The Brothers Everhart Ch. 19 Some Dreams Come True

Pres was insistent that he and Sofia get married as soon as possible. But she wanted to make her own wedding dress and Perry's parents, Phil and Rhonda, had just left Perry and Lalique's house to return to their home on Hilton Head Island. Obviously, Sofia wanted to leave them enough time that they could come back for their wedding.

The guest list was small; besides Phil and Rhonda, his kid brother, Parker and whoever he was currently dating, Perry and Lalique, and Sofia's sister, Thalia, and her housemate, Jerri. They had worked the date around so Phil and Rhonda could attend and stay with Dion during the honeymoon, but unfortunately that meant her youngest sister, Anneliese, could not be there as she was taking a vacation in Greece. It looked like Pres' third brother, Prince, would be a no show. He didn't seem to be at his home and had left no word with anyone. Not really an unusual thing for him to do, he often took long weekends at exotic locales, but ordinarily he did try to make himself available at big and important family affairs. Pres left message after message but Prince was either not answering or his phone was out of range.

"Probably on some tropical island with three women," he joked to Parker, nudging him. He could afford to laugh since he would soon be on a tropical island with his own woman. Who needed three when he had Sofia?

"What's wrong with that?" Parker grinned wickedly.

Pres shrugged as a smile tugged at his lips,

"I'm tellin' ya, kid, one of these days his outrageous behavior's gonna get him in hot water...I mean, like boiling water. Whatever you do, don't take after him."

Dion had no thoughts on any wedding, but he was surprised and pleased to have his father in the house with him all the time. Pres had been working on getting a "daddy" out of him that was actually understandable.

The day of the wedding dawned clear, bright and hot, which was good since they had planned a wedding outdoors in the side yard. Sofia had been having qualms about it all through the preparations and was still concerned.

"What if it rains tomorrow---what if it just pours?" she asked her sister, Thalia, who was helping with every aspect of the wedding.

Thalia had accepted Pres into their family to everyone's surprise. She'd always liked him, really, up until she found out about the existence of Arlene Jankowski, compounded by Sofia's pregnancy. But once Sofia had explained everything and was now so happy to be with Pres Thalia decided to just forget the bad stuff and give him another chance. If he didn't make her happy this time, though, watch out. Besides, the truth was she loved her nephew way too much to give grief to his father now that they were a family.

"Honey, be happy; everything is good; everything is in control," she advised Sofia now, hugging her, "Your wedding will have your favorite colors, pink and rose, just about everywhere--it's gonna be beautiful. The dress you made is gorgeous--Pres will flip over it when he sees it. His parents got in yesterday and are over at Perry's house. Rhonda brought a beautiful dress that blends right in with  yours," Thalia assured her, "By the way,  your new mother-in-law is just the sweetest thing I've ever met--except for you, of course, 'Fia."

As far as both her sisters were concerned, Sofia, although the middle child, was treated more like the "baby" sister.

Parker kept Pres away from the house that morning; having him shower and dress at Parker's apartment. Now Pres stood at the bower of flowers and watched while Sofia emerged from the house and walked slowly toward him.

She wanted to remember every moment of this day. As far as she was concerned her dream had finally come true. It had taken longer than she had originally hoped, but it was all the sweeter for that. When she stood across from Pres she was amazed to see tears in his eyes.

"You've never been more beautiful, baby, never," he whispered, taking her  hand.

They spoke their vows and Pres placed the ring on her finger and she did the same for him.

After they kissed briefly the small group of people burst into applause and Thalia broke rank and sang out,

"Way to go, Sofia! All right!"

On the patio under the shade Dion played with his ring stack toy while Pres and Sofia enjoyed several more kisses. And then the guests started looking longingly toward the refreshment tables where there was plenty of chilled champagne to slave the powerful thirst worked up in the hot sun.

Toasts to the bride and groom were barely finished when, of course, it started to rain. Thalia quickly enlisted everyone's help in moving the tables and food, chairs and gifts into the house and Rhonda scooped up Dion and his toy.

"I should have decorated inside just in case," Thalia muttered as she carried the cake in and put it on the counter, "Oh, well, my bad."

The bride cut the cake and, as traditional, gave the groom the first piece. Of course, Sofia had a custom pink and lavender cake that she'd ordered from "Take the Cake Bakery" in Bluewater Village.

