Chapter 3- Run Out on the Crazy

Chapter 3-Run Out on the Crazy

 

Wilma sat down to rest. Setting up this shindig had nearly worn her out and she was hoping to change in the bathroom and sneak into the ceremony. It wasn’t every day that such a high profile wedding occurred in such a small town. Plus, with all the money these folks had, and had paid her, she was hoping for a little free food or at the very least, a story she could sell to the local gossip rag. The Blues were constantly on the front page and Wilma had read every article printed about this notorious family.

Shortly after sitting down Wilma heard the unmistakable sounds of the party beginning to arrive. Now would be a good time to slip away and change.

Princess was a little unnerved to see Tabor at the wedding. She realized that he was related to both Hale and Whitley, but she was still incredibly uncomfortable around her husband’s other children. Maybe if she looked the other way he wouldn’t actually be there. And-Good PlumbBob! ‘What on earth is Angelica wearing? She’s the sister of the bride! Does she now know how to not dress like, O…M…P. Mandarin has REALLY outdone herself with that get-up,’ Princess though wildly, looking around at the guests. “Iris! You are not the town hooker! Put some clothes on!” Oops. She had intended that for her head only. Now everyone had turned to stare at her after such a comment. Everyone knew and loved Iris for her quirkiness.

“See? Told ya! Garbage, haha,” Hale said. “Mom’s lovely really. She just forgets what is in her head, and in her mouth sometimes and the differences between the two. Hopefully that’ll be the only drama today.”  Hale plastered a big smile on his mortification hoping Whitley wouldn’t run out on the crazy.

“Are you ready to start? Maybe that’ll keep everyone quiet for a little bit, until the cake at least,” Whitley said. She, too, seemed a little nervous.

After Whitley and Hale took their places most everyone started to filter into the waiting chairs. Whitley was so happy. She’d waited for this since prom, when Hale had nervously whispered that he loved her. Now they were going to say it so that everyone could hear.

Princess insisted that she had to walk down the aisle last. As the mother of the groom she had decided she was the most important person after the bride. Whitley’s mother, Strawberry, hadn’t even sat on the front row. She would rather her daughter shone brightest on this very special day. It was Princess’ attention grab that started it. Suddenly, Whitley was filled with a doubt about what she was going to do.

“I love Hale. Really I do. But what will I do if his mother wants to walk all over me. If that’s how his mother is, is that how he is? Or is he so used to being a doormat that I’ll have to walk all over him to make him happy? Would I be happy with that?”

Her silent internal conflict had registered loud and clear on her face. Turmoil in her eyes, her furrowed brow all but screamed her newly born doubt.

Hale tried desperately to give her reassurance in his eyes. He had seen his mother’s ploy all too well, as well as what it had created in his bride’s eyes. His own resolve to put his family on a firmer footing was strengthened. He decided right then that art for his mother’s sake was not going to be how he spent his life. He was going to get a job. And not just any job, the job HE wanted.

He moved slightly toward Whitley, willing her to feel the resolve toward righting many wrongs he had decided on. Despite her own continuing uncertainty she moved toward him as well. Trusting that he held the answer she was looking for, the ceremony began.

Just as Hale began his vows, Princess made another attempt to shift the focus onto herself. This time it was done maliciously.

“Boo! Angelo! Why are you even here! Oh I know! It’s so you can keep an eye on your wife!” Princess’ shouts startled most of the crowd. Katia quickly left her seat, ready to drag her mother away if need be. She, too, had figured someone would fling some mud. She was very shocked that it was her own mother. Princess had remained so quiet through all her trials, why did she feel the need to interrupt Hales wedding with such behavior? Strawberry had just left for the restroom, and Aunt Emma was even looking askance at her.

Hale had merely ignored his mother, raising his own voice to sound louder than hers. Whitley had seemed to regain her footing and confidence as Hale declared stoutly that his mother was no more important than what was going on up front.

Whitley’s heart expanded filling her chest with pride. Maybe the geek had more spine that she had given him credit for. Maybe he would become the shining pillar of society that his ancestors were. If he did, she knew that she’d be right by his side.

With no further to do, she became Mrs. Hale Blue, Whitley Blue. Hale had left bachelorhood behind, and was finally ready to take his place in society.

As Whitley and Hale began the reception by cutting the cake, Princess hung back. She knew she had pushed a little far with these two but she had been ready to burst with righteous indignation. She promised herself that she would make it up to Whitley, and soon too.

Whitley watched as her mother, the last guest, turned to go home. Strawberry had been a good bit older when she had been born, and seeing her mother so frail now, right as Whitley’s life was expanding, was a bitter pill to swallow. Angelica was still at home with their parents, but she knew Angelica was busy with her own life, her own kids. Living in the Blue house, Whitley wondered if even if she gave an invitation to come visit if her parents would accept. She couldn’t bear to think this could be one of the last times she saw her mother; that her own life was just beginning, as her mother and fathers were ending.

Hale walked over after finishing paying the caterers. She turned to him sadly. “She’s so old,” Whitley whispered.

“We’ll make sure she’s ok,” Hale promised, pulling her close. “We’ll make sure.”

(There was supposed to be more to this scene, but my game crashed almost immediately after that last photo. So I cleaned up the mess, restarted the game, got the wedding going again, and… a meteor scenario fired a split second before I hit the save button in the middle of the ceremony. Doom. In the second wedding NO ONE but Katia and about 5 guests survived the catastrophe. The meteor hit the bride and groom square on the head. Hale and Whitley each had death flowers to give grim to keep them alive, but I had to manually resurrect everyone else and send them on their way. Needless to say, poor Whitley resurrected with a horrid moodlet about throwing a bad party as most of the guests were horrified at what had happened. After cleaning up THIS mess I merely decided to roll with it and move on. No more weddings for those two, kind of gave me IDEAS though… *snigger…