You're Invited

Chapter XIII
You're Invited!
~ * * * ~

Gene awoke this morning with a smile on her face and a song in her heart! The long-anticipated day had finally arrived. Today was the day the she and Jax would be married! It turned out to be a beautiful day -- brisk and sunny. The Christmas decorations shone brightly in the background -- yes, a perfect day for a wedding. It was a wonderful Chrismtas celebration. Not at all like the lonely ones she's had since her mother passed away. The loss of her dear mother still hung on her heart and she only wished her mother could be with her this day. Mrs. Jamison was wonderful to her ~ she treated Gene like her own, and told her that her mother would be there in spirit. For one so young, she had many losses in her life. First her father had died even before she was born. Her older brother, Jeff, used to tell her marvelous stories about him. And then, Jeff. Her breath caught as she thought of her beloved Jeff -- she still missed him terribly. He was killed in an automobile accident in his third year of college by a drunk driver. He held so much promise. Her mother and she had been devasted. And now, she thought about her wedding. She had no one to walk her down the aisle. Max had told her not to worry ~ that he had someone in mind for the task. God bless Max, Gene thought. What a wonderful man....always doing nice things for others. She wondered who Max was going to get to walk her down the aisle. She would've asked Max, but he was Jax' best man.

She settled back on her pillows and relaxed for a few minutes in the quiet room. Mrs. Jamison had given Jax strict orders that he was not to see the "bride" before the wedding. Gene giggled at the thought. Her last night alone....but then, she gently put a hand on her stomach and thought, I've haven't been alone for a while now, have I? She smiled at the thought of it. She hadn't had a chance to tell Jax ~ with all the chaos around the holidays and the wedding, there just never seemed to be a good time. Oh, well, she thought, perhaps this will be my little wedding present to him...

Meanwhile, in the Maxwell household, everyone was bustling. Madra woke early so she could get the girls and herself ready for the wedding. Max took off early and said he had an errand to run before the wedding. She knew he was off to the airport to pick up this mystery guest ~ the one who would walk Gene down the ailse. After all these years, he really couldn't keep a secret from her, but she didn't know who this man was. He must be special, Madra thought, it took Max quite a while to track him down. He had even taken his own car ~ a vintage Jag that he kept for "special occasions." Everyone knew that, besides Madra and the twins of course, Max had a passion for vintage cars. He had quite a few garaged on the estate and several more at their summer cottage.

Max returned alone. "Hymmm..." Madra said, "I thought you might have company with you." Max gave a little laugh and said, "My dear, you are much too inquisitive." Then he looked at her and a smile crossed his face. "My God, Madra, you look absolutely amazing!" He crossed the room and took her in his arms. Just then the girls came in giggling. They were wearing their new wedding dresses and were excited to show Max how they looked. Max looked at them and said, "My goodness, who are these beautiful little women -- they look just like their mommy! Come here, and give your old man a hug!"

Leila had just finished dressing. She gazed at herself in the mirror and couldn't help but wonder about the events of the past week. Had it only been a week? She had met Mike at the hospital Christmas party for the children, and they had spent every available evening together since. Her mother had said to go with her heart. Well, her heart was happy when she was with him, but she also couldn't help but think of Lauren, too. She genuinely missed Lauren, but she had to admit, she enjoyed her time with Mike. He was so thoughtful and fun! He had a way of making her laugh and feel good about herself. She noticed that he was that way with almost everyone. And, he was so good with the children ~ so good, and that meant a lot to her.

A gentle knock on the door disturbed her quiet reverie. Her mother walked in, smiled, and said "You look stunning, Leila!" "You look wonderful yourself, Mother!" Rebecca crossed the room and gently caressed her daughter's face and said, "Do you know how much I love you, dear?" "Yes, mother, and I love you very much!", Leila replied.

"Well, there is a very handsome young man waiting for you downstairs, and he appears to be very eager to see you." said Mrs. Jamison. "Oh, Mom, tell me, what do you think of him - really?" asked Leila. "Darling, it's more important what you think of him, however, I feel he is a fine young man who seems to be genuinely interested in you! I think you'd better not keep him waiting!" They both laughed then and Leila ran out the door to the top of the steps. She composed herself and started her descent slowly and elegantly.

