Lynn and Leif Forevermore Ch. 53

***

Now it was time for Leif and Lynne to be the object of teasing that someone was inflicting. Not just in private between the two of them with hushed whispers.

"Now it's time for a little entertainment," said his brother Lyle.

Leif was shocked to see Matthew and Janelle come up to the stage. Janelle donned a long brown silky wig, an exaggerated version of one of the hairstyles Lynne wore with her natural hair, while Matthew donned a blonde dreadlock wig with a built in dreadlock cap.

"You fucker!" said Leif with a shocked chuckle, in Matthew's earshot, and Matthew promised-

"Just wait'll you see this skit,"

"Oh god, what are they going to do? Hell no, that doesn't look like me, does it," cried Lynne chuckling with wide eyes behind her hands.

It didn't take Leif long to figure out that they were doing a roast of he and Lynne.

They reenacted parts of their courtship in pantomime.

Leif watching Lynne onstage.

Lynne brushing off Leif after the set.

Sipping coffee and playing footsies.

Horsing around playing videogames.

Matthew tried to kiss Janelle several times in imitation of Leif trying to kiss Lynne while Janelle backed away shyly.

Finally, a fake kiss, Janelle made sure it was fake by backing up slightly.

Everyone giggled. Finally he chased her around in hot pursuit to offer her an engagement ring.

Everyone chucked while Janelle pretending to be Lynne rubbed her eyelids with her thumbs as though she was crying.

Everyone howled with laughter.

Matthew made a few remarks.

"Since we've watched this whole romance play out, and we are their best friends, we thought there was no one better to put on this little skit. One thing we forgot though, the wedding," said Matthew.

He playfully grabbed Janelle and innocently pecked her on the lips.

Leif chuckled uproariously. Ever since Lynne and her girls and put on that wet t-shirt contest, he could tell that Matthew thought Janelle was physically hot, but he also knew that Matthew didn't like Janelle's bossy ways, her loud bossy spirit made her really difficult to love, at least for a guy like Matthew, it seemed.

And, true to form, Janelle backed up and wiped off her mouth.

"Damn it you, carrying shit too far! We didn't agree to that!" spat Janelle.

"Hey I know you didn't, but I'm taking my part seriously, I just want to make it realistic," said Matthew.

"Hey, I'm not Lynne, and you aren't going to Leif me, just club me over the head and carry me off into the sunset," huffed Janelle.

"Hey, we are sitting right here!" said Leif.

"I know right, and I resent that! Leif didn't club me and drag me off into the sunset. He clubbed me and I followed willingly," said Lynne with a smirk.

Everyone who could hear the four of them arguing started laughing.

"I did not club you, I shot you in the ass with a love dipped arrow, like cupid young lady, just for the record, and you came swooning right behind me, rubbing your ass, grinning at me, following me all around, and didn't know what hit you," said Leif playfully.

"A love dipped arrow, Leif, you are nuts Mr. Cupid," said his mother at the table next to them, chuckling hard.

Lynne and Janelle laughed and laughed, shrieking and giggling like hens.

His brother interrupted them-

"Give them all around of applause for that roast. And, get them off the stage before they get tackled by the newlyweds. Next up, we have a special surprise for Lynne, and it's from Leif," said Lyle.

Leif's palms were sweaty. He'd wanted to surprise Lynne. Couldn't believe he was going through with this shit. On paper it had seemed like such a good idea but now his throat felt chalky and his chest felt tight. His eyes got big and reflected an even deeper blue than usual.

"Leif, what's...what's wrong," murmured Lynne with that maternal way she got when his eyes went wide. She could tell he was nervous.

She rubbed and patted his back and it just made him even more determined.

"I...I...I gotta get you your surprise. Hell, it's the only way I can show you how I feel about you so you can understand it. Only way I can express what's in my heart. You've worked with me Lynney, got my confidence up so much, and every damn note I sing out there is for you little mama," he added dotingly caressing her cheek.

Lynne looked at him with a confused expression, exactly what he expected.

He softly pecked her lips, then turned, to get up on the stage. Matthew went behind a partition on stage and handed Leif the shiny, black, electric guitar that Lynne had given him and plugged it into the amp.

