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Photo Credit: Licensed royalty free. Provided by PD Photo.org .

 

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Chapter 11
 
 
Look into my eyes - you will see
What you mean to me
Search your heart - search your soul
And when you find me there you'll search no more

Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for
You know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you

Look into your heart - you will find
There's nothin' there to hide
Take me as I am - take my life
I would give it all - I would sacrifice

Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for
I can't help it - there's nothin' I want more
Ya know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you

There's no love - like your love
And no other - could give more love
There's nowhere - unless you're there
All the time - all the way yeah

(background quote) To your heart baby

Oh - you can't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
I can't help it - there's nothin' I want more
Ya I would fight for you - I'd lie for you
Walk the wire for you - ya I'd die for you

Ya know it's true
Everything I do - awww - I do it for you

… Bryan Adams Everything I Do (I Do For You)

Sat., May 18, 2013 - the ‘Town Church’…

About a half hour prior to the ceremony, the two limousines pulled up to the ‘South Door’ of the church. As the chauffeurs assisted the girls out of each limousine, they assembled in the bright sunshine, on the narrow strip of lawn that ran alongside of the church.

A few minutes later, they were joined by both sets of parents and following some pre-wedding pleasantries, they entered the vestibule of the church where they were directed to a larger room to await Reverend Gotthard.

Maddy, her parents and rest of her bridal party were eventually escorted by the minister through back halls and into a room at the front of the church directly opposite the one they left, still occupied by Gaby and her people. The plan was to have each bridal party enter from the opposite side of the church, when it came their time to walk up the center aisle.

As the hour approached, the invited guests began to make their way across the busy town square and filter through the opened main doors of the ‘Town Church’. The local populace that happened to be milling around that day had guessed a wedding was about to occur from the way people were dressed, but they also noticed things were a bit unusual.

In Bad Neuenahr, a town that was home to a pro cycling team, a few nationally recognized faces on the town streets was not unusual.
What was unusual was the number of well-known faces that were headed for the church.

Once inside, the guest’s were instructed to fill in the seats where ever they wanted, as there was no traditional seating plan.

At the appointed time, the Church doors were closed and Reverend Gotthard walked up the center aisle towards the back of the church, to take up her position in front of the invited guests. As she held her prayer book against her chest, she addressed the assembled friends.

“Guten Tag, Damen und Herren … err … sorry… Gut afternoon … ladies und gentlemen.” Scanning the assembled guests, she carried on in almost flawless English.

“Before we begin … I’d like to take a few moments to explain what you’re about to witness. Several times over the last year, I haff talked to both Maddy und Gaby. During that time, I like to think that I haff come to know them ... maybe not well enough to be called ‘best friends’ ... but I think ... well enough for me begin to understand the depths of their genuine love for each other.”

She lowered her eyes to her prayer book as if in deep though and after a few seconds of silence, she raised them again to look out among the gathered.

“At some point during our talks, they asked if they could make some changes to the Church’s standard wedding ceremony. Naturally, Rev. Albrecht und myself had to hear what they were asking before we could even consider granting their requests. To make a long story short, I feel it ist fair to say … with all the thought they had put into this … they haff done what they wanted to do … make it their own.”

The minister briefly paused again before continuing.

“The girl’s haff informed me that everyone here either speaks English as a first language or ist reasonably fluent und since not all here speak German … the majority of the ceremony will be conducted in English.”

“However, while it ist true both of the families are English ... they are quite fluent in German. So, keeping that in mind … I haff agreed with the girls, to make this a bilingual service ... of sorts. Parts of this service will be performed in both languages. If I ask the same question to both girls … they haff decided that Maddy or her parents will respond in English … while Gabi or her parents will respond in German.”

Following another brief pause, she continued to explain the changes the girls requested.

“You’ll notice that there ist no ‘groom figure’ standing here before me. Instead … there will be two brides und two bridal parties … separately walking down the aisle … each bride escorted by both her parents.”

“Also … there will be no traditional Wedding March. Both girls have elected to walk down the aisle to a single selection of recorded music by Bryan Adams, entitled “Everything I do, I do for you”. I understand the piece has great sentimental significance for the girl’s und after listening to it last night during rehearsal … I can see why.”

“I invite everyone gathered here to pay attention to the lyrics as the girls walk up the aisle. It almost sounds as if it was written for them.”

“Perhaps the most striking change requested by the girls … ist what will occur once both brides have reached the front. As the vocals end … the instrumental portion will fade to serve as the background for one last symbolic kiss … the final one between Fräulein Madeline Peters … und Fräulein Gabrielle Bond.”

Pausing to look over the faces of the guests, she continued.

