Chapter 76

 

They arrived at the church for the rehearsal for tomorrow, Colleen came in with Stephanie who would be her stand-in. Jon came in with the boys, But, Matt was a stand-in for Jon.  The boys stood in the front being Jon’s best men, Jesse, Jake, and then Romeo. Dave was on the piano with Lorenza by him and was playing softly.

 

“Ok let’s line up ladies and so you’ll know how to line up, and we’ll mark where you all will stand.” Father Mike told them to line up to come down. Colleen looked over at Jon who was listening to the father like he was studying for an exam. She pulled out her cell phone and snapped a picture, sending it to him. ‘Are you getting nervous?’ Jon pulled his cell out to see who was texting him, please God don’t let it be mom, he thought.

 

“Ok, music let's go,” Father Mike said as he motioned for Dezi to start down, then Nina, Sarah then Izzy who stood in for Stephanie.  Ally walked proudly tossing paper in place of the rose petals.  Stephanie walked down with Cullen.

 

Soon they were all where they were supposed to be.  The father told them what would happen and he finally let Jon and Colleen practice the kiss, a few times.

 

“That’s enough they know how to kiss,” Maggie told the father teasing Colleen and Jon.  The whole chapel laughed. 

 

They walked back up the aisle and he said that was good, but one more time would be better.  It went better this time than the first, all but the kissing part, and soon they were on the way to dinner.  Colleen road with John Sr. and her dad.  Sitting in the backseat Colleen listening to them talk.

 

“We couldn’t plan this any better John. Now if only Carol would get with the program,” Cullen said as they pulled into the bar.

 

“I thought we were going to Uncle Mario’s place?” Colleen asked her dad,

 

“It’s all delivered, you didn’t think I would have your last party as a single lady at the restaurant?  Come on Coco.” Her dad said. “John and I simply wanted to have a good Italian, Irish dinner.  He made Lasagna and I had corned beef and cabbage sort of a blended family dinner.”

 

The bouncer Albert, was there to make sure no one got in, without the golden ticket.  Someone placed a drink in Colleen's hand, as she circled the room looking for Jon.  He would get a kick out of their dad’s taking credit for them hooking up and getting married.

 

She made two circuits of the bar and kitchen, then slipped out the backdoor and as she went up the stairs she noticed the lights on in her apartment. Slowly going up the steps she noticed the door not closed all the way. “Jon, are you in here?”  She eased the door open and then stopped when she saw the candles and the roses.

 

“I wondered if you would come looking for me,” he reached for her hand and pulled her into his arms.  Soft music played on her stereo and there was champagne chilling in a bucket.

 

“I’ll always come and look for you,” Colleen whispered on his lips before kissing him.

 

They stood there wrapped in each other’s arms. Whispering words of love to each other.  Soon Jon walked her to the sofa and sat down with Colleen in his lap.  Reaching to the coffee table her handed her a glass of champagne and got his glass.  Holding it up he started talking.

 

“Here is to the lady that tomorrow will be my wife, the love of my life, the sunshine that took away my darkness,” Jon smiled and tapped her glass with his, then they sipped the bubbly.

 

“Here’s to the man who I fell in love with and in about eight hours will be my husband, the maker of dreams, and my protector. The man who will grow old with me and owns my heart,” Colleen tapped his glass and they sipped.

 

Leaning toward each other, they sealed their declarations with a kiss.  The screen door opened and Stephanie stood there with Greg.  “I told you I knew where they were,” She pulled Greg into the room.

 

“And why did you have to find us,” Jon asked.

 

“It was either me or grandmother Maggie, now which one did you want to find you,” Stephanie asked her dad.

 

“Thanks Steph, I meant to find your dad to tell him our dads are taking credit for us hooking up and getting married,” Colleen told them.

 

“Those two got us hooked up? I don’t remember seeing your dad that night I came in?  But we can give them this one,” Jon leaned over giving her a quick kiss.

 

“Oh yeah, the guys are looking for you so they can do their set,” Stephanie and Greg turned to head back to the bar.

 

“We better go back down, or the next person might have a garden hose,” Colleen laughed.

 

“Tomorrow night we’re coming back here for the night, I want you all to myself,” Jon said as he corked the champagne up and put it in the fridge.

 

“Oh that can be arranged,” Colleen giggled. “I have some rain checks to cash in.”

 

“Oh yeah, so do I,” Jon said as he took her hand and left the apartment.

 

The band played for almost a two-hour set, then the lights flashed and they came on full.

 

“People we have a wedding tomorrow, think we need to shut down this party, till tomorrow," Cullen announced.

 

Colleen and Jon stood at the door personally thanking everyone who came to the party.  When all that was left were the immediate family, they sat at the bar and Jamie filled glasses with champagne he raised his glass.

 

“To my soon to be brothers and their wives, I never thought to see my sister married to a famous rock star, but tomorrow that will change,” Jamie teased them. “No, give backs.”

 

Everyone laughed but Colleen, she flipped him the bird.

 

Much later as she sat on her bed, sipping hot chocolate with Stephanie. They swapped secrets, Stephanie told her about her mother, by the time they were finished talking about the last month her mom was alive both Steph and Colleen were both in tears and hugging.

 

“Night Mom,” Stephanie said as she dried her tears and hugged Colleen one more time.  “Tomorrow I can legally call you mom.”

 

“It’s something we need to talk to your dad about. I don’t think the boys really want to call me mom,” Colleen told her.

 

“Oh I think they do, I just need to talk to them and to dad,” Stephanie told her as she got to the door.  “We’ll talk about it when you two get home.” And on that note, she left.