Post Grid: An Arizona EMP Adventure (40 page)

“Mom, you're rambling.”

“Am I?” She composed herself, then turned back to her daughter. “Well, I should be allowed. The whole town's shown up. It's about time to start but...”

“But what?”

Emma didn't want to give away the
cake
secret. She thought for a second, then said, “I don't think Jared's ready yet.” Why had she chosen that?

Kelly's nose wrinkled and she looked at her mother incredulously. “I thought he was already ready.”

“I'll check and be right back, when it's time, to bring you out.”

“Okay, hope your stuttering is better,” Kelly called after her.

“J-ju-just... never mind,” Emma said and headed down the hall. “It won't be long.”

****

Emma
closed the bedroom door behind her and leaned back, thinking of her little girl as she appeared twenty years ago, her long blonde hair in pigtails. Wiping a tear from her eye with the sleeve of her shirt, she
noticed Bea standing near the solar oven. Bea gave her the thumbs-up and winked one eye. That must be the signal for
the cake's here
,
Emma thought.

Jared stood near the arbor, anxiously shuffling from foot to foot. Dennis waited in the middle of the arbor, dressed in his finest blue jeans, borrowed white shirt, and prayer shawl. Neighbors milled about the yard. Normally they would be waiting for music to begin to signal the need to take their seats. Emma frowned, wishing she had arranged for their porch band to play, but then again, they were all busy.

“Everyone, everyone, can I have your attention,” Emma called out. “Would you please take your seats, the ceremony is about to begin.” Emma saw Lynn sitting in the chair that they had positioned facing the guests on the bride's side, violin in hand.

Jess moved to Jared's side, nervously taking his spot, his hands in his pockets. Dennis leaned toward Jess and whispered something, and Jess's hands came out of his pockets and rested at his sides. With a final glance of approval and confidence that things were all in order, Emma motioned Kelly to approach the door. She gave her daughter a kiss on the cheek, then placed Kelly's veil over her face, fighting back tears.

“Mom, I need to tell you something,” Kelly whispered.

“Can we talk after? I'm afraid if you say one more thing, I'll burst into tears and bawl all the way through the ceremony, and I won't hear a thing.”

Kelly laughed out loud. “I just wanted to say I love you.”

“I love you too.” Emma felt her eyes fill with tears, but quickly composed herself. Leaning out the door, she waved—the signal for Lynn to begin playing
The Wedding March
.

Emma stepped out onto the stoop and held out her hand so that Kelly could steady herself coming off the step. There was a small, audible gasp from the assembled guests, and Jared reached up to wipe his shirt sleeve across his eyes.

Mother and daughter walked arm in arm toward the guests to the music of the wind and a lone violin. When they arrived at the closest row of chairs, Emma stopped and lifted her daughter's veil. She kissed Kelly on the cheek once again, then motioned for her to continue on down the aisle without her. Kelly's eyes, questioning at first, looked in the direction her mother had suggested. Her eyes met Jared's, and she was drawn to him.

Kelly continued alone. Her dress flowed out behind her. It was a simple but spectacular gown, fitted from the collar to her tiny waist, a reminder of how painfully thin she had become in the last five months. There wasn't a wrinkle in its many yards of aged, cream-colored satin. The skirt was full, the sleeves long and fitted with ten satin-covered buttons climbing up each wrist. It was boat-necked in that elegant 1960s style with thousands of tiny iridescent seed beads making delicate patterns near the neckline and over the skirt. The gown shimmered in the sunlight. Yards and yards of tulle hung delicately from a comb in Kelly's hair.

She made her way up the aisle to the arbor, toward her waiting groom. Jared reached his hand out to her and she took it willingly.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered, taking her hand. It took everything he had to take his eyes away from his bride long enough to guide them both to their places in front of Dennis.

“Dearly beloved, we have come together in the presence of God and this company,” Dennis began.

Kelly struggled to hold back tears as she repeated her vows, then listened intently as Jared repeated his. The ceremony was a blur, and before she knew it, she heard Dennis quoting from the King James Bible.

So God created man in his
own
image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold,
it was
very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day
.

“By the power vested in me by you, our good neighbors, and God, I now pronounce Jared and Kelly man and wife. Jared, you may kiss your bride.”

Jared took Kelly in his arms and bent her backward, supporting her under her waist, pressing his lips against hers as the crowd cheered him on. He kissed her long and thoroughly. He started to lift her, then dipped her one more time. Kelly looked a little taken aback as Jared brought her back to standing. She felt for the comb on her veil and adjusted it.

Lynn played an upbeat piece that Rich had taught her for the recessional. Jared and Kelly started back down the aisle, now husband and wife. The crowd stood and clapped, tossing agave seeds that Lynn had been collecting for weeks into the air. Whoops and hollers abounded as the bride and groom ducked and weaved, trying to escape the barrage of seeds.

Jess waited in front of Dennis for Lynn. Still playing, she met him in the middle and they made their way back down the aisle together.

Dennis lifted his arms joyously skyward, motioning for the crowd to follow. Some picked up their folding chairs, taking them to the makeshift tables, before joining the receiving line near the back stoop.

Emma and Lynn stood next to Kelly, Dennis and Jess next to Jared, until each neighbor was greeted and thanked for coming.

“Let's eat,” Emma finally said.

A cheer rose from all assembled as Dennis and Rich made their way to the fire pit. Both donned heavy work gloves and stood at opposite ends of a heavy metal plate. Smoke rose in a massive plume as the cover cleared the pit. The men's muscles visibly strained against their shirtsleeves as they lifted, revealing a dark brown, crispy, glorious side of beef. Another cheer.

“Bride and groom first,” Emma cried, handing Kelly and Jared their plates and hustling them to the pit. Lynn grabbed for the bride's train and lifted it just as Kelly started moving.