“Although each bride’s attendants will carry the small traditional bouquets of wild flowers … each bride will only carry a single, silk rose. The symbolism of this rose will be made evident as the ceremony unfolds.”

“Finally … the girls have combined their thoughts und written their own vows. When called upon ... Maddy will say hers in English und ... Gabi will repeat that same vow … in German.”

Shortly after she concluded her remarks, the piano intro to the Bryan Adam’s tune began and all eyes turned to the back of the church. *

As the lyrics of the first verse began Mfawny appeared, nervously holding her bouquet in front of her. After a very short pause, she slowly began walking up the aisle, in time to the music.

With each girl separated by a few paces, she was followed in turn by Nina, Judith, Kristen and then Jules.

Finally, Gaby made her appearance, holding her rose in both hands and escorted by Jenny on her left and Dave on her right. As she walked past the assembled guests, she nervously scanned the pews searching for her friends from Virginia and Warsop.

As they reached the back of the church, the girls turned to their right and walked to their places. Almost as soon as Gaby arrived and stood beside Jules, she joined the rest of her attendants and turned to look back. Like everyone else, they wanted to catch that first glimpse of Maddy walking up the aisle.

“Any time now, sis…” Jules leaned forward and whispered into Gaby’s ear. “You okay?”

“Nerves,” Gaby quietly admitted.

“I’ve heard that’s normal … you’ll be fine … just take a few deep breaths and relax,” Jules replied in a quiet, yet concerned tone.

Gaby’s heart started to race in anticipation as she saw Ally slowly walking up the centre aisle. Finally she saw Kat turn by the last pew and begin her slow, calculated walk towards the back of the church. She was followed a few moments later by Maddy carrying her single rose and escorted by her parents, with John on her left and Carol on her right.

At the end of that walk her parents fell back, leaving her to take that one last step and stand opposite Gaby in front of the minister. A few words were exchanged between the three of them before the girls each turned to hand their rose to their respective ‘Maid of Honour’.

Maddy privately vowed since it was the ‘last kiss’, she was going to make the best of it. With the music playing softly in the background, she slowly embraced Gaby and tenderly, but passionately kissed her on the lips. They parted after a few moments but continued to hold each other.

“I’ll never stop loving you!” Maddy whispered.

Gaby unexpectedly pulled her bride closer and gently returned her kiss. This time when they parted, the music had faded and they continued with the ceremony as if nothing unplanned happened.

Both girls retrieved their rose from their respective ‘Maid of Honour’ and then turned to face Reverend Gotthard.

As she silently offered the open prayer book to both girls, each lightly kissed her flower and with the bloom facing towards themselves, placed it like a bookmark between the opened pages. Having done so, the girls once again faced each other, reached out and joined hands.

“Dearly beloved … we are gathered here today … to witness the union of Fräulein Madeline … Elizabeth … Peters … und Fräulein Gabrielle … Drew … Bond … in holy marriage.”

She briefly paused, then followed with the declaration, “If any one here can show just cause why these two should not be joined … speak now or forever hold your peace.”

Switching to German, she repeated the question. "Wenn jeder hier gerechte Sache nachweisen kann, warum diese beiden nicht verknüpft werden sollen ... jetzt sprechen oder für immer schweigen."

Reverend Gotthard paused and upon hearing only silence, let out an almost inaudible “sehr gut”, then turned towards Maddy and her parents.

“Who gives this bride away?”

“We do.” Carol and John both replied in unison.

The minister gave a single nod for them to be seated. Turning her attention to Gaby and her parents, she asked the same question.

“Wer gibt diese Braut weg?”

“Wir.”

A nod from Reverend Gotthard sent Jenny and Dave to their seats.

Once the parents were settled, the minister said a few words about the sanctity of all marriages and then looked at the guests.

“Madeline und Gabrielle have decided to express their true feelings … with the writing of their own vows … Madeline … “

While Maddy was saying her vows, the minister offered the opened prayer book to Kat, who then placed Gaby’s wedding band on top of the two rose stems. As she was completing her ‘vows’, Maddy took the offered ring and lifting Gaby’s left hand, slipped it on her ‘ring’ finger.

Reverend Gotthard then turned to Gaby. “Gabrielle…“

Gaby then repeated the vows in German, with Jules placing Maddy’s ring on the rose stems.

After she’d finished her vows and had slipped the wedding band onto Maddy’s finger, both girls then ascended the two steps to the raised floor behind Reverend Gotthard and walked the short distance to the alter.

Upon reaching it, they each picked up a small lit candle and using them, together lit a larger ‘Wedding Candle’. After blowing out and replacing their candles, they returned to their positions at the front.

