It was a busier Friday evening than usual for Gus & Tom's restaurant. The WRSE radio booth was bustling with Kathy and the Coach half-way into their pregame show for the night. The live guests had already come and gone, leaving the two to work the phones as the guys prepared for the game broadcast.
Upstairs in the banquet space with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Roseville town square the room was decked in spectacular fashion for tonight's rehearsal dinner and a small dinner planned for out-of-town guests Saturday night after the wedding.
The room was buzzing with energy and excitement created by the young couple, their family, and friends.
Jake and Emjay were circulating, talking with everyone and either Jake or Emjay making the introductions of their bride or groom to those relatives who hadn't yet met the new member of the family.
The best man, Scott Roberts, stood for a moment and asked for quiet. As the guests settled into their seats, Scott - a quiet guy with an off-beat sense of humor - started with words of welcome and teased his toast to be shared after the dinner. He introduced Pastor Bob and his wife, then invited Bob to come forward and offer a prayer before the meal.
Gus & Tom's lasagna, loaves of Italian bread, and large bowls of tossed salad were carried in through the double service doors by enough servers to deliver them to each of the eight tables at the same time.
The room was filled with the clicking and clanging of silver utensils, cups, plates, and a dull roar of conversation and laughter. Jake's parents, Barb and George, sat at the table with their son and soon to be daughter-in-law. As dinner came to a close, the servers came in with a flourish to clear the tables and serve a creation from Karen's Kandie Kitchen and Bakery.
Small chocolate clusters on platters surrounding half-dollar size chocolate chip cookies. The cookies were topped with a Hershey's Kiss in the center each ringed by 6 normal sized chips.
Scott Roberts stood back up at the microphone and began his tale of how Jake finally met Emjay.
"Jake had been telling me for weeks how much he liked Emjay. It's all he could talk about. In the cafeteria, the locker room, and on our walks to and from school. Finally, I told him it's great and all, but he better talk to Emjay himself. Because, if he didn't... I would!"
The crowd laughed. Jake and Emjay blushed.
Emjay had known a couple of weeks in advance that Jake liked her. She was waiting and wondering how long it would take for him to say something.
Saturday morning, the sun climbed into the sky over Roseville. Jon Ross was already at Riverside Park above the Rose River preparing for a photo shoot with the bride and groom. He told them 7:20 is the perfect moment to take the shot. That's 30 minutes away and he asked them to arrive at 7:10. So, he had twenty minutes to get ready.
Jake and Emjay pulled into the parking lot at 9 after 7. After combing their hair and adjusting the Badger and Packer jerseys they wanted to wear for the informal shoot - it was time to go. By 7:30, the two were on their way back into town, Jake planned to drop Emjay at her place where her mom was waiting and head back home. But first, they stopped by Karen's to get fresh cinnamon rolls.
Jean was on the porch drinking her first cup of coffee when Jake pulled into the driveway, got out of the car and came around to the passenger side to open Emjay's door. Jean smiled to herself and thought how wonderful it was for her little girl to find a guy like him. Jean really liked Jake and already thought of him as a son.
He reminded her of David, her husband of 30 years. Today, the wedding day, was also hers. It would have been their 32nd. Jean thought about how happy David would have been to be part of this, to walk little Emjay down the aisle. As Emjay walked up the steps Jean wiped a tear from her face.
"Mom," Emjay gently scolded, "you can't start crying now or we'll never get our makeup on." The two women and great friends laughed as they headed inside to get ready.
At Grace Lutheran Church, Bob was reviewing for the final time the wedding plan with Vicki, the church organist. Vicki was still hoping to be full-time someday at the radio station, but with part-time hours there and getting gigs as an organist here and at the Catholic church across town, she could pay the bills.
In the sanctuary, candle holders were positioned like soldiers down the center aisle on every other pew. The white candles would burn inside clear hurricane glass vases. Even for a midday wedding the interior of the church would look amazing. White flowers were tastefully arranged at the front of the church.
Bob sat in his study looking at his sermon while the copier finished spitting out 250 service folders for the wedding when he heard Vicki practicing. "That must be the postlude she was telling me about," he thought as he caught snippets of melody from 'Walkin' on Sunshine' and 'Love Shack' coming from the majestic organ. He told Vicki she could include those favorite tunes of the couple in the recessional, but not before. He smiled as he looked at his papers.
When the study door opened and Jon Ross peaked in to say hello. He was ready to set the strobe lights throughout the church and be ready for the formal wedding pictures starting at 11:30. The plan was to finish all the shots before the ceremony. Jake and Emjay wanted to go from the service to the reception and on to the honeymoon.
Bob liked what he saw on paper. Two congregational hymns, a solo by Jake's sister Tonya, his sermon, and the vows. Bob thought he could be home on his couch in front of the ballgame no later than the second inning of the Brewer game against Cleveland.
At 12:40 the sanctuary was nearly full with empty spots waiting for family and scattered places elsewhere for last minute arrivals. The church bells peeled at 12:55 echoing across town from the steeple of the oldest church in town. St. Patrick's is really a year older than Grace, but the church members liked kidding their Catholic brethren about which church was the first.
As the music from the bells faded, Vicki brought the organ to full throat with Pachelbel's Canon. Steve Jackson's son was the ring bearer. Emjay's youngest cousin, Kate, was flower girl. Everyone oohed and awed as they started down the aisle. The two kids were cute and the guests tried not to laugh as Kate spent more effort throwing the flower petals in Johnny's hair instead of the floor.
Emjay asked mom to walk her down the aisle. It made sense. Since dad died it was the two of them helping each other along their journeys together and individually. Jean was mom and dad and Emjay thought having her mom accompany her on her last walk as a young woman entirely fitting.
At the front of the church, Jean placed Emjay's hand in Jake's. She kissed her daughter on the cheek, responded "I do" when the pastor asked who gave this woman, then turned and found her seat before grabbing a tissue to brush away another tear.
"Dear Friends," Pastor Bob began, "we gather here today to celebrate the wedding of Emjay and Jake. While this is a celebration, it's more - a solemn moment of dedication and prayer for God's abundant blessing on these two as they become husband and wife. Please join in singing our first hymn, found on page one in your service folder."
Scattered around the congregation were some recently important people in the lives of the young couple. Steve, Jeff, Kevin, Pete, and Ken from the station who had become surrogate brothers or uncles to Emjay during her internship lined up in the third row from the back. Chief Parrot, Sheriff Stearns, Dr. Noel, and the EMTs and hospital personnel that helped put Jake and his father back together after their accident were two rows ahead on the other side of the aisle.
Jake and Emjay held hands while the music played; while the text was read; and sermon delivered. It was happening so fast they tried to capture pieces as they flew past. Every so often one would gently give three squeezes to the other. It was their personal Morse code for I love you.
The moment came. Rings placed on each other's ring finger and vows made.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm glad to present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Jake and Emjay Bauer." With that, the couple kissed, turned and took their first married steps together.
Chapter 21 goes live tomorrow morning at 9 am.
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