Without You I Have Nothing Ch. 21

The Commander, looking very official in his Royal Australian Naval Uniform saluted Peter.

"You're a devious bugger," he said in jovial tones. "No one had the slightest clue that you're a Major in the Ghurkhas. Those poor bastards who attacked Susie didn't stand a chance."

He paused, drawing himself to an even greater height.

"Congratulations from Susie and me. We are both very proud of you and Jennifer."

Eric and Andrew laughed and shook Peter's hand, reaching through Peter's strong hold to give Jennifer a hug and a kiss. Both of them warned Peter that worse was to come, but as the bridal car whisked the happy couple away from the church, Peter didn't give their warnings a thought. Jennifer was beside him and his arm around her waist emphasized that they were together forever. Nothing! No one could separate them.

At the riverbank with the weeping willows and red river gums as background, the photographer seemed to take ages before he was finished

Only then did their driver turn towards the reception. Peter made certain that Jennifer was too involved with his kisses to notice that the car had driven into Rocky Springs - their new home. She wasn't even aware the car had stopped until the door opened and her beaming father was there to help her out.

As Peter bent to lift her train, Eric took the opportunity to give his daughter a hug. He swooped to hold her tight and Peter detected tears in his eyes. His little girl had suddenly grown up.

Eric then turned to Peter, "Welcome, son."

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien." Elizabeth rushed down the steps to cuddle her daughter and then stepped back as Jennifer suddenly became aware of her surroundings.

Unable to contain his joy, Peter lifted her like a piece of white thistledown in a breeze and carried her up the wide marble steps and across the threshold followed by her Mother and Father.

"Welcome Mrs. O'Brien. I am so pleased you selected this property as your new home. Here is your own special wedding present from me. I love you with all my heart and," Peter took the deeds of Rocky Springs from his father-in-law and handed them to her.

Jennifer just stared at him but then tears began to form and Peter admonished her.

"No need for tears my love," he reassured her. "This is your home and a happy home it is - now you're here. Come on, we'd better hurry, our guests are waiting."

Jennifer lightly punched his arm.

"Peter O'Brien, you really are incredible but God I love you so much and really your gifts just seem to be never ending. How can I thank you?"

"That's easy - so easy my love. Just help me make this as happy a home as the one Elizabeth and Eric gave you, and God willing, give me children to enjoy it."

"Come on, you two. Everyone's waiting. We're hungry." Andrew pushed them down the long corridor out to the huge marquee and took them to the entrance. When they appeared, the crowd stood, clapped and continued clapping as they made their way to their seats with their Ghurkha escort.

As soon as they sat, waiters hurried to serve the bridal breakfast and there was silence while everyone waited for the bishop to pronounce grace. Then the merriment started.

Behind the wedding cake Peter, at last, could look about and give a thought to the bridal party. He was not surprised to see the tasteful dresses of Susie, the Matron of Honor and the bridesmaids, Karen and Ruth.

He managed to thank each of the bridesmaids for helping to get his wife to the church even if she was late. However, the banter between the people at the bridal table was almost inaudible in the noise generated by the guests.

Then Peter proceeded to forget them as Jennifer took his whole attention. His body sang its love for her as her cool hand in his turned his blood to molten larva.

As the meal ended and the time for toasts and speeches approached, the new husband and his wife began to look around the huge marquee.

Suddenly Jennifer gripped Peter so tightly he winced. He turned to see who had gained her attention and what he saw made him spring to his feet knocking his chair over.

Four young women stood at Jennifer's side, smiling broadly - two beautiful Chinese girls clad in matching black and gold Cheongsams with splits in the skirts to their thighs with the high collar neckline, and beside them two strikingly attractive young Indian women wrapped in identical green saris.

The four young women obviously shared a deep love for Peter.

There was a hush amongst the guests as the crash of the overturning chair had gained their attention.

Peter's Cantonese rang out as he embraced his Chinese 'sisters'. He then turned to the others, making the prayer salute before addressing them in Tamil. With his arms around the four of them, he introduced his 'sisters' to Jennifer.

The five women were chattering away - the girls studying Jennifer's jewellery - when Ted gave a nod to Peter who disappeared. The 'sisters' found their places at the table and Ted stood to demand everyone's attention.

Jennifer was far too busy talking to notice her husband disappearing with two of the guests.

"Welcome to you all and a special welcome to our guests from Singapore, Malaysia and Nepal as well as from the armed forces. We have gathered to celebrate the marriage of our dearly loved friends Jennifer and Peter."