Silently the minister once again, offered the prayer book, first to Maddy and then to Gaby, allowing each girl to remove a single rose. Following a gentle kiss to her bloom, Maddy offered it up to her bride who then held the two flowers side-by-side and with practised ease, twisted the coated wire stems together.

Still without a word being said, Gaby looked up from the roses and into Maddy’s eyes. While holding the ‘single stem’ in her right hand, she reached across with her left hand to gently grasp her bride’s left hand and with a gentle squeeze to her hand, spoke in a clear voice.

“Just as these two roses are now joined … so are our hearts … our souls … our love.”

Gaby then raised the roses to her lips and lightly kissed both flowers before passing them to Maddy.

The minister blessed the couple and then announced, “With the authority bestowed upon me by the church … I now pronounce you … married ... you may now both … kiss the bride.”

They did.

“We did it, darling…” Maddy softly conveyed as their lips parted.

The newlyweds, along with both Kat and Jules, then retired to one side of the church where a table had been set up for them to sign the registry in full view of their parents and assembled friends. After several minutes, they returned to their positions at the front.

When everyone was back in their places, Reverend Gotthard had the happy couple turn, face the guests and join hands. At the same time, the rest of the wedding party turned to face the newlyweds.

When she first asked the girls how they would like to be introduced, since they both would be either a ‘Mrs.’ or ‘Frau’, it caused the three women to think for a moment. It was Maddy who eventually suggested the phrasing that expressed both her wish to take the ‘Bond’ name and at the same time, reflect both languages.

“Damen und Herren … I’m pleased to publicly present for the first time … Mrs. Gabrielle und Frau Madeline … Bond.”

As she heard Reverend Gotthard’s words, Maddy found herself suppressing a nervous smirk as she thought how odd it would sound to formally introduce the three Frau Bond’s, at the same function.

The large doors to the church’s main entrance were swung open as the newlyweds led the rest of the wedding party, back down the centre aisle and their first public appearance as a married couple.

“Are you ready for your public debut, Frau Bond?” Gaby playfully asked as they paused ever so briefly at the opened door.

“You really do mean … public … don’t you … Frau Bond?” Maddy nervously observed as they eyed the bustling town square in front of them.

Already, some of the townspeople were looking expectantly towards the opened doors of the church.

“Ya gotta admit … this will be a little different than what they’re used to seeing,” Gaby smugly replied as the couple stepped through the doorway.

“Too late to duck out the side doors?” Maddy quietly joked.

As they walked out of the church and into the afternoon sunlight, the girls became aware just how much attention a wedding received from the locals. Besides posing for numerous photos, they spent much of the time mingling with the guests and some of the more familiar faces in the crowd of well-wishers. Finally, they were ushered back into the limousines for the short ride to the planned reception at the “Steigenberger Bad Neuenahr”.

The international guest list of eighty was small, but it included those closest to the girls. While walking down the aisle, Gaby noticed her American friends all sitting together. Scattered amongst many personalities from the pro-cycling world, she noticed Josy and Maureen as well as several of their friends from Warsop. Even Josh Waugh managed to fly in from Scotland.

Both the current Junior and Pro Team Apollinaris were there, as well as George Má¼ller. Maria and Heinrich Pinger were easy to pick out, being seated with Gaby’s parents.

While she and Maddy were between conversations, Gaby happened to turn and saw Britney and her sister coming towards them.

“We did it!” Gaby squealed as she held her arms open ready to give each of the two sisters, a hug.

“I hope I look as beautiful as you two when my turn comes. Where did you guys get those dresses?” Britney asked.

“Gabs’ idea,” Maddy admitted, after exchanging hugs with the sisters.

“Neither of us liked the wedding dresses we saw ... all too fancy ... we wanted something simpler. In a nutshell … while we were wanderin’ in Manchester … we saw this store that supplied clothes for Renaissance re-enactment groups … an’ the rest is history.”

“How does the Indian stuff fit in? … Not exactly related … but it looks great!” Britney conveyed.

“Blame Jessica … she got me interested in the stuff. Actually … I made the ‘mistake’ of wearing my Hawk feather to a fitting and the other girls felt it would look good with the dress and the idea just evolved.”

“Actually ... we insisted,” Maddy joked.

“If you noticed … each of the girls in the wedding party is wearing some jewellery that matches either Maddy or myself, depending upon whose bridal party they’re in...” Gaby pointed out.

“I know Jessica certainly noticed,” Britney commented as she was looking at Maddy’s earrings. “I’ll have to remember this for my wedding.”

