Family Reunion (67 page)

"Your grandmother, your mother,
they were Negroes, like me?"

Lena found herself asking, as the others sat enraptured by her honest tale.

"Negresse?" She asked knowingly.

Lena nodded.

"Very much so, I know you cannot tell by me but they were. My grandmother was so dark, they called her Ebony Perle and oh so beautiful. Her men took very good care of her. I will have you to know, that one of my mother's amoureuxs was a Prince. He was very kind and gentle with her."

"Was he your father?" Sandra asked.

"I haven't a clue. Mother would never say."

"Why have you never married?" Lena asked.

"I prefer lovers. A man to trust as a husband is hard to find, I am happy as I am." She returned, dying to tell Lena that Manny had been one of those lovers and he was the only man she would have considered marrying, but he never considered her as anything but an occasional lover.

In fact, he'd once called her by Lena's name…meeting her finally, the one woman who held his heart, satisfied her curiosity. She held no illusions of ever getting him, because she knew where his heart was.

Lena smiled, satisfied with her questioning. The two passed something between them, a look as it were, subtle and knowing; Lena saw it in Terra's eyes, a message clear that Manny had been her lover, there was no doubt in Lena's mind. She squared her shoulders, holding her head higher as she stated, "Good for you, happy as you are. I thank you for doing my gown, and knowing Manny, I'm certain he paid you well."

Madame Biquay chuckled, "Yes, he did – as we both know, whatever he does… he does well." There it was, a small confirmation to Lena, to let her know, that her thoughts and suspicion was well founded.

A small giggle broke into the exchange between the two women. All looked up to see Francis with her hand over her mouth, a surprised look on her face.

"Francis! How much wine have you had?" Lena asked, deliberately cutting off all thoughts of Terra Biquay. Francis looked as if she was wondering the same thing, then suddenly shrugged and giggled again, "I ain't for sure, but I like it." She admitted.

"You will be sorry for that later." Maria teased and then turned to Lena, "Open your other gifts."

"Yeah, let's see them!" Josey added.

Her gifts consisted of something new, from Josey, a cameo pin to wear on her gown. Something old from Maria, a Spanish style pearl comb for her hair, that brought admiring 'Ooohs' from all, it had been her mother’s, hearing that brought tears to Lena's eyes as she hugged her.

The something blue was the negligee Sandra had given her and the
something borrowed she received from Lettie, which was a red and black fringe garter. With a wink, Lettie assured her that
it
would certainly spark a fire in Manny. After all was given, the rest of the time left was spent eating lightly, chatting and slowly preparing her for the approaching hour.

* * *

Joseph fell away from his wife with a smile of contentment as he blew and sighed to bring his breathing down.

"Ohhh Joseph! Now I have to do my hair over again, I wish you had waited until later. You've sweat all over it." Hope whined, leaping from the bed, rushing behind the screen in their room to pour water to wash up. Joseph lay with a smile on his face; he felt he could easily stay in bed all day long.

"Joseph! Get up! You promised if I gave over you'd start getting ready… now up!" She called from behind the screen.

"I'm exhausted sweetheart; your father has worked me mercilessly."

"You get to rest after they depart."

He leaned up on his elbow looking toward the screen. "You don't mind us setting off tomorrow do you? You could go with Mike if you wish." He offered, feeling bad keeping her back so that he could file the papers concerning Manny taking ownership of all Sandra's businesses. She peeked out from behind the screen. "I wouldn't dream of going without you. We'll catch up to them." She answered.

"Honey, when are we going to discuss where we are to live? I'm thinking Connecticut. Mother has informed me that my grandfather has given us his estate there. You would love it, it is where I lived while attending school, and it's not far from the shipyard your father now owns."

"Do we have to discuss that now Joseph, we're going to be late."

She returned, coming out with her under garments on. "Please get up and start getting ready." She pleaded. He finally stood and gave a loud bear stretch, making her laugh. "Silly man, Gaitsu will think us mad!" Hope muttered, checking over their clothing as he came up behind her. "Joseph! I just washed up…go get ready…please." He was nuzzling her ear, kissing down the back of her neck. "I have a feeling, that I did it this time." He foretold, smiling.

"Did what?" She turned asking. He looked into her eyes and caressed her cheek. "Planted my son, safe and sound, you will see, this time it is without fail. I know it, I felt it … here." He assured gently, touching his heart.

Hope stood staring into her husband's eyes. "Think we should do it
one more time before we go…just to be sure, just in case?"

Joseph threw his head back laughing. "And be late for your mother and father's wedding - no…tonight, tonight my love." He bent kissing her brow.

* * *

"How do you feel?" Mike asked, watching his father.

Manny blew to settle the butterflies in his stomach; he paced back and forth like a male lion waiting on the return of its mate. "I'm fine."

He answered.

All three men, Leon, Mike and Manny were at the far end of the huge room which was decorated with flowers and lace. Four long tables were packed with various delicacies, pastries, tart desserts, prepared appetizers, Oyster stew and clam chowder - which Carmine swore was the food for a wedding, saying, “Every man, I tell you, who marries, eat a good amount on the day of his wedding, his night – will be as it should!" Roasted ducks with raisin and spice rice stuffing, roasted beef, and halibut fish steaks would soon be on display, as the menu of seemingly endless foods being laid out went on. On the table with pastries was the three tier wedding cake.

"You look a little nervous to me." Leon observed.

"I'm okay, really... how do I look?"

"Like a man about to be married. Otherwise, you look fine, really you do." Mike assured him.

"Well, I don't feel fine." He worried, contrary to his earlier statement. He resumed his pacing. "If so much as one thing happens or one idiot opens his mouth to say the wrong thing, it will be his last."