As Rebecca watched her daughter descend the stairs to a very happy and handsome young man waiting for her at the bottom, she smiled and thought to herself ~ I really must thank Max yet again. That man certainly has a way of bringing people together!

Mike watched Leila coming down the stairs. My God, he thought, I am a lucky man! She was perfect! Absolutely perfect. From her understated, yet sexy gorgeous dress, to her elegantly coiffed blond hair forming a halo around her face. Oh, yes, he thought, this is the woman I have been dreaming about all these years....she is the one. I will do whatever it takes to make her my wife! I'll have to be careful, however, that I don't scare her away. There is something that has her uneasy, but I'm sure I can get her over that. Whatever it is, I'm sure we can work it out! She is truly my dreamgirl -- beautiful both inside and out! And, the way she is with those children at the hospital! She's like an angel.....

As Leila descended the stairs she looked at Mike and thought, yes, when I was a little girl, this is the man I always thought I would marry when.....but, that was a long time ago. A long time, and a lot of things happening in between. This is like my little girl dream come true ~ the handsome prince...but, when he finds out about my little secret, I know he'll head out that door as fast as he can! Well, perhaps I can enjoy the fantasy for as long as I can.

When she reached the bottom, Mike took her hands in his and said, "My, God, Leila, you are breathtaking!" She blushed and gave him a little shy smile and his heart was full of joy and love.

He pulled her into his arms and began kissing her. She tried to pull away saying that someone might see them. "So what," he said, "let them see us. I don't care if the entire world knew!" He pulled her close again and gave her a soft, long kiss. She couldn't help herself...she melted into his arms as if she had always belonged there. His kisses were always so gentle and yet passionate at the same time. She felt that stirring in her again and pulled away. "Mike," she began, "we had better get going. We promised the children we'd stop in at the hospital to see them before the wedding and I don't want to disappoint them."

He sensed that perhaps he was pushing a little too hard again, so he backed off and replied, "Oh, yes, I guess we'd better get going." He helped her with her wrap and with an arm around her, led her out the door and to his car. He opened the door and helped her in, then went around and got into the driver's seat. He turned the engine and looked at her. He took her hand and kissed it. "I'm so happy to be here with you tonight, Leila, and so happy you invited me to your brother's wedding." She squeezed his hand slightly and replied, "Me, too, Mike, me too...."

~ * * * ~

When Max arrived at the church, he found Jax pacing in the groom's room. The sight of his friend so nervous brought a little smile to Max' face. He went over to shake Jax' hand and laughingly said, "Hey, man, give it a rest -- you're going to wear a hole in that carpet!"

Jax replied, "Boy, am I glad to see you! I don't remember ever feeling this damn nervous!" Max laughed again and said, "It's normal." Jax tried to remain calm, but just couldn't seem to sit still. "Have you seen her, Max?" he asked. "Who, Gene?" was Max' reply. "Yes, Gene, who else?! Have you seen her. Are you sure she's coming?! And, did you arrange that little surprise you told me about?" Max assured his friend that all was under control, but no he hadn't seen Gene -- Rebecca Jamison had her hidden away from all eyes apparently. Only Madra and the twins were allowed into the "dressing room."

Jax sat back and tried to relax. He remembered the first day he had met Gene. She seemed totally uninterested in him. He was unused to that reaction in women. Most women actually fought over him. But, not Gene. She just shook his hand, told him she was pleased to meet him and then actually turned and walked away. If it hadn't been for that, he might not have pursued her. She was a challenge, and Jax certainly did enjoy a challenge. He worked really hard to win Gene's affections, however, in the end, it was he who was won over. He couldn't imagine his life without her. She brought him so much joy and happiness. He wanted to actually spend the rest of his life with her! Only her. He hadn't so much as flirted with another woman since they started dating.

As if sensing his thoughts, Max looked at Jax and told him not to worry, that everything would be fine. "Just remember," Max said, "the secret to a happy marriage is fidelity!"

