"Lost & Found" (Revised), Ch. 19 (PG-13): Wedding Planning & Such, Part 2,
December 06, 2014 by Gratiana Lovelace
(An original fiction copyrighted by Gratiana Lovelace; all rights reserved) [(1) top right, story logo]
[I will illustrate my story using my dream cast of --Richard Armitage for Matthew Drake, Kate Beckinsale for Jocelyn Burrows, Brenda Blethyn for Aunt Madge, Michael Crawford for Michael Ferguson, Gina McKee for Marcia Glass, James Frain for Vicar Nelson Marshall, Shirley MacLaine for Lucretia Baldridge, and others.]
Author's Mature Content Note: "Lost & Found" is love story with mature themes (D for drama and S for sensuality) of love and relationships. Most chapters will be PG or PG-13. However, if you are unable or unwilling to attend a movie with the ratings I provide, then please do not read that chapter. This is my disclaimer.
Recap from the previous installment: After Matthew weepingly tells Jocelyn about his first family and more details about the accident that cost their lives, she consoled him as best she could. They slept chastely and tenderly together that night, holding each other until sleep claimed them. For in the morning they will set their minds to their present joy, and their wedding planning will continue again in earnest.
"Lost & Found" (Revised), Ch. 19 (PG-13): Wedding Planning & Such, Part 2
Sunday morning, December 21st, dawns brightly with renewed hope for Matthew and Jocelyn. They share a light breakfast together--feeling the healing balm that is engendered by the intimacy of their simple domesticity. Matthew is still somewhat subdued from their discussion about his first family's tragedy last night. But for Jocelyn's sake, Matthew rallies a bit and smiles lovingly at her as he kisses her good morning. Jocelyn knows that it will take a long time for Matthew to get through his grief, but he will never get over it.
Hopefully one day, the love Matthew had and has for his first family will bring him more joy in remembering their happy times together, than in remembering the sorrow of their deaths. And Jocelyn is also helping Matthew to lift the burden of guilt that he feels at being the driver when they had their car accident--be it caused by him having a stroke, or the slick road conditions. Jocelyn will continue to tell him it wasn't your fault, as a resolutely caring mantra for her love, Matthew--in the hope that one day, Matthew will accept that it wasn't his fault.
And today, the two couples--Matthew & Jocelyn, and Madge & Michael--will arrange their wedding with the vicar today. Jocelyn thinks that Christmas Day is only less than a week away—and by then, she will be an old married lady of two days and she smiles to herself. As she and Matthew and Madge and Michael speak to the vicar as they sit in the front pew in the sanctuary after the worship services about their hoped for double wedding on Tuesday, December 23rd, Jocelyn can tell that the vicar is a compassionate soul.
Vicar Nelson: "Well, this is exciting, a double wedding in the family!" Vicar Nelson Marshall greets them warmly [(2a) right].
Madge: "Yes, Vicar, we are all so pleased."
Michael gives Madge a hug--which makes her blush. And Matthew kisses Jocelyn's hand.
Vicar Nelson: "And the dispensation on the reading of the banns is not a problem." [(2b)] Vicar Nelson smiles cordially at the two couples. "Now, I hope that you'll pardon me for saying it but you two couples represent both the longest—Madge and Michael—and the shortest—Matthew and Jocelyn—engagements we've ever had."
Matthew: Holding Jocelyn protectively with his arms around her shoulders Matthew beams happily. "Yes, and our happiness is tripled with the upcoming birth of Jocelyn and my baby in the Spring."
Michael: "It's a rrregular trrrifecta, Vicarrr." Michael alludes to his sometime passion of horse racing.
Vicar Nelson: "Now had you decided on what time of day you want for your double wedding?" He asks pertinently.
Jocelyn: Jocelyn has been silent up til now, but weighs in with the details the four of them had discussed yesterday--speaking quickly and succinctly, with a slightly pinched expression upon her face. "Yes, Vicar Nelson. We would like a 10:30am wedding service at the church here on Tuesday, December 23rd, followed by a 12noon lunch reception at Michael's pub. Aunt Madge's shop will do the flowers, of course. For the order of service, both of us couples prefer cherish over obey. Madge and I will each serve as the other's Matron of Honor and the men will serve as their respective Best Men. For the music, we would like Jeremiah Clarke's Trumpet Voluntary for the processional of the brides and Pachobel's Canon in D for the recessional of the couples. It will be a small and intimate wedding with maybe only about thirty people in attendance. I think that's it. Did I forget anything?"