Rich took a long, two-pronged fork and held it in the air ceremoniously. “Bride's choice,” he exclaimed. “My dear, what shall it be, rib or steak?”

Kelly pointed to a fatty piece near the shoulder and Rich dug the fork into the tender flesh, lifting her out a queen's portion amidst more cheers.

“Thank you, kind sir,” Kelly said.

“Now for the king.” Rich bowed to Jared.

“It all looks heavenly,” Jared replied. “Give me what you will.”

Kelly and Jared lifted their plates above their heads and shimmied through the crowd toward the “sides” table. She and Jared took small portions of everything offered. There were baked beans, spaghetti with spaghetti sauce, canned pineapple, green beans, peach cobbler and potato salad.

“Can you believe this?” asked Jared. “I think everyone turned out, except a guard or two. I heard that James and Kurt drew the short straws.”

“I'm sure some of the men will relieve them so they can have a nice meal too.” Kelly smiled. She bent sideways toward Jared's chair and said, “I love you.”

He bent toward her and kissed her. “I love you too.”

Bill brought Kelly and Jared another small plate of meat and set it between their two empty plates, saying, “Eat up, you'll need your strength.” Everyone within earshot laughed, and the party continued.

When the meal was over, Jose and Rich came around the house with an end table. Rich held an index finger to his mouth, signaling the crowd to be quiet. They placed the small table behind the bride, between her and the house. Emma placed a large lace doily over it and went to Kelly's side, distracting her with small talk.

Bea appeared at the kitchen door. “Attention, attention!” she said. “The ladies of Sunflower would like to present a surprise.” She opened the screen door widely and stepped off the stoop to give the other ladies room to emerge side by side holding the cake.

The cake was snow white, three tiers high and decorated with beautiful pink frosting flowers.

A more beautiful cake has never come from a professional bakery
, Kelly thought. She stood and squeaked, “Oh my, how did you...?” She glanced at the ladies holding the cake, then at Lynn and her mother, then back at Jared, mouth agape. Lynn lifted her train as Kelly started for the cake table. Kelly turned and motioned to Jared to join her.

“It took every last ounce of shortening we had in the entire village to make the frosting,” said Bea, proudly beaming from ear to ear. “The cake is from everyone in town. Six of us made it yesterday and we finished icing it here, today.”

Kelly shook her head in disbelief, then raised her gaze before she spoke. “You all have been so wonderful...” She began crying, overwhelmed at their kindness.

Jared placed his hand on her shoulder and continued where she had left off. “Yes, we can't thank you enough for doing all of this for us. It's a truly beautiful wedding, the most memorable wedding ever,” he exclaimed.

“Cut the cake,” cried Janet.

“Yeah, cut the cake!” Eager voices echoed her sentiment.

Emma scurried about, getting the cake knife and a small plate from the closest guest table.

“What should I do?” Kelly whispered anxiously. “I've never cut a cake this size!”

“Just cut a small piece for you and Jared,” Emma winked. “I'll handle the rest.”

“Smear it in her face,” called Rich, snickering.

“Make it messy,” Jess yelled.

A small piece of cake rested comfortably in Kelly's fingers, poised for Jared's mouth. He opened up and tilted his head back, ever so slightly. Kelly dropped it in, following it with a quick kiss.

Next, it was Jared's turn. He took the small piece of cake that Kelly held for him and waited for her to open her mouth.

“Don't let me down,” called Rich.

Kelly squinted at Jared, giving him the evil eye, cautioning him not to do it. At the same time, she let the hint of a smile lift the corners of her lips.

Squish
, Jared ground the cake into Kelly's lips and face. Instinctively she pulled back, trying not to laugh the cake out of her mouth.
At least there won't be pictures.

“Let me make it up to you,” Jared said and proceeded to eat the cake from her face, ending in another kiss. Kelly let the smooth, sweet cake melt in her mouth. Roars of laughter erupted from those assembled.

“Good man,” said Rich, slapping Jared on the shoulder.

Kelly and Jared made their way back to their seats with Lynn following dutifully behind,
taking her duties as bridesmaid very seriously
. Emma started to cut the cake as guests brought their plates up from their seats. The white, cloud-like layers were skillfully carved into generous pieces.

Everyone oohed and aahed over the cake, saying that they had never tasted any better.

“I don't know if it's better, or if it's just that I haven't had any for so long,” Kelly sighed, closing her eyes and relishing every bite.

“Both,” Jared agreed. “We have a truly amazing family.”

“One more thing, everyone, please. We have a group gift,” said Bea. Janet emerged from the back door this time, carrying the huge quilt. She reverently took it to the bride's table as the other ladies rushed to remove plates, clinking silver on ceramic. A small gasp escaped Kelly as the quilt was unfolded, revealing the swirls of colors that resembled fall leaves blown up against a picket fence. Emma stepped up and helped too. Soon every woman who had helped cut and piece it was holding the quilt from its edges, beaming as they displayed their work.

“What can I say?” said Kelly. “I'm overwhelmed.” She ran her hand over the thickly quilted squares, feeling its fine texture under her palm. Tears stood in her eyes, but didn't overflow their banks.

The quilt was refolded and taken into the house. The party resumed. Kelly leaned into Jared, pushing him playfully to one side, and watched contentedly as her mom and friends reveled in her party.

****

Jared and Kelly, sidesaddle in her long gown, rode side by side on Hokey and Pokey toward the Branham's place. A winter breeze chilled them. Kelly's satin gown swished back and forth to the rhythm of her horse's gait as they moved through the long shadows that fell over the canyon. Dennis followed at a respectable distance behind as their armed guard. They were, after all, on their way to their honeymoon.