The Marriage of Naomi! (I P) Part Two

The Marriage of Naomi! (I P) Part Two

Paulette arrived to find the church filled with people she didn’t know and there were even more people stood outside, again people she didn’t know. She started to panic was she at the right church and if so who were all these people? None of her own family were present as Paulette’s other children had all declined their invitations making excuses that ranged from the dog was due to have his booster at the vets to her youngest daughter saying she was sorry but she was re-potting her seedlings that weekend, Paulette was not upset by this as it was just how things were. There was no escaping the fact that Naomi was an odd ball and her two brothers and two sisters had as little to do with her as possible. They like Paulette were embarrassed by Naomi’s funny looks and strange ways.

Anyway, Paulette was ushered to her place in the front pew but before entering the church she had noticed there was a big screen being set up outside with speakers positioned at various places where people were standing. As people took their places the organist was playing some of that Mozart crap. She might have guessed Naomi would invite him to her wedding. It seems he had influence over her daughter even from the grave. She had recognised the tune from hearing her daughter listening to the damn stuff. She always turned the radio up once Naomi started with that racket.

Then suddenly a hushed quiet descended as strains of The Wedding March announced the arrival of the Bride. A side door opened and a tall good looking man entered followed by a short fat man who Paulette thought must be the groom but no it was the tall man who took up the groom’s position. Then Paulette sensed people turning so she did the same. The man giving her daughter away was not someone she knew but he was a distinguished looking man who looked so proud to be walking down the aisle with no…no…that girl could not be her Naomi. No way. There must be some mistake she looked so serene and absolutely beautiful and she looked two stone lighter. This was not possible no one could lose two stone in an afternoon…

Then as her daughter started to walk past the pews smiling at everyone people started to clap spontaneously. The service went well and was actually quite beautiful until it came to a point where the bride and groom disappeared for what Paulette assumed was the signing of the register but no instead what she was absolutely astounded to hear was the organist playing more Mozart and then she heard her daughter’s voice soaring high above the sound of the organ as she sang in a crystal clear voice something Paulette knew was a haunting Aria called Porgi, amor, qualche ristoro or as Naomi would irritatingly often explain meant “Grant, love, some comfort.”

The tears that were springing to her eyes must be because her daughter was singing in a church. Paulette had never listened to her daughter singing in her bedroom when she lived at home because it was not music she particularly liked. However, hearing her now she just could not get over her daughter singing with such clarity and the acoustics in this church was bringing out the purity of her voice. It sounded magnificent and once again spontaneous clapping broke out with Paulette clapping furiously and if she could have whistled she would have done so. Then there was a duet sung by her Naomi and the male voice could only be that of her new husband who, it seemed, was asking for forgiveness from her daughter as the duet was, she remembered called Contessa Perdono. Another one she had complained about when Naomi was singing to it in her bedroom. Paulette felt very strange as she listened to what now seemed to her such a beautiful and moving duet sung by the two lovers.

In fact, she was moved to tears which clouded her eyes but not her judgement as she managed to pass the Collection Plate to the person sitting next to her without feeling the need to contribute. Well, hadn’t they all been treated to a free aria and duet from an Opera by that wonderful Mozart bloke and sung so beautifully by her wonderful and talented daughter accompanied by the man lucky enough to have been wed to her this very day…

With the photos done and the reception in full swing Paulette managed to get her daughter on her own in a side room at the Hotel where the reception was taking place. She had questions, lots of questions and they and she needed answers and one day we and she will get them but for now readers, if you are out there, raise your glasses and toast the happy couple.

TO BE CONTINUED