A Place To Stay

Elli helped Claire into her dress in the backroom of the Clinic.

“Are you nervous, Claire?” Elli asked.

“A little…okay, actually a lot.” Claire looked at herself in the mirror. “Wow, Ellen did such a good job! It’s wonderful!” Claire eyed Elli’s dress. “Yours is really good too.”

Just then, they heard the front door of the Clinic slam with a bang. A few moments later, Karen appeared, hairbrush in one hand and a large makeup case in the other. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, thank you so much for doing our hair and makeup, Karen. I really appreciate this.”

“Hey, I don’t mind at all,” Karen said. “I love doing this kind of thing, but nobody’s really very glamorous around here, you know?“ Karen got to work pinning up Claire’s long blonde hair into a gorgeous updo, and finishing it with a few expertly placed flowers. She then skillfully applied makeup to first Claire’s face, then Elli’s.

They looked at themselves in the mirror, and at each other. “Perfect!” Claire said. Karen packed up her case and waved goodbye, heading to the church with all the other townspeople.

“What do you think Cliff is doing right now, Elli?” Claire asked, smoothing out the skirt of her gown.

“Probably being just as nervous as you. But he’s in good hands. Doctor is getting him into one of his suits at your farmhouse. Don’t worry, Doctor’s got style, so Cliff will look good. And he knows how to tie a tie!”

“Now that’s a skill!” Claire laughed.

Elli looked up at the clock on the wall and squealed. “Oh, it’s almost 2! Let’s hightail it over to the church!”

Giggling, the two girls made their way as quickly as they could in their fancy attire. Luckily the Church was right next door. Harris, the local policeman, stood at the door, acting as an usher.

Claire elbowed Elli and whispered in her ear. “Check it out, I’ve got police protection at my wedding!” Elli just giggled back.

They approached the front doors, and looked at each other. “Okay, this is it, Claire,” Elli said.

Claire suddenly looked panicked and was gasping for breath. Elli grabbed her arm. “What’s wrong, Claire?” Claire just pointed down at her dress. For there, smeared across the pristine white satin, was a huge streak of mud.

Elli was flabbergasted. “What the…? When did that happen?”

Claire groaned. “I brushed against the gate when we were leaving the Clinic. It’s been raining. I didn’t even realize it then!” Tears welled up in her eyes. “Oh Elli, I can’t go in there looking like this.” She began to cry and hyperventilate.

Elli grabbed Claire by the shoulders,. “Don’t cry, don’t cry, you’ll mess up your makeup. Let me think for a second… ah ha!” Elli suddenly stooped at Claire’s feet and reached her arms up under her dress. Claire gasped. “What are you doing?”

Elli’s hands reappeared, holding several straight pins. “Grandma had to pin this petticoat up for you because you’re so short. We can use the pins to do this…” she swiftly folded a large pleat in the full skirt and pinned it from underneath. The mud stain was enclosed in that pleat and was barely visible. The huge seam running down the middle did look a little strange, and the edges of the tulle petticoat started to peek out from the hem of the dress due to the loss of pins, but it was way better. Elli dabbed away Claire’s tears with a tissue, and removed a bit of smudged makeup. “There, all better. Now, let’s go!”

Elli nodded silently to Claire, and then turned and entered the church first. Claire waited a moment, and then followed in behind her, walking slowly down the aisle. She dropped her eyes to her dress, but seeing the awkward seam hiding the stain that she’d rather not see, she brought her eyes back up. The church

was decorated so beautifully with toy flowers, thanks to Popuri.

Turning to watch her was the entire town, dressed in their best clothes. There was the Mayor, silly and pompous as ever, in his little red top hat, giving her a big grin. There were Jeff, Sasha, and Karen, who gave her a thumbs up. Zack the shipper was there with Won the traveling salesman (he was probably just there for the free food.) Even the Gourmet had made it! How did he even hear about it? Again, he was probably just there for the free food. Further down the aisle, there were Rick, Lillia, and Popuri, who waved excitedly and winked at her.

Then Claire looked toward the end of the aisle. Elli had reached her destination and was standing to the side of the altar. Doctor stood on the other side, standing in as best man for Cliff. And in the middle of the altar…Cliff. He was looking at her adoringly as she advanced towards him. He looked so handsome in the black suit he had borrowed from the Doctor. His long hair was tied back neatly, and there was a moondrop flower in his lapel.

“This has got to be one of the happiest moments of my life!” Claire thought to herself. She reached the altar and stood beside Cliff.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…” Carter began the ceremony, droning on and on in that warm, fatherly voice that had put so many people to sleep on Sundays.

Claire gazed into Cliff’s eyes. He smiled and gazed back at her, tilting his head to the side a little.

“Do you Cliff, take Claire to be your lawfully wedded wife?” Carter asked, snapping Claire and Cliff out of their daze.

“I do,” Cliff replied.

“And you Claire, do you take Cliff to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

“I do,” Claire said breathlessly.

“Whosoever has any objection to this marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace…”

Claire held her breath for a moment, glancing out at the crowd. Her eyes quickly found the red head she was looking for, Ann. Would Ann try to make a scene?

But Ann’s face was friendly, and she smiled up at the happy couple, her arm linked with that of her date, Harris. Claire breathed a sigh of relief.

“Then I now pronounce you man and wife.” Carter said happily. “You may now kiss your bride,” he said to Cliff, smiling.

Claire looked back at Cliff, and he leaned in and grasped her by the shoulders. She took her face in her hands and they shared a chaste, sweet kiss suitable for a wedding. The crowd cheered in approval.

