Chapter 10

Dad and Layla's colleagues from work turned out in force over the next two days and got everything moved from the Patterson household to ours. The team included a janitor and his assistant, and they had commandeered a small hospital truck. I am sure it was all very irregular, but Mr. Thornton, the hospital administrator is a good friend of Dad's - in fact the only reason he didn't help out himself was that he suffered from a bad back.

We had decided to open up the unused wing of 'The Cedars' and Denise and I volunteered to move over there. We joked about having a floor each, but ended up having rooms at opposite ends of the first floor. In addition to the university hospital people, Jake, Elisa and Fran helped out and by late afternoon on the 27th, we were all set up.

The wedding itself was a quiet and very private civil ceremony on the 29th. Denise was Bridesmaid and I was Best Man. Apart from us and Bobby, only Fran, Elisa, Jake and two of Dad and Layla's closest colleagues were in attendance, the latter two acting as witnesses. We had a small dinner at home, and that was that, Dad and Layla thought. They hadn't cleared that with us though. "You must be joking!" Denise challenged. "You are going to have a wedding bash, make no mistake about it. We will have it on New Year's Eve."

"Darling," Layla replied. "No one can come with that short notice!"

"Who is talking about short notice Mom?" I asked - calling her that for the very first time and obviously distracting her. "We've already invited all our moving helpers and their spouses."

"And guess what?" Denise added, "They all said yes - including poor Mr. Thornton."

"Elisa will bring her mom and brother," Bobby chipped in. "The little brother hero-worships George."

"Must be that car-ride" I said. "Oh, and Jake talked his parents into coming too, or he couldn't come at all," I added.

"Oh!" Denise said. "I didn't know that."

"Well, I talked to him only 5 minutes ago. They will also bring his uncle," I added.

"His uncle?!" Denise demanded.

"Yes, also a Mr. Rutherford. Jake's father's older brother. You know him very well. He is our principal," I said.

"I know him quite well too!" Dad exclaimed. "We've worked together on the school food project."

"Exactly. That's what made it all possible," I replied. "Jake's mother had reluctantly agreed to ask her brother in law, assured that he would nix it. On the contrary he was very excited about the idea, so there will be four Rutherfords as well."

"Jesus, kids!" Layla threw up her hands in horror. "How many are we going to be?"

"Well, with Jake's family that I did not know about," Denise said, shooting me daggers, "I make it thirty four. Thirty five if Fran's mother accepts."

"She won't," Fran said quietly, speaking for the first time.

"Thirty five!" Dad sounded stunned. "How are we going to feed them?"

"Oh come, Dad! We've managed parties bigger than that!" I said.

"Not when we had to cook ourselves!" Dad replied.

"It's my turn to have exclusive information," Denise said, with a pointed look at me. "The caterers that did George's birthday can help us."

"Never!" I said almost scornfully. "Not for New Year's Eve with 48 hours warning!"

"Can too!" she replied, pouting at me. "I rang them, saying I knew full well that they were likely to laugh at me, but asked anyway. The owner did laugh, but only because of the irony of the situation. He had just had a cancellation. Somebody was going to have a big bash, but they are now doing their own personal version of 'War of the Roses' whatever that is. His words. He would be delighted to serve us instead since he had ordered raw materials and called in staff. We obviously won't have a say in the menu, but it sounded mouth watering. He said he could do up to 40 people. I will just call him and update our numbers."

Did I mention that my new sister is massively competent?

"I think we've been out-smarted by our children again Mrs. Monroe!" Dad said.

"Sure looks that way Dr. Monroe!" she replied with a laugh. "Sure does. Well, we'd better get cracking."

The next two days were hectic, but fun. One little detail that we hadn't thought about was how we were going to seat 34 people. The caterers were apologetic. Tablecloths were not a problem, nor was crockery and cutlery, but tables and chairs they couldn't provide. Once more the indispensable janitor form the university hospital and his truck came up trumps. We 'borrowed' a number of tables from the university that could be put together as one very long table and the requisite number of chairs, and Jake, Bobby and I had it all set up in 'The Cedar's' majestic dining room in time for the girls to take over the table setting.

Fran spent all the days with us during the Christmas break, but was reluctant to spend the nights. Yes, she wanted to, but her mother was giving her enough hell as it was. Ms. McNair, in a drunken stupor, had scornfully turned down the invitation, and I frankly found it hard to imagine under what circumstances she would get to meet my now extended family. According to Fran her mother had taken up drinking big time and Fran worried that she would lose her job at the diner.

But the party was a roaring success. The food was fabulous and the caterers had outdone themselves in gratitude for not being left high and dry. Everyone had a great time, no one more so than Jake and Denise. When the Rutherfords arrived and the adults had exchanged their polite welcomes and congratulations, Jake cleared his throat and said "Mom, Dad, Uncle Henry. I like you to meet Dr. and Mrs. Monroe's daughter Denise."

His parents nodded vaguely at the pretty girl, but obviously had no idea why they were being introduced in this formal way. Seconds later they knew. "I want you to know that I love her. I have done so for quite a long time now, and I hope to marry her one day."

"Oh Jake!" Denise cried and flung herself in his arms. "I do love you too."

"A formal proposal will hardly be required," Jake's uncle chuckled. "When the day comes you can just refer to this New Year's Eve!"