Meanwhile, Madra was with Gene in her bedroom at the Jamison home. When Madra and the girls arrived, they were escorted to Gene's room by Rebecca Jamison. Rebecca had told Madra that she was an absolute vision! And the girls....well, the girls were little angels, she had said. "Oh my, Gene," Madra exclaimed when she saw her, "you are an absolute vision! You look beautful!" "Thank you, Madra, I hope you don't mind that I decided to wear my mother's wedding gown, do you?" Gene asked. "Of course, not, I'm just glad that Tyler was able to do such a wonderful job restoring and fitting it for you!" Madra replied. "Well, you have something old - the dress, something blue, your garter, something new, your bouquet, now you need something borrowed." "Mrs. Jamison gave me the jewelry I'm wearing. She said it was her mother's and that she wanted me to have it!" Gene exclaimed. "Oh how wonderful," Madra replied and kissed her friend on the cheek. "Now, let's get that veil fixed -- your photographer is here!"

On to the Wedding!

(Click on the invitation to go to the wedding)

	Meanwhile, in the Maxwell household, everyone was bustling. Madra woke early so she could get the girls and herself ready for the wedding. Max took off early and said he had an errand to run before the wedding. She knew he was off to the airport to pick up this mystery guest ~ the one who would walk Gene down the ailse. After all these years, he really couldn't keep a secret from her, but she didn't know who this man was. He must be special, Madra thought, it took Max quite a while to track him down. He had even taken his own car ~ a vintage Jag that he kept for "special occasions." Everyone knew that, besides Madra and the twins of course, Max had a passion for vintage cars. He had quite a few garaged on the estate and several more at their summer cottage. Max returned alone. "Hymmm..." Madra said, "I thought you might have company with you." Max gave a little laugh and said, "My dear, you are much too inquisitive." Then he looked at her and a smile crossed his face. "My God, Madra, you look absolutely amazing!" He crossed the room and took her in his arms. Just then the girls came in giggling. They were wearing their new wedding dresses and were excited to show Max how they looked. Max looked at them and said, "My goodness, who are these beautiful little women -- they look just like their mommy! Come here, and give your old man a hug!"
Leila had just finished dressing. She gazed at herself in the mirror and couldn't help but wonder about the events of the past week. Had it only been a week? She had met Mike at the hospital Christmas party for the children, and they had spent every available evening together since. Her mother had said to go with her heart. Well, her heart was happy when she was with him, but she also couldn't help but think of Lauren, too. She genuinely missed Lauren, but she had to admit, she enjoyed her time with Mike. He was so thoughtful and fun! He had a way of making her laugh and feel good about herself. She noticed that he was that way with almost everyone. And, he was so good with the children ~ so good, and that meant a lot to her. A gentle knock on the door disturbed her quiet reverie. Her mother walked in, smiled, and said "You look stunning, Leila!" "You look wonderful yourself, Mother!" Rebecca crossed the room and gently caressed her daughter's face and said, "Do you know how much I love you, dear?" "Yes, mother, and I love you very much!", Leila replied. "Well, there is a very handsome young man waiting for you downstairs, and he appears to be very eager to see you." said Mrs. Jamison. "Oh, Mom, tell me, what do you think of him - really?" asked Leila. "Darling, it's more important what you think of him, however, I feel he is a fine young man who seems to be genuinely interested in you! I think you'd better not keep him waiting!" They both laughed then and Leila ran out the door to the top of the steps. She composed herself and started her descent slowly and elegantly.
	As Rebecca watched her daughter descend the stairs to a very happy and handsome young man waiting for her at the bottom, she smiled and thought to herself ~ I really must thank Max yet again. That man certainly has a way of bringing people together! Mike watched Leila coming down the stairs. My God, he thought, I am a lucky man! She was perfect! Absolutely perfect. From her understated, yet sexy gorgeous dress, to her elegantly coiffed blond hair forming a halo around her face. Oh, yes, he thought, this is the woman I have been dreaming about all these years....she is the one. I will do whatever it takes to make her my wife! I'll have to be careful, however, that I don't scare her away. There is something that has her uneasy, but I'm sure I can get her over that. Whatever it is, I'm sure we can work it out! She is truly my dreamgirl -- beautiful both inside and out! And, the way she is with those children at the hospital! She's like an angel..... As Leila descended the stairs she looked at Mike and thought, yes, when I was a little girl, this is the man I always thought I would marry when.....but, that was a long time ago. A long time, and a lot of things happening in between. This is like my little girl dream come true ~ the handsome prince...but, when he finds out about my little secret, I know he'll head out that door as fast as he can! Well, perhaps I can enjoy the fantasy for as long as I can.