Mary was on the organ, and she began playing “The Wedding March” as the newlywed couple turned and walked down the aisle together. Villagers threw flower petals at them as they passed, clapping and cheering for them.

They made their way to Doug’s inn. Practically the whole town was on their heels. The first thing Claire did was rush into the bathroom. There, Elli unpinned the makeshift seam, and helped Claire hoist the skirt into the sink (while Claire was still in the dress) and wash the mud out with cold water and white soap. Elli peeked out of the door and caught a passing Ann, who discreetly directed them to the laundry room, where Claire lifted her wet skirt front up onto the ironing board and pressed out the creasing while steaming the fabric dry. Amazingly, it looked as good as new! No one would ever have guessed what happened.

The party at Doug’s place was wonderful. Popuri had gone above and beyond by decorating the inn with flowers as well. There was a huge table covered in all kinds of food, mostly made from their crops. A large white cake rested on the end of the table, specially baked by Manna for the event. “Thank goodness Ann didn’t make it,” Cliff whispered to Claire, stifling a laugh.

They cut the cake together. Everyone cheered for them to smash it in each other’s face, but they fed it to each other nicely. Slices of cake were passed around and everybody complimented Manna on the flavor. Manna glowed with pride, and went on at length about the recipe, how she made it, what was going on this morning when she was baking it, and about the time her sister baked a cake during a tornado, and about the time that Duke ate a whole cake when he was drunk, and on and on. People edged away slowly from Manna, who was oblivious.

Duke had come through with the wine as they had hoped, and it was flowing freely. At one point, Claire caught a glimpse of a tipsy Doctor and Elli grinding together on the dance floor and thought to herself that Elli might be getting her wish tonight. Claire giggled to herself.

That wasn’t the only love match attempting to happen that night. Weddings seem to make people feel romantic (especially when the reception has an open bar.) Zack, whose long unrequited love for Lillia was known to everyone in town except the woman herself, gazed lovingly across the table at his crush while she chattered on and on about her chicken ranch and her children. Rick and Karen were also dancing just as crazy as the Doctor and Elli. Gray, shy as ever, was just staring gloomily across the room at Mary, the object of his affections, as she talked with (or was talked at by) Manna. Popuri, whose boyfriend Kai only came to town in summer, settled for the Mayor, twirling happily with him, his face growing red

and his top hat bobbing. Jeff and Sasha swayed gently to the music, cheek to cheek, still as in love as ever. Couples like that were reassuring to Claire, proof that love really could last.

The party went on and on. Everyone kept coming up to them and congratulating them. There was a table covered in presents that Zack assured would be delivered to their farm the next day.

Finally, exhausted, Cliff leaned over to Claire. “Let’s go home,” he whispered to her. She nodded assent and they rose from the table, saying their goodbyes to everyone. Claire paused at the door, turning and throwing her bouquet. Elli dived madly for it, but it landed in Popuri’s arms. Popuri looked startled, but smiled and held it up triumphantly.

Cliff and Claire walked down the path to their farm happily. The moonlight illuminated the path. Cliff squeezed Claire’s hand. “Was it everything you wanted?” he asked her.

Claire nodded and laughed. “Oh yes, and more.” She finally got to tell him about the fiasco with the mud on her dress. Cliff felt so bad for her, but assured her that not even he noticed that anything was wrong with her dress.

They arrived at the farmhouse. Cliff opened the door, and Claire started to walk in, but Cliff stopped her. “Wait,” he said, and lifted her up off the ground. He carried her across the threshold, and set her down carefully in the house.

In the bedroom, Cliff unzipped Claire’s gown, and she helped him out of his suit and tie. Claire stood there in her slip, and Cliff in his boxers. Claire stroked his face lovingly. “You’re my husband now.”

“And you’re my wife,” Cliff responded. He kissed her deeply, and they climbed into the bed together…where they promptly fell asleep soundly. Weddings are exhausting, after all!

At about two o’clock in the morning, Cliff woke up. He suddenly felt reenergized, and he rolled over to Claire. She was sleeping peacefully, and he almost hated to disturb her. He kissed her softly on her shoulder, then placed a trail of kisses over her collarbone. Claire stirred a little. “Mmm…” she moaned, opening her eyes slightly. Cliff smiled at her in the moonlight, and she smiled back, wrapping her arms around his neck. He leaned in and kissed her passionately. She kissed back, twining one thigh around his waist. She shifted her hips to grind against him, and he groaned. He reached down to the hem of her slip and shimmied it up to her waist, and then they both pulled it over her head.

Cliff kissed her breasts and stomach. Claire sighed with happiness. He brought his hand between her legs, and massaged there gently. She moaned, leaning in to breathe heavily in his ear. “Make love to me, Cliff.”

He groaned and snatched her panties off with one quick motion. He pulled off his boxers, and touched her wetness with the tip of his hardness.

He whispered in her ear, “You’re so wet.”

“Mmm hmm.” she replied, grasping him with one hand. “And you’re so…”

She broke off there, as he caught her off guard and pushed inside of her. “Mmm hmm.” he replied back.

Claire cried out in ecstasy, writhing against him. Cliff breathed hard, kissing her neck as he thrust into her over and over. They rolled over together, and Claire straddled him, rocking against him. He grasped her by the waist and thrust upwards. Claire pressed down into him, biting her lip and closing her eyes. Her breath became uneven, and in the pale moonlight Cliff could just see the crimson flush spreading over her chest as she started to climax.

“Cliff, Cliff, Cliff!” Claire screamed out. He was so excited and pleased that he climaxed as well, bucking his hips and gritting his teeth as he groaned out her name. They finally caught their breath again, kissed each other sweetly, and fell back asleep in each other’s arms.