The Shadows Fall: Chapter 5

"I'm here to bring the lady to her destination," he said, standing  before her in a simple black suit with a deep red silk shirt underneath.

No matter how many times she looked at him, he was always breathtaking. "You look great," she said.

“You do, too."  He put out his hand.  "Are you ready, Miss Almost Manning?"

"Kissing first, Mr. Manning."

He  stepped inside the doorway and careful not to disturb her beautifully done tresses, he moved toward her taking her face in his hands again, kissing her like he had just seen her after a long absence.  He was determined to make every moment count.  Slipping his tongue between her lips, she met it with hers and reached for him, pulling him closer.  She  ran her hands through his hair, which now was long enough to be resting just above his shoulders in a slight bend, and moaned softly into his mouth.

"When this rehearsal dinner is over," she began, "we're going to spend the night reliving what we mean to each other."

He rested his hands on her hips.  "Oh is that what we're doing?" he asked. 

"I believe so.  But there is a little more to it than that.  I want you to be in the best place ever."

"Inside you?" he asked, "that's the best place I can think of on this earth."

"Yes, inside me," breathy, "where you belong."

"You let me belong.  You make me feel, Blair."

"And you make me happy.  And complete."  He placed his hand in the small of her back and and guided her through the door.  

They sat in the back of the stretch limo, sipping champagne.  The drive was  not long.  They turned a familiar corner and excitedly, she said to him, "It's Rodi's, isn't it?"

He nodded, which lead to her calling out his name and starting to cry. "You continue to surprise me.  I love you so much."

"You  haven't really seen anything yet, Blair," he said as the driver opened the limo door to a small crowd on the sidewalk.  At the front of the group were Cassie, Kelly and Dorian and she screamed, hugging them each in turn and then, together, all at once.  She turned back to him and her voice was filled with an airy joy.  "Thank you, Todd."

He  smiled, walking to Ray who was standing by Andrew.  Shaking Ray's hand, he noticed Andrew watching Blair and Cassie hug and chatter.  "Hey Rev, about that comment earlier about your life being nothing exciting?"

Andrew prepped himself, "Yes, Todd."

"Take it from a man who lost everything only to see it given back somehow.  It's never too late.  If you love her, tell her.  If you want her, let her know.  Nothing's done until it's really done, you know?"

Andrew almost did a double take.  He turned to Ray.  "That was Todd Manning, wasn't it?"

"It was."

"Amazing what time can do to a man."

"It was a great deal more than time," Ray said.

Blair, walking into Rodi's, gasped at the transformation.  "Oh my God."

Rodi's  had been redecorated, and was the spitting image of the first time she had laid eyes on her husband.  She turned to him with water in her eyes.  "Oh Todd!" she cried, her drawl making an appearance.  She was interrupted by the oversized jukebox in the corner beginning to play an old familiar tune.

"I always hated this song," he said.  She was overcome, and couldn't respond.  He put out his hand, and she took it, leading her to the dance floor.  The small crowd of family and friends that gathered around them broke into applause.  Unforgettable. That's what you are. "Remember what I said to you when I first saw you again after the...after I came back?"

"Which thing?" she sniffled.

"I dare you to forget me?"

"Forget you?  I can't be without you."

"Then it's settled."  He moved her hair back from her forehead and stared into her eyes intently.  In  a voice only he could hear, she sang, "like a song of love that clings to me, how the thought of you does things to me.  Never before, has someone been more, Unforgettable, in every way."  He interrupted her with a kiss and the applause erupted again. This time it was instigated by Starr.

"Yay, Mom and Dad!"  she cried. 

Addie was crying.  Dorian looked flustered, whispering to Cassie, "I can't believe your cousin fell for this man yet again."

"Mother.  I think you have it all wrong.  She didn't fall for him again. She never stopped loving Todd."

"Heart-stoppin' unadulterated, pure romance."  Kelly said.  "That's your niece and her one true love."  Dorian  huffed off and Cassie and Kelly high-fived.  They turned back to their cousin and Todd.  Both had their eyes closed, holding on to the other.  The song stopped, and everyone applauded for the third time.  But Todd and Blair did not budge, eyes closed, swaying to imaginary music.

"I  feel like we're peeping on them. Look how they don't know there's a rest of the world."  Kelly said.  "I wish for something like that for you, Cass."

Finally, Andrew stepped up, saying, "Well we do have a few things to go over.  The couple came back to the present.  "The groom will not allow us to see the wedding venue tonight, so we'll be going over a few details here."

After organizing the small wedding party and giving them general instructions, Andrew proceeded to explain the best man job to Jack, who appeared utterly pained with nerves. Ray took the heat off Jack and raised his glass. The room went silent.  "If I can have everyone's ear for a moment, I'll make this short and to the point.  Thanks first to the host, John McBain, who provided this place for Todd and Blair's event."  General applause was heard, John waved from behind the bar, Natalie approached him from the side and kissed his cheek.  Todd raised his glass higher in John's direction, and the two men connected eyes for a moment.  John nodded.

Ray continued, "To Todd and Blair.  You have both been given a second chance with each other..."

"More like fourth!"  Addie shouted, and the room was sprinkled with laughter.

"I  know everyone here joins me in wishing for, honoring and praying for your lasting happiness, your peace in loving each other, and your devotion to each other's well being and protection.  Cheers."

The toast completed with a myriad of glass tinkling and talk, as guests began to help themselves to the buffet. Blair, and even Todd, barely ate.  They mingled, drank champagne, and looked at each other more than anything else.

From across the room, Dorian made a beeline to her niece, saying aloud, "She has to hear a piece of my mind."

Viki who was standing along the bar, happened to hear Dorian's comment, and tipped her iced tea directly into Dorian's cleavage.  "Oh stuff it, Dorian," Viki moved toward her brother, and embracing him, leaned over to kiss Blair on the cheek.  Looking back, she saw Dorian, who appeared to be dancing in order to get the ice out of her bra.

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