A Thousand Years
“Get the fuck out of my way!” Therese shrieked running to the bathroom. Gen opened the door and let her friend stick her head inside the toilet. “Seriously, Belivet, you’re such a morning person…”
The morning didn’t quite start as Therese had hoped it would. After all, it was the day of her wedding and she, the blushing bride, was busy hurling her guts in the bathroom. When she finally came out, her face was all pale and sweaty. “What is it again everybody says about pregnant women..? That they’re glowing?” Gen mused wistfully. Shooting an angry glance at her, Therese sat at the table. Therese wished she were at home but no, she had woken up at Abby and Gen’s apartment instead. She hadn’t been allowed to spend this last single night of her life with Carol. Morning sickness made her cranky and when she was cranky she complained.
“Cut it out,” Gen interrupted, “you’re here because it is the rule – you’re not supposed to be with your fiancée the night before the nuptials”, Gen explained. Abby was busily gathering her things. She was going to see Carol at their place in half an hour. “Damn right,” she quipped, “and you’re not to see the bride before the ceremony either, so Gen – make sure she won’t!” Gen nodded impatiently sending her away with a quick kiss.
“Talk about timing… I had no idea this ordeal would start so early in the game!” Therese couldn’t think about eating but at least she was regaining her sense of humor. When the nausea subsided, she felt yet another movement in her stomach – a serious case of butterflies. Her thoughts wandering to the day ahead, she smiled inwardly, conscious of the excitement taking over her whole being.
“Are you gonna hurl the entire day or what?” Gen was being her charming, straight-forward self. “No, I think I’m done for today”, Therese answered, “so far it’s only been the first few moments of the morning when it’s this bad.” In fact, she was quite confident about it.
“So Miss Belivet – enjoy the last few hours of hearing me say that.” Gen had a wide grin on her face. “Oh god… this is it, then,” Therese acknowledged taking a deep breath. “It sure is and we have a lot to do in a relatively short time… your hair, make-up, the dress, of course, and what about the flowers? Do we pick them up from somewhere or are they being delivered to the Garden?”
Both the wedding ceremony and the reception were to be held in Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the place both she and Carol had fallen in love with the very first time they’d visited it together. “Well, aren’t you a swell bridesmaid! Aren’t you supposed to know all that?” Therese retorted. “Relax, honey, I’m just teasing you… I’ve got it all under control”, she laughed amused by Therese’s apparent nervousness.
“Oh, Therese…” Gen sighed when she finally saw her in her wedding dress. Smiling shyly, Therese turned around in front of a full size mirror marveling the sight of her bridal glory. The white gown was blindingly stunning, a lacy Givenchy haute couture number with a marvelously low cleavage, an enticing opening to show some leg and a long train she had to pick up when moving around. The exquisitely embroidered four-inch T-bars perfected the outlook. Her hair was done up in an elegant fashion drawing all attention to her remarkable face. The necklace Carol had given her adorned her delicate collarbones perfectly.
“Here, have some bubbly…eh… soda. Looking at you, I definitely need champagne,” Gen said reaching for the Moët Chandon. “Gee… I feel pretty swanky.” The dimples were showing and they were adorable. “It’s going to be a short wedding…” Therese raised her eyebrows at Gen’s comment. “Carol’s gonna want to rip that thing off the moment she sees you.” Both chuckling, they decided it was getting close now. Dannie would be there to pick them up any time now.
When Therese stepped outside, Dannie’s jaw dropped. “Wow, just wow…” Therese beamed at his excitement. “Thanks, D…” Gen patted him on the shoulder. “You drive safely now, okay? I don’t want us to be railed off the road you gawking at her on the rear view mirror all the time…”
It was the most glorious day one could ever imagine. Sun, the sovereign goddess of the sky, was showering the earth with its magnificent splendor. A spectacular sight awaited them at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden: the wonderful milieu was flawlessly set up for the celebration of their love and commitment. They were to have the ceremony outdoors by the Lily Pool and the party at the gorgeous glass-walled Palm House.
Gen’s phone was buzzing. “Hi, hon.” It was Abby. “Yeah, we just got here. Where are you guys?” Therese couldn’t make out Abby’s reply. “You stay put over there and we’ll find some other place…” She paused. “Meet you – now? Okay, give us five and we’ll be there.” Gen opened the limo door and gave Dannie his instructions. “Drive to the back so we’ll get her in without anyone seeing. Abby’ll meet us at the door.”
The guests were already pouring in, all two hundred of them. Therese couldn’t believe the amount of people they were inviting when Carol first mentioned it but if this was what she wanted, Therese had nothing against it. “The more the merrier…” Abby had volunteered as her humble opinion.
