The Reception

Chapter XV
The Reception!
~ * * * ~

The reception was held at the country club, which was beautifully decorated for the holidays! From the drive up to the front gate, it was like magic! It was twilight time, and the little twinkling lights on the trees lining the drive made Gene feel like a princess. Jax couldn't keep his hands off her in the limo on the entire drive. He kept telling her that she was so beautiful and kept calling her his "little princess." Madra and Max were also in the limo with them and they shared champagne. Gene thought that Jax was drinking just a tad too much champagne, but said nothing.

When they arrived at the country club, they were announced and shared their first dance together as husband and wife. Jax murmured sweet nothings in her ear and Gene felt herself melting in his arms again. Oh, I really am a lucky woman, she thought.

During the mother/son dance, Rebecca took her opportunity to tell her son how proud she was of him. "You look so much like your father on our wedding day, son," she said. "I hope you realize how much I love you and how very happy I am for you!"

Jax kissed his mother's forehead and replied, "You'll always be my number one lady, you know!" Jax was very protective of his mother ever since his father died. He had never known any two people so much in love ~ except for Max and Madra, of course. There must be something to this, he said.

Rebecca gave him a little laugh and said, "Well, from now on, Jax, I think Gene should be your number one lady!"

The dance floor was opened to all the guests. Max took Madra in his arms and led her to the dance floor. Mike and Leila joined them, and soon were lost in each others' arms as the music played.

Kent approached Glynnis and asked her to dance. She blushed again but took his hand and he led her to the floor. Glynnis noticed that he had a little limp, but it didn't appear to affect his dancing. He led her smoothly and slowly across the floor. They chatted as they got to know each other. Glynnis found herself wondering about him. There could be no denying that she was attracted to him, but the timing was really bad, she thought. I can't get involved with anyone right now. I have to get my life in order first. I'm so distraught, I don't know what to do.

Meanwhile, Kent had thoughts of his own. Living in the Alaskian Tundra for the past 18 months, he had not even seen a woman, let alone one as lovely as Glynnis. There's a vulnerability there, he thought, and a story, I'll bet. I wonder if she would like to visit Alaska. He would probably spend another six months in Alaska, and a beautful woman like Glynnis would certainly improve life for him in the tundra! I just hope she's not one of the "clingy vine" types. He had had enough of love. There was only one woman he would ever love...but, she was gone now. Lost to him forever. The same accident that took his career from him also took his love. And, the worst part is that it was all my own fault, he thought. How could I have been so damn stupid.

The evening was magic...everyone was having a good time, including the twins, who took turns dancing with Daddy. They even got to dance with Dr. Frain, who they took to immediately! When they weren't dancing with someone else, they danced with each other.

The evening seemed to pass to quickly, and soon it was time for the tossing of the bouquet. Gene tossed her bouquet high into the air and, as if my magic, it landed right in Leila's arms. She had tried to avoid this, but everyone had pushed her onto the floor saying -- all single women on the floor. Even the twins tried to catch the bouquet!

Mike gave Leila a little smirk then, raised an eyebrow and said, "good catch!" Leila noticed the twinkle in his eye and knew he was teasing her.

Jax was happier than anyone had ever seen him. He was enjoying the night and his married status. He pulled a chair onto the dance floor and called Gene over. "Honey," he said, "sit down and let's have that garter. Every man in the room deserves to be as happy as I am!"

Gene blushed and tried to resist, but everyone else seemed to be enjoying the idea. So, she sat and Jax took great pleasure in removing her garter. He spun it around a few times before tossing it in the air. Mike need only reach out his hand and it was his! Everyone clapped as Mike strutted up to Leila, twirling the garter in his hand.

He bent down and whispered in her ear, "Hymmm.....I think fate is trying to tell us something, don't you?" Leila blushed deeply and was at a loss for words. Mike noticed and immediately regretted his glib remark. "What is it, Leila, won't you tell me what's wrong? I guess you know by now that I truly care for you. Please give me a chance?"

She turned to face him and saw the tenderness in his eyes. "Oh, Mike, I do care for you, too. I'm trying....I really am, but..... Well, I'm afraid that you won't want to be with me anymore when I tell you." He took her by the shoulders and said, "There is nothing that you can tell me that would make me want to walk away from you - nothing!" "Oh, Mike......" her voice trailed off, as he took her in his arms and kissed her.