“Well … you two really pulled it off!” Debbie gushed. “The ceremony was beautiful … love the twisted roses … that was soooo romantic … and that ‘symbolic last kiss’…“

“Bit more than ‘symbolic’ … I’d say,” Britney mischievously added. All eyes in the group, turned to look at Maddy.

“Well?” Maddy playfully whined.

“I wish Mom could’ve been here,” Britney quietly mentioned to Debbie as an aside.

“Speaking of …why aren’t they here?” Gaby wondered aloud. Debbie quickly shot her sister a subtle glance.

“I don’t think we even got an RSVP from them,” Maddy added.

Both of the Walters girls looked a little reluctant to answer, but finally Debbie spoke up.

“We know how you got on with them when you stayed with us … but when they got your invitation…”

“You told me Jessica sat down with you guys after I left,” Gaby replied.

“She did … and they’re okay with you … and Maddy,“ Debbie injected.

“They could understand if the two of you just decided to live together … but … I got the feeling they were uncomfortable with the idea of a wedding and just didn’t know how to say it without hurting you two.”

Both girls could see Debbie was a bit uncomfortable having to talk about it.

“Gabs … I just want you to know that I don’t think it was Mom … not by the way she talked on the phone after she told me they got your invitation. I really believe she wanted to be here … but she wasn’t going to come without Dad,” Britney revealed.

“That’s understandable. Well … if it means anything, when you next speak with them … or to your mum … please let them know we were disappointed they decided not to come. Maddy and I would’ve loved to see them again.”

“Of course,” Britney replied.

“We’ll burn you a copy of our photo CD once we get it from the photographer … so you can show your mum,” Gaby offered. “Or we could email it. Would that be okay?”

“Try to email it first. If neither Brit nor I can download it … we’ll have to resort to ‘Plan B’.”

“Make sure my mum has a mailing address for one of you ... just in case,” Gaby suggested.

“I’ll make sure she’s got mine before we leave here,” Debbie volunteered.

“Mom’ll love that … thank you,” Britney quietly replied.

“Where you guys going for your honeymoon?” Debbie asked, changing subjects.

“No idea yet. Gabs still has to finish out the season,” Maddy offered.

“I’ve told George … he’s my boss … that I’ll take some time … probably late in the fall. That’ll give us a little time to decide.”

Later at the reception, the girls did the ‘normal’ things like greet the guests plus endure the speeches and the ‘embarrassing’ anecdotes from family and friends, alike. Much to everyone’s credit, whenever the tale involved Drew, it was Gaby’s name that was mentioned.

During the dinner, the girls asked the guests to refrain from the custom of the ‘tinkling of glasses’. Although left unsaid, they thought that at some point the ‘resulting kiss’ would eventually include members of the wedding party and they didn’t wish to ‘force’ themselves on their friends for the sake of the festivities.

When it came time for the traditional ‘first dance’, Carol walked up to the microphone on the podium by the head table.

“Could everyone form a circle around the dance floor … bitte? Also … once the girls have had their ‘first dance’ … please remain in a circle while they dance with their fathers ... Danke.”

“C’mon you two! … Get out there!” Tina playfully urged as she stood aside, providing an opening in the circle for the two girls to pass through.

Once out in the middle of the floor, Gaby took Maddy in her arms as the opening cords of U2’s “All I Want Is You” ** filled the room. During the song, Maddy could be seen quietly serenading Gaby as she looked into her eyes, while the pair slowly moved around the empty dance floor.

When the music faded, the two lightly kissed and walked over to where their fathers stood. Taking them by the hand, the girls led them onto the dance floor as the familiar opening ‘riff’ of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” *** came through the sound system.

“Very appropriate,” Dave softly mentioned while he and Gaby swayed to the music.

“Whaddya mean?”

“Kind of says up how you looked when we got home after the rehearsal party … no small wonder after all everything you two took on.”

“Sorry…” Gaby whispered as she put her head on Dave’s shoulder.

“Don’t apologize, Pet… there’s no need,” Dave quietly replied as they continued dancing.

“I’ll have to speak with my wife on her choice of music,” Gaby jokingly commented.

“Don’t blame her … she asked her dad for suggestions…”

“So I have to talk to him?”

“…And me … we both looked through my collection and decided this would be nice … hey! … It’s easy to dance to!”

“Okay … I’ll grant you that…” Gaby softly replied with a small chuckle. “I think it was a very nice choice ...”

They continued with their dance until after the first instrumental, when the two girls unexpectantly changed partners and finished up in their father-in-law’s arms.

“Nice touch,” Jenny mentioned as she and Carol rejoined their husbands when the four came off the dance floor.

“We had no idea these girls were planning that,” Dave replied.

“Somehow it seemed appropriate,” admitted Maddy.