After everyone had enjoyed the food and the cake, Thalia put on some soft romantic CD's and Pres pulled Sofia out to the makeshift dance floor while there was, again, applause and the women sighed, "Awww".

Parker, who had not brought a date after all--decided he, as the only single man there, should offer to dance with the two unescorted women; Jerri and Thalia. Both were quite attractive but a bit tough looking compared to the usual type of woman Parker was attracted to. It was a shame Prince wasn't here to help even things out, but Parker was sure he was man enough to tackle the job alone if he must.

Lalique and Perry, being technically still newlyweds themselves and barely back form their own honeymoon, got up to dance next. Rhonda looked around and saw her husband in the kitchen, sneaking another piece of cake. She grabbed his hand and dragged him out on the floor for a dance, too.

Parker actually danced about three times in a row with Jerri who seemed eager to get to know him, and was an attractive woman except for the way she dressed. Then he decided he would no ask Thalia for a dance or two since she was just sitting there watching the other couples enjoy themselves. Actually both women were older than him; Jerri by about 5 or 6 years and Thalia by about 10. He knew she was several years older than Sofia, with a gap between the two sisters kind of like between him and Pres. However; he was not only chivalrous; but also unused to being around single women without trying to charm them. So he'd been flirting outrageously.

  
When he escorted Jerri back to her chair her eyes were shining and he thanked her then turned to ask Thalia if she'd care to dance. He was astounded when Jerri jumped to her feet and then hauled off and bitch-slapped him. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Thalia quickly get out of the line of fire. Before he could even speak Jerri started telling him off and saying that he was a tease and a cad, that he led her on, and did he think he was better than she was?

"Look, Jerri--" he began.

With that she socked him in the eye with her fist and he saw stars; it felt like that side of his face blew up. He was brought up NEVER to hit a woman so he was at a real disadvantage, he still thought he could get her to discuss this calmly.

"I didn't mean--" he tried again, but she cut him off when she plowed her fist into his mid-section and he bent double. What was she some kind of Ninja lady?

"Pssst!" Thalia was stage-whispering, "Shut up, honey-boy, don't try to talk!" 

So Parker just stayed quiet, trying to straighten up, blood running down his chin from the split lip she'd given him when she slapped him wearing her heavy rings.

All he'd done was dance with her a couple times. He did not know she was an undercover cop and used to having to fight off tough guys, he just knew that she was a friend of Pres and Sofia. He looked for his brother hoping for help or at least an explanation, but Pres was dancing with his new bride, looking deeply into her eyes. He hadn't noticed a thing.

Others had, though, and it put a real damper on the proceedings. Jerri glared daggers at him, retrieved her purse from where she'd flung it and stomped out of the house. Climbing on her motorcycle she beat it out of there. The rest of the wedding guests began getting ready to leave.

"Great wedding, brother of mine," Perry put his hand on Pres' shoulder and grinned, his other arm around Lalique, "You're beautiful, Sofia, take good care of him. And now I think there's a very good chance Parker should go to the hospital. We'll take him there."

Pres had no idea what had happened but it was starting to sink in when he got a look at Parker's red and rapidly swelling face. He just didn't know why it happened. Was Jerri having PMS? He started to ask Parker what the deal was but Sofia pulled gently on his lapel and said in a very low voice,

"Don't ask, Pres, please. I don't want to be in the middle of a fight at our wedding."

"Yeah," he agreed, "Let's have a quiet evening and get Dion settled with my Mom and Dad."

Thalia was clearing the tables and Rhonda was washing Thalia's fragile china she had loaned Sofia for the wedding, while Phil loaded up the wedding gifts and put them in Sofia's sewing alcove upstairs.

"I've never seen Jerri like that," Thalia confided in Rhonda, "She's tough but she doesn't have a hair trigger; I'm the one with a bad temper. And I've never known her to be jealous. I was afraid she was gonna take a swing at me next and I would have made it an even worse public spectacle by punching her lights out.

"My boys do seem to have a devastating effect on women," Rhonda said and then paused and asked fearfully, "Doesn't she live with you? Aren't you afraid to go home?"

"No, by the time I get home she should have calmed down."