The time had come for the bride and groom to leave. It had been a perfect day, a perfect wedding, and a perfect celebration. Their hearts were full of love and contentment. They would be off in the morning for their month-long honeymoon! With kisses and a wave goodbye, they were off! The guests raised their champage glasses and wished them well. As they turned to leave, they waived and both said together, "We love you all! Thank you for sharing our special day with us!"

To be continued.......

The reception was held at the country club, which was beautifully decorated for the holidays! From the drive up to the front gate, it was like magic! It was twilight time, and the little twinkling lights on the trees lining the drive made Gene feel like a princess. Jax couldn't keep his hands off her in the limo on the entire drive. He kept telling her that she was so beautiful and kept calling her his "little princess." Madra and Max were also in the limo with them and they shared champagne. Gene thought that Jax was drinking just a tad too much champagne, but said nothing. When they arrived at the country club, they were announced and shared their first dance together as husband and wife. Jax murmured sweet nothings in her ear and Gene felt herself melting in his arms again. Oh, I really am a lucky woman, she thought.
	During the mother/son dance, Rebecca took her opportunity to tell her son how proud she was of him. "You look so much like your father on our wedding day, son," she said. "I hope you realize how much I love you and how very happy I am for you!" Jax kissed his mother's forehead and replied, "You'll always be my number one lady, you know!" Jax was very protective of his mother ever since his father died. He had never known any two people so much in love ~ except for Max and Madra, of course. There must be something to this, he said. Rebecca gave him a little laugh and said, "Well, from now on, Jax, I think Gene should be your number one lady!"
The dance floor was opened to all the guests. Max took Madra in his arms and led her to the dance floor. Mike and Leila joined them, and soon were lost in each others' arms as the music played. Kent approached Glynnis and asked her to dance. She blushed again but took his hand and he led her to the floor. Glynnis noticed that he had a little limp, but it didn't appear to affect his dancing. He led her smoothly and slowly across the floor. They chatted as they got to know each other. Glynnis found herself wondering about him. There could be no denying that she was attracted to him, but the timing was really bad, she thought. I can't get involved with anyone right now. I have to get my life in order first. I'm so distraught, I don't know what to do. Meanwhile, Kent had thoughts of his own. Living in the Alaskian Tundra for the past 18 months, he had not even seen a woman, let alone one as lovely as Glynnis. There's a vulnerability there, he thought, and a story, I'll bet. I wonder if she would like to visit Alaska. He would probably spend another six months in Alaska, and a beautful woman like Glynnis would certainly improve life for him in the tundra! I just hope she's not one of the "clingy vine" types. He had had enough of love. There was only one woman he would ever love...but, she was gone now. Lost to him forever. The same accident that took his career from him also took his love. And, the worst part is that it was all my own fault, he thought. How could I have been so damn stupid.
	The evening was magic...everyone was having a good time, including the twins, who took turns dancing with Daddy. They even got to dance with Dr. Frain, who they took to immediately! When they weren't dancing with someone else, they danced with each other. The evening seemed to pass to quickly, and soon it was time for the tossing of the bouquet. Gene tossed her bouquet high into the air and, as if my magic, it landed right in Leila's arms. She had tried to avoid this, but everyone had pushed her onto the floor saying -- all single women on the floor. Even the twins tried to catch the bouquet! Mike gave Leila a little smirk then, raised an eyebrow and said, "good catch!" Leila noticed the twinkle in his eye and knew he was teasing her.
Jax was happier than anyone had ever seen him. He was enjoying the night and his married status. He pulled a chair onto the dance floor and called Gene over. "Honey," he said, "sit down and let's have that garter. Every man in the room deserves to be as happy as I am!" Gene blushed and tried to resist, but everyone else seemed to be enjoying the idea. So, she sat and Jax took great pleasure in removing her garter. He spun it around a few times before tossing it in the air. Mike need only reach out his hand and it was his! Everyone clapped as Mike strutted up to Leila, twirling the garter in his hand.
	He bent down and whispered in her ear, "Hymmm.....I think fate is trying to tell us something, don't you?" Leila blushed deeply and was at a loss for words. Mike noticed and immediately regretted his glib remark. "What is it, Leila, won't you tell me what's wrong? I guess you know by now that I truly care for you. Please give me a chance?" She turned to face him and saw the tenderness in his eyes. "Oh, Mike, I do care for you, too. I'm trying....I really am, but..... Well, I'm afraid that you won't want to be with me anymore when I tell you." He took her by the shoulders and said, "There is nothing that you can tell me that would make me want to walk away from you - nothing!" "Oh, Mike......" her voice trailed off, as he took her in his arms and kissed her.