The rest of the time, the girls spent more time mingling with the guests and posing for photos, than on the dance floor.

They both happily noted that Em and Ally seemed to have overcome their issues and were paying a lot of attention to each other, as the evening progressed. Maddy even swore she saw them out in the adjoining garden, bathed in the romantic moonlight and locked in a kiss.

“Sweetheart? … Come with me?” Maddy softly asked as she later took Gaby’s hand and led her out to the same spot in the garden that Em and Ally had occupied earlier in the evening. Once alone and outside, she turned and gently took hold of both of Gaby’s hands.

“I just needed to be alone with my wife,” Maddy seductively whispered as the two embraced and shared a long passionate kiss.

“… it must be the moonlight,” Gaby dreamingly sighed as they broke the kiss.

“Worked for Em and … mmmmm…”

Maddy was pleasantly interrupted as Gaby pulled her close and their lips met for a second time.

(ahem) “People are beginning to wonder where you two went,” Jules quietly commented once the girls came up for air.

“Comin’ ... just needed a little ‘alone’ time,” Maddy quietly offered. As they walked past Jules on their way back to the reception, both girls gave her a kiss on the cheek.

While the girls flitted from table to table, socializing with all their guests over the course of the evening, Debbie noticed that her sister still seemed to be pre-occupied with guilt feelings steaming from Gaby’s Virginia trip back in 2004..

“Excuse me for a sec,” she mentioned, addressing no one in particular at their table. As she got up, Debbie received quizzical looks from both Erin and Jessica, but her sister didn’t seem to notice.

She returned a few short minutes later, with no explanation and several minutes after that, the newlyweds appeared at their table. Aidan was quick off the mark and offered Gaby his chair, while ever the Southern gentleman, Robert gallantly offered Maddy his.

“Why … thank you, suh…” Maddy sweetly offered in her best Southern drawl.

“Finally … we get to spend some real time with you guys!” Gaby playfully enthused. “Thought Frank and his wife were coming? … We got an RSVP saying they’d be here.”

“They both send their regrets and best wishes … but Frank’s wife had hip surgery two days ago,” Erin replied.

“What happened?” Gaby asked, although a bit louder than she intended.

“They were driving through an intersection in Richmond and a dump truck ran the red and t-boned their car ... Frank had a few minor injuries but the passenger side … and Eileen took the impact,” Erin explained.

“I should email them … are they home?” Gaby wondered.

“Eileen’s still in hospital in Richmond and Frank told us that he was planning to stay with her … but I’ll email you when they’re back … okay?”

“Okay … but don’t forget, now...”

Maddy and Gaby spent the next while trading stories with everyone at the table about notable events in each other’s lives since their days as exchange students in Grottoes and generally having a nice little visit.

Eventually Debbie caught Maddy’s attention, who in turn gently put her hand on her wife’s arm while glancing in Britney’s direction. Gaby took the hint and turned to her friend, quietly asking her to go out to the patio with her.

“Be right back, guys,” Gaby announced as they both rose from their seats.

“I think we need to get something cleared up,” Gaby softly allowed once they got outside.

“Deb tells me that ever since you got on the plane … you’ve been bothered by something … Grottoes maybe?”

“I have to know Gabs … I can’t stop feeling terrible abou…” Gaby stopped her mid-sentence.

“Britney … I forgave you a long, long time ago … I thought you knew that!”

“No … you never said anything.”

“If I was still mad at you when I left Grottoes … I would’ve never let you kiss me behind your mum’s car.”

As she spoke, Gaby could see Britney’s eyes starting to tear over as the long awaited words registered.

“Hey! … No tears, huh? ... You’ll ruin your makeup.”

Britney produced a crumpled up tissue that she had tucked away.

“I came prepared ... waterproof mascara. I knew I was going to cry at your wedding … sometime.”

After Britney dabbed her eyes dry, she was pulled into a warm embrace.

“This for all the good times we did have together, though...” Gaby whispered and then tenderly kissed Britney on the lips.

“We should be getting back to the table ... c’mon,” Gaby suggested as they parted.

“Maddy’s not gonna give you grief over that kiss ... is she?” Britney asked as they approached the table.

“The Missus gave me ‘er blessing,” Gaby playfully replied.

When they approached the table, Maddy noticed the concerned look on Britney’s face and got up to meet the girls a short distance from the table.

“Something wrong?” Maddy softly asked so as not to alert the others at the table.

“The kiss,” Gaby quietly replied. “She doesn’t want it to cause problems between us.”

“You tell her?” Maddy whispered.

“Yes ... but ...”

