Chapter 28

Easter week-end was clear, and balmy. The church was alive with Daffodils, Dogwood and Roses. The Bride's maids were in pastel, Toni in Sea Green, Julie in Lavender, and Becky in Lemon Yellow, to contrast with her Jet hair. Daniel, and David were twin Best Men, each with a ring, in his waistcoat pocket. Mike Swanson stood facing up the aisle, waiting for Maggie to enter, on Sean's arm. Just as Mike felt he could wait no longer, his bride and her son entered, and started down the aisle. He stared at this woman, with whom he would spend the rest of his life, and wondered at the past nine months, since that apocalyptic week-end in Atlanta.

His life since then, had moved in a direction that he had hoped it would go, with Lois. His only contact with her, since she had moved out, so precipitously, was when her divorce papers had been delivered to him. She had declined to negotiate directly with him, delegating that task to her attorney.

His reverie was interrupted, by the arrival, at his side, of Maggie and Sean.

"Who gives this woman?"

"I do."

Becky glanced at Sean, and wondered at how handsome he looked, in his tails, and at her luck, to have a man like him, to love, and be loved by.

They had been inseparable, since that first skating date, and had had not one minute of regret. On her eighteenth birthday, two months before, she had moved in with the O'Brians, with her father's blessing, sharing Sean's room. She and Sean had decided to marry, and move out, on their own, in June, when she graduated from High School, and he got the promotion, he had been promised, at work.

Sean turned to his seat, and Becky returned her attention to the ceremony.

Dan, and Dave, looked at their, soon-to-be, stepmother, and thought, how much her daughters were like her. For the last seven months, she had been teaching them all those things, Mike had wanted Lois to teach them. Her lessons, had been supplemented, by Toni and Julie. The boys spent as many nights in Maggie's room, as they did in the girl's. Mike had taken over, where Jake had left off, and spent as many nights with the nubile girls, as he did with Maggie. The Swansons had moved in with the O'Brians, when their house went to Lois, in the divorce. Mike had managed to keep the agency, and with what Jake had left them, the now combined household, had managed well enough.

"Who has the rings?"

"We do."

Sean watched the boys hand the rings to the priest, and decided to tell Maggie and Mike of his wedding plans, at the reception. Since Becky had moved in with him, his nights with Maggie, Julie and Toni had dwindled, to the occasional, short, quickie. He realized that he no longer wanted anyone, except Becky. She, for her part, had only once tried any of the others, and that once was with Dan, and Dave, one night, when Mike was with Julie and Toni. That was one of the few times Sean and Maggie had spent the entire night together. Sean and Becky had agreed, during some of their long talks, that they would teach any kids of theirs, as they had been, but they were losing their taste for the others, since they had found one another.

"Do you, Michael, take this woman... ?"

"I do!"

Maggie thought, that she hadn't been this happy, since her wedding day to Jake. His philosophy had served her well, she realized. It had brought happiness, to everyone involved. When she was married to Mike, she was going to leave the girl's training to Dan, and Dave, and vice-versa. In fact, she was going to move them into the same room. With two double beds, it would be quite comfortable. She could see a double wedding, in the near future. Her girls were seventeen now, and would soon be ready to fly the nest. She was already feeling that she wanted to stay in her own bed, with her husband. She was still a young woman, and if she and Mike had children, they would be taught, as this first group had been, but barring that, she would be faithful, to her Mike.

"Do you, Margaret, take this man, Michael, to be... ?"

"I do, Oh yes, I do"

"Then, by the powers vested in me, by the State of Florida, and in the Eyes of God, I now pronounce you, Man and Wife. You may kiss the Bride."