The Wedding

Chapter XIV
Promises
~ * * * ~

The organ began to play and the minister told Jax and Max that it was time for them to come into the church. Max took his place next to Jax and hoped the younger man wouldn't actually pass out! Jax was even more nervous now that he was in the crowded church.

Max reflected on how different his and Madra's wedding had been. They had snuck off together and gotten married with no one in attendance except the minister and his wife. He promised Madra a full church wedding if she wanted one, but Madra said that their wedding was perfect just the way it was. That was one of the things he loved about her. She had a way of making even the simplest event appear to be a major holiday! Life with Madra was good. He wished that his friends Jax and Gene could find the happiness that he and Madra had found.

Jax couldn't help but be nervous. The stress of the wedding preparations had left them both spent. They needed to get away. He couldn't wait to take Gene to Europe on their honeymoon. She had been acting a little strange lately ~ she kept trying to tell him something, but they were constantly interrupted or something came up. He was afraid that she was having second thoughts, and didn't really want to give her an opportunity to express them. Once we're married she'll see....I can be everything she wants me to be. I know I can.

The music got a little louder, and the rear doors opened. The crowd was on their feet, as Madra and the girls started their procession down the aisle. The little girls looked so sweet and angelic in their ruffly pink dresses. The guests were immediately drawn to them. They looked so much like their mother, who was immediately behind them, making sure that they performed their flower girl duties and didn't get sidetracked.

Max watched his life coming down the aisle towards him. Everytime he saw his beautiful wife, he was amazed that she was with him. He didn't know what he had done to get this lucky, but whatever it was, he was thankful! None of his accomplishments in life meant as much to him or mattered more than Madra, Emma and Meg. She looked at him then and give him a sweet smile. His heart was full as he smiled back at his lovely wife.

The exchange between husband and wife had not escaped Jax. He so very much wanted what they had. That kind of love was rare, and he hoped he found it with Gene. Of course, he thought, I could do without the kids. Sure, they were cute, but too much responsibility for me. Jax loved to go over to the Maxwells and play with the twins, but that was about it. Besides, he thought, I'm really not the "fatherly type" ~ I'm more a "lover" than a father.

Meanwhile, Gene was ready in the entrance of the church waiting for her turn to walk down the aisle. She could hear the music and knew that it wouldn't be long. She looked around and wondered where this "mystery escort" was.

Just then, the side door opened and a tall dark-haired man in a tux came in. She didn't recognize him at first, but when he smiled at her, her heart jumped for joy! She squeeled, "Kent! Kent Hampton! Is that really you?!"
He came up to her an gave her a gentle hug. "Yes, shrimp, it's me" he said affectionately. "Oh, Kent, it's so good to see you," Gene said as tears started gently rolling down her cheek. "Now, now," he said, "we can't have you crying before the wedding, can we?"

Gene didn't know how Max had accomplished this feat! Kent was her brother, Jeff's, best friend all thoughout high school and college. Kent and Jeff were like brothers and he felt Jeff's loss as badly as Gene and her mother. When he moved away, he had promised to keep in touch, but as time went on, they lost touch with each other. Max had remembered that Madra had told him this story, and set out to locate Kent. which was no small feat. He found the man living in a remote part of Alaska. Apparently, the man had a promising career in hockey until an unfortunate accident ended it and left him with a limp. He now wrote books under a pseudonym and travelled around researching different parts of the country for his books.

Kent smiled at Gene, offered his arm, and said, "Are you ready?" "I am now." was her reply.

The organ began to play the wedding march and the large church doors opened. Gene appeared in the doorway on the arm of the handsome Kent Hampton. Max looked at her and knew immediately that she was pleased. At least now she could feel as if she had some part of her family with her today.

She began gliding down the aisle on Kent's arm and when Jax saw her, his breath caught in an almost audible gasp. She was an etherial vision in white, broken only by the shock of her bright red hair! Everyone and everything in the church disappeared and he could only focus on and see his bride seemingly float down the aisle towards him. Never in his lifetime did he ever believe he could feel this way.

When they reached the end of the aisle where Jax was standing, Kent pushed back Gene veil, gave her a kiss on the cheek and put her hand in Jax'.

Jax had a momentary bout of jealousy. He had never met Kent Hampton but he knew that Gene had a crush on him when she was a little girl. Then, she smiled at him, and everything else seemed inconsequential.