“Don’t worry Brit … I told Gabs it was okay...” Maddy tried to reassure their friend, while wrapping her arm around Gaby’s waist. “Now ... just put it all behind you ... you’re our friend...”

“Thank you, Maddy...” Britney quietly replied.

“Anyway ... you’re just in time, sweetheart … the photographer’s looking for both of us.”

“Oops … gotta go. Catch you guys later,” Gaby replied as the two started off towards the photographer.

After they had discussed some upcoming photos they wanted, the girls noticed Kat and Jules walking up to the microphone at the podium.

“Maddy und Gabi … there’s a bunch of young ladies out there ... who’ve been patiently waiting...” Kat sternly announced as Jules thrust out two more traditional bridal bouquets for the girls to toss.

After meekly retrieving the bouquets from Jules, they started to accompany their Maids of Honour out to the dance floor. Jules only managed to take a few steps before Gerhardt, her boyfriend of three years, approached her and without any warning took her by her hand and went down on one knee.

“Yes!” Jules shrieked after he said a few quiet words to her. Her outburst could be heard throughout the room and for a time, Gaby and Maddy gladly conceded the limelight to the next happy couple.

“Didn’t see that comin’...” Gaby softly admitted.

“Don’t think your sister did, either...” Maddy playfully observed.

After things returned to something that resembled normal, the bouquet toss or rather tosses, went ahead without Jules.

To those on the sidelines, the crush of young women scrambling for the floral prizes, resembled a cross between the crush of shopper’s at the annual sale at Harrods’s department store and a rugby scrum. After the dust had settled, it was Kat and Britney that emerged victorious.

Before the girls went up to their hotel room, Dave reminded all the wedding party of the post-wedding lunch the following day at the ‘elder’ Bond’s. It would also be the last chance for the girls to visit with the guests that had traveled from England and America.

The next morning, Gaby’s parents arrived at the hotel to pick up the newlyweds, much earlier than originally agreed. After quickly getting dressed and an even quicker breakfast, they were ushered into the backseat of the family car. With no reason being offered for the early morning rush, the frowns on the girl’s faces showed they were less than amused.

“Where’re we going?” Gaby innocently asked.

“Never mind … just sit back and enjoy the scenery,” Jenny replied.

Gaby knew from her mother’s tone of voice, that asking further questions would be pointless. Instead, she reached over to take hold of Maddy’s hand as Dave drove away from the hotel.

Heading back into MayschoáŸ, he eventually pulled into a drive and a very new looking Audi S8 before turning off the engine.

“Dad missed the turn for our street,” Gaby flatly pointed out then as she realised that her dad had shut the car off, naturally asked. “Who lives here?”

Remaining silent, Dave and Jenny turned in their seats to face the two girls seated in the back.

“Each of you hold out a hand!” Jenny ordered. The girls did as they were told and without another word, Dave and Jenny dropped two sets of keys into each.

“What’s this?” Maddy was the first to find her voice and directed her question to no one in particular. Both girls were genuinely surprised.

Jenny pointed to the keys in Gaby’s hand and simply stated, “Car.”

Dave nodded at Maddy’s hand and flatly stated, “House.”

As Dave and Jenny got out of the car, the girls slowly emerged from the backseat in a proverbial state of shock. Jenny took her daughter-in-law’s hand and led her around to the front of the Volvo where the other two were already standing.

“You’ll need these if you’re going to look at your new car and house with dry eyes.”

She then produced a pocket pack of tissues from her purse which the two girls gladly accepted after they unsuccessfully tried to suppress their tears of joy. After taking a moment to comprehend what was in front of them, both girls turned to embrace Dave and Jenny in an emotional hug.

“We never did have Mum’s old flat … did we, Daddy?” Gaby sniffed.

“Nope! … Never asked about it either,” Dave proudly whispered as his daughter held him.

“Hey! … Save some of that for us!” The girls looked up and saw Maddy’s parents come running out of the house.

After Carol and John joined the four standing by the car, the floodgates opened again as the newlyweds hugged both sets of parents. Once they regained their composure, the girls realised that it was no dream. The Audi was Gaby’s ‘team car’ from Apollinaris and the house standing in front of them, was theirs!

“Things have certainly changed since I joined the team … I only got a small Mercedes,” Jenny jokingly quipped as a very wet-eyed Gaby stared at the car.

“Are these are really ours?” Maddy asked between sniffles.

“Yes darling … they really are,” Jenny quietly spoke as she reached over and pulled Maddy into another hug.

“How? … Where did the money come from?” Gaby asked her parents as Maddy’s arm wound around her waist.

“We’ve been putting aside money for your education, for a long time … then forgot about it when you got your ‘Specialized’ contract and you said you were going to use it for your university,” Jenny volunteered.