"Dad, no idiots were invited. All know this to be a closed, private, affair…relax, with the men you have on guard, who would even dare consider it." His son finished.

"Calm down Manny, it will be over before you know it. All will go well, I'm sure of it." Leon added. Manny stopped his pacing briefly. "I wish she would get down here. I wish that blasted preacher would get here ... we should have gotten married at sea. To make certain nothing went wrong. I can't stand this bloody waiting!"

Just then the preacher knocked at the door. Gydale and Rory, who were in charge of watching the door, making sure no uninvited guests showed up, peeked out, then opened it allowing him entry.

Manny stood with his heart pounding and breathed a sigh of
relief to see that the preacher had arrived. "He's here! That's it! Mike get your mother, we're getting married right this second!"

Mike shook his head, "Dad, calm down, everything is going to be okay." Manny closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. The door opened again in the distance, it was Thomas and his family.

"Hello everyone, are we ready for the big event?" The white preacher asked, approaching Manny after crossing the length of the room. Thomas was also striding his way, with Eugenia heading for the back room to go up and join the other women.

"Sir, if this service doesn't get on soon, I'm afraid I'm going to collapse." Manny admitted. The preacher smiled and patted Manny's arm, "I understand your tension. I prayed for you through the night young man, I assure you the creator is on your side."

"Well I'd feel a lot better if
He
were standing at the door. I just want it done and over." Manny fretted.

Nigel Franks and his family arrived as the room was steadily filling with the rest of the invited. The string quintet were making quite the racket as they arrived and entered the room to set up their instruments.

"This is it old boy! Come on now, let's look the part!" Thomas simpered as he stepped up to the group.

"Damn it Thomas…I'm afraid I need a drink!" Manny confessed.

"Dad is afraid something's going to stop it." Mike informed him.

Thomas assured him. "'Not if there's a God, and of that I am certain." He switched to being serious, "Relax Manny, this room is filling up with people who are all on your side."

"Grandpa, grandma says I can hold the rings." Felix said, coming into the room from the kitchen, stepping in front of Manny, who smiled and thanked him for the distraction. "Did she now? Do you know how important that job is?" He asked, kneeling before his grandson.

"Yes I do, and Lolita was teasin' that I'm gonna lose'em but I shut her up some good!" He bragged, nodding. Manny looked at him asking but fearing the answer. "And how did you do that?" Felix stalled and looked up at his father, then swallowed. Biting his lip he started to admit, "I ah-…” Right then she walked up with a red face and tears streaming. "Papah Felix hit me in the stomach." She whimpered with her hand over it half bent.

* * *

Lena sat surrounded by laughing women, all who seemed to take
more enjoyment from her wedding than she herself. She was much too nervous as the hour was drawing near. So much was on her mind. Loving Manny as she did, there was a bit of resentment that he'd gotten a past lover to make her wedding dress, so she had to keep reminding herself that it was during the time they were apart. At the moment, Eugenia, who had entered the room congratulating her with a kiss to her cheek, was telling everyone about her and Thomas's sudden and unexpected need to be married and the fact that in the beginning, marriage was the last thing on his mind.

They all laughed, even Lena smiled as Terra instructed her assistant on a last bit of adjusting on her gown as she sat in her silk wrap, pantaloons, stockings and mix-matched garters. Now she sat before a vanity mirror with Maria brushing her hair making it ready as the others sat around talking, giving nods of approval when necessary and words of encouragement to her.

"Oh! So here is where all the women are." Hope exclaimed, entering the room having just arrived, then going straight to her mother bending low, placing a kiss to her cheek. "You’re here, finally." Lena greeted her daughter, so nervous it showed. "Now mama, daddy is nervous enough for the two of you. No sense in you being the same. And Maria, I fear you are on the verge of having one less child, Felix punched Lolita in the stomach from what I could gather amidst all the noise. Mike has thoroughly shaken him up, thumped him in the head, slapped his behind and planted it thoroughly in a seat until he is called from it. There is
my
poor father in the middle, feeling bad for Lolita and trying to soothe her. Can you imagine his stress? He went from not knowing where any of his children were, to being surrounded by my brother's brood, five and another on the way." She finished making everyone present laugh as Lena shook her head and groaned. Maria blocked all from her mind and focused on straightening the curls and waves in Lena's hair with a smooth heated iron.

Those present watched as it straightened the hair, showing the silky texture that shined, making Lena's hair much longer, falling beyond her shoulders past the shoulder blades. Once it was all smooth, Maria arranged it into a beautiful oriental chignon on top of her head; there she placed the pearl comb she'd given her. Sandra couldn't resist commenting, "My goodness Lena, I didn't know your hair could do that…how interesting."

Lena tilted her head looking in the mirror and chuckled, this was the first time her hair had ever been done that way and she hadn't known it could be either. She ran her hand through a portion already done and cooled over her right shoulder.

"It doesn't feel like my hair, it feels so much lighter ...I
think this will be my first and last time doing this, Manny will prefer it the other way."

"Washing it will change it back, it's only temporary." Maria assured her. Finishing the final touches she stood back and asked all present, "What do you think?"

"She's positively breathtaking." Sandra spoke up.

"I second that." Eugenia added.

The style was perfect, giving a soft sophistication to her. Lena looked at her reflection and marveled at Maria's talent. Maria was more than any woman could hope for as a daughter in-law. "Do
you
like it?" Maria asked softly.

"My dear, I am in awe, I love it! Thank you." Lena assured her. "Now if I can only get control of my nerves."

"You just calm down and take a few deep breaths, this is supposed to be the happiest day of your life, and it will be, you'll see." Eugenia encouraged.