“My God, Therese…” Abby was seriously out of breath seeing her arrive. “Carol’s going to think she’s died and gone to heaven when she casts her eye on you in that!” Am I going to grin the whole day through? Therese mused happily. “So glad you approve, my dear,” she purred in response. “My, my, aren’t we being coy all of a sudden?” Abby was in high spirits.
Now all they had to do was wait. Therese could hear her stomach churn not having eaten a thing the whole afternoon. Why is it, there’s never a sandwich or even a canapé lying around when you need one?
Carol was looking out the window when Abby got back. “You alright, honey?” she asked shutting the door behind her. Smiling, Carol turned around. She looked absolutely stunning in her ivory colored vintage dress with heart-shaped embroidery and peekaboo lace at the waist. It accentuated her slim figure as if it had been specifically made for her luscious body.
“I’m excellent. A bit nervous, yes…” she admitted. Abby came to her and wrapped her arms around her. “It comes with the territory. I’m sure if I’m ever in your place, I’ll be a nervous wreck.” She chuckled. “Have you thought about it?” Carol asked sharply. “Well, it’s still early to know… she’s young.” Abby rolled her eyes. “Therese is young and here I am”, Carol smiled back. “We’ll wait and see, who knows”, Abby replied. “At least Katherine has warmed up to me.” Curious to know more, Carol waited for her to continue. “She thinks I’ve done wonders to Gen’s career… she even calls me Abby now instead of Miss Gerhard!” It obviously meant a lot to her, Carol realized.
“My second time around, at the altar, I mean.” Carol sounded serious. “Your second and last”, Abby confirmed. “The first one wasn’t much to shout about”, she continued, “and it’s not like you could even compare one with another.” Carol took her hand. “I know, I really do. I thought I’d never get married again but here I am, so anxious to start on this path with Therese.”
She let out a little laugh. “Did you know she was afraid to propose to me because of how I reacted to the news of Harge’s marriage?” Abby did know but remained silent. “She thought I’d grown to despise the entire concept after my own failure… I’m so happy she found the courage to do it anyway.” Abby nodded. “She’s very brave.” It was Carol’s turn to agree. “She is the bravest person I’ve ever known in my life.”
“How is she?” Carol asked quietly knowing she had just met Therese. “She’s fabulous but that’s all I’m going to tell you.” Abby was smiling reassuringly. “How was the morning? Was she awfully sick again?” Abby patted her hand. “No more than usual, I guess, but she’s doing okay now. Never better.” Relieved, Carol sighed. “A less than a year from now we’ll be cradling a baby…” Her smile was adorable. “Do you want to know if it’s a boy or a girl? Beforehand, I mean,” Abby asked. “Probably not. It won’t make any difference.” Abby chuckled. “It’ll be a boy, I’ll bet on it. For some reason lesbians seem to breed mostly sons…”
At quarter to two, Rindy came in to greet Therese in her adorable flower girl outfit. She was beaming with happiness. “Oh Rindy… you look so beautiful!” Therese exclaimed hugging the girl tightly. “And you’re going to make Mommy very happy,” she replied joyously. “We’re all set now, aren’t we, Therese?” Rindy was raring to go. “A few more minutes and then we’ll be on our way, okay? You go first and I’ll follow you soon after?” Therese winked at her. “Okay, I guess I can wait a few more minutes…”
Therese could hear the music start – The Flower Duet from Lakmé. This is my cue, she thought nodding at Rindy who smiled and jumped on her feet. I have never been this nervous in my life, she knew, or never this happy…
Holding her bouquet of gardenias, she walked through the building where she’d been hiding from prying eyes, all the way to the terrace area as if in a dream. The rays of the sun blinded her for a second but then, her gaze focusing again, she saw Carol at the end of the runway looking so ravishing it made Therese gasp out of sheer delight. She tried to concentrate in following Rindy’s footsteps, in keeping her breathing as steady as possible.
Carol was beaming, catching breath, at the sight of her Therese. When they were finally side by side, Carol took her hand and leaned in to whisper: “Oh my darling… never in my life, have I seen anything as radiant as you are right now.” Her chest heaving, Therese smiled squeezing her hand firmly. She breathed Carol in and felt spectacularly dizzy.
Afterwards Therese remembered very little what the officiant had said during the ceremony. She couldn’t take her eyes off Carol who was just as eager to maintain their adoring eye contact. When it was time to exchange wows, she finally snapped out of her lovely trance. It was Carol who spoke first.