Pres and Sofia would be sleeping downstairs on the sofa bed that night so that Phil and Rhonda could have their bed and when Pres and Sofia left at the crack of dawn they wouldn't have to wake up his parents or Dion. Thalia had volunteered to Rhonda and Phil to help out with Dion any time they might need it while the bride and groom were on their honeymoon.

"Some wedding night," Pres wrapped his arms around Sofia, his chest against her back, and whispered in her ear, "We'll make up for it when we get to Twikkii!"

Next blog update Jenny Lomax-Hammond Ch. 10 Dropping the Bomb Part 1

Lalique Flynn Ch. 13 Things Change

Not long after Lalique and Perry announced their engagement Arlene informed Lalique that she was leaving to go back home to Garden City. She thought it would be just too awkward to live with Lalique. After all Pres Everhart might occasionally show up at Lalique's with his brother. Even if they had mutually agreed that the romance was over, they had not really parted on good terms. Bluewater Village was a very small town and very close to Pleasantview where Pres had rented a small house. All of Pleasantview shopped at Bluewater. It was more than likely she would encounter him while shopping or dining.

Explaining that while she was okay with the breakup now that she realized she and Pres were incompatible, Arlene wanted to start over somewhere else. Besides, Perry and Lalique were going to be married soon and the kids would have two parents to care for them. Alain and Desiree no longer needed the very close supervision they once had with a nanny.

Lalique was actually flabbergasted when Arlene and Pres had called it quits. Right after Arlene first found out Ray's true identity his brother Perry had told Lalique about his undercover work. She had thought Arlene would be overjoyed and things would all work out. Only a week or two later had come their split. When Arlene told her that she just didn't feel the same about Pres Lalique didn't know what to make of it. In her opinion he was the same man and she didn't understand Arlene's quick dismissal of him now that she'd learned he was on the police force instead of being possibly on the wrong side of the law. Lalique knew that she wouldn't blink an eye if Perry were to confess that he was not an attorney but, in fact, his job was shoveling whale poop on the bottom of the ocean. She'd probably just sign herself and the kids up for scuba diving lessons in preparation.

Having grown fond of Pres as Perry's younger brother Lalique felt bad for him. Arlene was adamant though, the relationship was over. She even admitted that, once she'd let Pres know her true feelings, he'd seemed to lose interest in her just as quickly. Shrugging she told Lalique,

"There's someone out there for me, I know it. It just isn't him. I thought he was such a sexy bad boy, so tough and yet soft with me. Instead he's a cop with a conventional life planned. Dull. If he'd stayed undercover it would be different--I could help with his work. But no, he says he'll never do that again, that he hated it. I don't like cops anyway, they always try to give me tickets when I'm not even doing anything wrong."

"Well, he couldn't have done such a good job playing that part unless he had a bit of bad boy down deep. A man shouldn't have to be a felon to attract you, Arlene," Lalique muttered. She knew she should just shut up but, honestly, Arlene's behavior was perplexing to her. How could Lalique have known her all this time, lived in the same house as her, yet not realized that under the soft and sweet persona she projected she was rather insensitive and superficial. It kind of gave Lalique the creeps. Why, she didn't even seem to be grieving about the end of what had been an important relationship for her, but rather she seemed slightly resentful and definitely impatient to move on.

"Oh, well," Lalique thought to herself, "Mom always says it takes all kinds to make a world."

The older twins had been prepared that Arlene would someday be leaving, but now that the time had come, and rather quickly, they were very upset to see her go. She was more like a big sister than a nanny, and they loved her. They were quite tearful, although the little twins didn't really know what was going on, and even Arlene's eyes were moist. After she said her goodbyes, the taxi honked and then, just like that, Arlene walked out of their lives, never once looking back. They did not know if they would ever see her again.

Before Alain and Desiree could cry too much more about the loss of an important and beloved presence in their lives, a week later Perry's parents showed up to stay at their house for a few days. Philip and Rhonda Everhart had planned to stay at a hotel, but Lalique asked them to stay in the guest room (Arlene's old room), so they all could have more time to get to know one another. It would be busy around the Flynn house for the next week or so, but the twins were fast making friends with their new grandparents. Both the senior Everharts seemed to be old hands at dealing with toddlers as well so Lalique and Perry stole some time alone to play a video game and talk.

Perry now took the opportunity to press his advantage in regard to the wedding.