Jocelyn looks around at their wide eyed faces. Then Matthew and Madge and Michael burst out laughing at Jocelyn's terse soliloquy of their wedding details:
Everyone: "Ha ha ha ha ha!"
Matthew: "Sorry Jocelyn my Love, but you sounded like a general marshalling her troops with your organization there." He says a bit nonplussed.
Jocelyn: "Sorry." She smiles sheepishly. "Chalk it up to two things—I'm eager to be married and, you'll have to excuse me while I visit the powder room again." Jocelyn dashes out of the pew, over to the side door leading to the rest of the church, and toward the ladies room as laughter ensues again.
Matthew: "Ha ha ha ha ha! It's her being pregnant, Vicar Nelson. Jocelyn almost doesn't go an hour without visiting the bathroom." Well, he thinks to himself, unless they're being romantic. And he smiles a secret smile. Matthew [(3) right] feels blessed, indeed.
Madge: "I think I'll go check on her." Madge waves at the boys as she follows after Jocelyn. "We'll be right back."
Michael: "Rrright! Now that the ladies are gone, Vicarrr, Matthew and I have a special surrrprrrise forrr them that we hope you can incorrrporrrate into ourrr wedding serrrvice."
Then, the three men—Matthew, Michael, and Vicar Nelson—chat about what that surprise is.
Vicar Nelson: "Yes, I think we can do that."
Vicar Nelson confirms to the men just as the ladies return.
***
After lunch at the pub after talking with Vicar Nelson after church on Sunday morning, the couples go their separate ways for the rest of the day. It has been a whirlwind three days—especially so for the very pregnant Jocelyn who falls asleep on their couch in their flat almost before she sits down. Matthew smiles Jocelyn lovingly, he kisses her forehead, and he covers her with a throw blanket. Then Matthew proceeds to do some laundry with his flat's washer and dryer unit. Then he also does some dishes. Matthew does not want Jocelyn to worry about these tasks needing to be done when she wakes up. Jocelyn is Matthew's fiancé and the mother of his future child. So, he revels in being able to pamper her with him being a progressive partner and husband to be. But eventually, around 4:00pm, Jocelyn awakens and they chat on the couch and cuddle.
Jocelyn: "By the way Matthew, I'm quite impressed with your homemaking skills. I've never known a man to be as adept at it—or as willing to do housework—as you."
Jocelyn thinks briefly about her fiancé and his insistence that the home was a woman's domain--including all maintenance pertaining to it. She hasn't thought about her ex fiancé Roland Craft for some time--gratefully so. And she is glad that he just let her go after she so abruptly ended their engagement by text five months ago--knowing that if she had done it in person, he would have cajoled and bullied her into staying, such was the power he had wielded over her. But with Matthew, Jocelyn feels like and is an equal partner in their relationship.
Matthew: Laughing he says "Well, when you live alone, it's only yourself to do it. So, I've had to learn." So refreshing a perspective , thinks Jocelyn.
Jocelyn: "Did the Sunday Times magazine give you a nice review for your final performance in A Christmas Carol?"
Matthew: "Yes, they were very kind to all of us. I really enjoyed the rehearsal process and performing in front of a live audience again. It's thrilling! And, with my voice over work, I can support us easily while you're on maternity leave—and if you want to stay home with our baby for a while after that before you return to work. Or even if you want to extend your maternity leave. And the nature of my work is such that I should have plenty of time to be home with you and the baby as well."
Jocelyn: "Hmm. I guess that I hadn't thought past our wedding day. You know with me staying in England, I think that I might like continuing with my university academic advising position. And the university has an early childhood education department with its own daycare lab school for the children of faculty and staff, so it might be nice to enroll our child in it for socialization when he or she is a little older." Then she smiles in conceding. "But you're right, later in the pregnancy and then after the baby is born, it would be nice if I could be at home for a while--at least the several months while I am breast feeding." Matthew smiles and kisses Jocelyn's temple, looking forward to helping her with baby care in any way he can. " So, I'll contact my boss to see if they would like me to continue advising—at least for two or three months, until they get past registration for the next term."
Matthew: "Yes, but remember not to overdo. You have to take care of yourself—and our baby, Jocelyn." He embraces her lovingly and kisses her on her lips, with his hand resting on her pregnant belly.