Yes, Ted had the gift of the gab, but he also had the gift of the dramatic.

"The trouble with being the best man at a wedding is that you never get the chance to prove it - but," Ted waited for the laughter to die down before adding, "a word of advice to you Peter. The most effective way to remember your wedding anniversary is to forget it once."

Howls of laughter greeted his counsel.

"This is a happy wedding - but Jennifer, I have some questions for you, so please answer clearly so everyone can hear.

"Bob, hold the microphone so we can hear Jennifer's responses.

"Question One. On your first date what did you think -- oops, I forgot. Would Jennifer's Mum please open the curtains and take up the baton because she has to conduct."

The crowd laughed good-naturedly at Elizabeth's confusion as she opened the curtains at one end of the marquee to find a small orchestra on the stage. The leader of the violins placed a baton in her hand and the conductor whispered to her.

"Ladies and gentlemen! You are about to see the sight that Jennifer viewed the night she first met Peter." Grinning broadly, Ted turned to Jennifer to ask the first question.

"Question One - Jennifer. Why didn't you run and run hard when," he became silent as the orchestra struck up the opening bars of The Dance of the Little Swans before the players paused expectantly.

Three ballerinas moved onto the dance floor and took up their stance, eyes fixed at the far wall ready to begin their pas de trois.

Three little swans stood waiting - two dainty and petite in their white tutus with their feathery skulls caps and white ballet slippers - the third, gigantic with a pair of hairy legs appearing below his tutu. The spectacle was even more bizarre as that middle swan was wearing an ill-fitting skullcap. On his feet was a pair of enormous muddy boots.

Jennifer's Mum dropped the baton to stare at the spectacle.

The effect was one of grotesque hideousness.

Ignoring Elizabeth, the orchestra stuck up the opening bars of the Dance of the Little Swans and in complete unison, the three swans danced. All six feet kept a strict rhythm and the three heads turned and nodded as if one. All six eyes peered at some point high over the guests' heads.

Captivated, the guests were silent, studying every move.

Suddenly the two dainty swans rose, lifted by that monstrous middle swan, and with their feet going through the motions in midair, the dance continued without the dancers missing a single movement or step.

The guests howled with laughter as the dance ended and the swans disappeared.

Jennifer was laughing as much as the guests, and was unable to answer when Ted continued with his questioning.

"Well Jennifer that was your first date and you saw Peter as," Ted continued with a loud groan, "oh God, too horrible to mention, eh. Why didn't you run?"

He waited as if wanting an answer, and when none was forthcoming he prompted, "No answer?"

Ted, his face a picture of seriousness, continued. Producing a long sheet of paper from his pocket and with no grin to warn the guests he read the second question.

"I believe Peter trod the boards with you. To refresh your memory I have a video of a certain night - a video that everyone here should see."

"Eric and Elizabeth - watch this and tell us all he is still acceptable as your son-in-law."

A huge screen rolled down from the roof and Jennifer watched, spellbound, as she appeared on the screen with the drunken misshapen villain who dribbled the words, "Come! A kiss to seal the bargain!"

The wedding guests booed, stamped their feet and cheered as the villain whirled away, dripping blood.

"Yes Elizabeth and Eric, the villain is your son-in-law. Do you want to pay the Bishop to forget the wedding?" He sought the bishop with his eyes.

"Bishop, can you undo the wedding?" he called out. Without waiting for an answer, Ted continued, turning back to Jennifer.

"Well Jennifer, why didn't you run? Do you want to run now? No answer yet?

"Well Peter's fellow workers are begging you. Please, please take him off somewhere and lose him so they don't have to listen to his singing anymore. We're all tired of this song.

"Of course, we know now his single days are over -- you have seen to that, Jennifer." Ted laughed at the dumbfounded look on her face. "Yes, Jennifer he at last has realized he is married and wants to tell you, Now my philandering days are over..."

"Elizabeth, you conduct again please. Joe, you'd better help Peter out."

Peter, once more in uniform, walked with Joe to the center of the dance floor, and to the strains of 'Non più andrai, farfallone amoroso' from the orchestra, they launched into the aria with no trouble at all. Peter turned to look at Jennifer and it was obvious he was singing to her, oblivious of everyone and everything but her, much to the enjoyment of their friends. Joe drifted back to his seat, leaving Peter to serenade his bride.

"Stay there Peter, as we're not finished with you yet. You are always the one who surprises everyone. Now we have a surprise for you."