When she reached the bottom, Mike took her hands in his and said, "My, God, Leila, you are breathtaking!" She blushed and gave him a little shy smile and his heart was full of joy and love. He pulled her into his arms and began kissing her. She tried to pull away saying that someone might see them. "So what," he said, "let them see us. I don't care if the entire world knew!" He pulled her close again and gave her a soft, long kiss. She couldn't help herself...she melted into his arms as if she had always belonged there. His kisses were always so gentle and yet passionate at the same time. She felt that stirring in her again and pulled away. "Mike," she began, "we had better get going. We promised the children we'd stop in at the hospital to see them before the wedding and I don't want to disappoint them." He sensed that perhaps he was pushing a little too hard again, so he backed off and replied, "Oh, yes, I guess we'd better get going." He helped her with her wrap and with an arm around her, led her out the door and to his car. He opened the door and helped her in, then went around and got into the driver's seat. He turned the engine and looked at her. He took her hand and kissed it. "I'm so happy to be here with you tonight, Leila, and so happy you invited me to your brother's wedding." She squeezed his hand slightly and replied, "Me, too, Mike, me too...."
~ * * * ~
	When Max arrived at the church, he found Jax pacing in the groom's room. The sight of his friend so nervous brought a little smile to Max' face. He went over to shake Jax' hand and laughingly said, "Hey, man, give it a rest -- you're going to wear a hole in that carpet!" Jax replied, "Boy, am I glad to see you! I don't remember ever feeling this damn nervous!" Max laughed again and said, "It's normal." Jax tried to remain calm, but just couldn't seem to sit still. "Have you seen her, Max?" he asked. "Who, Gene?" was Max' reply. "Yes, Gene, who else?! Have you seen her. Are you sure she's coming?! And, did you arrange that little surprise you told me about?" Max assured his friend that all was under control, but no he hadn't seen Gene -- Rebecca Jamison had her hidden away from all eyes apparently. Only Madra and the twins were allowed into the "dressing room." Jax sat back and tried to relax. He remembered the first day he had met Gene. She seemed totally uninterested in him. He was unused to that reaction in women. Most women actually fought over him. But, not Gene. She just shook his hand, told him she was pleased to meet him and then actually turned and walked away. If it hadn't been for that, he might not have pursued her. She was a challenge, and Jax certainly did enjoy a challenge. He worked really hard to win Gene's affections, however, in the end, it was he who was won over. He couldn't imagine his life without her. She brought him so much joy and happiness. He wanted to actually spend the rest of his life with her! Only her. He hadn't so much as flirted with another woman since they started dating. As if sensing his thoughts, Max looked at Jax and told him not to worry, that everything would be fine. "Just remember," Max said, "the secret to a happy marriage is fidelity!"
Meanwhile, Madra was with Gene in her bedroom at the Jamison home. When Madra and the girls arrived, they were escorted to Gene's room by Rebecca Jamison. Rebecca had told Madra that she was an absolute vision! And the girls....well, the girls were little angels, she had said. "Oh my, Gene," Madra exclaimed when she saw her, "you are an absolute vision! You look beautful!" "Thank you, Madra, I hope you don't mind that I decided to wear my mother's wedding gown, do you?" Gene asked. "Of course, not, I'm just glad that Tyler was able to do such a wonderful job restoring and fitting it for you!" Madra replied. "Well, you have something old - the dress, something blue, your garter, something new, your bouquet, now you need something borrowed." "Mrs. Jamison gave me the jewelry I'm wearing. She said it was her mother's and that she wanted me to have it!" Gene exclaimed. "Oh how wonderful," Madra replied and kissed her friend on the cheek. "Now, let's get that veil fixed -- your photographer is here!"