About an hour after the kids had spilled the beans, Starr and Blair walked into the Floating Rib. Like magnets, Todd and Blair came together as the rest of the room ceased to exist for them. Finally, it was Cord’s throat-clearing that separated them.
Todd got the drowsy look on his face when he saw Blair. “We have the best kids, don’t we? Planning our wedding for us and everything.”
“Yes we do,” Blair agreed.
Then Todd turned back to the gathering. “See you all tomorrow, then.”
“What? No, no seeing the bride before the wedding, Dad,” Starr said with a touch of exasperation.
“No, sorry Starr, but that doesn’t work for us,” her mother said.
“Tried it for two weddings at least and look how those ended,” Todd began. He held up one finger. “Your mother had to spend the night with Dorian and I, well, I learned about my family history.” The memory of that still sent a shiver down his spine. Then he held up a second finger. “A few years later, I leave her and she gets compromised by Holden.”
“I think we need to break with tradition this time,” Blair agreed.
“So, you all have fun, watch out for my son the card shark and we’ll see you sometime tomorrow,” Todd said gleefully as he pulled Blair out of the bar. The whole way home, they laughed about how their families, especially the kids, had taken care of the wedding.
“You had to see the look on Dorian’s face after Starr told me about it. I think she had the same expression when we got married all those years ago,” Blair told him.
“Well, at least some things don’t change. Auntie Dorian still doesn’t think I’m good enough for you. Do you think we need to worry about her objecting tomorrow?”
“No, actually, she is fine with it. Her thing is we should wait till the baby is born. But, I don’t want to. I think we’ve waited too long as it is.”
“Yeah, it’s been since, like, September. This is the longest engagement we’ve ever had.” With that, they pulled into the driveway. Once they were in the door, Todd had her pinned to it, his tongue down her throat. She returned the kiss as she started removing his jacket. By time they were in the bedroom, a line of clothes marked their way.
“Reginald is not going to be pleased to see the mess,” Blair gasped between gropes.
“He’s the butler, he’d better just suck it up,” Todd answered, capturing her mouth with his. Then he stopped and looked at Blair. “We really are busting the traditions wide open tonight. Making love before the wedding? How could we!”
Blair laughed as she said, “Like this.”
For time rushing by Todd, the next few hours seemed to pass by at a pleasant pace. Eventually, they had both fallen asleep in each other’s arms. At sevem am, the alarm next to Blair went off and she got up, leaving Todd a note and preparing for the day. She was long out the door when Todd rolled over to find the space next to him empty. He panicked for a moment then found the letter.
My Beloved,
As much as I enjoyed our nontraditional night before the wedding, I agree with our children who think we should be apart before I walk down the aisle. Have no fear, I will be there. But soon, I’m sure that Sam will come crashing into the bedroom. Then Jack will be following him, bugging you to get ready. Then, I know that Viki, Tina and Victor will be showing up, along with CJ and maybe even the Buchanans. (Be nice to them, for the day at least!)
As for me, I have my own preparations to go through, with Starr, Sarah, Bree, Cassie, and and whatever other parts of the Cramer Coven that have shown up.
We are truly blessed by the family we have, considering what starts we had in life. Remember that, if you forget anything about today. I will see you soon at the beginning of the aisle.
I love you,
Blair Cramer Manning
Included in the note was the invitation for the wedding:
Starr, John and Sam Manning invite you
To the fourth wedding of their parents
Todd Manning
And
Blair Cramer
Monday, December 31st, 2012
St. Timothy’s Church
Port Charles, New York
Reception to follow at
The Grand Ballroom
The Metrocourt Hotel.
Todd smiled at the invitation. It was written in gold script, edged in a broad gold frame. Just as he had pictured it. His thoughts again went to that night with Blair, when everything in his world was perfect.
Just as she had predicted, Sam bounced into the room and began jumping on the bed. “Get up! We have to get ready for the wedding!”
Jack waltzed in, eating a bowl of cereal. Todd’s eyebrow went up at the sight of his son so nonchalant at not even six in the morning. “Who brought you home and at what hour?”
“Uncle Clint at just before midnight,” Jack said. “Just in time to hear Reg grumbling about the mess.” He winced at his father. “I so don’t want the image in my head that’s there now.”
“What images is that, Jack?” Sam asked.
Todd chuckled before he answered. “Um, I’m sure that Reginald was very angry with the mess your mom and I made last night when we got home.”
Jack stifled the laugh that was coming when he saw his father’s face turn bright red. “We all better start to get ready. Uncle Clint said something about him, Aunt Viki, Aunt Tina and Uncle Cord being here early.” With that, Sam leapt off the bed and ran downstairs to get breakfast.
Todd and Jack followed, Todd shaking his head. “There is never going to not be a weird time hearing you call Tina ‘aunt’ or any Buchanan ‘uncle’,” he mused on his way down the stairs. As they passed the front door, the bell rung. Todd rolled his eyes and turned towards it. Sure enough, it was the Lord-Buchanan branch of the family tree.
“Good morning,” Viki said cheerfully.
Tina rushed into Todd, wrapping her arms around him. “I cannot tell you how excited I am for this day! I think you’ll love how I put together your vision!”
Todd didn’t like the sound of two of the things she had just said. “Jack told me you just helped.”
“Well, um, yes, Starr asked for my help…” Tina stammered a bit.
“And you have never been excited for my wedding days to Blair. Hell, you wanted to call an exorcist for one of them!”
Jack’s expression was one of confusion. “I know Aunt Dorian has never liked the idea of you and mom getting together, but an exorcist? Isn’t that a bit much?”
“Not for Tina,” Todd retorted.
Viki’s eyes switched back and forth between her brother and sister. She could see the storm clouds forming and step in to stop it. “Alright, enough of that. Todd, have you had any breakfast?” She didn’t even wait for an answer as she headed for the kitchen.
In there, they found Sam eating scrambled eggs and bacon as Reginald set out more plates, knowing the rest of Todd’s family would be coming. They all joined in and things calmed down. Sam kept chattering on about being the ring bearer. “CJ told me I have to hold the pillow real still.”
“Well, he did a good job when he was the ring bearer, and I’m sure you will do just as good of one,” Viki encouraged.
“Where is CJ?” Todd asked.
“He and Victor were going to go straight to the church and make sure everything is going okay there,” Viki said.
With that, Todd got up and headed into the study, finishing his coffee along the way. He was there for a few minutes when he noticed Viki had joined him. She had that all too familiar look in her eyes and he sensed a lecture coming. “What did I do now?” he asked.
“Why do you think you did something?” she asked, out of genuine curiosity.
“You have that look about you. That mothering, lecturing look.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “This is not a lecture,” she said, exacerbated. She reached into her purse and pulled out a small box, handing it to him.
Todd took it and opened it cautiously. Inside were diamond stud cufflinks. He looked up at her. “These aren’t some family heirloom, are they?”
“Not yours, directly.” Her face softened. “I gave them to Joe on the day we were married for the second time. I’d like for you to wear them today.”
He looked back down at them, then gave her a hug. She gratefully reciprocated it. “Thank you…for this,” Todd replied as a lump grew in his throat. “But would Joe have approved of you…?”
“Joe would have loved you. Just like I do,” she assured him.
Todd nodded as Jack came into the room. “We should probably start to get ready, dad.”
Todd turned to Jack. “Yeah, give me a few minutes. I need to jump into the shower then I’ll be set.” As he turned to leave, he looked back at Viki. “Thank you, again, for being here from. Even without the deep, dark family secrets coming out, I don’t think I could do this without you.” With that, he walked out of the room.
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Love this story. Another wonderful chapter.
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