“Therese, my dearest, everything comes full circle today as we’re standing here side by side in the presence of our friends and loved ones. There have been no accidents on my way to you although I did meet you by chance, by a sheer stroke of jocund fortune. You have changed everything in my life and I’m in awe of you, in awe of your beauty as a human. Today I promise you this: I will share each day of my life with you. I will laugh with you in times of joy and comfort you in times of sorrow, in heaven and hell, Therese, we two together… I’ll share your dreams and help you fulfill them in any way I can. I will be there for you always to listen with compassion and understanding, to speak with encouragement and candor. I will worship your body with mine never forgetting what it is that makes us tick.” She smiled knowingly at Therese. “I give you all of my love. I give you myself.”
Carol drew a deep breath and Therese knew it was her turn now.
“Carol, babe…” Audience chuckled. “I’ve loved you from the very first moment I met you and my cup runneth over when I see you here with me today. I am your biggest fan in everything you do, in everything you are, for you are magnificent, brilliant, loving, breathtaking, sexy as fuck…” More chuckles. “I want the whole world to know I’m marrying the most incredible person in the world; I am marrying you, joining my life with yours, and I know my last conscious thought in this world will be you, Carol. I want to make you happy each day of your life, each minute of it. I give everything I am to you for without you I’m nothing. Take my body and my soul, my entire life.”
They exchanged rings, and hearing Gen yell “kiss!” from the audience they were more than happy to oblige. And it was quite a kiss, one that was cut off only after Gen yelled again “get a room!” The happy married couple chuckled along with the rest.
Abby gave a cue to the singer waiting on the side. Picking up the microphone, the woman stood up and started her rendition of Edith Piaf’s Hymne à l’amour, The Hymn to Love. Each guest had been given an English translation of the song.
The blue sky may collapse on us
And the Earth may well crumble down
Little I care, if you love me
I don't give a fuck about the world
As long as love will flood my mornings
As long as my body will shudder in your hands
Little I care about problems
My love, when you love me…
A thousand white doves were released to whir high into the air above their happy faces.
“Therese said fuck!” Rindy enthused to Abby after the ceremony. “Hmm, did she really?” Abby said biting her lower lip. “I thought she said fun, I’m sure she said fun – sexy and fun, good things both…” she corrected the little girl without losing her poker face for one second. “What does ‘shudder in your hands’ mean?” Rindy continued. “C’mon, smartie pants, let’s go and taste some of those hors d’oevres…” Laughing, Abby dragged her to the buffet table.
“Good lord, I finally get to eat!” Therese blurted out once they were seated at the main table. “But I’ll do it with just one hand because I don’t want to let go of yours…” she added gazing at Carol. “And you’d better eat a lot too,” Carol whispered kissing her cheek, “we have a wedding night to look forward to.” The sly look on her face was all too familiar to Therese who couldn’t but blush at knowing what was to come later.
“I absolutely adore the Givenchy you have on but at the same time I can’t wait to see you without it…” Carol’s hand wandered in the opening of her dress. “Carol!” Therese hissed in mock disapproval. “We could always go to the ladies’ room to powder our noses if you like?” Carol smiled at her deviously. “I bet we could! I know just what kind of nose business you have on your mind…” She kissed Carol languidly on the lips her whole body really needing what she had just so openly suggested.
“The wedding night hasn’t officially started yet,” a voice said, “There are still other people present.” Abby and Gen were standing in front of them catching breath after their spin on the dance floor. They were very amused by what they’d just seen. “How long have you been standing there?” Carol asked. “Long enough to point out that the table spreads aren’t long enough to hide everything that goes on in their shadows…” Gen was chuckling.
“Who was the gorgeous gal you were talking to over there at the bar?” she asked Abby. Her tone was suspicious. “Who..? Oh, she came with the Finnish bartender, quite a looker, if you ask me!” Gen wasn’t amused. “Were you flirting with her?” Abby was tickled by her apparent jealousy. “Actually… no, I wasn’t.” Gen’s features softened. “She just seemed like a nice person, overtly emotional, maybe, but really nice. Did this answer your question, sweetie?” She gave Gen her loveliest smile.
“Where was she again?” Carol stood up looking around the dining area. “CAROL!” Therese exclaimed. “What? Don’t you want your old lady to appreciate female beauty?” She had a devilish grin on her lips. “Okay, I guess I deserved that…” Therese mumbled finally getting the joke. The elusive party guest appeared at their sight. “Well, that Finnish bartender must have something going for her if she’s managed to catch her…” they all agreed.
“Let’s eat…” Gen said sitting at the table next to Abby. “Honey, will you pass me the salt?” Looking at Gen’s plate, Abby had an irritated look on her face. “You haven’t even tasted your food yet and you want to spoil it with iodine already? Give my catering company some credit, will you?” Gen knotted her brow. “But, honey…” Abby was quick to interrupt. “Well, why don’t I go and fetch you a really big bottle of ketchup instead???” Both Therese and Carol tried to hide their amusement – with rather poor results.
