Please read When We Were Young Ch. 19 and this will make a lot more sense.
Special thanks to kenjisato for the editing, whom I cannot recommend enough.
Comments would be appreciated.
**
The wedding had gone well, the whole day, really. Our guests had enjoyed the carnival-like atmosphere Linda had envisioned and Ronny and Gabby, the wedding planners, had executed.
Jugglers, magicians, face painters, etc., strolled amongst the tents, entertaining the eighty or so children, while their parents enjoyed an adult beverage or two. Ronny had found an award-winning BBQ guy from somewhere who showed up the day before and had been smoking meat ever since, and there were a myriad of trailers handing out funnel cakes, cotton candy, fried Oreos and Snickers, and on and on.
Miss Ruth gave tours of the castle, telling everyone about her father and how he had come to have it built. I joined her for the first couple, the love and respect she had for him was evident, and everyone was as gobsmacked as Linda and I were the first time we saw it.
Linda was beautiful in her white wedding gown, as were Mar, Mama, Sharon, Jazz, and Thea in their bridesmaid dresses. Rich wore a tuxedo, of course, though it covered a white cami.
The ceremony was beautiful, I suppose, though I was so stressed out, I couldn't really tell you about any of it, except that Lin's eyes sparkled throughout and she radiated happiness, which was all I cared about.
Four hours later, we made our escape in a rented limo, G at the wheel.
"What a day," Linda said, laying her head on my shoulder.
"Tired?" I asked, wrapping my arm around her and sipping champagne.
"Exhausted. I don't think I've sat down for more than ten minutes in the last twelve hours. It doesn't help not knowing what is happening next," she added.
"Soon, honey. In fact, I think we're here," I said, as the limo pulled into a strip center and stopped in front of Spa Gwendolyn.
"What's this?"
"Couples massage. I figured my bride could use one after a long, stressful day."
"Oh, Tony, it's perfect! Are they still open?" she asked, as G opened the door, and we got out.
"They're expecting us," I replied, taking a backpack from G and heading for the spa entrance.
The door opened and an attractive woman in her forties smiled at us.
"Mr. and Mrs. Webster, welcome. I'm Gwen. Please, right this way," leading us toward the back of the small spa.
"Mrs. Webster, this is Mei. She'll be taking care of you this evening," Gwen said, indicating a young Asian woman. "Please, go with her and she'll help you out of that beautiful dress and prepare you for your massage."
Off they went, and Gwen led me into another room, where another young Asian woman was waiting.
"Tony, this is Ping. She'll be taking care of you. Are your clothes in there?" she asked, indicating the backpack.
"Yes," I replied, fishing out my sandals, shorts, and a t-shirt, then handing her the pack.
"You've got the box for her dress?" I asked.
"It's all taken care of. I'll see that her dress and your tux get returned to your house tomorrow, Tony. Get undressed, then step through there," indicating a door.
Ping helped me get out of the tux and into a fluffy robe, then led me next door, where two massage tables lay side by side, candles lighting the room, music playing softly. Ping took my robe and I lay down on my stomach, my head in the little donut-ring thing.
A door opened a couple of minutes later, and a fingernail traced its way up my thigh and across my ass cheek, then I felt Lin's lips on my ear.
"It's perfect, Tone, just perfect."
Ping and Mei went to work, and I nodded off about five minutes later, the weird stresses of the day catching up to me. I woke up just long enough to flip onto my back, then was gone again.
Linda's kiss woke me up, her emerald eyes smiling at me.
"Hey, you," I said, stifling a yawn.
"Hey," Linda smiled, softly, and helped me sit up, Mei and Ping watching us from the corner.
"Good?" I asked.
"Mmmm, wonderful. I really needed that. What's next?"
I glanced at my watch. Ten PM.
"Go get dressed," I smiled.
"Knobhead."
"Wanker."
Back in the limo, in comfy shorts and t-shirts, I fished a sleep mask out of my pocket.
"Put this on, please," I said, handing her the mask.
"Why?" she asked, suspiciously.
"It's a surprise."
"I hate surprises, and being kept in the dark like this."
"I know, but not for much longer. I promise," and pointed at the mask.
She gave me a long look, sighed, and slipped the mask on. Taking a scarf from my other pocket, I tied it around her head, making sure she couldn't sneak a peek from the bottom of the mask.
"Twit," she huffed.
We pulled into the hotel ten minutes later and G helped Linda from the limo, grinned at me, and handed me another bag.
"Thanks, G. See you at ten," I said.
"Have a good night," he said, and kissed Linda's hand, who smiled and thanked him for taking care of us.
"Is my pleasure," he replied, then got in the limo and drove off.
I led her into the hotel, getting curious looks and grins from people as I headed toward the desk.
"Mr. and Mrs. Webster. Right this way, please, your room is ready," said the assistant manager, who guided us toward the elevators, where Ronny stood, waiting, shaking her head, grinning.