Gene noticed that Jax seemed nervous and that touched her heart. She looked at him and knew that this was the man she was supposed to spend her life with. She gave him a smile, which he returned, and together, they approached the altar.

Gene and Jax had written their own vows. There wasn't a dry eye in the church when they were through. Max wondered how Jax managed to write something so touching and romantic. Perhaps this was a side of his friend he had never seen. Of course, no one would ever know that it was actually Leila who wrote the words for him. He made her promise to never tell, and loving her brother as she did, she readily agreed. She, too, loved Gene and wanted her wedding day to be perfect!

Mrs. Jamison was beaming, tears of joy filling her eyes. Madra saw Leila sitting next to her with the handsome Dr. Frain right besides her, holding her hand. What a lovely couple they made. Sitting on the bride's side was her sister, Glynnis with the twins. She noticed that Kent was sitting besides Glynnis. When she looked over at Max, she noticed that he was watching her, too, and their eyes met and held. What a handsome man he is, thought Madra. I must be the luckiest woman in the world that he loves me!

Then, in a burst of happiness and excitement, Jax put his hands on Gene's tiny waist and raised her high in the air, while shouting "Hurrah! I'm the luckiest man on earth!"

The guests all broke out in a round of applause and laughter.

Gene got a little dizzy at being raised up in the air so quickly. Jax noticed that she looked a little pale then, so he gently put her down, whispering in her ear "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He put his arm around her waist to steady her, and she replied, "I'm fine, Jax, I just forgot to eat breakfast ~ that's all."

After Gene and Jax exchanged their vows and their rings, the minister pronounced them man and wife, and told Jax he could kiss his bride. The guests clapped while Gene and Jax shared their first kiss as husband and wife.

The bride and groom then proceeded down the aisle followed by Madra and Max.

Kent turned to Gynnis and offered a hand with the twins. He introduced himself and she told him that she was Madra's sister. He looked at her and told her that it was his absolute pleasure to meet her. She blushed, but smiled back at him, and he picked up one of the girls and Glynnis took the other, and they proceeded to leave.

Everyone was happy and excited as they filed out of the church, all eager to greet the couple as man and wife for the first time.

No one noticed the woman in the rear of the church, intently watching from the sideline.

On to the Reception.....

(Click on the invitation to go to the reception)

