The Demure Bride(31)

     



 

"That is three months from now!"

"I know. Do you think we can pull it off?"

"It depends on the kind of wedding you want, Michael. If you want a  family style wedding, instead of a formal-formal wedding, then yes, we  can."

"What do you mean by a family style wedding versus a formal-formal  wedding?" he asked curiously, and then listened in surprise as Molly  talked. It was easy for him to discern which type of wedding she  preferred, and he was in agreement with her. "Family style it is," he  stated firmly, and was rewarded when she clapped her hands. He called,  reserved the church, and then winked at Molly when he called his mother.  "Ma, will you call all the family and tell them to keep March 26 open  on their calendars. That is when Molly and I are getting married. Tell  them we'll be in touch because we are having a family style wedding." He  listened, and then chuckled. "Yes, Ma. It was Molly's idea, and I'm all  for it." He listened again, and then said, "Yes, ma'am. Ma wants to  talk to you, honey."

"Hello, Mary," Molly dutifully took Michael's cell phone and greeted the other woman.

"Molly, is Michael rushing you, dear?" Mary came straight to the point.

"No, not at all, Mary. I know exactly what I want, and Michael is in agreement. Isn't that simply wonderful?"

"Well, yes, but the church..."

"Is already reserved, along with the hall. We'll do everything there."

"There is so much to do...!" Mary exclaimed.

"We'll handle it, and you'll be surprised at how quickly we accomplish everything."







Molly and Michael wasted no time in getting started with their plans.  They sat down that night with a tablet and pen, made lists of everything  that needed doing, and were surprised to realize that they agreed with  almost everything concerning the wedding. Kathleen was asked to take  care of the flowers, and to Bridget's shock, they asked her to do their  wedding cake. Bridget was flustered and flattered, but both her parents  were naturally worried at the idea of their youngest taking on such a  huge responsibility.

"Michael and I are aware that Bridget is not a professional yet, but we  know she'll do her very best, and that is all we want or expect of her,"  Molly said. "I know Bridget will practice and the cake will be  beautiful, and we want to be able to tell everyone ten years from now  that we were her first clients! We expect to pay you, Bridget."

"What if something awful happens and I totally ruin the cake?" Bridget asked in concern.

"Bridget, I've seen the birthday cakes and holiday cakes you've made;  you won't ruin the cake, but if you should, we will still love you. That  is our promise."

"I'll do it!" she said excitedly. "I'm going to go and start looking at  designs. You'll have to tell me what kind of cake you want, and the  colors you want to use. I'm going to do my very best cake ever," she  promised, then flew from the room to go and start looking on line for  ideas.

"I hope she doesn't get so worried and nervous she can't function when the time comes," Mary fretted.

"She won't, Mary. It will be good experience for the girl. If she can do  a wedding cake for family, then she will be able to handle working in a  bakery with all the pressure she'll have there," Seamus said. "I think  it good of you both to give Bridget a chance. What else are you going to  need help with?"

Molly and Michael spoke up and asked for the help they needed.







"Are you sure you aren't upset that we can't spend tonight together,  honey?" Michael asked as they ate an early dinner at his parents' home.

"I know you have to work, Michael. I will find something to do. Maybe go to a movie...?"

"No, that isn't a good idea. I want your word that you won't go anywhere  tonight, Molly. Too many people drive under the influence, and I need  to know that you are here at home, safe."

"You are being silly, Michael. I'm a grown woman, and if I want to go somewhere, I will."

"No, not tonight," Michael said firmly, not caring that his parents and  little sister were in the kitchen, too. "You need to stay home where  you'll be safe."

"I am not a child, Michael. I'm not going to be grounded for the night  simply because you have to work," Molly told him, her temper showing.

"Do we need to discuss this privately?" he demanded just as his cell  phone rang. "O'Keefe...?" Michael growled into the phone, listened for a  few minutes and said, "I'm on my way." He turned to Molly and said, "I  have to go right now, but I'll be checking in with you later, young  lady, and you'd best be right here." With those final words he left,  banging the door behind him.         

     



 

"I hope you aren't going to listen to Michael!" Bridget declared, her eyes flashing. "He's acting just like a cop!"

"He is a cop, and you'd better not be giving advice to Molly, young  lady. Michael wants to keep her safe." Seamus switched his gaze from his  youngest daughter to Molly. "I suggest you do as Michael asks, Molly.  It isn't much fun going out alone anyway, and Donna and Gene are coming  over here for the evening. We'll set up a Monopoly game..."

Molly got to her feet and started to clear the table. She was going to  do as she damn well pleased and Michael needed to learn right now that  he couldn't control her. If she wanted to go out, she would! She'd  managed on her own for a very long time before she met Michael, and she  was perfectly capable of going to a movie on New Year's Eve if she  wanted to!

Mary motioned with her eyes for Seamus to leave the kitchen. She knew  only too well how Molly was feeling, and was positive she needed to  speak to the young woman before she did something to earn Michael's  wrath. If Seamus stayed in the kitchen trying to boss her around, Molly  would be out the door before the evening was over. Hopefully she could  calm Molly down.

"Mama, why is Michael acting all bossy with Molly?" Bridget asked. "I  sure wouldn't permit my fiance to talk to me like that and tell me what I  could and couldn't do!"

"Bridget, there are some things you simply don't know yet. Now, I know  you find that hard to believe, but it is true," Mary said quietly.

"I just don't get it. Michael isn't normally such a butt about things."

"Your brother is not a butt," Mary scolded. "He can't help how he feels.  I think you are old enough now to understand that Michael's job can be  very unpleasant." Mary realized that Molly was listening, right along  with Bridget. "His first year on the police force was not easy, and the  first New Years he worked was brutal. He went on a call to a car  accident. A drunk driver ran a red light, hit a car, killing a husband  and wife and their two children. He went from that to answer a call  outside a club. Three men dragged an underage girl into the alley behind  the club and raped her. Michael had to notify her parents, and he came  home and cried."

"Molly wasn't planning to go clubbing," Bridget said, defending her future sister-in-law.

"No, and if Michael was thinking clearly he would realize that, but he  loves Molly, and he fears for her safety. Each time one of you gets your  driver's license and goes driving alone the first few times, he is  afraid that he will get called to an accident and find one of you  involved. Michael loves deeply, and he feels responsible for keeping all  of us safe."

"It's the way Pop feels when I want to go out and he says there aren't enough in the group."

"Precisely. He wants you to be safe, and he knows that there is safety  in numbers. Two girls walking from the mall to the car in the parking  lot are an easier target than three, four, or five. Your Papa wants to  keep you safe."

"Molly, are you going to stay home tonight?" Bridget asked curiously.

Molly looked at the teen and decided to be honest. "I haven't decided yet."







Michael heard the description of the car involved in a chase and  listened even more intently when the license plate was read. It was  Molly's car! He couldn't believe she was running away from the police!  He listened in growing horror as he heard how fast the car was speeding  as traffic violation after violation piled up. The final thing he heard  was that the driver lost control and the vehicle flipped over three  times before coming to rest on the driver's side. Michael raced to the  scene, positive he would find Molly injured or dead.

He got as close as he could with his car, then ran the rest of the  distance, looking for any sign of the woman he loved. The paramedics  were already pulling the driver from the wreckage, and from the silent  way they were going about it Michael knew it was too late. He also  realized the deceased driver was not his Molly! He looked around, but  there was no sign of her anywhere!

"Lieutenant, who are you looking for?" one officer asked.