It was late when they finally arrived at their house in LA. Previously, Zac had bought a couple of houses nearby for those times when his brother’s families came up for a visit and it was in one of these that the wedding entourage were staying. When they weren’t being used by the Hansons, they were rented out to people on holidays.
In the morning, all those in LA invited to the reception headed towards Napa Valley, where it was being held. The wedding entourage took the scenic route.
The hall was huge. On one wall there were two large screens showing what was happening in the halls in Kansas and Tulsa. Between them was a camera, taping and broadcasting what was happening here to the other two venues. The tables were set out in a very definite pattern. Balloons and streamers decorated the ceiling and walls, and it was all very colourful.
A few people put on acts throughout the evening, and in fact, Xavier performed the song he had written for Electra and sang to her the day he proposed.
Mr Manning, being the owner of a vineyard, supplied the spirits to be consumed.
Adam tapped on his glass at one point. It amused him that when he did, even those on the other side of the screens stopped what they were doing to listen.
“About nine or eight years ago we, the Four Amigos, were posed this question during an interview: Would you ever date a fan? I believe Xavier’s reply was ‘No. I don’t see how I could have a romantic relationship with an inanimate object’. At the time that was just a corny joke, but until he met a certain girlfriend in person, I think he did manage to have a romantic relationship with his computer! I think he fell in love with you the moment he laid his eyes on you - err your e-mails. Or maybe your website. One or the other. Umm...” Adam laughed a little. “Xavier has definitely gotten a reputation for himself over the years, and out of the four of us in the band, I think he was the last one our fans expected to get married first. Or even get married ever. Which I suppose makes this all the more typical - not doing what people expect you to do, or not to do.”
Xavier grinned.
“Gee, I wonder where he gets that from,” Isaac teased Babsie in a sidelong whisper.
Babsie snickered.
“Electra, Connie, whatever name you wish to go by, there are people out there who may think you must be crazy to marry a guy like Xavier. There are others who make think you’re on drugs or something. However, there are a small bunch of us, myself included, who believe that no couple out there has ever deserved one another like you two do. Today - err, two days ago, you started on an amazing journey together, and all I have to say is, it’s about time! To Xavier and Electra!”
“To Xavier and Electra,” choused most people (a few ‘Connie’s could be heard instead of ‘Electra’).
The day wore on. Electra and her Dad enjoyed a dance together. Xavier declared that it was sexist that the bride danced with her father, but no one cared if the groom danced with his mother and in his usual way made a point of asking Babsie to dance. Babsie, in her usual way, accepted, and the resulting dance was rather amusing to watch. Especially considering that they weren’t even in the same hall! Isaac was laughing still when she came to sit down.
“No one,” he said, “can claim that Xavier’s his father’s son. If he didn’t look so much like me, I’d wonder if he had gotten any of my genes at all.”
Babsie laughed.
At last it came to the throwing of the bouquet (Andrea got it), and then Xavier and Electra departed to wherever their honeymoon was going to be. They hadn’t told anyone where, and weren’t going to until they got back.
Adam, Sam, Mike gathered their things and collected Audrey and Zeke, made their way to the airport and flew back home.