	The organ began to play and the minister told Jax and Max that it was time for them to come into the church. Max took his place next to Jax and hoped the younger man wouldn't actually pass out! Jax was even more nervous now that he was in the crowded church. Max reflected on how different his and Madra's wedding had been. They had snuck off together and gotten married with no one in attendance except the minister and his wife. He promised Madra a full church wedding if she wanted one, but Madra said that their wedding was perfect just the way it was. That was one of the things he loved about her. She had a way of making even the simplest event appear to be a major holiday! Life with Madra was good. He wished that his friends Jax and Gene could find the happiness that he and Madra had found. Jax couldn't help but be nervous. The stress of the wedding preparations had left them both spent. They needed to get away. He couldn't wait to take Gene to Europe on their honeymoon. She had been acting a little strange lately ~ she kept trying to tell him something, but they were constantly interrupted or something came up. He was afraid that she was having second thoughts, and didn't really want to give her an opportunity to express them. Once we're married she'll see....I can be everything she wants me to be. I know I can.
The music got a little louder, and the rear doors opened. The crowd was on their feet, as Madra and the girls started their procession down the aisle. The little girls looked so sweet and angelic in their ruffly pink dresses. The guests were immediately drawn to them. They looked so much like their mother, who was immediately behind them, making sure that they performed their flower girl duties and didn't get sidetracked. Max watched his life coming down the aisle towards him. Everytime he saw his beautiful wife, he was amazed that she was with him. He didn't know what he had done to get this lucky, but whatever it was, he was thankful! None of his accomplishments in life meant as much to him or mattered more than Madra, Emma and Meg. She looked at him then and give him a sweet smile. His heart was full as he smiled back at his lovely wife. The exchange between husband and wife had not escaped Jax. He so very much wanted what they had. That kind of love was rare, and he hoped he found it with Gene. Of course, he thought, I could do without the kids. Sure, they were cute, but too much responsibility for me. Jax loved to go over to the Maxwells and play with the twins, but that was about it. Besides, he thought, I'm really not the "fatherly type" ~ I'm more a "lover" than a father.
	Meanwhile, Gene was ready in the entrance of the church waiting for her turn to walk down the aisle. She could hear the music and knew that it wouldn't be long. She looked around and wondered where this "mystery escort" was. Just then, the side door opened and a tall dark-haired man in a tux came in. She didn't recognize him at first, but when he smiled at her, her heart jumped for joy! She squeeled, "Kent! Kent Hampton! Is that really you?!" He came up to her an gave her a gentle hug. "Yes, shrimp, it's me" he said affectionately. "Oh, Kent, it's so good to see you," Gene said as tears started gently rolling down her cheek. "Now, now," he said, "we can't have you crying before the wedding, can we?" Gene didn't know how Max had accomplished this feat! Kent was her brother, Jeff's, best friend all thoughout high school and college. Kent and Jeff were like brothers and he felt Jeff's loss as badly as Gene and her mother. When he moved away, he had promised to keep in touch, but as time went on, they lost touch with each other. Max had remembered that Madra had told him this story, and set out to locate Kent. which was no small feat. He found the man living in a remote part of Alaska. Apparently, the man had a promising career in hockey until an unfortunate accident ended it and left him with a limp. He now wrote books under a pseudonym and travelled around researching different parts of the country for his books.
Kent smiled at Gene, offered his arm, and said, "Are you ready?" "I am now." was her reply. The organ began to play the wedding march and the large church doors opened. Gene appeared in the doorway on the arm of the handsome Kent Hampton. Max looked at her and knew immediately that she was pleased. At least now she could feel as if she had some part of her family with her today. She began gliding down the aisle on Kent's arm and when Jax saw her, his breath caught in an almost audible gasp. She was an etherial vision in white, broken only by the shock of her bright red hair! Everyone and everything in the church disappeared and he could only focus on and see his bride seemingly float down the aisle towards him. Never in his lifetime did he ever believe he could feel this way.
	When they reached the end of the aisle where Jax was standing, Kent pushed back Gene veil, gave her a kiss on the cheek and put her hand in Jax'. Jax had a momentary bout of jealousy. He had never met Kent Hampton but he knew that Gene had a crush on him when she was a little girl. Then, she smiled at him, and everything else seemed inconsequential. Gene noticed that Jax seemed nervous and that touched her heart. She looked at him and knew that this was the man she was supposed to spend her life with. She gave him a smile, which he returned, and together, they approached the altar.
Gene and Jax had written their own vows. There wasn't a dry eye in the church when they were through. Max wondered how Jax managed to write something so touching and romantic. Perhaps this was a side of his friend he had never seen. Of course, no one would ever know that it was actually Leila who wrote the words for him. He made her promise to never tell, and loving her brother as she did, she readily agreed. She, too, loved Gene and wanted her wedding day to be perfect! Mrs. Jamison was beaming, tears of joy filling her eyes. Madra saw Leila sitting next to her with the handsome Dr. Frain right besides her, holding her hand. What a lovely couple they made. Sitting on the bride's side was her sister, Glynnis with the twins. She noticed that Kent was sitting besides Glynnis. When she looked over at Max, she noticed that he was watching her, too, and their eyes met and held. What a handsome man he is, thought Madra. I must be the luckiest woman in the world that he loves me!
Then, in a burst of happiness and excitement, Jax put his hands on Gene's tiny waist and raised her high in the air, while shouting "Hurrah! I'm the luckiest man on earth!" The guests all broke out in a round of applause and laughter. Gene got a little dizzy at being raised up in the air so quickly. Jax noticed that she looked a little pale then, so he gently put her down, whispering in her ear "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He put his arm around her waist to steady her, and she replied, "I'm fine, Jax, I just forgot to eat breakfast ~ that's all."	After Gene and Jax exchanged their vows and their rings, the minister pronounced them man and wife, and told Jax he could kiss his bride. The guests clapped while Gene and Jax shared their first kiss as husband and wife.
	The bride and groom then proceeded down the aisle followed by Madra and Max.
Kent turned to Gynnis and offered a hand with the twins. He introduced himself and she told him that she was Madra's sister. He looked at her and told her that it was his absolute pleasure to meet her. She blushed, but smiled back at him, and he picked up one of the girls and Glynnis took the other, and they proceeded to leave.
	Everyone was happy and excited as they filed out of the church, all eager to greet the couple as man and wife for the first time. No one noticed the woman in the rear of the church, intently watching from the sideline.