"Lynne gave me this for Christmas. I lost it, she got it back for me. But when I got it back I knew more than ever I'd be lost without her. I don't...those of you that know me, know how hard it is for me, to play guitar before a crowd. I just get nervous. And that's why I want my queen, my Lynney to come up here on stage with me, and sit right in front of me so I can look at her, as I play this song for her," he said, softly.

He'd barely gotten the words out of his mouth when Lynne picked up one of the folding chairs at the kid's table, which was empty, and brought it on stage before any of the ushers had a chance to get it for her.

His heart felt warm with wonder and amusement. She was sweet, tender, obedient to his loving wishes and lovely, and that was why he was making such an effort, something that was difficult for him, but he needed to express the depth of his love for her, and the only way he knew how to do it was his guitar.

Lynne sat down in front of him at an angle so the audience could still see him.

He needed to see Lynne's face though and was nervous with fifty five or actually one-hundred and ten eyeballs staring at him, so he placed both hands around her delicate waist and pulled her so that she was directly in front of him, the guitar and the mic stand, a vision of caramel loveliness with confused, overwhelmed exotic doe eyes staring back at him, hell yes, this was why he was doing it.

"I'm gonna...not just gonna play but I'm gonna sing. Sing a song that describes how I felt when I first looked at Lynne. Now, don't anybody laugh, I'm not the singer. Lynne is. But I wanna express how I feel. If you all laugh at me...I'll...I'll..."

"Nobody here will laugh at you my Leify. This is so damn beautiful. Anyone laughs I'll tear them limb for limb," said Lynne protectively.

His father quipped loudly

"Now this, I believe," and everyone laughed.

Their laughter at Lynne's maternal surge of pride and his father's certainty that she would indeed tear anyone who laughed to bits made Leif smile.

He started strumming his electric guitar, a disguised intro. He loved to do that for Lynne surprise her so that she had no idea what was coming, so she'd get that big, curious look in those pretty, doe almond shaped eyes.

"This isn't my composition baby, but it's a song that I love and describes how I felt when I first lay eyes on you darling, it's...the song is by Jeff Buckley. I know you know your music. Probably heard it before Lynney but not like this. Lynne your so beautiful to me, inside and out. When...when I first lay eyes on you, I was so aware, so many others would find you rare and true, and beautiful inside and out, and from the moment I saw you, I needed you to belong to me. And no matter what happens for the rest of your lives, you are mine, and I am yours, and I will protect you and love you to the ends of the earth. And you're free to be a woman with me sweetheart, all the woman that you are, and I won't never let nothing hurt you Lynney! So...this is for you my sweet, Jeff Buckely's, Everybody Here wants you...few of the words changed around to make it appropriate for how I feel about our love," murmured Leif.

He closed his eyes and started singing to her

"Twenty-nine pearls in your kiss...

A singing smile...

Coffee smell and lilac skin...

Your flame in me...

Twenty-nine pearls in your kiss..

A singing smile...

Coffee smell and lilac skin..

Your flame in me...

I'm only here for this moment...

I know everybody here wants you...

I know everybody here thinks he needs you..

I'll be waiting right here just to show you...

How our love will blow it all away.

Lynne, you're such a thing of wonder in this crowd

I'm a stranger in this town you're free with me.

And our eyes locked in deepest love..

I sit here proud...

I love when you're undressed in your dreams with me...

Oh I'm only here for this moment.

I know everybody here wants you...

I know everybody here thinks he needs you...

I'll be waiting right here just to show you...

How our love will blow it all away.

All the tears we cried

Have dried on yesterday

The sea of fools has parted for us

There's nothing in our way

My love

Don't you see..

Don't you see...

You're the torch to put the flame...

To all our love baby...and I rise like an ember in your name

I know everybody here wants you

I know everybody here thinks he needs you.

I'll be waiting right here just to show you...

Oh let me show you...

That love can rise like embers

Love can taste like the wine of the ages, oh babe,

And I know they all look so good from a distance, but I'm the only one...

The only one whose ever gonna love you Lynney..

I know everybody here wants you...

I know everybody here thinks he needs you...

And I'll be waiting right here just to show you...Lynney...

How our love will blow it all away.