"Honey, with my folks here we could marry now and they could stay with the kids while we go on a short honeymoon," he coaxed, "That way they won't have to go home and then turn around and come back for the wedding in three months. And we'll have them to keep the kids since Arlene is gone. Mom's gone nuts over all four of them."

She didn't give an answer yes or no so he continued to convince her the next day as he prepared the grill for her. There would be a cookout that afternoon.

"We'll see," Lalique smiled as she brought the food out, "You can mention it to them today and see what they think."

Philip and Rhonda were all for his plan--Lalique had to wonder if Perry hadn't been doing a number on them for days whenever she wasn't around. And so it was that in a very few days and with a crazy whirl of activity, they pulled together a very small, casual but lovely wedding. They enjoyed the wedding cake out on the deck in back. Only the kids and Perry's parents were in attendance. Errol and Olivia were on vacation in Cannes, France and Lalique knew Olivia would not be happy that the wedding had gone forth without them. She decided she would deal with that later. The only ones who were as happy as the bride and groom that day were Alain and Desiree. Later Lalique and Perry took a break, while still in their bridal duds, to feed Brett and Noelle and the fond look in Perry's eyes as he attended to Brett made Lalique love the man more than ever. 

That night was a quiet evening with the family gathered around, including Rhonda and Philip. After the kids were all safely in bed, the adults enjoyed banana splits and felt no guilt at all. Too much sugar late at night for little ones, right?

When she and Perry retired to their bedroom Lalique felt herself wrapped in a contentment she'd never known before. Except for one small thing. Perry wanted to adopt all four children to give them his name. Lalique had no problem with that. But she knew John Lassiter would never agree to Brett and Noelle being legally Perry's children. For now, she intended to enjoy her honeymoon and think about the rest later. Perry knew she was worried about telling John their plans and his hand closed over hers, so strong and warm.

"Why don't you let me tell him, man to man? John and I have known each other professionally for years. I've even played golf with him from time to time. I think I can get him to be reasonable.

"Ha! Anyway, I can't put it off on you. He'd expect me to tell him myself."

"All right, you can tell him, but I'll come along."

When Lalique still looked unsure Perry said,

"I don't want you dealing with him alone, Lalique. I mean it."

That was his "I have spoken" voice which occasionally irked her but actually this time Lalique found it easy to cave. She didn't really want to be alone with John either, especially not in this case. 

"All right, but let's forget about it until we get back from Belle Isle," she smiled.

He kissed her; a quick hard kiss, and then his lips came back gently and lingered a long time before he broke away. Lalique felt breathless, as she always did when he kissed her and Perry raised one eyebrow and smiled,

"Not a problem, Mrs. Everhart."

The newly married couple left the next day for their romantic four day island honeymoon. It was hard for Perry to get away from work right then, but they planned to take a longer trip when the time was right.

Next blog update: The Brothers Everhart - Prince Ch. 13 Pepper and the Women

The Lassiters Ch. 13 A Wedding

If you need to reacquaint your self with David and Barbara check out the John Lassiter Family tab on the home page~~Author

David Lassiter, John and Melora's second child, had been dating Barbara Bel Geddes for quite a while now; ever since they'd met at the block party in front of Brian Ottomas' house a few years ago. The moment they cast eyes upon each other it was on.

David had been a bachelor--pretty much a swinging one--for a long time. He had his own house, very apt for his purposes. He'd retired from the police force recently and, although he had plenty of money, he was looking around for something else to do. He just didn't know what that would be yet.

Barbara was about ten years younger than him and had moved to Pleasantview several years before. She was working as a receptionist at a health spa in Bluewater Village but decided to go to beauty school so she could open her own shop. She had recently purchased one and, although she loved doing hair and makeup, the results did seem to be a little...uneven. She always made it a "no charge" when things went wrong, but naturally, the customer was upset just the same. On one particular occasion when this happened, she went out to Le Magnifique International Restaurant afterward to get calmed down, have a nice dinner and try to forget about it and there was the nightmarishly coiffed patron from earlier in the day, glaring at her. It was most uncomfortable she told David later.

"She's just disappointed because she thought she'd come out looking as beautiful as you do. Not a chance," he told her and kissed her forehead.

"No, David. She just didn't want to look bizarre. I swear I don't know what happened--it's like my scissors went spastic or something. Maybe I've made a mistake with this whole thing."