Jocelyn: "And, if we want to have at least a few people show up at our wedding, we'll have to get emails out on Monday to let people know. Though with it being the holidays, some people might have already left town."
Matthew: "True, but we can at least invite them so that they know we wanted them to be there and they feel included. Now, speaking of taking care of yourself, why don't we make a nice nutritious dinner and then enjoy the rest of our evening cozied up by the fire. Hmmm?"
Jocelyn: "That sounds heavenly." She smiles with a sigh.
And, of course, after dinner, Jocelyn and Matthew go to bed early to make love tenderly, sweetly, adoringly, and lovingly.
***
After Jocelyn and Matthew email out their wedding invitations on Sunday—and the less internet savy Madge and Michael print invitations that they hand deliver to their closest friends—Jocelyn meets Madge after lunch on Monday, December 22nd for Madge's wedding gown fitting at the wedding gown shop where Jocelyn bought her maternity wedding gown on Saturday.
Jocelyn: Seeing Madge's wedding gown out of its garment bag Jocelyn coos[(4) right]. "Oh Madge! Your wedding gown is so lovely. You will look beautiful in it!"
Madge: Madge smiles broadly and blushes with the compliment. "You really think so, Jocelyn Dear? It's not too young looking for me? Afterall, I did buy my gown ten years ago."
Jocelyn: "Oh no. The gown's off white shade, coupled with its elegant detailing of seed pearls edging the collar of the lace covered bodice, is very romantic. Michael will love you in it. So, try it on and let's see how it fits."
To Madge's delighted surprise, the gown fits [(5) right]. But she has lost a little weight, so the gown's skirt brushes the ground.
Madge: "Well, this is a pleasant surprise. I seemed to have lost weight since I bought this gown." Soon to be bride Madge looks pleasantly nonplussed at Jocelyn.
Jocelyn: "Madge, I think you can adapt for the skirt's length by wearing slightly higher heels. That way you won't need it hemmed, just slightly taken in at the waist--which they said they could do in a few hours and have it back to you and pressed by the end of today."
Madge: "I think so. I just hope that I won't topple off my shoes. I haven't worn heels over an inch high for over ten years."
Jocelyn: "Well Madge, you've got a good excuse to put them back on."
Jocelyn and Madge laugh conspiratorially and hug each other. They have mended their friendship in planning their double wedding. And the hurt that was between them—caused by Madge separating Jocelyn from Matthew—is forgiven. Jocelyn and Madge will be family soon and that is what they focus on with their renewed friendship.
***
Not wanting a repeat of Matthew and Michael's amusingly raucous impromptu bachelor's party, Jocelyn and Madge conspire to make sure that their rehearsal dinner Monday night goes off smoothly at the pub. Although, it's hard to refrain from serving alcohol in a pub, they plan to relegate their guests'—and Matthew's and Michael's—beverage choices to wine or soda.
Of course, the rehearsal dinner was preceded by their wedding rehearsal that went off without a hitch. And, since Matthew and Michael have a surprise for Jocelyn and Madge on their wedding day, that part of the service was not practiced at the rehearsal—but separately by Matthew and Michael at the church earlier in the day when the girls were doing Madge's gown fitting.
So, in walking into Michael's pub this fine wintery Monday evening in the Christmas season for their wedding rehearsal dinner, Jocelyn and Madge find the pub festooned with holiday trimmings, including a few 3-D tissue paper wedding bells.
Madge: "Well Michael, this looks festive!" Madge is really surprised since the pub usually has two decorating modes—flyers touting discount drafts night, or two kinds of party nuts in bowls at tables and on the bar. In other words, very low key male non-decorating instincts are usually at play.
Jocelyn: Also recognizing the extra effort put into the pub's decorations, Jocelyn asks in wonderment. "What affected this transformation?"
Michael: Smiling broadly, bridegroom Michael puffs up [(6) right]. "Well, Matthew and I wanted to give ourr ladies a festive rrrehearrrsal dinnerr tonight and wedding rrreception tamarrra." (tomorrow)
Matthew: Putting his arm around Jocelyn's shoulders, Matthew pridefully shares. "So, we called in a few favors and got some decorating help. It turns out that Marcia Glass' niece runs a party store. So, they helped us out."
Just then, Marcia walks out from a hidden corner of the pub and everyone gathers round.
Jocelyn; "Marcia! Love the decorations! And it's so good to see you! I'm glad that you could make it."
