Marriage Challenge - With My Body

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

420 words.

Stella and marriage.



1980

Stella dumped her backpack on one of the benches, and straightened her turtleneck. It didn't quite match the washed-out denim skirt or the old Keds, but these were the only white things she had in her wardrobe. Ray was standing in front of the room, wearing his one and only suit, bouncing on his toes.

"I'm sorry I'm late. I had to talk to Prof. Larson, and Jennifer wasn't happy I'm not rooming with her next semester and...I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Here. I got these." He held out a supermarket bouquet. "Bride should have flowers."

She had to smile. She took the bouquet. "Thank you, sweetie."

"We. You could have a real wedding. A priest, a gown, bridesmaids...a church. You'd be so beautiful in a real gown. Not that you're not beautiful now, but."

She kissed him. "This is better. This is what I want, Ray. This is going to last forever."

He smiled at her as if he were the luckiest man in the world, and they turned to the judge, who was grinning.

And, if she was lucky, she'd even make it to Political Science on time.

1998

The room was packed with loud, happy people - cops, his relatives, her relatives. Even the Kowalskis showed up. Even he showed up. With him.

She wore a new grey suit, with a pale corsage pinned to the lapel, and Ray. Her Ray. Her new Ray. He wore one of his designer masterpieces, but on him it looked right and natural. And he looked at her like she was the most beautiful woman ever, like there was no other woman in the room, and no one else in his life.

And this time she wasn't thinking about her next case, or her next class. She was thinking about a bowling alley and a place where it never snowed, and a man who loved her but didn't worship her, and how tired she'd gotten of worship, even of the body.

And then she looked at Ray in what had to be his one and only suit, standing next to the Mountie the way she was standing next to her new Ray, and there was nothing of worship in that look, either.

She wondered if she'd still be married to him if he'd looked at her like that. And was glad he didn't.

Her Ray took her hand and smiled at her new wedding band, and walked her to the buffet table, leaving her old Ray behind with his true marriage.

Comments

[heuradys.livejournal.com]

Lovely, Mama. Mmmmmm...

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

Thank you, sweetie.

[faemovana.livejournal.com]

very nice!

Her Ray took her hand and smiled at her new wedding band, and walked her to the buffet table, leaving her old Ray behind with his true marriage.

I think this was the best part..though I don't know why..just, it really, really worked for me. *G*

thanks for sharing!

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad it did. Thank you so much!

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

This is fascinating and wonderful. I am taken with the idea of Stella wanting a man who would love her but not worship her -- it seems so right on target. There's a tension about RayK and Stella, even in his reminiscences of her, whereas there's a difference in how RayV introduces himself to her. He's attracted, but sure of himself. Not desperate to please her. No wonder that appeals. You nailed it. And I like to think that RayK and Fraser will have that separate-but-together-ness that she has found. Nice, nice take.

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

That's what I thought. RayK never really saw *her* - he saw the Gold Coast girl of his dreams. RayV sees the smart, funny and *real* woman she is.

And I think RayK always saw Fraser as he is.

Thank you!

[chesamus.livejournal.com]

A great take on the whole dynamic of wanting instead of needing - Ray V is a much better fit for her when it comes right down to it.

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

I think they fit each other better than...previous partners.

And I think this time it will last. For both of them.

Thank you!

[akite.livejournal.com]

I have to say it too. RayV is a much better fit for Stella than RayK ever was. Nice story.

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

I agree.

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

It's tiring to be worshipped, especially since *you* know you're just human.

I think this is going to make them all happier.


:)

[burntcopper.livejournal.com]

Very, very good, and a nice thing on Stella.

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I like Stella. She deserves nice things.

[lynnmonster.livejournal.com]

Loved this. The "true marriage" reminded me so much of the "marriage of true minds" -- which is what this seems to be about, really.

Very nice!

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

Thank you, sweetie!

[jenboo.livejournal.com]

Interesting take on Stella's wedding to RayK. So hurried, with no one else attending, almost as if she didn't want to be embarrassed by the public spectacle of marrying him. (I know they're in public, but there's no one there they know, right?)

I agree with the other comments that say both Stella and RayK are with the right people now. Marriage of true minds, indeed.

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

It's more that she doesn't want to be bothered with all the fuss of a big wedding, and this way she presents her parents with fait accompli. So she chose to elope. RayK - he wanted the tux with the frilled shirt and the bride in lace and froufrou, so he was disappointed. And she also has a heavy prelaw courseload.

And, no, there's no one there but the judge and some random witness.

Thank you!

[dsudis.livejournal.com]

I'd never pictured Stella's weddings this way, but it seems very true to her. I love this parallax on her two marriages, and the way she's able to let her former Ray go, even if she's not perfectly comfortable with where he's gone to.

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It's where I was going.

[imkalena.livejournal.com]

Wow. That was happy and painful at the same time. A pretty big accomplishment for 420 words.*g*

[brooklinegirl.livejournal.com]

Oh! So wonderful. I love Ray with, yeah, what is probably still his one suit. Bouncing on his toes. So in love with Stella, giving her flowers, 'cause she should have flowers. And later, so in love with Fraser. And Stella's okay with that. 'Cause she has her new Ray, and it's kind of a better fit. I like that she's happy, that she's thinking of him, that she's not demonized. That they both ended up where they belonged, with the people they belong with.