A Wedding Gift

Some dreams came true and Andrea was honored to be able to witness one. She had been chosen a bridesmaid for her best friend's wedding.

The white stretch limo pulled up and a dramatic pause preceded the gray-haired chauffer opening the rear door. With a gloved hand, he politely helped the new Mrs. Manuel Bernardo out. Immediately, Maggie and Manny were met by a wave of applause. Yet, all eyes were glued on the bride. Some of those eyes watered. Others gazed dreamily from wishing themselves the same happiness.

She was rapture, the perfect picture of beauty. Her makeup had been professionally applied, her permed hair 200 dollars prettier than the day before. Yet, it was the gown that stole the breath of the well-dressed mob that mulled about. Maggie wore pure white. It was more for the sake of tradition than for a show of innocence. The lace and frills fell to a train that stretched ten feet behind her. She could not have looked more beautiful.

As Maggie's mom fluffed her gown, the rest of the wedding party arrived. Betrayed through their playful giggles, they had already toasted the new couple more than once. The Maid of Honor, Andrea, and the other bridesmaids were dressed in pink chiffon. Like the bride, each wore tiny white flowers in their hair. Manny's Best Man and Ushers strutted in black tuxedos with tails. The hats and canes added to the touch of formal elegance. For a wedding of such a young couple, it was incredibly chic.

Everyone Maggie and Manny ever loved was on hand to celebrate the joyous occasion. The guest list, exceeding well over 300, also included many they didn't even know. The receiving line felt as if it would never end. They shook hands, laughed falsely and kissed relatives they'd never set eyes on before. Cousins long-removed, friends of their parents, perhaps even strangers passing by got in on the festivities. Nobody cared. The day was too perfect for such menial concerns.

It was mid-autumn, hurricane season, but the forecast promised a calm day. One could only hope. As the sun set on the water's flat horizon, the large wedding party gathered at the rustic gazebo to take pictures. Everyone beamed, especially Maggie. She constantly grabbed for Manny and stole every kiss she could.

The pictures also seemed to take forever. Different poses and combinations of people were stiffly ordered by the photographer; all done, only to be placed in an album and thrown upon some closet shelf to collect years of dust. Still, in the unseasonably warm breeze, they took turns smiling, making sure that even years from now, there would be concrete proof that on at least one day of their lives, they experienced perfection. By the end of the shoot, a full harvest moon broke through to shimmer on the sea's rippling water.

Independence Harbor hosted only the most prestigious and important functions. One step inside removed all questions as to why. The foyer welcomed visitors with a floor of white marble and plush green plants. It was gorgeous, with high-vaulted ceilings, antique moldings and a wall of enormous windows that faced the ocean. Waves crashed off jagged rocks and continually sprayed the glass with a sea mist. One could almost taste the salt. Crystal chandeliers lit mahogany and brass-accented bars that sat beside fireside alcoves. A winding staircase led to the function hall upstairs. Just past the coat check, an arrow pointed to some sinfully indulgent bathrooms. Inside, doting attendants offered cologne and fluffy towels. Amidst the luxurious sophistication, kids with untucked shirts and runny noses ran around and did what all normal kids do: they explored and screamed in delight at each new discovery. The adolescents simply scanned the room in search of their prey. Weddings always moved stagnant hearts and inspired romance, even in the shyest boys.

There were flowers everywhere, most of them out-of-season lilies that needed to be flown in. It was clear that Maggie's dad had spared no expense in sending off his precious little girl. The best caterer in the western hemisphere had been hired to prepare a virtual cornucopia of delights. From cheese and fruit arrangements to the detailed ice sculpture of two smooching angels, the main course promised filet mignon, glazed baby carrots and some type of potatoes no one could pronounce. For dessert, Maggie's childhood favorite completed the menu, fresh strawberries and cream.

It was open bar, with as much beer and wine as anyone wished to consume. No one drank the hard stuff these days anyway. The old Manny wanted a live band and would have gladly paid the extra 2,000 but Maggie, if only for the sake of her friends, who loved to dance, insisted on a D.J. One never knew what you could expect from a band. Manny agreed. In fact, he'd agreed to everything. It was Maggie's big day and anything she wanted, she got. Weddings were different for girls. While grooms-in-waiting played baseball and chased frogs, their future wives were already preparing.

Bottles of expensive wine sat atop each table, while teenage waiters saving for college poured half glasses in preparation for the toast. Favors had also been placed into each place setting. They were no less than fancy white boxes filled with "M&M's," half plain and half with peanuts, in honor of "Manny and Maggie." Months of thought had gone into every detail and it showed.

Three linen tables were set up across the dance floor from the D.J. The first held a giant wishing well which had been constructed to collect the cards. It filled quickly. The table in the middle held a three-tier cake, with a running fountain in the middle and a young couple on top. They actually appeared to be looking down into the reflections the fountain created. The final table was being used to gather presents. Neatly wrapped gifts of white and silver overflowed onto each other.

When Father Dimarco, the reverend who announced Manny and Maggie as Manny and wife, arrived a runaway cork from a bottle of champagne hit him square off the head. Maggie's father apologized for spilling the bubbly contents all over the good reverend, brushed off his own sleeve and began to laugh. Nothing could ruin this proud day. It was the best, as if his entire life was spent preparing to give his little girl's hand away. It was almost a life's accomplishment that could not be put into words.

A buzz filled the room, as children complimented their grandmas on lovely violet dresses and men whispered excuses for sneaking off to the bar for another cold one. The drone of conversation was halted by the D.J.'s announcement, "It is my great privilege to introduce, for the first time as husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Bernardo." The lavish hall erupted. Arm-in-arm, Manny and Maggie marched in. Curiously, he was still as nervous as the moment they'd exchanged vows.