Marcia: "Thanks! I'll let my sister know, she's packing up. I'll just help her, then be back to join you as planned."
Marcia waves at everyone and heads back out. Vicar Nelson is also expected to join them for lunch.
Madge: "Well, I guess that even though men don't ask for directions when they're lost, they can still ask for decorating advice."
All four of them laugh: "Ha ha ha ha ha!"
Jocelyn: "Yes, and ..." Suddenly Jocelyn's face changes from laughing and smiling to looking perplexed and she puts her hands upon her pregnant tummy as her eyes widen.
Matthew: "Jocelyn? Are you feeling alright?" Matthew is instantly concerned as he leans down to look at Jocelyn. Her color is fine and when he puts his hand to her forehead she doesn't feel feverish nor clammy.
Jocelyn: "I think so." Then Jocelyn wonderingly shares with them. "Matthew, I think that the baby just kicked me for the first time. Feel my tummy here." And she places Matthew's hand where she felt the baby kick inside her just now. They stand this way together for a few moments and then the baby kicks again.
Matthew: "Crikey! We've got a kick boxer in there." Matthew smiles at Jocelyn lovingly and kisses her on her lips.
Madge and Michael who are standing next to them, look at Jocelyn and Matthew expectantly.
Jocelyn: Jocelyn nods her head and motions for Madge and Michael to come over. "It's okay. Place your hands on my tummy."
So now, Jocelyn has five hands on her tummy—her own two hands lying just under her breasts, Mathew's hand to the right, Madge's hand in the middle, and Michael's hand to the left. Then the baby kicks again and all four of them smile and laugh.
Michael: "That little fellow is rrready for the All England Team" [(7)]. Matthew's arms pantomime being a cricket bowler and Michael moves his arms as if at batting.
Jocelyn: "What's that?" Jocelyn looks up at Michael with a quizzical expression on her face. She has been living in England nearly five months, but not all of their culture has penetrated into her understanding.
Madge: "Cricket, Jocelyn dear." Madge speaks sotto voce, for the Brits playing cricket is only second to their love of soccer--and some would argue, not even then.
Matthew: "And, we won't have a chance to know the sex of the baby for another month. Although, Jocelyn, have you decided if you want to know ahead of time or not?"
Jocelyn: "I kind of like not knowing, Matthew. It's like having an additional present to the child being born." Matthew nods with a smile. "Though I could change my mind. Ha!"
Michael: "Well, I say tis a laddie in therrre." Michael points confidently at Jocelyn's pregnant belly. Afterall, he has a 50 percent chance of being right. "So, let's eat."
And the four of them do as they proceed to have a lovely rehearsal dinner when Marcia Glass returns five minutes later, with Vicar Nelson arriving as well.
To be continued with Chapter 20
"Lost & Found" (Revised), Ch. 19 References for Wattpad, Dec. 06, 2014 Gratiana Lovelace
1) "Lost & Found" title graphic representing Matthew is an artistic blurring of a portrait of the Spooks character Lucas North (as portrayed by British actor Richard Armitage) found at http://www.richardarmitagenet.com/images/gallery/Spooks/Spooks9/album/episode2/album/slides/2_199.html
2a) Image representing Vicar Nelson Marshall is that of British actor James Frain portraying Franklin Mott in Wake the Dead
http://www.nine26.com/wakethedead/images/cast/franklin.jpg
2b) Information about the Banns of Marriage are found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banns_of_marriage
3) Image representing Matthew is of Lucas North (portrayed by Richard Armitage) from Spooks series 7, episode2 pix 42
http://www.richardarmitagenet.com/images/gallery/Spooks/album/ep2/slides/cap042.html
4) Image representing Jocelyn is a cropped portrait of British actress Kate Beckinsale found at http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=34304829
5) Image representing Madge is a portrait of the British actress Brenda Blethyn found at http://images.zap2it.com/images/celeb-9129/brenda-blethyn-2.jpg ; composited with Grati's wedding gown
6) Image representing Michael Ferguson bartender is a portrait of the British Actor Michael Crawford found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/images/episode/p00941p7_640_360.jpg
7) Cricket information is found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-England_cricket_teams
"Lost & Found" (Revised), Ch. 19 Images for Wattpad, Dec. 06, 2014 Gratiana Lovelace
http://gratianads90.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/blostfoundch19wattpadimages_dec0614gratianalovelace.jpg