Arriving at the Plaza, the newly married couple, straighten out their
rumpled clothes, laughing as they exit the limousine.
“Alger, we'll meet you back here in about four hours to take us to
gamma's for the reception.”
“Sure thing, Mr. Carter, enjoy yourselves,” the driver replies with a
little smile on his face.
Walking to the front desk, arms wrapped around each other, nibbling at
each others neck, completely oblivious to anyone else. They reach the desk, and the clerk patiently waits to get their attention. Finally, she can’t take it anymore, “Excuse me?” the clerk asks.
Lucy finally realizing the clerk was watching, nudges her new husband
“John?” points to the clerk.
“Mr. and Mrs. John Carter,” replies John.
“Newlyweds, huh?” the clerk asks.
“Absolutely,” Lucy replies smiling.
“Let me see, here we are, the Honeymoon suite, two nights, bags have
already arrived, here's your key card. Room 1001.”
“Thanks,” John replies with a grin.
“Congratulations.”
Going up to the tenth floor, they continue kissing and touching each other, oblivious to the other passengers. Finally, reaching their floor, John picks Lucy up, to carry his bride over the threshold, “John, be careful of your back.”
“I'm okay, you're not that heavy... yet,” he says.
She playfully hits him.
“That's not what I meant.”
“So-what DID you mean?”
“I only thought, with all the exercise you've been doing lately, it might be bothering you,” she answers with a mischievous grin.
“It couldn't be better,” he says giving her a kiss.
Opening the door, he carries her to the bed and begins slowly undressing her. “John, give me a minute.” Getting up, she walks over to the sofa and sits down.
“Hey, what's wrong?” John asked with a confused look.
She takes a deep breath, “Nothing, with everything that's gone on today, I
just need for you to hold me.
Sitting next to her, he takes her in his arms, as she lays her head against his chest, closes her eyes, and recounts, in her mind all the days' events.
From her fears earlier in the day, to the moment she became John's wife.
“I love you Lucy,” he quietly whispers, kissing her on the forehead.
“I love you too, John,” returning his kiss.
After a few minutes of sitting, “It's been quite a day, hasn't it?” he asks, resting his eyes.
“It sure has,” she answers, her too resting her eyes.
“Well, it's not over yet.”
“I kinda wish it were,” she smiles.
“What? No reception? You were the one who wanted it later in the day,” he laughs.
“Give me a break,” she laughs, giving him a playful nudge.
“What you told the girls' was great,” he says seriously.
“I guess it was more emotionally draining, then I thought. I just hope I
didn't scare them unnecessarily. But it was good therapy for me to
FINALLY talk about it so easily.”
“I don't think you did, they really do love you, just like I do,” he says, than laughs, “Well, hopefully not EXACTLY like I do.”
“How much?”
“How much what?” he asks jokingly.
“How much do you love me?” she teases.
“Why Mrs. Carter, are you trying to take advantage of me?” he teases right
back.
“You bet I am, come here,” she says as she stands up and pulls him to
the bed.
John turns her around and lays her on the bed, “You okay?”
“I'm fine, we're fine,” she touches her stomach, “You'd better set the alarm, we don't want to be late to our own reception,” she smiles.
He carefully begins removing what is left of her clothing and the two make
love tenderly for the first time since becoming husband and wife.
Waking up in each other's arms had become normal for John and Lucy, but today was even more special. Lucy lays in her sleeping husband's arms relishing the fact, she is now a married woman.
The alarm on John's watch goes off, but Lucy lay there waiting for him to
wake up. Feeling his hand gently moving on her stomach, she slightly turns to see him waking up, “You awake?” he asks, nuzzling her hair.
“Yeah, for a little while, didn't want to wake you. What time is it?”
“Almost five thirty,” he says, turning the bed lamp on and checking his
watch.
“We'd better get up. Even though I would rather stay in bed with you, the
rest of the evening,” she smiles.
“So, what's stopping you?” he says pulling her closer.
“Well, let me see, your grandmother, my mom, and who knows how many
others, will be waiting for us,” she laughs.
“I get the picture. So, nice long, hot bath or quick shower?”
