"Becky, you look gorgeous…"
Becky was wearing a pale peach dress that was similar to Chloe's in style, but didn't go all the way to the ground. Her hair was so cute, and of course she was wearing mega bucks in jewelry.
"I have something for you." Becky reached inside her bag and pulled out a box containing a tiny blue diamond necklace with matching earrings.
"Oh my God, these are so beautiful!"
"There's your something blue."
"Aww thank you, Beck." Chloe held her tight and kissed her cheek.
"Okay enough of this sappy stuff. Get your butt in the shower so I can get your hair and face done!"
Chloe knew better than to be insubordinate around her friend, so she took a quick shower and then sat in a chair while Becky got to work.
"Do you want your hair up or down?"
"Matthew loves my hair down, so I think I'll stick to that. Oh and put very little makeup on my face."
"Anything else?"
"No."
"You'll shush then and let me work my magic?"
"Yes, ma'am."
After Becky finished helping her best friend get ready, she went downstairs. Chloe opened up her door a crack and could hear violins playing and the sounds of Conner and Matthew laughing.
"Go out there, son, and don't make me tell you twice!"
Matthew laughed nervously. She finally heard his footsteps going out of the house. It was almost one, and Conner stood waiting patiently for the bride to come downstairs.
"Conner?"
"Hey, you about ready up there?"
"Conner, listen, I'm going to toss you a note so you don't have to walk up here." Chloe tossed the note down and then went back in her room.
Conner smiled and nodded while placing the note in his pocket.
When Chloe was ready, she lifted her dress and slowly walked down the large staircase. When she reached the bottom, she took a deep breath and walked out to the doors, which were standing wide open. Matthew looked at her and smiled as he tried to blink back tears. Chloe looked like an angel, the same angel he saw standing under the pool lights the night he fell in love with her, the most perfect woman in the world. Becky was already crying, while John nudged Matthew and smiled with approval.
She stepped on the runner and saw her mother holding a tissue and dabbing at her eyes. They sat quietly in the back row of chairs.
"My veil. You're wearing my veil…"
Chloe said not a word but held out her hand as her mother reached over and held hers back. Then with her other hand she reached out to her father and lifted his hand from his knee. She gently pulled, and they both rose. They stood before their daughter looking confused, but Chloe still said not a word. She slowly backed up, tugging at them to come with her. When all three were standing on the runner, Chloe looped her arms in both of theirs and, with the violins gently playing, she walked down the aisle. When she reached the altar the priest asked "Who giveth this woman to be joined to this man in holy matrimony?" Trying to hold back a sob, her father spoke proudly.
"Her mother and I."
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
The reception was indeed a grand party. Earl and Sylvia didn't want to add meaning to what Chloe did by allowing them to walk her down the aisle, so they didn't bring it up, but were happier than they'd ever been. They spent their first night as husband and wife in their little apartment they called home. Neither one wanted to be too far away from Conner in case something happened and he needed them. They spent the day lounging around, making love, cooking dinner together, and remembering all the great times, and the ones they learned from. It was nice to share the entire day feeling so happy together and no one else around to interrupt them.
The following morning, Earl came over to the apartment to visit. Chloe was happy to see him feeling at ease enough to just stop by for a visit.
"Matthew, my dad's here!"
He stepped out of the bathroom and shook his hand. "Have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink?"
"Actually I came to discuss something with the two of you. I'm retiring, and Chloe is the only heir to Burlington Enterprises. She could sell her shares if she wanted, or I could take you, Matthew, and train you to fill my shoes. There's a great staff in place so you wouldn't have to worry about much. I know you must be thinking you'd have to travel, but the project in Africa, even though it was a great thing, tore my family a part. You wouldn't have to go anyplace, really. There're plenty of people who could do the traveling for you. I'm done with it. I want to spend the rest of my days growing old with my wife and enjoying my daughter and grandchildren, if you two ever decide to grow your family. It'll be a lot of work, but I promise to train you well. You won't have to live at work the way I did."
"Wow, this is a lot to digest. I'll need some time to think about it and discuss it with Chloe."
"Take all the time you need, Matthew. With this company, you and your family, including your father, will never have to want for anything. Sylvia's waiting for me to go to the movies, so I'll take off. Stop by the house tomorrow evening for dinner if you'd like." As he left, he smiled brightly.
"Matthew, this is a great opportunity for you. I think you should take him up on his offer."
"I have my father's roofing business to run. I can't let that fall apart; it's the only accomplishment in his life, other than me, that he's proud of."
"Then I think you should talk to your dad and get his input."
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
The following morning, Matthew sat with his father at the kitchen table.
"Sell the business, son. It's been nothing but a thorn in your side since I got sick, and I really didn't do that great of a job setting the blasted thing up to begin with. There were things I wanted to do and felt I had plenty of time, but I didn't."
"I can't sell your business."
"Look, you're young, you just got married, and I'm hoping you'll have children soon. Having a seasonal job that keeps you working late hours, seven days a week, isn't what you need. You're not even able to make much money at it. We don't have the fancy equipment to speed things up, and hell, none of the guys who ever work for us are going to make enough money to support their family year round. I don't expect you to end up stuck in a failing business. Sell it."
"If I take this opportunity to run Burlington Enterprises, I won't have time to do roofing. So what am I supposed to do?"
"Then give the dang thing away! Stop worrying yourself about me and the roofing company. You've wasted so many years trying to make ends meet, and look where it's gotten you. You missed the years to go to school, not that I could have afforded to send you in the first place, but I would have killed myself trying. This is a lifetime opportunity. If you don't take it, I’ll be really angry, and I know how much you hate that."