“We didn’t even think about it until you girls forgot to look into a place to live … and I remembered the account,” Dave added.

“The timing of the 2013 World Cup was better than I hoped … it got you out of our hair while your Mum … Maddy’s parents … and I worked on this.”

“That account let us put down a good down payment on this place … as well as get you some furniture,” Jenny explained.

“As soon as we got the keys … we started to get this place ready … before you got back.”

“These two are responsible for furnishing some of the rooms,” Dave announced while pointing at Carol and John.

“Which ones?” Maddy asked of her parents.

“Your bedroom … the lounge … and the formal dining room,” Carol proudly replied. “Jen and I did the kitchen.”

“And … you remember Stefan, Gaby?” Jenny asked.

“George’s cousin? … The one who build our house?”

“George got him to do some custom renovations … we’ll show you once we get inside,” Jenny replied.

“What about the car?” Gaby wondered.

“George asked the sponsor to look into your team supplied car once you and Maddy started planning your wedding,” Dave revealed. “You didn’t really need it while you were at home.”

“The only thing you girls have to do is bring your stuff over … otherwise you’re all set,” Carol added.

After a guided tour of the house, the girls followed both sets of parents back to the ‘elder’ Bonds in their new car.

Back at the parent’s house, Jenny and Carol wisely decided to have a catered lunch for the thirty-plus that arrived. For the rest of the day and into the evening, the girls relaxed with family, friends and all their guests from Warsop and Grottoes.

Both Jules and Gerhardt rightfully shared the spotlight. It was hard to tell who was more excited for them, the newlyweds or Jenny and Dave. Now they had another wedding to look forward to and the sobering prospect of ‘an empty nest’.

From the beginning of the 2013 World Cup Tour, Gaby’s aggressive style of riding convincingly put her in the standings as first overall.

Following the short break in the schedule, the team resumed the ‘Tour’. Later that summer, Maddy, Gaby and the rest of the team headed to France for the prestigious ‘Tour de Féminine’ and Gaby’s second real try at the ‘yellow jersey’.

It was during their travel preparations that Gaby finally conceded to Maddy’s insistence that she should get a full-time job to help out.

She had to agree with Maddy when she pointed out that they still had to pay off the house despite the generous down payment her parents managed and Maddy steadfastly insisted that she wasn’t about to let her Gaby shoulder that responsibility by herself.

Maddy eventually applied for some of the positions applicable to her degree in a couple of the local hospitals, including the large teaching hospital in Bonn.

During the ‘Tour de Féminine’, Gaby not only dominated the field as an individual but also played a key role in leading Team Apollinaris to an impressive overall second place standing. Kirsten took the green jersey and as icing on the cake, she also won the sprint on the final stage.

Even though Gaby didn’t win the final stage, she took the polka-dot jersey as ‘Queen of the Hill’. In addition, she easily took the yellow jersey as the race leader, with her overall point total that she accumulated on all five stages of the ‘Tour de Féminine’.

The victory finally gave her something she had fought for so hard for; not only for herself but also for her mum.

It was during the podium ceremony for the yellow jersey that Gaby, in front of the crowd and gathered international news media, simply ‘lost it’.

Gaby was thoroughly surprised when both her mother and Maddy, walked out on the stage carrying the prestigious jersey. As she slipped it on her daughter, Maddy stepped up onto the podium behind Gaby, to fasten the jersey’s back Velcro closure.

“You guys are supposed to be back in MayschoáŸ...” Gaby softly remarked even as her eyes threatened to mist-over.

“Now ... take a few deep breaths, dear … can’t have you all teary-eyed for the papers,” Jenny whispered as they hugged.

“Can’t help it, Mum...” Gaby softly replied as the first tears started to flow down her cheeks.

As they posed for the mandatory photos, it was very evident that emotion overcame all three of the women. The camera shutters went off at a furious pace! After Gaby had a chance to freshen up, both Jenny and Maddy joined her for a press conference.

Once they were seated at the front, George quickly brought the room to order by introducing the three women and then let the media ask their questions. The general mood of the affair was relaxed as Gaby and occasionally Jenny, fielded several questions with ease and confidence.

One reporter, obviously more interested in the fact Maddy and Gaby walked into the room holding hands and sat together at the front table, nodded towards Maddy and then looked back at Gaby.

“Gaby … I don’t think anyone in this room could help but notice you and Maddy when you came in … and…”

George and the girls knew the question was bound to come up sooner or later. Once the tabloids even suspected the two were a couple, they both would be hounded until they admitted it. Even Jenny would be ‘fair game’ and Gaby didn’t want to allow that to happen.

