Blue Moon (26 page)

“Aren’t you stealing your own thunder?” he asked thickly. “Announcing your secret wedding to your parents?”

“Try to understand,” Nora said. “Maybe I used to care about a big wedding, but I don’t now. You gave Cass and Bonnie beautiful big weddings, and that was perfect for them. Please, let me do this my way. All I want is to be with Willis.”

“Sweetheart, whatever makes you happy,” Mary said. The truth was, she felt choked up herself. Nora’s decision disappointed her, but the main thing was for Nora and Willis to be together.

“Thank you, Mother,” Nora said, reaching for Mary’s hand. Mary squeezed back, holding on a few seconds longer.

Jim nodded grudgingly. “I don’t understand it, but I’ll go along with what you want.”

“Is it Willis’s idea, dear?” Mary asked. “Is he uncomfortable around us?”

“Nope,” Jim said, before Nora could answer. “It’s Nora’s. Am I right?”

“Yes,” Nora said, amazing Mary. Now, how had Jim known that? A long look of affection passed between Nora and her father, proving to Mary, once again, that she shouldn’t try predicting anything Jim might do.

“He’s a family man, Willis,” Jim said. “I’ll bet he tried talking you out of this.”

“He did,” Nora said.

Jim nodded, smiling that handsome crooked smile of his. “I could tell right off the bat. He’s a good man.”

“Takes one to know one,” Nora said.

“Well,” Jim said, seeming to make up his mind. “You have my blessing. I’m not happy about it, but I’ll go along with you.”

“You will?” Mary asked, frowning.

“Mary, she’s a grown woman,” he said crossly. The smile disappeared for a minute, then came back. He shined it straight on Mary, and she felt the heat rise in her neck. “Give her your blessing,” he urged.

“If your father can give you his, I can give you mine,” Mary said.

“Thanks, Mother,” Nora said, a sentimental smile on her face.

Mary wondered how Cass and Bonnie would take this news. She
wouldn’t want to be the one to break it to them. Or to Sheila. Mary glanced at Jim’s mother, sleeping with her mouth open, emitting little snores.

“Granny might feel bad about this,” Mary said.

“I think it’s for the best,” Sheila said, opening her eyes for just a moment. Mary, Jim, and Nora watched as she pulled the blanket higher, wriggled into a more comfortable position, looked them each in the eye, and went back to sleep.

“Well,” Mary said, “I guess that’s that.”

T
.J was hot and heavy with Alison, that was for sure, and it made Belinda sick to see how he treated her, like she was a poor, fragile waif. Alison would put on a big act, whispering to T.J. in school and on the bus, with fawn eyes. If Alison could fake crying, Belinda would bet she’d do it.

“What is Alison’s problem?” Belinda exploded to Emma one afternoon. They were slouched on the couch in Emma’s rec room, watching “Another World.” This was Aunt Bonnie’s favorite soap, and now it was Emma’s. Belinda couldn’t get into it, but she didn’t feel like starting her homework yet.

“Alison McCabe? Your future sister-in-law? Maybe they can have a double wedding with Aunt Nora and Willis.”

“Don’t even joke, Emma.”

“Do we get to call him ‘Uncle Willis’ after they get married? I like him, don’t you?”

“I’m serious. What is Alison’s problem?”

“I’d say she has chronic VR. On the rag every day of the month.”

Belinda chuckled. VR was their mothers’, and now their, secret word for “period.” Translation: Virginia River. Secret translation: Vagina River.

“You’re supposed to be happy when you’re in love, like Willis and Aunt Nora,” Belinda said, “but T.J. isn’t. He and Alison always look so tragic.”

“Maybe they think that’s romantic, like Romeo and Juliet. What’s the word? You know the one I mean.”

“Star-crossed?”

“God, I love that word,” Emma said. “Star-crossed. I only hope I’ll be it someday.”

“Alison’s cross-eyed, not star-crossed,” Belinda said.

“Actually, she’s gorgeous. Hate to tell you, Bel. T.J.’s got the horntoads for her. That’s all the explanation you need.”

“He never says anything at home except ‘Is it for me’? when the phone rings. He hardly gives Josie the time of day anymore.”

“Hero worship deluxe,” Emma said flatly. “Well, Josie can kiss him goodbye. He’s got himself a real woman now, and she will just have to adjust.”

“I feel bad for her.”

“Yeah, sure,” Emma said, punching Belinda’s arm. “You’re just hot for her speech teacher. Sock it to me, Zacharoonie.”

