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Then the boys from the garage came to mind. How many of them had grown up without a father, a family to call their own. Too many. He'd seen the hurt in their eyes, the shame, and the emptiness. He'd felt their sorrows, suffered with them. How many of them might have gone astray had they not gained respect for their selves. A future, that's what kids needed. All kids, his kid.
Suddenly Mama Rosa appeared in the doorway, in her robe and big fuzzy house slippers. Nick didn't look at her, just the slippers. "She called the wedding off, didn't she?"
"How'd you know?" Nick asked not bothering to look at her.
"I had a feeling. She looked too sad tonight. You gonna let her get away with it?"
"Get away with it? She called it off, Mama. What am I supposed to do?" He smiled sadly at her and her fuzzy slippers, "You know I always liked those shoes."
"You're so much like your father," his mother chuckled, and shook her head, recapping the bottle that he steadfastly refused to touch. "Nicky, you must go and tell her how you feel. Tell her you love her. A woman needs to hear the words, especially before she marries. Marry her Nicky." Mama said banging her fist on the kitchen table dramatically.
"You're right. I won't let her get away with this. She's my woman, and before tomorrow night, she's going to know it."
"Good, now go to bed Nicky, get some sleep."
And like the good son that he was, he kissed his Mama and went straight to bed.
Mama Rosa shook her head, and put the bottle of whiskey away. "My poor Nicky."
Finally she picked up the phone.
"Mrs. O'Sullivan?" She said into the phone seconds later. "Don't call off the wedding just yet. I have a feeling that something is going to work out."
The next day, the day of the wedding, Nick dressed in his black tux, feeling rested and more confident than ever, as though nothing had gone astray. He told his mother to be at Sacred Heart by eleven, and make sure Tina and Tony were there.
Halfway across town, Kelsey slept late; she had cried herself to sleep. She wanted to wipe this day off the calendar. This would have been her wedding day. She might not even get up, today, she decided as she heard a ruckus in the other room.
"That's right, Mrs. O'Sullivan, take that dress to the church, we've got to hurry or we'll be late. Father Nelan is beside himself. Dorothy, why aren't you dressed. What am I doing? Why, I'm kidnapping my bride." Nick said with a little chuckle.
Kelsey barely had time to scramble out of bed when Nick entered her bedroom, scooped her into his arms, kissed her quite thoroughly on the lips and carried her out the door.
Kelsey began to throw a fit, once she had recovered from his kiss. Nick ignored her.
"What do you think you are doing?" Kelsey demanded pounding his back and kicking her feet and legs.
"Taking you to the church."
"You can't do this Nick. You can't make me marry you," she began, but Nick turned the radio on, and glanced in his rearview mirror. Her parents were following behind, barely managing to pack the proper clothes in the car.
Nick didn't say another word, too busy dodging traffic. She arrived at the church just in time to hear the priest mumbling something about making up their minds. Nick hustled her into the dressing room where a couple of bridesmaids stood waiting. He set Kelsey down and looked deep into her eyes. "Trust me, Kelsey. For once in your practical life, trust," Nick said and left her standing agape.
Trust? Could this be about trust?
Nothing prepared Kelsey for such a jumbled up mess. Half the bridesmaids had been called about the cancellation. Her mother ran about in a tizzy, checking on one thing or another.
Kelsey's hair wouldn't stay up, so she combed it down, and then wondered as she stood in front of the mirror with the beautiful wedding dress on. "What am I doing?"
The music began only minutes later; Kelsey glanced up and realized it was too late. Panic gripped her. How could she cancel now? It was too late. Her parents had spent a small fortune on the wedding, could she dare call a halt?
Hurriedly she ran to her place, beside her father. He smiled calmly, and took her arm. No last minute reprisals from him, either? Could she go through with this, even for the baby's sake?
"I'm very proud of you, Kelsey," her father said to her astonishment.
Suddenly, the procession began and she felt her knees wobble. Her father glanced at her inquiringly, and smiled.
She couldn't do this? But Nick's last words haunted her, trust?
She walked down the long aisle, glancing at the people in the congregation, smiling at her. She wanted to bolt, and yet something rooted her to this spot. Trust?