“As much as a nice long bath sounds inviting, I think we'd better opt for
the shower. Besides, we do have later tonight, and ALL day tomorrow,” she says smiling and getting up out of bed and slipping in to one of the
complimentary terry cloth robes, heading to the bathroom to get a head
start.
Going into the bathroom, Lucy catches her reflection in the full length
mirror and immediately begins studying her bathrobe clad body, “Yep,
starting to fill out, maybe a little too much,” she thinks to herself.
“What's up? I thought you were going to get started?” John says coming
in.
“Just looking at-”
“Our handiwork?” he laughs.
“Oh please,” she says, pushing him in the shower and turning the water
on him full blast. Not to be outdone, he pulls her in with him and they
share a sensual shower.
LATER
“Lucy, hurry up, the car's waiting.”
“Give me a break, if you'd like, leave me alone for FIVE minutes, I'd be
ready by now,” she teases.
“If you think you're getting too much-” he grins.
“I didn't say that. Come here, mister,” she says pulling him by his tie and
standing on her tiptoes to give him a kiss.
“Maybe we CAN be late,” he says finally taking a breath.
“Sorry, car's waiting,” as she laughs as they head downstairs to the waiting car.
The ride to John and Millicent Carter's house was not unlike the many
others that proceeded it, only this time they sat together, arms around each other, playing with each other's wedding rings.
“How many people do you think they invited?” Lucy asks nervously.
“Knowing Gamma, the whole city of Chicago.”
“I knew it! I should have insisted we keep it small, but I thought putting
them in charge would make them feel useful,” she complains.
“Calm down, you'll be fine, we've got friends there, just enjoy yourself.
Remember, I'll be there if you need me,” he gave her a light kiss on the
top of her head.
She clams down, “Do you realize, our next big event will be when little
Elizabeth decides to make her appearance?” she pats her stomach.
“Kind of scary, huh?”
“A little bit, but not as scary as facing a room full of Carters’,” she laughs.
As the limo turns into the winding driveway, Lucy takes a deep breath,
“Well, we're here,” she says nervously.
“It will be okay, you know,” he says giving her a kiss.
“Promise?”
“Absolutely,” he says, as he helps her out of the car.
They are greeted by Lucy's mom at the door, “Hey baby, you ready?” she
asks, giving her a kiss.
“Not really, can you give me a few minutes?” she says quietly, heading
towards the bathroom.
Turning her to her new son in law Barbara gives him a hug, “Is there a
problem?”
“A little nervous, that's all, she'll be fine.”
“Well, you guys take your time, tell her we all love her and we'll see you
shortly.”
John follows Lucy to the bathroom, standing outside the door. “Luce, you
okay?”
“Yeah.”
All of a sudden, he hears her getting sick. Entering, he sees Lucy sitting on the floor next to the toilet, “Hey honey, what's wrong?” he asks sympathetically.
“Nerves, I guess. This-” Indicating the surroundings of the Carter
house, “Isn't what I wanted today.”
“So, what do you want?”
“All I wanted, is to be alone with you, in our own home, and nobody
bothering us. The limo, this reception, and even the beautiful hotel room,
is NOT me.”
“Yeah, but most brides would want those things.”
“Sometimes I think those things are one family trying to outdo the other,
on who loves their child more. And the reception; just another excuse for
friends and family to get together and party.
John sat on the floor, studying his new wife, “So, what do we do now?”
Thinking for a moment, she answers with renewed confidence, “Go in there and get this over with, I guess.”
“That's my girl. Tell you what, after we cut the cake, we'll make our excuses and leave, go back to the hotel, pick up our things, and go home
for a couple of days, then go to the cabin. Sound good?”
“Sure does, but you forgot one thing?”
“Oh?”
“I think I was promised a nice long, hot bath.”
"After the bath, we'll head home.”
“That sounds better, now, help me up.”
Helping his wife off the floor, “You ready for your grand entrance?”
“After you... I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Mrs Carter.”
“I like the sound of that,” she says as they make their way out of the
bathroom and head to the dining room, where family and friends await.