"You just need to give it time. Maybe you could reduce your prices until you get a little more...polished? It wouldn't be for long. You're learning every day."

"Now see how diplomatic and encouraging you are?" she smiled, "That's one of the things I love about you."

 

 

David was a dream to have around anyway, since he'd lived alone for years he had no problem whatsoever with cooking and cleaning. And both of them loved games of all kinds.They both kept their respective houses, but spent the weekends at Barbara's as a rule. David had the basketball court at his place, but Barbara had a games room, her art studio and a large pool. She also had a greenhouse and needed to be able to work on it every day. 

They had much in common...they both dearly loved games.

And they had a very potent physical reaction to each other; it was true chemistry...

The salon was coming along better. However she thought she needed more experience and worked on doing freebies at her house, just for the practice.

 Both David and Barbara also shared an interest in sports and physical fitness.

And they shared more games...and more chemistry...

When Barbara got her bird, Baretta, she wondered how David would relate to it, but she needn't have worried. David mostly got along with everyone, animals included. Baretta tended to be constantly jabbering in complaint even though he got lots of attention, but David found it easy enough to read the newspaper while the bird was venting.

"David, I know he's a bit of a pest. You're not going to be nice to him when I'm here and then wring his neck when I'm off shopping, are you?" she worried.

"Yeah, I'm a homicidal man when it comes to birds, guess you'll just have to stay here with me all the time," he grinned, "I can't be trusted."

 

When she continued to look at him apprehensively he assured her,

"Honey, I love animals, even the mouthy ones. Give me a scrappy pet any day. But if he gives me too much trouble I can always give him a swirly."

"A swirly?"

"Yeah, you flush the toilet and hold his little head in there for just a couple seconds. He'll calm right down."

"David!"

He laughed outright,

"I'm kidding, I'm promise you. Now go spend some money."

David wanted to get married. They'd talked about it on and off for over a year. Barbara would look at her oh-so-feminine bedroom with one end devoted to sewing and the other end dominated by her vanity dresser full of makeup and cologne and try to picture sharing it full time with him. She knew she loved him very much, but could she adjust to living with him? With anyone, for that matter. Had she become too set in her ways?

A romantic night at Red's Hideout decided her. It was kind of a dive, but safe enough on her man's arm...and they loved the relaxed atmosphere. Still it could get a little crazy on the weekends so they chose a Monday night. There was hardly anyone there and that was fine with them. They didn't really care about the food. If they had they'd probably have gone to another place. Red had good comfort food, but it was mainly a hamburger joint. But it was the first place they'd gone to when they began dating. It had been an impromptu date anyway, still Barbara was sentimental and liked to go back there from time to time.

David made everything more fun, anyway. He was a good man and she didn't want to be without him; by now she couldn't even imagine that. But she did have a couple hoops for him to jump through; one had been Baretta. And now she told him that if they married she wanted them to live at her place, not vice versa. How would David feel about making her house their home? 

"No problem, I'll put my place on the market tomorrow, so don't think you're going to get out of marrying me that way, honey."

"I don't want to get out of it, you handsome, determined man. I just want to be upfront--I don't want to mislead you. Because the truth of it is I'm crazy about you and so, where's that ring?"

David grinned and put it on her finger; he'd been carrying it around for about 18 months. So now they were officially engaged and began to talk about their wedding plans. Now that they'd made up their minds they wanted to get on with the rest of their life together.

David kissed his bachelor pad goodbye without blinking...it went on the market the next day, just as he'd said.

David's mother, Melora, was disappointed to learn they would not be using the Lassiter home for the wedding, but understood. David had not lived at home in years and years, Barbara had been on her own for a long time, too. The wedding would be at Barbara's house and it would be a small wedding with just the immediate family. Barbara was an only child born to parents when in their late forties. Sadly they had both died within a couple years of each other and that had been before she even met David. So immediate family meant the Lassiters.

Melora was sad that, with the big place they had, none of the children had been married there. She'd held out hope for David until now. His older sister Grace had eloped as had his younger brother, Trey, when it came time for them to marry. Only little sister, Lori, had a traditional wedding and it had not been at the Lassiter home, but at the Ferguson home. Still she was happy about him marrying at last and thought Barbara was going to be a wonderful wife.

