Page 27 of Be With Me
Chapter 13
Mooney was standing in front of the mirror on Debbie’s mother’s dresser, pulling at his collar.Would’ve been easier to wear my mess dress.Debbie had found a cream-color dress shirt for him that somehow stretched and moved with him without wrinkling. She’d picked out dark gray pants that didn’t wrinkle either. Where she’d found them, he didn’t know but he needed to figure out how to have her shop for his clothes more in the future. He always ended up with ultra-casual which wasn’t the look of a senior NCO.
There was a knock on the door and when it opened his mother was peeking in. “Rafael, you look so handsome,” she said as she entered.
“Mom, I’m so glad that you could be here.” Mooney placed a kiss on her cheek.
“And why wouldn’t I be here? My boy is getting married. There is no other place I’d rather be. Now, if you’re ready, the photographer wants to get a few pictures of you, me and your father.”
With one last check in the mirror— he wasn’t going to embarrass Debbie with a misbutton— he held out his arm to his mother. They walked to the side yard of the house where there was a little natural arch of ivy and vines. His father stood talking with the photographer. Dad wore the same type of pants as Mooney but his shirt was a pale green.
“Rafe, all ready?” The photographer continued talking without waiting for an answer. “Your lovely bride gave me these boutonnières for you and your father. Let’s get some pictures with your mother pinning one on you and then there’s a corsage for your mother that you can put on her.”
The photographer moved them around, posing them how it looked best to him.Who was Mooney to argue?Mooney kept looking toward the front of the house. His younger brother, Rick, wasn’t here yet. Rick had promised he’d be here, but the ceremony was in less than an hour and there was no sign of him. Of course, being a long-haul trucker wasn’t a nine-to-five and he could’ve had a problem with a run. Mooney just wished he’d scheduled better to be here. His older brother, Rob, was off doing something with Danny and Mackey which frankly scared him a bit. He knew that they were all pissed at him because he said no to a bachelor party in any form.
“Rafael,” his father’s voice broke into his musings. Mooney turned to his father and smiled. His father motioned him off to the side, away from his mom and the photographer.
“Last minute advice, Dad?” Mooney joked.
“Something like that. Your mother and I want you to know how proud we are of you. You’ve always set goals for yourself and attained them. We know that you weren’t out searching for a wife but you found the absolutely perfect one for you. Debbie balances you and we can tell that she has the strength to keep things going when you deploy. Doesn’t mean that she won’t need your love and support though. Be there for her in your heart, mind and spirit always.”
Mooney could feel tears forming and closed his eyes. He couldn’t go to the altar looking a mess. After a minute, he opened them and smiled at his father.
“Dad, you and Mom have set the example for me to follow. You both gave me, Rick, and Rob everything to achieve success and I’m not talking about material things. You showed us that being present was the most important part of life. Focusing on family and loved ones should be the first thing that we thought about then the other stuff. Thank you for all you’ve given me.” His dad pursed his lips and tears wet his eyes. Mooney could tell that his words had affected him.
“It’s about time, Mooney,” Mackey called from the corner of the house heading to the back yard. “You ready?” It had been hard for Mooney to choose who to stand with him. Mackey, Kevin, Danny and Spook had come to mean so much to him. He knew they’d be there for him and Debbie for years to come. He just couldn’t pick one over the others so he’d asked Rob.
Just as Mooney got to Mackey a loud hissing sound came from the front of the house. There was only one thing that could make that sound that should be anywhere near here. Mooney turned and almost ran to the front. There was his brother’s rig, parked half on the side, half on the grass.
“Rick!” Mooney shouted and ran to his brother, wrapping him in a hug.
“I promised I’d be here,” Rick whispered. “I wasn’t going to break my promise. Sorry for the rig on some of the grass.”
“Doesn’t matter and I know that Marion won’t care. Debbie knew how much I wanted you here and I’m sure she told her mom.”
“Ahem, sorry to break up the reunion, Mooney, but it’s about time for the ceremony.” Mackey tapped on his wrist from a few feet away.
Mooney turned toward Mackey, keeping one arm around Rick. “Mackey, this is my brother, Rick. Can you find him a seat?”
“I think I can find one by myself, Rafey. You go do what you have to.” Rick pulled out of Mooney’s grip.
“Rafe, move your ass. Mom and Dad are heading to their seats,” Rob called out as he rounded the house. “Rick!” Rob grabbed Rick in a hug then pushed him back. “Go find a seat. Rafe, move it.”
Mooney smiled at his brothers and Mackey. “Let’s go. It’s time for Debs to be with me forever.”
§ § §
Debbie was sitting on the bed in her childhood bedroom, holding the stuffed dog she’d carried with her everywhere for years. She couldn’t believe that her mom still had her Woo-Woo. Actually, she shouldn’t be surprised. Her mom knew what held the important memories and kept them safe.
The door to the room opened and Stacy walked in. “Let’s go girl. You’ve got a handsome soldier waiting.” Debbie had asked Stacy to stand with her. They’d gone shopping and found a stunning knee-length dress in a deep maroon to offset Stacy’s blond hair and slight tan from the summer.
Debbie put down Woo-Woo with a last pat and stood. She smoothed her hands over her hips, making sure that her dress was in place. Instead of the traditional satin and lace, Debbie had found a cream-colored dress with floral details around the neckline and hem that reminded her of her grandmother’s crocheting.
As Debbie reached for her bouquet of peach colored roses and irises, her mom came in. “Debra, oh you look—” she paused with her hand over her mouth. “Stacy, could you give us a minute?”
“Not a problem, Mrs. Hansen,” Stacy said before she closed the door on her way out.
Her mom came over and handed her a box that had seen better days. Debbie took it and with a nod from her mom, opened it. Inside was a single strand of pearls.
“Your father bought those for you when you were born. Said that he was going to make sure that his baby girl had a classic for her wedding day. I’ve been waiting to give them to you for him.” Debbie looked at her mom and watched a tear roll down her cheek.
“Mom… I… will you put them on me?” Debbie struggled not to cry herself. She moved over to the chair at the desk she’d spent so many hours at and sat down. Her mom took the box from Debbie and unclasped the necklace. Debbie held her hair up and watched the pearls settle around her neck. They matched her dress perfectly. She hadn’t been able to find jewelry that she had wanted to wear. Something must have been guiding her.
“One last thing.” Her mother reached for something on the desk. Debbie hadn’t paid attention to the miscellaneous bottles on the top. “Wrist please?” When Debbie raised her wrist, she knew what was coming. Her mother spritzed her perfume on each of Debbie’s wrists. “Always with you, my baby girl. Your father and I. He would be as proud of you as I am.”
Debbie stood and wrapped her arms around her mother and just held on. “Mom, you’ve taught me how to push through the impossible and be strong when all you want to do is curl up. Thank you for always being there for me.”
“I’ve loved you your whole life, Debra Florence Hansen. You were the gift your father and I never expected. Now before I make you late for your own wedding…” Her mother pulled back and opened the bedroom door.
“I love you, Mom.” Debbie picked up her bouquet and followed her toward the back yard. As she walked down the hallway, she stopped in front of a picture from when she was eight or nine. Her father was holding her in his arms. He’d been swinging her in circles, making her laugh. Debbie reached up and after kissing her fingers, she placed them on the picture. “Love you, Dad.” Then she turned and walked onto the porch and to her future.