Belinda blushed, because Emma was absolutely, one-hundred-percent, nail-on-the-head right. Zach was totally cute, and he actually wanted Belinda there when he taught Josie. He said they could practice on each other. “I just want to learn to sign so I won’t get caught talking in study hall. I’ll teach you when I learn more.”

“I want
Zach
to teach me,” Emma said, kissing the air. “Oh, Zach, baby, teach me how to use my hands.”

“It’s not like that,” Belinda said, blushing harder.

Sean rushed in, all out of breath. He stood in the doorway looking worse than Alison and T.J.

“Look who’s here, straight from the altar of Satan,” Emma said. “The Bridegroom of Cruella. Sacrificed any kittens today?”

“Shut up, scuzface,” Sean said. “Where’s Mom?”

“Having an orgy,” Emma said. “She invited about a thousand peanut M&M’s over, and she’s having her way with them. Eating them out.”

“I was at the arcade, and I just saw Willis, all dressed in a fucking tuxedo. He says he and Aunt Nora are getting married today. He was on his way to pick up their rings.”

“You’re kidding! Mom!” Emma yelled. She tore out of the room, and Belinda followed her. They found Aunt Bonnie in the kitchen, ironing and watching “Another World.”

“Mom, did you know Aunt Nora and Willis are getting married today?” Emma asked accusatorily, her hands on her hips.

“Yes, honey. Aunt Nora wanted a very small wedding, just her and Willis and a justice of the peace at Nora’s apartment.” She shrugged, shaking her head. “Belinda, your mom knows about it, too. We think it rots, but what can we do?”

“This is outrageous!” Emma yelled. “A family wedding, and we’re not even invited?”

“Remember, sweetheart—Nora and Willis are in their forties, and it’s Willis’s second marriage. Aunt Nora just felt this would be more … appropriate.”

“Fuck appropriate,” Emma said, storming from the kitchen. As soon as she was out of Aunt Bonnie’s sight, Belinda clutched Emma’s forearm.

“We’re crashing the wedding,” Belinda said.

“Yes!” Emma said.

They raced upstairs to Emma’s room. Emma pawed through her closet, throwing clothes all over. She emerged with last year’s spring-dance dress and her standard family-party red satin skirt.

“Pick,” Emma said.

“This one,” Belinda said, reaching for the strapless lavender dress.

“Ravishing.”

They packed the dresses and Emma’s best shoes in a grocery bag and left the house, telling Bonnie that they were going to ride over to Belinda’s on their bikes. Then they took off down the long hill to the harbor. Icy wind stung Belinda’s cheeks, and it wasn’t even winter yet. She could practically feel her nose turning red. She’d look really great in Emma’s sexy dress with a bright Rudolph nose.

Now that she was halfway to Aunt Nora’s, riding as fast as she could, Belinda had second thoughts. If Aunt Nora had wanted them there, she would have invited them. She wondered if her mother’s feelings were hurt. Everyone in the family had liked Willis right away, and Belinda had heard her parents talking about how good he was for Nora. But what kind of man would want to marry her and not invite the rest of the family?

Belinda passed Emma on the straightaway. She wanted to see if Emma’s nose was red, but she was moving too fast. She wheeled
into the Benson’s Mill parking lot and pedaled into a deserted carport.

“What a perfect dressing room,” Emma said, looking around approvingly. Naturally,
her
nose was only a little pink, not flaming. She whipped the clothes out of the bag, and she and Belinda stripped.

“This is colder than the girls’ locker room,” Belinda said, her teeth chattering.

“I know! What kind of luxury condo doesn’t heat its garages?” Emma said. “Chintzy.”

Belinda turned so that Emma could zip her up. She had goose-bumps across her shoulders, and she couldn’t stop shivering. “What time do you think the wedding is?”

“I don’t know,” Emma said. “I didn’t see Willis’s car when we came in.”

Belinda pulled on her jacket. She ran to Aunt Nora’s carport and back. “Just one car. That gives us time to get a wedding present.” Her eyes roved the garage area.

“I didn’t bring any money,” Emma said. “Besides, we don’t know when Willis might get here.”

“We have to find something. Something right around here should be perfect.” Her eyes down, Belinda covered the pavement. Some pennies, a few flip-tops, a battered hubcap. In the corner of the parking lot, someone had abandoned a lobster pot.

“Oh, look, a lovely coffee table,” Emma said, doing her New York summer-person imitation. “Such a nice reminder of our New England vacation.”

“Kindling,” Belinda said. She dragged it into the carport/dressing room and used a rock to break the brittle wood slats into small pieces. Lots of Benson’s Mill residents had firewood piled in their carports, but Aunt Nora never remembered to buy any. Belinda and Emma darted in and out of the neighbors’ carports, swiping a log from each pile.