Barbara and David planned on the wedding itself being out of doors but the party afterward would be indoors since it was high summer and very hot. To this end she had a moving van take away all the furniture from the living room and dining room for the weekend. Then she decorated both rooms for after the wedding and David took care of the yard and put up a wedding bower in the side yard. The whole family came and it was quite exciting.

Melora commented to her husband, John, how beautiful Barbara looked in her antique lace wedding gown and that David had never looked more handsome.

All the siblings were there including a quite pregnant Grace. She and her husband, Devon, had finally decided they wanted a child...or since twins ran in the family...possibly two children. Trey came with his wife, Chelsea. Lori and Harvey had left their toddler twins in the care of Harvey's parents so they could enjoy the party.

Left to right, David's mother, Melora Lassiter, Devon and Grace Brecht, Chelsea and Trey Lassiter, Lori and Harvey Ferguson and David's father, John Lassiter

The living room was decorated beautifully with antique demi-chandeliers, wedding bells and wedding rings on the wall. Overhead were dazzling firefly chandeliers. Trey was the first to toast the wedding couple.

Left to right:  John, Trey, Lori and Chelsea with David and Barbara

The cake was a golden butter cake with white chocolate frosting and beautiful lavender flowers and there was a groom's cake made by Lori, her "Decadent Chocolate Cake" recipe. When she was asked why she had candles on the cake and why so many Lori grinned,

"Oh, those are to commemorate all the years he was a bachelor and that those days are over. Thank goodness."

They enjoyed the cake in the dining room but it was so crowded there that it was making Grace slightly claustrophobic so she went back to the living room to eat her portion.

                        Lori, John and Harvey           Melora, Lori and John

                    Harvey, Chelsea and the bride             Grace

                      The groom, his brother-in-law, Devon and his mother

The buffet included turkey, Harvey's all time favorite food. Everyone was up enjoying the music and he was still chowing down.

"I want to dance!" Lori fretted.

"Be right there," he mumbled, "Honey, this is some good stuffing--not as good as yours of course."

"Oh, Harvey," she pouted.

John and Melora had always danced well together, people used to remark on it. Now there was something in the look that passed between them. This was their last child getting married. David was one whom Melora had despaired would ever settle down. She very much approved of Barbara. All these things she was thinking and John knew them. She didn't have to speak and neither did he. They knew each other to the ground after this long marriage. Perhaps he'd forgotten that. But he hadn't forgot how she'd looked on her own wedding day so many years ago. When he'd been the happiest man in the world and thought that all he could ever want was her.

John saw his oldest son gazing into the eyes of his bride and hoped that they would they be as happy as he and Melora had been. And certainly he hoped David would never be as stupid as he, John, had been recently.

"What are we going out here for?" Lori asked as Harvey led her out to the small back porch.

"It's crowded in there. And maybe I want to be alone with you so I can ravish you in privacy," he pulled her into his arms for a dance as she giggled, "No laughing, Brat. No laughing when I'm being romantic. It makes me self-conscious."

"Yes, Harvey," she smiled and gently nibbled his earlobe,"I'll be good."

"Mm, you always are."

Everyone, it seemed, was feeling amorous at this wedding, including Devon and Grace. They had been working on renovating their small house to handle a baby, but it was nearly done. Trey and Chelsea had ducked out early so it was assumed they were feeling entirely too romantic for polite company.

Finally the last guest had departed and David and Barbara could be alone. As they cuddled on the bed they could hear Baretta squawking upstairs where his cage had been moved during the wedding.

"I'll bring him back down in the morning, I promise," David shrugged, "He'll just have to wait because I have other things on my mind right now..."

Much later Barbara looked around her room and felt guilty,

"I know I need to fix this room up so it looks like a master bedroom and not a woman's boudoir. I promise I'll do it soon."

"Honey, you don't have to change your bedroom for me; I have no problem with blue plaid."

"But a white four-poster?"

"I can live with that, it's antique, right?" he paused meaningfully and teased, "Now, your pink flowered bathroom..."

"Yeah," she said, nestling her head on his shoulder, "That pink flowered bathroom is history."

It was already easier than she'd thought possible to make adjustments for her new husband. And so worth it.

Next blog update: The Lassiters Ch. 14 Endings Always Come Too Fast