satin ribbon around the waist. She carried a small bouquet of white rosebuds.