"All Over Again" (continued) Jeff had never really thought much about his wedding day growing up--of course, most men he knew just never daydreamed about that sort of thing. But in the instant that he saw Ginger at the end of the long, flower-trimmed aisle, wearing the same delicate lace gown she had worn a year ago and a smile so radiant that a hush fell over the entire church when she emerged arm in arm with her father, he could have sworn he had pictured all of this a long time ago, somewhere in some hazy, far-off dream that he had forgotten all about until now--until the sight of Ginger brought it all back to him as clear as day. And slowly, other images came to him as well: those of the skinny, precocious firecracker of a nine year old he first met on his family's porch seventeen years ago, the defiant twelve year old who had taken him by surprise when she kissed him on the cheek, and the woman she became--the woman who had turned his world upside down and inside out, changing it for good when she first kissed him in his room three years ago. Three years ago, nothing seemed more improbable than the thought of him falling in love with his sister's best friend, and marriage was just some distant spot in the horizon. Now he couldn't imagine how he ever could have gone a single day without loving her, because he never wanted to spend another day without her by his side. What in the world did I do to deserve her, he thought, realizing just now--as Ginger finally came to his side--that he had been holding his breath all the time she had been walking down the aisle. His eyes had never left hers, just as hers had never looked away from his. Someone cleared a throat. Jeff's face grew hot as it dawned on him who it must have been--when he turned his head, he saw Father Dreher with a look of slight disapproval, a look that seemed to be permanently etched on the well-meaning priest's face, and Jeff grinned in apology. Father Dreher's face softened, and he nodded as if to acknowledge the gesture, then signaled all to sit down as he began the ceremony. "Brothers and sisters, we are gathered here today to witness this joyous occasion, the blessing of vows taken by Jeffrey and Virginia one year ago..." Jeff tucked away a smile as he heard his mother-in-law's distinct whimper in the front row. He could see from the corner of his eye that she was dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. Beside him Ginger laughed softly then looked back at Father Dreher. "If I may interject here with a personal note," Father Dreher went on, "I must admit it was one of the most... unusual ceremonies I have ever had the opportunity to preside over..." Jeff could almost see the face his mother was making--or attempting not to make--at those words, and he could have sworn he heard Linda snicker beside Ginger. "And though I had my reservations when Virginia first came to me with this unexpected request to accompany her to the train station where Jeffrey was set to leave for Wichita, something told me--and I believe it was a divine power indeed--that even if the Holy Father himself would not wholly approve of such a ceremony, I couldn't deny these two young people of what they truly deserved." He smiled at them, taking Jeff by surprise for an instant because he had rarely ever seen the stern priest smile, and he said, "Jeffrey, Virginia, I have known the both of you since you were children. I've watched you grow into good, respectable young adults, and I am proud to have married two people who love each other as much as you. I've never seen two people go through so much to get married, and I know the years ahead will be filled with much laughter and love for you both." "Thank you, Father..." It was all Jeff could say at the moment. He hadn't expected this from Father Dreher; the look on Ginger's face told him that neither had she. Father Dreher nodded--Jeff could have sworn he even winked for a split-second--and said, "Take her hand." This part, Jeff needed no coaching in. He turned to face Ginger and took her hands in his, and as they proceeded to recite their vows for a second time, he made a silent promise to himself: whatever it would take to make her happy for the rest of her life, to see her smile at him the way she was smiling at him in this instant, he would do everything in his power to do it. "Oh Jeff, I can't believe this wedding actually went off without a hitch! Pinch me!!" Jeff grinned, and slid his arm around his wife's waist to pull her to him, then whispered in her ear, "Well, I'd be glad to, but I have to admit, I'd rather do something else, Mrs. Metcalf..." He felt her giggle against his chest and swat his arm. "You are hopeless." "I'm not the only one." She blushed when he looked at her, and her eyes flew about the room to make sure no one could hear them, then she whispered back, "All in good time, slugger." "Slugger," he repeated, lowering his voice again and leaning in so his breath would tickle her cheek, "I like the sound of that when you say it. Say, I think you should call me that later, in-" "Honey, I'll do more than call you 'slugger,' later," she said, and he could have sworn that his stomach did flip-flops. "That's a promise." "I am definitely going to hold you to that." "Mmm, you'd better, buster--I'm counting on it..." A well-timed cough interrupted them. "I know you two are anxious to get on to... other celebrations," Judy said, her conspiratorial smile leaving no doubt exactly what she meant by her statement, "but your mothers just sent me over here to fetch you. It seems the maid of honor and the best man are ready for their toasts." "Oh no," Ginger said. "Jeff, your sister better not embarrass me, or I'll never speak to her again." Jeff laughed, only to be cut off by Ginger's elbow to the ribs. "Ow! Aww, you know Linda would never do that, honey." She raised her eyebrow at him. "You forget I know this family as well I know my own." "C'mon," he said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek to reassure her, "let's get this over with." He took her hand and led her out into the crowded living room where the guests backed up to form a circle around them. In the middle of the commotion, someone handed them champagne glasses--Jeff thought it might have been Charlie, but he barely had time to make sure before the guests pushed him and Ginger into the middle of the room beside Hank and Linda. "Don't worry, I won't say anything you to embarrass you, Ginny," he heard Linda whisper. "You'd better not or I won't aim the bouquet towards you!" "Now, what girl would embarrass her best friend? Don't answer that-" "Linda-" Linda gave them both a kiss and--when Ginger wasn't looking--winked at Jeff. "I know most of you would have never imagined this day happening," she said. "Not just because poor Ginger's had to plan three other weddings before this one-" Ginger's mouth fell open, then formed a reluctant grin. "-but also because if you're like any of us in my family, you never would have predicted that these two would get together." Laughter rumbled throughout the room "I have to admit it... surprised us," she laughed. "No one could see it coming, that's for sure. But the more we saw them together, the more we started to ask ourselves how it was that no one ever saw from the beginning that they were made for each other. Ginger, you've been a part of this family from day one. But since we didn't get to officially welcome you last year, let me do so now. Welcome to the zoo, Mrs. Metcalf." Ginger laughed and reached over to hug Linda, and Jeff felt a hand on his shoulder. "My turn, baby brother," Hank whispered. "Hank, you don't have to do this-" Hank smiled. "I know. But I want to." He cleared his throat to get everyone's attention and signaled for everyone to raise their glasses once more. "I thought a long time about what I would say at my brother's wedding. I'm no master of ceremonies, like my sister here, but I did think of one thing to say, and it comes from the heart." He turned to Jeff, and in his eyes, Jeff finally saw peace like he hadn't seen in his brother in a long, long time. "To the best brother a guy could have. May you and Ginger have all the happiness in the world." "Here, here!" Jeff took a sip of his champagne and turned to Ginger. God, she was beautiful. And he couldn't believe he was lucky enough to call her his wife. In the background, the familiar opening notes of "Moonlight Serenade" began to wail, and he smiled at his bride and whispered, "May I have this dance, Mrs. Metcalf?" She nodded and squeezed his hand, and he led her on the dance floor where he kissed her in front of everyone in the room. He knew that in fifty years, this would be the moment he would want to relive all over again. Home| Kyle| Tammy| History| Transcripts|Quotes|Milestones|Episodes| Pictures| Fanfic| Links| Email List