“Six logs and a bag of kindling,” Belinda said.

“They can have their first married fuck in front of a roaring fire. You’re so romantic, Bel.”

“Thanks, Em.”

They rang Aunt Nora’s buzzer.

“What if she doesn’t let us in?” Belinda asked, balancing three big logs under her chin.

“Leave it to me.”

“Yes? Who is it?” crackled Aunt Nora’s voice over the intercom.

“Flowers,” Emma said, disguising her voice like a delivery boy.

The buzzer sounded, and the cousins pushed open the door. They climbed the five flights, bowing under the weight of the firewood.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Belinda said. She felt lightheaded, as though she might start laughing and not be able to stop. She had the terrible feeling they were making a mistake, that Aunt Nora was going to be furious at them.

They got to her floor, opened the fire door, and there she was in the hallway, her red hair curled and tumbling onto the shoulders of a gorgeous low-cut white lace gown.

“Oh, my God,” Aunt Nora said.

“Aunt Nora, you look so beautiful,” Emma said. “Doesn’t she, Bel?”

“You do, you look incredible,” Belinda said, afraid she would drop the wood.

“I’m sorry we faked being florists. Can we put this wood in your apartment before we die?” Emma staggered through the door and laid the logs on the raised brick hearth. Belinda stacked the wood in the fireplace.

“We wanted to give you a fire for your wedding,” Belinda said. “May your love always burn bright.”

“And may your heart always burn whenever you think of Willis,” Emma said.

Aunt Nora laughed, and so did Belinda, but Emma didn’t quite get what she’d said. “Willis told Sean you’re getting married, and Sean told us, and we had to come,” Emma said. “You can kick us out if you want.”

“God, I’m glad you’re here,” Aunt Nora said, holding her arms open so they’d give her a hug. “I am so nervous, I’m about to start smoking again. Eloping sounds romantic, but it’s been terrible so far. I’m all alone, and I can’t even call your mothers because I’m
ashamed of uninviting them. I was bridesmaid at both their weddings, and I didn’t even invite them to mine.”

“We’re here now,” Emma said, patting Aunt Nora’s hand, beautifully manicured with shell-pink nail extensions. “We’ll be your bridesmaids.”

The three of them sat on the sofa, leafing through bridal magazines. Belinda saw about fifty dresses she’d like to wear to her wedding. Every picture of a groom wearing glasses made her think of Zach.

The doorbell rang, and Aunt Nora jumped. “They’re here, Willis and Judge Garrity.”

“Take a deep breath,” Emma advised. “Pinch your cheeks—you’re a little pale.”

Nora went to the kitchen. Her satin-toed shoe snagged on the carpet, and she nearly tripped. Belinda caught her elbow.

“Thank you, Belinda. Thank heavens you’re here.”

“We’re your family,” Belinda said.

Aunt Nora opened the refrigerator door. Her hands shook as she removed a pristine white box. She opened the lid, ruffled back the green tissue paper, and took out a bouquet of white roses. Aunt Nora pressed them to her nose, and then, almost as an afterthought, offered them to Belinda to smell. Thinking of Aunt Nora buying her own bouquet all by herself, storing it in her refrigerator, alongside the orange juice and coffee beans, made Belinda’s throat tighten up.

“I should have flowers for you and Emma,” Aunt Nora said absently, examining her bouquet, as if she were considering splitting it into three.

“That’s okay, Aunt Nora,” Belinda said quietly, to calm her down. You could see she wasn’t getting nearly enough air.

Emma answered the door. Willis’s face lit up when he saw Belinda and Emma. He didn’t say, but suddenly Belinda knew it had been Aunt Nora’s idea, not Willis’s, to elope. Belinda stood extra close to Aunt Nora, because Aunt Nora had a long way to go in the love department, and she needed support. Belinda beckoned Emma to stand on Nora’s other side.

Willis looked tall and elegant in his tux. Aunt Nora walked toward him, taking small steps, the way a bride walks down the aisle. She and Willis stood perfectly still, staring into each other’s eyes. Belinda and Emma moved to one side, watching.

“My Nora,” Willis said.

Then, as if she had just remembered, Aunt Nora fumbled her bouquet, freeing up one rose. She took a hat pin out of her sleeve and started to pin the rose on Willis’s lapel, but Emma tapped her back.

“That’s a job for the best man,” Emma said. Belinda doubted Emma had ever pinned a flower on a man before, but she managed to do it without sticking Willis.

Judge Garrity, a white-haired friend of her grandparents, cleared his throat. “Where would you like to stand, Nora?” he asked.