“Quick, please,” Golden couldn’t help interjecting. “We’ve only got a few minutes before the deadline.”
“I’m well aware of that. I will be right back.” The judge didn’t seem too pleased at her attempt to hurry him along but at least he’d set off toward the stairway. Still, Golden would not breathe easy until she’d said, “I do.”
In the sitting room Reed paced the floor while Golden perched on the edge of an armchair and their impromptu witness lounged on the leather couch. The man pushed back his flat cap and looked at Reed then Golden then back to Reed. His eyes narrowed. “He called you Davidoff. Any connection to Davidoff Fashions?”
Reed gave him a curt nod. “The same.”
The man’s face broke into a toothy grin. “I’m not among the common folk, that’s sure.”
Golden turned to glare at him. Now that he knew who Reed was he was probably going to demand more money for his time. A whole lot more.
To her surprise, the man simply settled back in his seat and said not another word.
“What time is it?” Reed asked through gritted teeth.
She glanced at the cell phone. “Eleven forty-eight.”
He balled his hands into fists. “Where are they?”
Golden shook her head. “We have a few more minutes. We just have to be patient.”
Reed’s response was a frustrated snarl.
The sound of footsteps made Golden hop up from her seat. She went to stand beside Reed just as the judge walked in with his sleepy-looking wife, her hair adorned with colorful rollers.
“Now let’s get this party started.” Judge Sandowski directed them to stand in front of him then he had his first witness stand to the right and his second to the left. Then he glanced down at the paper in his hand. “Full names, please.” When they told him, he scribbled the information down then he looked up at his audience.
“Now, as we gather together to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony, is there anyone who objects?” Ignoring his wife, he glared over his glasses at the taxi driver. When the man gave a shrug and a bashful grin he continued. “Are you, Reed Warren Davidoff, free lawfully to marry Golden Lily Browne?”
“I am.” Reed’s voice was bold and strong.
When the judge looked at Golden and asked her the corresponding question she replied proudly, “I am.”
Judge Sandowski nodded. “By the powers vested in me I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
With a relieved sigh Reed reached out and gathered Golden into his arms. They were in the middle of their first kiss as a married couple when the taxi driver spoke. “What time is it?”
It was the judge’s wife who responded. “Eleven fifty-six. They made it just in time. Isn’t it romantic?”
After that, Golden did not hear another word. She was too busy losing herself in the kiss she’d been awaiting all her life. It was a kiss from her beloved husband, the kiss that had broken the evil spell. Reed was her knight in shining armor who had rescued her from a most pitiful fate.
It was the fairy tale ending she’d dreamed of all her life.
EPILOGUE
Golden could not believe she’d been married three whole months already. Where had the time gone?
This morning she’d awoken to the day that would be the second most important of her life. Of course, the day – or rather, the night – she’d married Reed would be first but today would be a close runner-up because it was the day she would walk down the aisle with Reed, in front of all their family and friends. And with all the planning that had gone into this event, it would be like a royal wedding.
Reed’s brothers and his parents had flown in from the United States along with a ton of his friends from college days. For Golden’s part she had few friends and even fewer relatives but those she had, she treasured and appreciated for coming out to support her on her special day.
Now as her mother helped her dress in her gown of white and gold she sighed. “I’m so happy, mother. Honestly, if I were any happier I would burst.”
Eugenia laughed as she bent to straighten Golden’s train one more time. “I know what would make me happy.” She looked up, her brown eyes twinkling. “Grandbabies.”
“Oh, Mother.” Golden laughed and held out her arms to give her a hug. “Babies will come in good time. Don’t worry. You’ll soon have your hands full of them.”
“I can hardly wait.”
Later, after exchanging wedding vows for the second time with her husband, Golden held Reed’s hand and turned to face the congregation. There, beaming up at her was Claire, her very own fairy godmother who had outfitted her so richly for her first date. Beside her was Marjorie smiling just as broadly as her mother.
At the very front sat her mother, tears glistening in her eyes but with a look of such happiness that Golden felt her eyes well up, too.
For the first time in a long time Eugenia was truly free. It had taken Dunstan Manchester’s final act – locking her daughter in the cellar – for her to realize the true nature of the man. Golden didn’t know where she found the courage but her mother kicked him out of the house so fast he was probably still wondering what happened. And as if that weren’t bad enough he had a court case coming up within the next couple of months. Apparently he hadn’t known it, but forcible confinement was a criminal offence.
With Dunstan gone Eugenia would be alone but she would be independent and free to live her own life. And, of course, her days would soon be full, running after the grandbabies she’d demanded. Little did she know that Golden planned to have at least four of them. Eugenia wouldn’t have time to scratch her head.
The sound of the organ pulled Golden out of her reverie. It was the signal for her to march down the aisle with her husband by her side. She did so proudly, waving to Duke and Max sitting beside her mother and father-in-law and smiling at Reed’s crowd of still zany college friends.
Then, just like in a fairytale, they left the church and climbed into an elegant carriage drawn by two white horses, their headgear adorned with majestic feathers, their trappings gilded in gold.