The Cutting Floor ~ Final Scene

+++8 Years Later+++

         “Mom!” Andrew demanded, leaping and bounding in place. “I can’t see.”

         Roxy bent down as far as her dress would allow her, bringing her mouth to the 7-year-old’s ear. “You won’t be feeling anything in your bottom if you don’t settle down. We’re in church and you’re being very rude.”

         Andrew huffed, brown eyes flashing up at her. “But. I. Can’t. See.”

         “Everyone’ll sit down in a minute.” Roxy reassured him. “Now, quiet. Last time I’m telling you.”

         She straightened and redirected her eyes to the center aisle of the sanctuary. The bridal march was wrapping up triumphantly as Glennette’s father presented her in a flowing mermaid gown with lace sleeves. Their delicate pattern was elegant against her skin, the veil a fragile cloud over her curled hair, interwoven with faux pearls. Roxy’s eyes flitted to catch the nervous grin of the groom at the alter. The march ended, Glennette’s dad handed her over, and everyone sat. The noisy clicks of cameras from the back regained their volume, but Roxy swallowed her annoyance.

         “Is he going to talk long?” Andrew whispered to Jeff about the pastor. Jeff glimpsed Roxy to share in the exasperation. “He’s going to walk them through their marriage vows. That’s important.”

         “Why?”

         “Listen.” Jeff answered him, an arm around Andrew’s shoulders. “We talked about it last night.”

         His words stirred Roxy’s memory, her palm passing over her own wedding band. She’d gained a tan line around it, the California sun never sleeping. I started getting it the day he put it on… at that same alter. 

         But she wasn’t going to channel that right now. She and Jeff had married when Andrew was one. They now raised him along with their four-year-old daughter Marion near South Pasadena. End of story. Today, Blake and Glennette were starting theirs. Even after everything, and their now separate careers, they were starting anew… together. It made the ceremony all the sweeter, then one knew the history that the couple would be laying at the alter today.

         “Blake and Glennette have chosen a different approach to the writing of their vows.” Reverend Yants rose his voice for the gathering to hear. “In which, they wrote them together. I had the liberty of listening to them argue over it.”

         Gentle laughs and twice as many camera clicks erupted from the crowd. Reverend Yants unfolded a piece of notebook paper. “It is also my privilege to read it aloud.” He cleared his throat. “Dear Blake and Glennette… We can’t believe that we fell in the old cliché of things and now find ourselves here. We’ve been in love for awhile and friends for longer then that. People have said that it would be weird if we did marry, or awkward if either of us married someone else. But, that’s not why we’re here.”

         “We’re here today,” Reverend Yants continued in the space between Glennette and Blake’s joined hands. “Because we’ve seen each other change. From bad to worse, and from good to better. Everyone has told us that part of keeping a marriage together means loving your spouse through those changes. And we both agree, on this day, our wedding day, that we don’t want to risk changing with anyone else.”

         Reverend Yants creased the paper back into his Bible with a heartfelt smile. “Blake...”

         Roxy’s fingers grabbed Jeff’s lacing them in her own. To love and to cherish… for richer or poorer… in sickness and in health. She remembered Jeff repeating those words; his voice had kept falling into a whisper. Blake’s cracked a few times. Glennette’s giddy smile never left as she repeated her vows. Both rings slid onto their fingers with ease, the cameras flashing like a wild heartbeat.

         “Knock it off!” Andrew’s voice broke the revered moment. 

         Roxy’s face flushed as the sanctuary muffled their giggles. Jeff pulled Andrew close, whispering harshly in his ear. Roxy glanced at the alter, catching the eyes of the happy couple. They looked amused. Well then, they could punish him when their ceremony was over.

+++++

          Roxy savored another bite of the marble cake, served beneath graceful teal and purple buttercream flowers. She could hear the drool dripping from Andrew’s bottom lip. “Moommeee…”

         His soft plea wasn’t going to work. Roxy eyed him as she swallowed. “Uh huh. You know better then to interrupt during church. Especially when Dad and I both asked you not to.”

         “But it’s not Sunday.” Andrew argued. 

         Always ready with a defense. Roxy forked another moist bite. He gets it from his father, no question. 

         “Hey,” Jeff put his arm on the back of Andrew’s chair. “The day doesn’t matter. Mom and I have taught you how to behave when we go out. We teach you this so you can learn, what?”

         Andrew rolled his head back. “Respect.”

         “And what is respect?” Roxy prompted him, lowering her fork.

         “Showing others that what they say and do matter.” Andrew recited the definition, tugging at a loose thread of the tablecloth. He peeked up, forehead scrunching. “Do I have to apologize to somebody?”

         Jeff raised a brow at his shrunken posture. “Do you think you should?”

         Just then there was a swhoosh of white and Glennette was above Andrew, giving his forehead a kiss. “Share a dance with me and I’ll forgive you, little man.”