With a smug look on his face, Ted demanded that Peter face his mother-in-law and watch her conducting because he'd need all the help he could get for the next question.

"Jennifer you've not answered a single question so I have two more for you. First, was it this song of seduction that enticed you to Peter's well..., dare I say it, Peter's charms?"

Jennifer stared though Ted and the audience wondered at the best man's audacity. She stood, and carrying her bridal train, silently moved to stand behind Peter as Ted continued.

"Did Peter decide to steal your heart and with cool calculated passion succeed? Has he told you with premeditated hot passion how lovely your hand is in his?

"You know he loves Mozart."

Still the guests had no idea what was coming and Peter dared not look away from his mother-in-law.

"Did you try to be strong but weaken?" He laughed at the look on her face.

"Thank you Elizabeth, will you help Peter out? Peter, watch Elizabeth and try to sing in tune this time!"

The strains of La ci darem la mano -- There, we will join hands; There you will say "yes" to me filled the air and Peter opened his chest to begin singing - a little perplexed as this aria was a duet - soprano and baritone - but then just behind him a voice joined in. Shocked, he turned, and when he saw who had joined him in this love duet, he almost stopped singing.

Jennifer was singing with Peter and suppressing a lump in his throat, he pulled himself together and sang with even more gusto, his astonishment showing in every fibre of his being. The music ended and Peter, beaming with pride, bent to kiss his wife.

"Eric and Elizabeth, this is your new son-in-law. Andrew, watch your brother-in-law. Is there anything you would like to add?"

Worried that Andrew would speak, Ted continued quickly.

"Jennifer, are you sure you don't want to run?" Ted continued. "Ah well let's all watch this."

The screen came down again.

Standing in the center of the dance floor, Jennifer clung to Peter's arm as she watched the video of them climbing the stairs to the Opera House - that magical night of Die Fledermaus. She watched and could hear the questions of the reporters.

The beautiful memories of that night came flooding back as she watched herself lean across the table to demand a kiss of her man.

The guests gasped as they watched the two of them dancing on the Opera House stage. They clapped when they saw the lovers kiss.

The screen rose and Ted announced the Bridal Waltz and Jennifer grinned as the orchestra struck up the same waltz they had danced at the Opera House.

They danced with each other, then moved apart and danced with Jennifer's Mum and Dad before dancing with the Commander and Susie. Jennifer danced with each of the males in the bridal party and laughed as she saw Peter watching her carefully as he danced with the bridesmaids.

As more and more joined them on the floor, they danced with each other.

With speeches and toasts concluded, Jennifer's mother and bridesmaids whisked her off, while Peter rushed to change out of uniform. Shortly after Peter had reappeared, Jennifer returned, dressed in a lime green suit against which nestled Peter's emerald pendant. The Christmas emerald earrings matched the green of her eyes.

Peter could only gasp at her beauty and stood spellbound until Eric's warm words broke into his consciousness. "She's yours now lad. Look after her." He gave Peter a friendly push, propelling him across the floor toward Jennifer.

For Peter, the walk to the car was almost as long as the walk down the Cathedral aisle, especially as guests threw confetti and rice over them in a never-ending shower of color. Elizabeth shed a few tears as Peter closed Jennifer's door and walked around the front of the car, hurried along by Andrew, Ted and Bob.

Miles down the road he repeated his jesting.

"Jennifer, put your knees over closer. I'd rather play with your knees than change gear."

This time there was no icy reply, just a giggling slap on his arm.

"Peter, behave. This is an automatic car"

The drive to Melbourne was particularly long as Peter insisted on stopping every few miles to kiss Jennifer. He wondered why every driver, who passed, tooted while their passengers hung out of the windows, waving frantically.

Finally, the doorman answered his query when he pulled into their hotel.

"Shall I have the car washed, Sir?" The doorman asked, grinning broadly.

No wonder Andrew and the others had been so anxious to get them into the car and away. Scrawled across the back were the messages 'Peter Loves Jennifer. Jennifer Loves Peter. Just Married!' Everyone knew. Where they stood at the desk was a puddle of confetti and, wherever they walked, they left a technicolor trail behind.

Peter signed their names on the register as Mr. and Mrs. Peter O'Brien.

Jennifer thought she would never forget the thrill of seeing their names linked together like that for the very first time.

The room-boy escorted them to their room with their luggage on a trolley and accepted Peter's tip with a cheeky grin as he left. The click of the door brought a sudden chill. Peter was alone with Jennifer - now his wife.

The first day of forever had started.