The other brides were just as nervous.
I kept smiling and giggling to myself that I was marrying my son. The situation was so weird.
Then the surprises started showing up. First, Roy sent a bouquet of flowers for me to carry. Then, he had me presented with a necklace, that his grandmother had given him, for me to carry. The note said, “Something borrowed”.
Another delivery arrived with a note that said, “Something new”. It was a beautiful gold chain with a two-carat ruby pendant.
Just as I thought it couldn’t get any better, a further delivery arrived with a note that said, “Something old”. It was an antique broach that I had seen at a jewelry store and fallen in love with. It was so ridiculously expensive, that I knew I could never have it, but now it was mine. I felt the tears start to flow. I was so happy.
Then, as if someone knew me better than I knew myself, a final delivery man tapped me on the shoulder and presented me with a blue handkerchief. The note read, “We mustn’t forget “something blue”… I love you mom… Anna…”
I both laughed and cried at my son’s attempt at humor, and at the way he was wooing me. I felt like I was on top of the world.
I loved it. My cheeks glowed and my smile lit up the room. But the surprises weren’t over yet.
I was taken to the ship’s beauty salon. There a woman, named Ashly, told me that she had orders to make me beautiful. I laughed and said, “That will take some work.”
“That’s not what your fiancé said.”
I looked at her closely.
“I told him that I would make you beautiful”, Ashly continued, “And your fiancé said, “That will be the easiest job you ever undertook; she is already beautiful.””
I stared at her for a long moment. Finally I said, “He did not.”
“Yes, he did”, all four of the stylists said, in unison with two of the other brides. I was dumbstruck.
“He also gave me orders not to use too much makeup… he said you didn’t need it.”
I felt tears drip from my eyes. Eric never would have said anything like this to me, ever.
“OK, let’s get the waterproof mascara for this one”, Ashly teased, as she wiped a tear from my cheek.
It was like there was a whirlwind picking me up and placing me here and there. It was nothing like when I married Eric. Here everything was so pleasant and unexpected. I couldn’t believe it. I had never been so happy and moved. How on earth was I going to pay Roy back for what he had given me this day?
I was sitting with the other brides in a small room. Drinks and snacks were provided for us, but no alcohol. They wouldn’t let us get drunk first. As I sat chatting with the other four brides, we seemed to be getting along really well. With the deliveries and the comments Roy made to the stylists, I was definitely the envy of them all.
One of the brides was Roy’s age, and I tried to imagine him with her, but unexpectedly became extremely jealous as I thought of her touching MY fiancé. I couldn’t believe it.
Finally, they called us to the ship’s chapel, one at a time, each bride walking down the aisle to the traditional ‘wedding march.’ Their future husband was waiting with the captain and each couple was given a quick ceremony. Each couple then walked arm-in-arm back down the aisle. We all smiled and said our congratulations as they passed.
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