Carol threw up her hands. "No! You do not want every anniversary from now on to be spent opening the door for trick-or-treaters!"
The couple laughed at their secret, but Jessica deferred to her mother's wisdom. "Halloween's on a Saturday night this year. Sunday, November first?"
"November first, it is." Carol nodded. "Believe me, that's the better choice. That gives us time to concentrate on our wedding first. Keith and Layla's baby won't be here yet so hopefully they can come back for it. The weather will be cooler. Sounds perfect!"
They each keyed in the date on their phones. Chet and Carol said goodnight, leaving Worth and Jessica at the big table by themselves. "I think I'll call Molly, now that we have a definite time frame. It's the middle of the night there, but she won't mind."
Sitting beside Worth, Jessica could clearly hear Molly's shriek of delight, "I've already spoken to my designer friend and she will be glad to help with the gown. Just let me know when Jessica can swing a trip to Paris, and I'll set it up."
Worth handed the phone to Jessica so that Molly could repeat herself. "Oh my, that's exciting," Jessica said. "We'll look at our schedules and make it happen."
Worth laughed as he grabbed his phone back. "We'll let you know this week, Molly."
"Au revoir, mon fils," Molly cooed before the connection ended.
"I love you, you know," Worth said as he stood up to stretch. "'Want some more coffee before we leave?"
"I'm ready to go if you are," Jessica said, standing up and retrieving her shoulder purse from where it hung on the chair back. "With all this talk of weddings and dresses, I'm suddenly very nervous."
Worth hugged her close with a low, sexy chuckle. "Are you sure you want to marry me, or do you just love Bathroom Guy?"
Jessica broke free from him and started walking toward the door, looking back with a little wink. "You are a complicated man, Worth Vincent, no matter what planet you're from. So many personalities! Bathroom Guy, Darth Vader, Mr. Prim and Proper, Mr. Vincent, Vincent Alexander." She crossed the distance back into his arms with a little skip, melting into an embrace. "And I love you all."
Chapter 20
Wedding Times Three
Chet and Carol's wedding was all they had hoped it would be, a small family gathering in an old one-room church in the country. The bride was beautiful in an ivory lace, knee-length dress with ivory heels. She carried a small bouquet of pink roses, with one rose in her hair. Chet wore a gray suit with a white shirt and rose and gray striped tie. Jessica was the maid-of-honor, radiant in a flowing pale pink gauze dress with a handkerchief hem. Keith, also in gray, served as his father's best man. The only guests were Worth and the rest of Chet's family.
The reception was just as lovely in the Three Oaks' special party room—a wedding gift from Worth. The enormous room had ample space for the many former coworkers, friends and family members, all eager to celebrate the marriage, enjoy the buffet, and dance to the three-piece band Worth had hired.
Jessica sat alone at the head table and looked around the room with a contented smile. Her mother and new stepfather were making the rounds, visiting with their guests after a splendid meal. A few weeks earlier, many of the same people had gathered for Chet's retirement ceremony. The commendation she had received from the fire department had a prominent place at Worth's condo. She was completely moved in now.
Worth approached with the plate of fruit that Jessica had requested. As she took it from him, she nodded in her mother's direction. "They look so happy, don't they?"
He leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips as he took a seat beside her. "Yes, they do. It was a nice ceremony. Simple, elegant, just what they wanted."
"It was perfect," she sighed. "And I can't wait to say 'I do' to the handsome man sitting next to me."
"You're beautiful, Jessica. I'll be proud to have you as my wife." He glanced up as a familiar tune caught his attention. "The Way You Look Tonight—very appropriate. Dance with me?"
They made their way to the dance floor to join the other couples there. Things were beginning to wind down after several hours of festivities. Chet and Carol were leaving immediately after the reception to catch a late-night flight to Florida where they would board a ship for a seven-day cruise the next afternoon. Their children would take home the photos and personal decorations, but the Three Oaks staff would take care of the rest.
As summer had melted into autumn, more good news had come. Both Jon and Keith had found teaching positions in the suburbs, under an hour away. It had been a whirlwind of moving vans, new paint and boxes, but the entire family was now close enough for Chet's retirement, the weddings, and all the accompanying parties. They had managed to get her mom and Chet moved into their new home last week, downsizing to a two-bedroom condo. They'd made sure, though, to keep looking until they found one with a large outside screened-in area—plenty of room for everyone to gather in warm weather or for the grandchildren to play. Chet had laughed and said, "Only one on the way now, but I've got high hopes!"
Not long after, Jessica and the rest of the family hugged the newlywed couple outside. It had been a long day, but everyone stayed to give Carol and Chet a proper send-off. Jessica had helped her mother change into a comfortable pantsuit for the flight ahead, but Chet decided to keep it simple and just go as he was. Worth had arranged for a limousine to pick them up outside the building. Blowing kisses and calling goodbyes, friends and family watched as the limo's taillights
