chuckled, “and being the shy, retiring type…” more laughter, “I do have a few words to say tonight before the big tamale tomorrow. First of all, Rabbi Lisa, thank you so much for being our officiant and for joining us here this evening—and thank you, Doug, for jumping on the crazy train with us—it means a lot to both of us,” and she smiled down at Rick before turning to me.
I felt Vince’s arm across the back of my chair, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on my bare shoulder.
“Grace, I’d like to thank you for organizing an amazing bachelorette party—I’ve paid the blackmailer and we can get our panties back soon—but seriously! It was awesome and everyone had a great time. I know how much like herding cats it is to transport twenty-seven over-excited women around Manhattan without anyone breaking so much as a nail or losing more than a false eyelash. And thank you for organizing our dinner tonight and so much of our wedding day with your usual flare and patience. These are from me and Rick to say thank you.”
And then she presented me with an enormous bunch of flowers and a tiny jewel box containing a pair of stunning diamond earrings.
I looked up to see that the tears in my eyes matched hers.
“But mostly,” she said, her voice becoming hoarse, “I’d like to thank you for being the best friend a woman could want. Since we met at college twenty years ago, you’ve seen me at my best and at my worst, and you’ve always had my back. The woman I’ve become today thanks you with all her heart. So, everyone, please raise your glasses to the most awesome woman, the most fantastic friend, whose kindness and loyalty I’ve always been able to count on: to Grace!”
I dabbed at my eyes as everyone toasted me, and Cady walked around the table.
“Love you, Grace Cooper,” she mumbled into my neck as we hugged tightly, wobbling on our high heels.
“More than lemon-glazed donuts?” I half-sobbed.
“More than every Dunkin Donut store in the whole damn world! Thank you. For everything.” Then she let me go and turned her weepy gaze on Vince. “You look after my best girl or I will slay you slowly.”
He seemed a little surprised, as anyone would with a threat of dismemberment during the wedding toasts, but he grinned at her and declared he’d try not to ‘fook up’.
Cady wobbled back to the head of the table, planting a hot one on Rick as she sat down. He smiled at her, kissing the crown of her head gently as she sobbed on his shoulder. He whispered something in her ear, but she shook her head and carried on crying.
Clearing his throat, he stood up, obviously preferring when his wife-to-be took the limelight.
“Cady and I would like to thank you all for coming tonight,” he said, his soft voice only just carrying around the room. “It means a lot to us to have our families and friends here. Mum and Dad, thank you for traveling all this way to watch me marry the woman of my dreams, and I’m really looking forward to you getting to know how wonderful she is. Thank you for being the best parents a man could have—thank you for always supporting me.”
And he presented his mother with flowers and his father a pair of first class plane tickets to visit in the summer. He hugged his parents, his gesture saying even more than his loving words.
Ben and Leon received a surprise gift, too—tickets for a helicopter ride over the city the next morning.
Then he turned to his soon-to-be in-laws.
“Nana Dubicki and Grandma Callaghan, thank you both for your advice. It was, um, very interesting. Gerald, Davy, thank you for being here to support Cady—and for not giving me a hard time. Mr. and Mrs. Callaghan—Rachel, Sandy—thank you for allowing me to marry your beautiful daughter and for welcoming me into your family. She means the world to me and I’d give her the moon and stars as well if I could. But please know that I will always treasure her and always look after her—when she lets me.”
Rachel had dissolved into quiet sobs, and even Sandy was wiping a stray tear as Rick gifted them with more flowers and season tickets to the New York Giants.
Rachel leapt to her feet and grabbed Rick, kissing his cheek over and over, tears flowing down her own cheeks. Sandy stood and pumped Rick’s arm