Manny and Maggie settled into the head table. Tinkling glasses, an old tradition, continually called for the new couple to kiss. They obliged each time.

Men pulled at their ties, while women used spit to clean their children's faces. The D.J. began the magical night with a soft instrumental. Father Dimarco stood and commanded another hush. Manny was still sweating. The blessing was brief, "Father, we give You thanks for the meal we are about to receive. We thank You for Your mercy, Your justice and for Your love, which has united two wonderful people. In the name of Your Son, Jesus, we pray. Amen."

"Amen," the chorus of guests reciprocated.

A nervous best Manny grabbed the microphone and hesitantly offered a trembling toast. Raising his glass, Adam looked over at Manny and grinned, "To your honor. Once you're honor, never get off her!" There was silence. Adam laughed, but he laughed alone. The priest swallowed hard. Red-faced, Adam kept his glass raised and forged on, "But seriously, to Manny and Maggie, my oldest and dearest friends. I've known you both since high school and I also know that Maggie is the best thing that's ever happened to you, Manny. I'm almost envious." It was Manny's turn to swallow hard.

From a stained cocktail napkin, Adam read, "May you always remain the best of friends and may the love that fills this room go with you on your lifelong journey together!"

There was a muffled applause. Maggie's eyes filled with tears and looking past Manny, she moved her pink lips to form the words, "Thank You." Once done, the newlyweds kissed.

As Adam sighed heavy and passed the microphone back to the D.J., he patted his best friend on the back and reclaimed his seat.

To his surprise and the surprise of others, the D.J. merely handed the microphone over to the groom. Everyone waited. Manny spoke slowly, "First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for sharing this day with Maggie and I. If no one has any objections, before we begin dinner, I'd like to present a special gift to my wife. I'd like to show the world exactly what she means to me!" He stopped and nearly choked on his next breath. He'd never called Maggie his wife before.

Aglow, Maggie squirmed with excitement, while the guests shuffled to the edge of their seats. Within minutes, Kevin Noble, Manny's first Usher, pulled down a white screen, while the Maitre d' turned out the lights. In turn, the D.J. turned up the volume. It was an old tune performed by the Carpenters. As Karen Carpenter swooned, "We've only just begun…" Manny flipped on the projector. This was going to be a wedding gift no one would ever forget.

The first picture in the touching slide show was of Maggie as a baby. The entire room "ooohed," while Maggie's dad threw his new son-in-law a thumbs-up. The next was of Manny's infancy. Then, frame after frame, the grinning groom captured the moments when he and Maggie met, fell in love and grew into the couple they now were. Each step toward this very day was presented. Maggie squeezed his hand and sniffled, "Thank you!"

Everyone sighed to each snapshot. Karen Carpenter had just bellowed, "A kiss for luck and we're on our way…" when suddenly, a slide popped up showing the front page of a newspaper. The date read: October 13. It was three days before the wedding. The picture didn't make sense. Confusion hummed through the darkened room.

Everyone turned his or her attention from the screen to Manny. They were baffled. Maggie's dad's eyebrows were still raised when the next slide popped up. It was a brown door with a brass plate reading the number 15. In the background, a sign flashing The Moby Dick Motel stuck out. Maggie's hand turned cold and clammy, and slid free of Manny's. He could tell she'd stopped breathing.

The following slide was a picture of Maggie and Adam. They were standing in the threshold of that very door and they were kissing. The hush of the room was pierced with inquisitive mumbles.

The next photo was apparently taken through a dusty window. Giving all eyes a few moments to really focus in, Manny scanned the squinting crowd for a change in their expressions. And it happened! They saw it. They all saw the truth. The fuzzy picture was of Maggie and Adam. They were locked in a naked embrace. Mouths dropped open.

"You bastard," Maggie hissed, but the slides only got quicker. In one flash after the next, Maggie and Adam were depicted in the obvious throes of a passionate lovemaking session. Scene after vulgar scene, it became brutally clear that Manny had been recently betrayed by two of the people he trusted most. It was heart wrenching, but his thumb pressed on. Various positions and angles were shot, all taken from one dusty window. Even the photographer looked impressed.

By the time Maggie's father stood and prepared to lunge, Manny had reached the last slide. Strangely, the grand finale proved somewhat anti-climatic. It was only of himself. His head was buried in his hands, his body bent at the waist in grief. He was obviously mourning his losses. With that, the show was over.

The D.J. halted Karen Carpenter, while Tommy flipped on the lights.

"To think I was going to spend the rest of my life with you… I really loved you!" Manny cried at Maggie. Of all places, her mouth was wide open. She was still in shock. "I'll go for the annulment on Monday," he groaned and stormed away.

Adam was guzzling his glass of wine when Manny approached.

"You would have never missed my bachelor party. I knew you weren't sick!" the tormented groom screamed at the top of his lungs.

The best Manny opened his mouth to speak, but was too late. Manny's fist hit Adam's nose so hard it actually looked like a water balloon filled with cherry Jell-O exploded. Blood flew everywhere.

While half the room rushed out after Manny, the other half sat in shock. Maggie sat with the second half. Not even from her dad were her whimpers going to invoke sympathy. Andrea and Father Dimarco, fitting into neither category, merely tipped their wine glasses and drank hard.

"It's a wonder anyone is sane these days," the priest whispered. Andrea could only nod in agreement because some dreams didn't end the way they began. In fact, some dreams should never ever come true.