Therese was dancing with Rindy when Gen came to get her. “I think this could be the moment, don’t you think?” Therese nodded growing nervous all of a sudden. “What moment?” Rindy demanded to know. “You’ll see, sweet pea… go and sit with your Mommy, okay?”
Picking up the microphone, Therese felt quite out of place. She had never done anything like what she was about to do now. Well, it’s another first for today… She cleared her throat. “Listen, everybody, I have something I’d like to do… for my lovely wife…” Surprised, Carol looked at her very closely. “So bear with me for a couple of minutes…”
Gen and a couple of other musicians were gathering around her with their instruments. A young woman Carol had never seen took Therese’s usual place behind the piano. “As you can see, there’s someone else, my new friend Christina, taking my usual seat and I’m positively terrified of not being able to hide behind the keys…” She coughed once more.
“Carol, my love…” Therese smiled shyly. “It occurred to me that I have never sung to you.” Her dimples were showing in the most marvelous way. “And of course it has everything to do with you being the singer in our little family.” She was blushing under Carol’s curious, loving gaze. “But with a little help from my friends I mustered up my courage and decided to do something about it.” She drew a quick breath and looked straight at Carol. “So, here it goes, pretty much everything I feel for you… I hope you like it.”
Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?
But watching you stand alone,
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow.
One step closer…
Feeling more confident already, Therese took a step closer to her newly wedded wife who had stood up to listen.
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
Carol had tears in her radiant eyes.
Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
Beaming, Therese winked at Carol. Her heart was full and she wasn’t afraid to show it. She would never be afraid anymore.
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
One step closer
How very close they were already – and still not touching quite yet…
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
The beat of the song was the beat of the serenity of love exhaling its exquisite fragrance all around the dance floor.
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
The music was swelling on the background, the strings taking over under Gen’s lead.
One step closer
One step closer
All of a sudden she was standing right in front of Carol her eyes sparkling of purest happiness.
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
She had waited for this day her entire life.
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
Carol dried her eyes and took her hands. She was overcome by emotion, by the beauty that was Therese in front of everyone they knew and loved. Therese cupped her cheek and leaned in to kiss her on the lips, a long rapturous kiss that seemed to go on forever until the roaring applause from the crowd enveloped them in joy and affection.
Abby got up on her feet clearly moved by what she had just witnessed. Her usually so strong voice trembling just a tad, she took the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, introducing Mrs and Mrs…” Overjoyed, Therese couldn’t help but interrupt her. “BELIVET!!!” she yelled at the top of her lungs throwing her hands victoriously in the air. It brought the house down everyone jumping on their feet and clapping their hands wildly.
From the corner of her eye, she could see Dannie wiping away tears, Gen whistling ecstatically, but with her heart’s eye she saw only Carol – Carol standing right next to her, moved beyond everything Therese had thought possible. The gray eyes filled with so much feeling she pulled Therese closer and pressed her head against her forehead. “I love you, my angel. Thank you – thank you for loving me so. I worship you, and I will till the end of my days…”
And while they were standing there, their heads bowed together, the glass ceiling seemed to open up, to burst into millions of rainbow rays, magnificent confetti raining down on them, rendering them ridiculously giddy with happiness.
A year and a half later
“Shh… let’s not wake the baby…” Carol whispered in Therese’s ear. “I know it’s hard, but you must keep it down, darling.” Therese was panting under her weight, bucking her hips towards her teasing fingers. “You… make… it… very…”, she grunted , “…difficult.” Her face nearly numb, she had hard time breathing. “Please, Carol… your mouth… now!” she begged her wife. As her beloved started moving her blonde head between her thighs, they heard a tiny screech from the nursery behind the wall.
Recognizing the sound, Carol froze for a second. “Oh god, don’t stop…” Therese whined helplessly. “Darling, you know as well as me that this’ll have to wait… hold that thought, I’ll only be a minute.” Putting on her robe, Carol fetched the milk bottle from the kitchen.
When she approached the little bed she saw two bright eyes staring back at her. The little, dimpled face was smiling. “Look who’s here all awake…” Carol purred gently picking up the cutest baby boy from his cot. “Your mama was just getting what she deserves, yes she was, before you interrupted us…” she cooed at him lovingly.
Carol felt Therese’s arms circle her waist warmly. Kissing Carol’s cheek, she leaned over her shoulder to gaze tenderly at their child. “Hey, Jack…”
T H E E N D B E G I N N I N G