Chapter 42 – Fizzy Nectar and Wedding CakeHehe...poor Mom.
It was one heck of a party, that much is for certain. Iris has never been one to do anything by half-measures and this was certainly no exception. Of course she had plenty of help with the planning; Mom volunteered to make the food (yum!) and I took care of the music and the fizzy nectar. Being the outdoorsy woman that Iris is it was only natural that she chose the newly-renovated community pool to host her party.
In retrospect we should have realized that fizzy nectar + hot tub can make for a very interesting night...but I digress.
Just before six we loaded everything into the car and headed over to the pool. It was Iris's night to shine, and our night to kick back and have fun.
Lookin' good, Mom!
One by one Iris's friends began to arrive. Cassie,
then Madison and Cynthia. (Cynthia looks rather unamused by her mother's enthusiasm.)
Aunt Lisa...
...and there were a lot of others that I can't quite name off of the top of my head. I'm pretty sure that a few of them are from the precinct. (Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that Iris joined the police force!)
Right away aunt Darlene broke the ice by spraying her older sister with fizzy nectar. It's not very often when aunt Lisa's wild side comes out to play anymore, but I've heard the horror stories of her rebellious youth. Nothing that Iris ever did as a child could even remotely hold a candle.
But that didn't stop me from razzing her a bit when she asked me to propose a toast. I just couldn't help it.
Neither could I help giving her a nectar bath when I was finished.
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a limousine pulling up to the curb. Two men wearing...rather
almost wearing...military style uniforms climbed out and made their way inside. I glanced at Mom, who looked suitably horrified.
“Darlene, did you...?”
“That was definitely
not me,” my aunt sharply replied. Cassie shook her head as well. That was when I noticed aunt Lisa's devious grin.
Culprit found.
We weren't about to kick them out...I mean, they
were quite entertaining to watch. By that point most everyone had consumed quite a bit of nectar, so no one was really in any position to complain about propriety.
That was when things really started getting interesting.
I suppose there is something about a hot tub that just begs for skinny dipping...even more so when nectar is involved. No fewer than four of the partygoers (
including the two dancers) decided to enjoy the hot tub in their birthday suits.
Not everyone was so enthusiastic about the idea, however. Hilda Alvi was decidedly unamused and had
no qualms about expressing it. Loudly.
Somewhere in the middle of it all the sink broke in the ladies' room. Fortunately my aunt is rather handy with a crescent wrench and still somehow managed to keep from soaking her dress.
I guess all of the fizzy nectar finally got to Mom. We lost her shortly after the second round of skinny-dippers and decided that it would be best for me to get her home. From what I heard the party began to wind down from there, but not before poor Hilda got another eyeful.
That next morning was not so pretty.
It reminds me of the morning after Judd's bachelor party, now that I really think about it. Luckily Iris had the foresight to schedule her party two days before the actual wedding in the event that things got a bit out of hand. Otherwise, both my mother and aunt Darlene would have been total zombies at the ceremony.
And
oh, what a ceremony.
Iris and Timothy chose to be married on the same beach where her parents were wed some twenty-three years prior. Uncle Malcolm, ever the hopeless romantic, was quite emotional. He was only barely holding back tears as he embraced his only daughter.
“I guess you're not my little girl anymore,” he spoke in a rather somber tone. “You've grown into an amazing young lady and I'm so proud of you.”
Iris smiled. “It doesn't matter how old I am, Dad. I will always be your little girl.”
(All right, he about had
ME crying with that.)
Soon enough the guests had arrived and it was time for things to begin. There was, however, one minor delay. Someone was blocking the aisle...
Not that Kenji was objecting to the marriage of his cousin. He was, however, overly enamored with the bear that grandpa Leighton had given him for his birthday. Once my adorable little obstacle was removed (and sitting in his daddy's lap) the ceremony was able to begin right after sundown.
Such a beautiful wedding, and almost everyone was in tears.
Dad, you didn't even cry that much at
my wedding!
The traditional cutting of the cake. From left to right, aunt Darlene (her back anyway), cousin Roger, Timothy's father Cycl0n3, uncle Ian, Doctor Geoff, Mom, uncle Malcolm, and Devon (who amazingly was actually in his suit. I think that Iris must have tricked him by saying it was a swimwear party or something...)
Off to the left of the rest of the crowd: Cassie Goth, Wesley Alvi, and me.
Yes...
that Wesley. The same Wesley that beat the living daylights out of Timothy when they were still in grade school. He moved out of his parents' house when he was a teen and has mellowed out considerably since. Now he and Timothy are inseparable friends. Amazing, isn't it?
Don't tell anyone I said this, but I noticed him making eyes at Cassie...
hmmm...
The cake was delicious and we all had a fantastic time dancing, though I don't really have any photos of that part. We were all too busy having fun, though Dad did get a pretty nice shot of the happy new couple getting all cuddly by the remains of the cake.
Congratulations, Iris and Timothy. Judd and I wish you all the best in your new life together!
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(A/N: I was half tempted to subtitle this chapter "The Many Disgusted Faces of Hilda Alvi". Every time I looked, it seemed, she was getting grossed out by another skinny dipper. Note to self: hot tubs make for a chaotic (but fun!) sims party.)