He hardly got to finish the song, before she'd grabbed for his guitar, to pick it up and sit it on the little stand, so she could sit in his lap, and hug and kiss him.

He was sweaty and nervous, and he barely heard the applause in the background.

The only reaction he cared about was Lynne's.

He looked down at her and she had tears in her beautiful brown eyes which she was wiping away.

"I...I know that song. Leify it's beautiful. I don't...I don't care if anybody else wants me, the second I saw you, I couldn't see nobody else baby, you're the only man I ever see, in any room, you make me...you make me feel like I'm a woman, you make me know that I'm beautiful, but I only want to be that for you. And I feel proud that you feel like I'm such a prize to have. You're the gift Leify. And I'm proud as hell that you let everyone hear your beautiful voice. You're a star. That was what I wanted our first date when we sang together, and did that Marvin and Tammy Record. For you to have the confidence to sing before an audience and let someone hear all that talent you buried inside, talent I'm lucky enough to see everyday. You're beautiful Leif, and I love you very much. Thank you for choosing me," she murmured.

And she leaned up and kissed his forehead, one of his favorite things to do with her, as though he was the beautiful one. All he could do was chuckle with delight and squeeze her close in his lap, rocking her back and forth. He was glad she loved his gift of song to her. He'd practiced for secret in hours both the guitar, but especially the singing. Was the closest he could get to show her how he felt in his heart for her! That she was damn beautiful, he wanted her more than anything, loved when she lay in his arms making love and just with him in general, and he believed that bliss he found that peace in her arms was enough to blow away all the obstacles, her shitty parents, her shyness, his stage fright, his insecurities about being smart enough, none of that mattered in her arms.

***

Hearing him sing that song, Lynne was certain, as she sat in his lap and he rocked her adoringly, kissing her forehead, for all to witness that marrying for love, and passion was the absolutely best choice that she ever could have made. She never thought that anyone would cuddle her like this in public, and sing her a song. She thought this kind of love, this kind of adoration was something that only existed in a romantic comedy. And imagine, she was so afraid of Leif when they first met. Thought he was using her as a sexual experiment. If she hadn't been able to overcome all those fears, all that fright she felt when she first met him, she wouldn't have been able to see how beautiful his love would be, and how it would blow everything away, the obstacles they faced, the pain she used to feel. What a beautiful song he'd dedicated to her. She couldn't wait to show him the same beauty!

He was so handsome, and he was hers. And she didn't really care who saw them, she'd freed his arms by sitting down his guitar, now she pulled him towards her for a steamy tender kiss in front of everyone, while they chuckled and clapped.

She heard Matthew in the background

"See...that's what the hell I'm talking about. Never should have tried to be a lead singer, should have went for the guitar, look at her, polishing his tonsils, and that's just someone else's damn cover! Imagine if he'd actually taken the time to write a song," said Matthew.

Leif chuckled into Lynne's mouth, accidentally breaking off her kiss.

"Quiet mouth breather, you can start now on writing your own damn song for your own wedding, you haven't even found the one yet, so you've got a huge head start," said Leif playfully.

Everyone guffawed with laughter.

Now was time for Lynne's tribute to Leif. She too had been working on a performance for him in secret. She looked up to her brother-in-law for her cue that she could begin her song.

"Since this is such a musical couple, it should come as no surprise that Lynne has her own tribute for Leif. She has a very special surprise for Leif, that she's been working on for a little while," added Lyle.

Lynne went up on the stage. She signaled to Matthew, and he went behind the stage, and picked up Leif's acoustic guitar, which Lynne had him hide behind one of the large vases that contained flowers.

Matthew handed the guitar to Lynne, and she strapped it around her neck.

Lynne tapped the microphone with her finger and placed it further way from her mouth than Leif had placed the mic from his own lips. She needed the distance between the microphone and her face, because her voice was loud and powerful.

She held Leif's acoustic guitar and her hands were sweaty. She felt like shaking. Lynne normally was not nervous on stage. Normally it was a second home for her, whether she was singing with the mic, or occasionally accompanying herself on piano. But she had very limited knowledge of the guitar, so she felt a bit nervous to share what she'd been working on with her limited guitar vocabulary with the entire reception audience.