         “Who you callin’ little!” Andrew cried with a laugh. He looked between Jeff and Roxy; they both gave him a nod and Andrew scurried away, his hand taking Glennette’s. Jeff breathed out, delving back into his own cake. “Wise decision not to bring Marion. She feeds off his energy like a tick.”

         “Mrs. Weaver.”

         Roxy turned at her married name, only to be blinded by a white stroke of light. It faded into lazy blue dots as a woman with dyed blonde hair and a green dress two sizes too small slid like a snake in the chair beside Roxy. “Tea Jameson. One of the lucky few to make it to this colossal ceremony. Plus, this is America and you wouldn’t want to infringe on my first amendment rights would you?”

         That was a bit over the top, but that was what the tabloids were for. All the ham and cheese thrown into one category.

         “I'm hoping for a few words.” Tea announced over the music with a flip of her hair. Her other hand pressed ‘record’ on her silver handheld that caught the glimmers off the disco ball. “While everyone’s busy covering the happy couple, I’d like to get a glance beneath the rose gold surface they’re holding up.”

         Roxy swallowed. Hard.

         “It’s only natural that you’d be invited, Mrs. Weaver.” Tea nodded at her. “You are, after all, Blake and Glennette’s savior. Taking in their son after they… well, jumped the gun, let’s say.” She laughed at her own pun. Jeff’s hand wrapped around Roxy’s. “Thanks to you, they’re able to have careers, have lives. Do you feel that some free cake is a cheap apology for all that you’ve done for them?”

         THAT was her question? Roxy imagined the lively explosion of frosting with Jameson’s smiling, expectant face. No matter what I say, she’ll print something to that effect. 

         Not necessarily, Daughter. 

         Oh, c’mon! Roxy removed her fingers from the edge of her plate. “Actually, I would very much like to thank them. I never pictured marriage or motherhood for my life; I thought it wasn't meant for me. Nor did I find myself a good example for anyone to follow. But then, Blake and Glennette came along and needed help. I was scared, but God wasn’t and pulled me in before I could think. Since He did, I’ve learned how different God sees me from how I see myself. Blake and Glennette brought that lesson about… and I really should thank them for that.”

         Tea looked stupefied. “Thank? Them? I’m sorry, but… they’re teenage parents who dumped their illegitimate offspring on you.”

         "Maybe they did." Roxy shrugged, piercing Tea Jameson with her gaze. “But then, I’m a devout Christian who’s cussing you six ways in my head right now.”

         Jeff face-palmed, peeking at her between two fingers. Years of marriage, even more years of working under the white-shed sign of Hollywood, and Roxy's bedside manner with the press was something they would never agree on. 

         “So, you’re like all the rest,” Tea snorted. “Hypocritical, on top of cynical.”

         “I am human.” Roxy admitted with another shrug. “Forgiven for my hypocrisy and doing my best to live that forgiveness out."
          "By..." Tea looked out at Glennette spinning Andrew around the fanned circumference of her skirt. "Taking other people's responsibilities for them?"
          "By showing them the same forgiveness God does." Roxy clarified, about down with her tone. "And I’m quite tired of people gawking over what I did. Is it that far-fetched to help someone when they need it?”

         Tea stared at her a moment, then rose with a laugh and a shake of her head. “You are a funny one.”

         Happy to entertain you. Roxy waved at her fast-retreating back. She pushed the rest of her cake away and caught Jeff’s eyes. He lingered on her, cheek cupped in hand. “I was going to speak on your behalf. Something along the lines of ‘No Comment’.”

         “What are we, lawyers?” Roxy joked as she often did. Jeff shook his head. “No, crusaders, Roxy. Crusaders to draw attention to the Godhead in the most distracted city in the U.S.”

         Roxy laughed, losing crumbs from her mouth. “Don’t kid yourself, Jeff. Every U.S. town is equally distracted. It was cemented when Eve ate the apple, reinforced at the Tower of Babel-”
         "Okay, Reverend Roxy." Jeff caught her fingers, laid a kiss on her knuckles. "Don't let one reporter ruin this day."
           Roxy raised an eyebrow at her husband. "Do I have a choice?"
            Jeff used his grip to pull her closer. Close enough for her to get lost in the forest of his green eyes. "Between finishing that cake and dancing with me, I'd say plenty."
           Those eyes worked on her every time. Roxy smiled through their kiss. "You pick."
            The song changed and slowed right as they stepped onto the polished dance floor. Roxy laid her cheek on Jeff's shoulder while he cradled the small of her back. From there she again saw Glennette, holding hands with Blake and Andrew in a swaying circle.
            This all started because I walked in the bathroom at the wrong time. Roxy marveled back to the day she'd discovered Glennette's pregnancy. I walked in... and hurried back out... 
            Roxy gripped Jeff's arm a little tighter. You told me to go back in, God. What if I hadn't listened? 

[END SCENE] 

'With my lips I recount
    all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes
    as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
    and consider your ways.
 I delight in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.'

~Psalm 119:13-16~