leaving for England. Calling several stationary shops, I found one that would give me a good deal on invitations. Scribbling the prices and quantity, I didn’t notice Tony behind me. “The invitations are taken care of, Jess.”
“How could they be? You haven’t had time to order any and neither have I.”
“Don’t worry sweetie. They’re taken care of.”
“You’re the best,” I said, getting up from the table and hugging him.
Tony hugged me, “I have to go to Portland today. Come with me?”
“Isn’t the blood bank ready to open?” I asked.
“It is, but I have a few things to do and I need your advice on some equipment.”
“Okay. Let me get ready and we’ll head that way.”
I showered, dressed in my comfortable blue jeans and sweatshirt. Tony waited for me on the porch. From the bathroom, I called the police department to ask Detective Sean to watch our house because I didn’t want Tony suspecting anything. Tony and I headed to Portland.
Tony pulled up at the stationary store. “We have to pick up the announcements,” he said, helping me out of the car.
“How did they get them done so fast?”
“I stopped by here the day after we agreed on the date,” he said smiling his half smile.
“You couldn’t have known who to invite.”
“I handed the clerk the phone book and asked her to invite everyone in it,” he said.
“Everyone in town,” I said shocked.
“Yes, I know your parents are gone and you have a small number of friends to come to your wedding, so I invited the entire town. Hope you don’t mind?” he said, opening the door to the stationary store.
“Well it’s a bit much to invite everyone. How much did this cost?”
“I only want the best for you and don’t worry about the cost. I’m more than happy to do it,” he said, as we entered the store.
The clerk handed Tony two boxes of invitations. He paid the clerk and carried the boxes to the car putting them in the back seat. We got back in the car and headed to the blood bank.
Grabbing a box from the back seat, I was curious to see what he had ordered and opened it. Taking out one invitation I read it silently,
Our Weddin g .
The outside was laced in gold with yellow roses in all the corners. Opening it, it read:
Jessica Lea Pearl
&
Tony Michael Mureaux
Request the pleasure of your company of their union,
Saturday, the twenty-fifth of June, two thousand and twelve
At two o’clock in the afternoon.
Mayville High School Gymnasium, Mayville, Oregon.
Reception is to follow and please no gifts.
Behind the announcements were the envelopes. Picking up an envelope I turned it over. I was surprised they were already addressed. “You had these addressed too?” I asked surprised.
“I figured we wouldn’t want to do it, so I asked the clerk to address them for us.”
Putting the box of announcements in the back seat, I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. You’re wonderful,” kissing his cheek again.
Tony pulled up in front of the blood bank. The marquees sign
Opal Carew
Anne Mercier
Adrianne Byrd
Payton Lane
Anne George
John Harding
Sax Rohmer
Barry Oakley
Mika Brzezinski
Patricia Scott