“Better answer him Gabi … we knew it would come,” George whispered into her ear. Maddy looked at Gaby and gently squeezed her hand as she silently nodded her agreement.

With an assured confidence, Gaby turned to face the reporters once again. It was plain to all that were around the journalist in question, that the combination of the uneasy silence that fell upon the room and Gaby’s burning stare made him extremely uncomfortable.

“An’ ... you work ... for?” Gaby slowly asked. Upon hearing the name of the paper, she slowly sat back in her chair and her eyes narrowed.

Putting her weight on her elbows and leaning forward over the table, she cupped the base of her table microphone stand with her hands and slowly spoke directly to the reporter like a mother admonishing her child.

“You’d love nothing more than for me to ignore the question all together or give a ‘no comment’ … wouldn’t you?”

As she stared down the ‘reporter’, Gaby let an awkward silence fill the room once again before sarcastically addressing him.

“Well ... I’ll answer your question ... if only to prevent the unethical hounding of me or anyone I know by you or your tabloid friends.”

Total silence fell upon the room like a heavy curtain, as Gaby lowered her sights on the hapless reporter.

“I figure with all the reputable media represented in this room ... both TV an’ print ... someone’s bound to report it correctly an’ then you people wouldn’t have anything to write about ... would you?”

Taking a moment to calm herself, Gaby looked up and after a deep breath, she calmly addressed the room as a whole.

“It’s no secret … Maddy and I are a couple … as in … legally married … she’s my wife … an’ I’m hers…”

Her blunt admission had caused a shock wave that immediately spread amongst the gathered journalists and before any questions could be asked of either her or Maddy, Gaby forcefully closed the door in a tone of voice that left no doubt the subject was closed.

“Now! … That’s the last question we’ll answer on that subject. Any more cycling questions?”

Maddy slipped her hand back on top of her wife’s and looked at her. The room understandably went silent with Gaby’s candid, abrupt and totally unexpected answer.

One of the other reporters finally broke the awkward silence and asked, “I got the impression that you were all pretty emotional on the podium. Can each of you describe what you were feeling at the time?”

Following a brief pause, Gaby looked around, took a deep sigh and then leaned forward to speak again.

“Whatever happens to me in the future as a pro cyclist … nothing will … or can … mean more to me … than when Mum walked out on that stage and put the yellow jersey on me. It’s one thing to be awarded the yellow jersey from someone you regard as a cycling legend … but when that legend is also your mum … I really can’t put it into words what I felt … except to say it was literally … a dream come true.”

Taking hold of Maddy’s hand, Gaby continued. “...An’ to have Maddy up there with Mum and I…” As Gaby choked back a few tears, Maddy pulled her close and held her.

Jenny quickly spoke into her microphone while the two girls were occupied. Amidst the buzz of clicking shutters, she glared at the alleged tabloid reporter and answered the same question. Her voice was a combination of anger and pride.

“I’m very proud of everything … and I do mean … everything … both my daughters have done in their lives … and today is one of those days that will stay with me … for the rest of my life. I’ve always said Gaby would be better at the sport than I was and I take great pride in watching her prove I was right!”

The tone of Jenny’s answer had the desired effect on the offending reporter, causing him to break eye contact and sheepishly focus on the note pad he held in his hands.

When she’d finished her response, Gaby turned and hugged her. Again, all one could hear was the sound of camera shutters before she turned back to face the gathered media.

As Gaby turned to look at her, Maddy took her cue to respond to the question.

“I’m very proud of Gaby and what she’s accomplished ... I’m also extremely happy … that … I could be here to share this moment with her.”

Both girls leaned over in their chairs and lovingly embraced each other. Then as if to leave no doubt about the two of them, Maddy gave Gaby a lingering, tender kiss on the lips. The sound of shutters permeated the air, once again.

“Just in case they didn’t understand the concept,” Maddy playfully cooed as their lips parted.

Following several more questions that had Gaby recounting the individual race stages from her perspective, they finally rose from their chairs and were about leave the press conference, when from somewhere in the room came a request.

“Gaby? … One more shot with the three of you, please?”

The End?
 
 

~*~
 
 
Postscript:

* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0pdQU87dc8&NR=1

As selected by the girls in their wedding ceremony. From the album ‘Waking Up The Neighbourhood’

** http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWBKBkEJQRk

As selected by the girls for their ‘first dance’. From the album ‘The best of U2’

*** http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUYzQaCCt2o

Maddy asked her dad and Dave for ideas for the Father’s dance ….
 
 

This is the final chapter of Book Three - Reconciliation
and concludes the 'Notes of a Journey' Trilogy.

I hope you enjoyed it ~PB
 

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