And, yet she felt compelled to share it, as a testament to her love for Leif, and the special bond that they shared.

"So, being on this stage right here...this is the only thing I ever felt like I was born to do. Only place I ever felt completely at home, and able to be myself until Leif came along. And I was never afraid up here, but I'm a little scared right now. This whole wedding has been about sharing our love for one another. And Leif, he shows me such love, and he's so patient and kind. I...all of you all know that I sing, and play piano, and do a little dancing. Leif...he's been teaching me a little guitar. And he's the kindest and most patient teacher I've ever had, in all aspects of our life together, in romance, in our relationship just everything. Since he's been teaching me his axe, I always...want him to show me, just one other thing...one other chord. One more strumming pattern...make one more song a little simpler than the regular version so I can play another of my favorite songs even though all I know is a few open chords. No matter how much I bug the man, he's never once impatient with me. Always has time to pull me in his lap and teach his woman guitar. He cracks a big smile, calls me his little rock-n-roll babe, and shows me whatever I ask. So this song...I'd asked him to teach me the chords for this song...I knew I wanted to play the song, but didn't tell him what I wanted to know these chords for. Asked him a million chords, and he was never once impatient with me. After I knew enough chords, I pieced the song together by myself in secret. Not sure how great it sounds, but at least it's recognizable, I think...the original song is rhythm and blues but I'm going to play it for you with a more folky vibe.

It describes exactly the way I feel about Leif. He taught me about the ways of love, and all that life could offer, if I could just trust him. And damn I love him with all that I have inside me, just like the song says. Leif baby, I want you to accept this gift that I'm going to play for you and know I mean every word with every beat of my heart.

The song is called all this love. It's by El Debarge.

Lynne started strumming the song a little slower than the recorded version. She got the strumming pattern down, then started singing to Leif, who sat directly in front of her, his eyes filled with an unmistakable glimmer of masculine pride. He was proud that he'd taught his baby the guitar and she was going to display her appreciation for his tutelage with a special song. She started to sing.

"I had some problems...and no one could seem to solve them.

But you found the answer...

You told me to take this chance and learn the ways of love...

My baby, and all that it has to offer.

In time you will see that love won't let you down..."

Lynne sang with pure bluesy, folky bluster, and played those chords that Leif had shown her with all the sincerity of her heart.

She spoke softly, strumming the guitar, interrupting her singing, quipping-

"That was how he won my heart. Now let me tell you what else he told me," said Lynne.

Everyone clapped in time to Lynne's slow folksy playing. She really played this song with such a slow, country flair because she lacked the finesse to play this song in the normal mid tempo the way she would have played it on the piano, but her sincerity won over the reception crowd.

Now they were eating out of the palm of her hand, but the only person she was concerned about was the blond haired, blue-eyed angel sitting in front of her.

He was teary eyed. He knew. He knew she wanted to play for him because it was a way that she could show him symbolically how much his loving teaching in all areas, romantically, sexually, and in a friendship sense had meant to her.

Lynne stood in front of him, strumming more simple chords to the tune of All This Love.

"You said that you loved me; said hurt only came to pass me...

It sounded so convincing that I gave it half a chance...

And learned the ways of love my baby...

There is so much love inside me.

And all that I have I'll give my all to you..

All..all my love Leify and

All this love is waiting for you...my baby...my sugar...

And all this love is waiting for you...my baby...my sugar.

And all this love is waiting for you...my Leify...sweet, sweet Leify.

As the sun has its place up in the sky...

I love you...so dearly...

And all the same there's no need to wonder why...

I need you, please hear me..

Say you really love me Leify..

Say you really love me Leify..

Cause I really love you Leify...

Oh I really love you Leify..

Say you really love me baby...

Say you really love me darling...

Cause I really love you baby..

Yeah I really love you darlin'...

She strummed softly to bring the song to its conclusion. She was relieved that it didn't sound half bad even to her own ears, but she was surprised that the crowd clapped and cheered. Clearly she didn't play the song the way Leif would have played it, she used her basic rudimentary level of guitar skills and that emphatic emotion along with her impressive voice to carry the song.

She did a small curtsey but before she could unthread the guitar around her neck, Leif stood up to take the guitar from around her neck. He sat it gently on the stand.