OF DREAMS AND CEREMONIES Read Online Free Page B
Author: Julie Bozza
would be jealous," one of the other adults commented. A sister-in-law, Dave thought. Which would make her Amanda or Christine.
"You'd think he'd hate him," someone else down the far end of the table muttered under his breath.
Robert commented, "Oh, I think Robin saw pretty quickly that he'd lost that one - and if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!"
And Robin was still beaming at Dave almost as broadly as Nicholas did, apparently perfectly used to being teased about his partialities. Dave laughed, and chucked him under the chin - and wondered if Robin mightn't faint with happiness.
Once they'd all been served and were more settled, Richard asked Dave and Nicholas, "Have you two made any plans?"
"Uh - Tour of the garage this afternoon," Dave supplied. Too late, he realised what Richard really meant, and lamely concluded, "I hear you have quite a collection of cars."
"We do. Rather an indulgence in this day and age, I'm afraid, but please make yourself at home there, if that's where your interests lie."
"Thank you. I will."
After a moment Nicholas answered the real question. "I know it's not much time to organise everything, Father, but we thought we'd hold the wedding in three months, if that's all right - "
"Six months," Dave quietly put in. "We talked about six months."
"No, it's fine," Nicholas reassured him. "Three months. Apart from anything else, I'd like to have the reception in the garden, and late October is probably doable, but winter certainly isn't!" Upon which thought he got distracted by his own fancies. "Although what if it snowed … ? That would be amazing! A real white wedding! Like in Camelot , you know? With the sled and the furs …"
"A white wedding," someone muttered, and someone else snorted - and Dave felt like hitting them, family or not. He remembered Denise once remarking, ' Everyone deserves to wear white on their wedding day, if that's what they want.'
Penelope said, rather more reasonably, "Nicholas, I don't think even you could stage manage the weather, I'm sorry, and a slushy wedding would be so dreary ."
Nicholas laughed under his breath, though it sounded a bit forced. "All right, the end of October. Reception in the garden, if we can."
"And the ceremony?" Richard asked.
"Just a few of us in town, I thought - the two of us and witnesses - and then come back to everyone here."
He turned on his seat towards Dave. "We haven't talked about this yet. You'd better tell us what you'd like."
"It's fine," Dave said. "Sounds good so far." Though he took the opportunity to lean in closer over Robin's head and mutter, "Don't have to wear white, do I? Or do I … ?"
Nicholas laughed more genuinely, and answered so that everyone might hear him. "No, we'll wear morning suits. You'll look very dapper, I promise."
" Mourning suits … ?"
"No, uh - I - " Nicholas gestured at himself, as if about to launch into an explanation, before realising it was hopeless. "We can talk about that later. I'll show you mine - though of course I'd like for us all to have new ones."
"Right," said Dave, a bit shortly. Hadn't he already told Nicholas that he'd never once worn a suit? If he hadn't worn one for his dad's funeral, then he didn't see why he should wear one now.
The pause threatened to become a difficult silence, until Richard smoothly asked, "Wouldn't you like to hold the ceremony here as well, Nicholas? That would seem appropriate."
"Ah, but we'd have to apply for a licence to hold weddings and partnership ceremonies, and that would mean anyone could get hitched here, so - unless you want to go into business as an event venue … ?"
"Ah. Maybe not. What a pity! It would have been nice to have it all here."
"It'll be nice in town, too. Do you remember they have rooms set up at the old courthouse?"
"Yes, of course."
"There's the Disraeli Room on weekdays," Nicholas chattered on, "and Midsomer Court on Fridays and weekends. Midsomer Court has the nicer name, but it looks kind of plain judging
"You'd think he'd hate him," someone else down the far end of the table muttered under his breath.
Robert commented, "Oh, I think Robin saw pretty quickly that he'd lost that one - and if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!"
And Robin was still beaming at Dave almost as broadly as Nicholas did, apparently perfectly used to being teased about his partialities. Dave laughed, and chucked him under the chin - and wondered if Robin mightn't faint with happiness.
Once they'd all been served and were more settled, Richard asked Dave and Nicholas, "Have you two made any plans?"
"Uh - Tour of the garage this afternoon," Dave supplied. Too late, he realised what Richard really meant, and lamely concluded, "I hear you have quite a collection of cars."
"We do. Rather an indulgence in this day and age, I'm afraid, but please make yourself at home there, if that's where your interests lie."
"Thank you. I will."
After a moment Nicholas answered the real question. "I know it's not much time to organise everything, Father, but we thought we'd hold the wedding in three months, if that's all right - "
"Six months," Dave quietly put in. "We talked about six months."
"No, it's fine," Nicholas reassured him. "Three months. Apart from anything else, I'd like to have the reception in the garden, and late October is probably doable, but winter certainly isn't!" Upon which thought he got distracted by his own fancies. "Although what if it snowed … ? That would be amazing! A real white wedding! Like in Camelot , you know? With the sled and the furs …"
"A white wedding," someone muttered, and someone else snorted - and Dave felt like hitting them, family or not. He remembered Denise once remarking, ' Everyone deserves to wear white on their wedding day, if that's what they want.'
Penelope said, rather more reasonably, "Nicholas, I don't think even you could stage manage the weather, I'm sorry, and a slushy wedding would be so dreary ."
Nicholas laughed under his breath, though it sounded a bit forced. "All right, the end of October. Reception in the garden, if we can."
"And the ceremony?" Richard asked.
"Just a few of us in town, I thought - the two of us and witnesses - and then come back to everyone here."
He turned on his seat towards Dave. "We haven't talked about this yet. You'd better tell us what you'd like."
"It's fine," Dave said. "Sounds good so far." Though he took the opportunity to lean in closer over Robin's head and mutter, "Don't have to wear white, do I? Or do I … ?"
Nicholas laughed more genuinely, and answered so that everyone might hear him. "No, we'll wear morning suits. You'll look very dapper, I promise."
" Mourning suits … ?"
"No, uh - I - " Nicholas gestured at himself, as if about to launch into an explanation, before realising it was hopeless. "We can talk about that later. I'll show you mine - though of course I'd like for us all to have new ones."
"Right," said Dave, a bit shortly. Hadn't he already told Nicholas that he'd never once worn a suit? If he hadn't worn one for his dad's funeral, then he didn't see why he should wear one now.
The pause threatened to become a difficult silence, until Richard smoothly asked, "Wouldn't you like to hold the ceremony here as well, Nicholas? That would seem appropriate."
"Ah, but we'd have to apply for a licence to hold weddings and partnership ceremonies, and that would mean anyone could get hitched here, so - unless you want to go into business as an event venue … ?"
"Ah. Maybe not. What a pity! It would have been nice to have it all here."
"It'll be nice in town, too. Do you remember they have rooms set up at the old courthouse?"
"Yes, of course."
"There's the Disraeli Room on weekdays," Nicholas chattered on, "and Midsomer Court on Fridays and weekends. Midsomer Court has the nicer name, but it looks kind of plain judging
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