Chapter 1

            Five months later . . .

                                                                        With immense joy

                                     Mr. and Mrs. Carlton T. Van Dyke request your company at the

                                                                 wedding of their daughter,

                                                                Catherine Alexis Van Dyke

                                                                                  to

                                                                       Cameron Townsend.

                                     The ceremony will take place at the Van Dyke estate gardens

                                                                   on May 23^rd at one o’clock.

                                                          Reception to take place afterwards.

                                     Guest are asked to wear white or ivory Victorian era clothing.

            Catherine Van Dyke, Caitlin’s second oldest sister, had finally gotten married at the age of thirty-seven. Most people thought, Caitlin included, that Catherine was going to stay single for life. Especially after she had lost her last fiancé to another woman almost two years ago.

            Now she was married to the love of her life at her dream Victorian style wedding. Catherine wore their great- great-great-great-grandmother’s wedding dress. It was a pearl-colored sheer neck ball gown with gold embroidered quinceanera on the mini skirt and sleeves.

            The ceremony was sweet. The couple stood under the gazebo as close to two hundred and fifty guests consisting of family and friends looked on.

            Their mother spared no expense making sure the gardens were ready. She had hired extra landscapers to make sure every flower, bush, and tree were perfect. The florist had even placed extra potted plants around the garden.

There wasn’t really a wedding party. Cameron and Catherine had wanted to keep things simple concerning that. Just them and their father at the altar – until it was time for their father to sit down. It was just as well because Caitlin got tired of being the bridesmaid and never the bride. And one of their younger sisters was eight months pregnant. Chelsea couldn’t stand on her feet but so long these days.

            The reception was in full swing. Champagne flowed freely and the band was lovely. Conservative music played. The food, which was a choice of chicken or fish, were superb.

            There was a sea of ivory, whites, and straw hats in the background as far as the eye could see. Catherine’s request of attire to match the theme and mood she had wanted for her wedding was a complete success.

            Caitlin wore a soft cotton renaissance dress where the waist of the bodice was taut around her tummy with old style ruching. The long sleeves were a bit puffy. She wore a large straw hat with a wide brim and white fabric tide into a bow in the back around the base.

She walked along with Hector Beaumont. They were arm in arm. Hector was wearing a stylish ivory suit with a white shirt and white tie. He wore a Victorian style hat to match. He looked quit debonair.

They were starting to wander to a private spot away from most of the guests and the band. A fountain was ahead.

“Let’s go to the fountain. I need to sit for a moment,” Caitlin said.

“That’s fine,” Hector said.

They got to the fountain. The mini statue of an angel held a pitcher with an oval spout. Water poured out of the pitcher into the pool of the fountain.

Caitlin sat down on the edge.

Hector remained standing. He was looking down at his shoes.

“You look like you have something on your mind, Hector.”

He looked up at her. “I do. I’ve been thinking about this for some time. Caitlin,” he began and sat down next to her. “I want you to become my wife.”

Caitlin’s brows shot up. She had never been proposed to before, and this was the first time Hector has ever mentioned marriage. “Did the wedding bring this on?”

“Not exactly. Like I said, I’ve been thinking about proposing to you for a few months. Yet, today did bring it out of me,” he admitted with a shy smile.

Caitlin was floored. “I had no idea you were thinking about marriage.”

“Well, we have been dating for a year now. I’m can’t believe you haven’t thought about it. Most women do when they have dated a man as long as we’ve dated.”

“Not me. I . . . I’m not that woman.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean . . . most men aren’t interested in me anyway so I was just thankful you stuck by me this long. I’m not the most exciting and intriguing woman, you know.”

“Actually, you are. You - and others just don’t know it.” He grinned. That’s why I want to scoop you up before any other man realizes it.”

Caitlin smiled a little. “You’re so wonderful.”

“I love you, Caitlin. You know that.”

“And I love you, but . . . I need to tell you something. I was going to tell you a few days from now but I best be out with it since we’re talking about our future.”

“What is it?”

“I’m planning to spend the summer in Key West. I bought a house there . . . a fixer upper. I want to go there and work on it.”

“Are you planning to move to Florida?”

“Oh, no. It’s just that . . . lately I’ve been feeling . . . I don’t know . . . unaccomplished. I have no job or a career like Catherine. Even Constance had a job at Carlyle Enterprises before she married Steven. Now she’s a doting mother who is trying to have another child. Chastity even has a career.” Chastity was Caitlin’s younger sister and Chelsea’s twin. “Chelsea is about to have a baby. It’s like everyone has . . . something. I’m just trying to figure out what my something is. I thought going to Florida for the summer would give me some perspective.”

Hector slowly nodded. “I think I understand. And I want you to . . . get perspective on your life if that’s what you need to do. But what do you think about my proposal?”

“I think . . . I need to think about it. Marriage is a big step.”

“It is. But what I’m hoping is that while you’re away you can see yourself as Mrs. Hector Beaumont.”

Caitlin smiled. It had a nice ring to it. “I most certainly will. After all, a girl like me doesn’t get proposed to every day.”

They exchanged a short kiss.

                                                                                 ****

            The new Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Townsend were ready to ride off into the sunset. Everyone threw bird seed at them as they ran to the white carriage that was waiting outside the gates of the garden. The carriage was open-topped. The door handles and designs on the sides were gold. It could have been a carriage for Cinderella.

            The Van Dyke family were going to see the newlyweds tomorrow afternoon for the traditional honeymoon luncheon. Afterwards, they’ll be off to their honeymoon in Alaska.

            The seed throwers made their way back to the main part of the garden for more food and drink. Caitlin, Chelsea, Chastity, Constance and their mother, Victoria, congregated next to the gazebo. Chelsea was sitting in one of the chairs.

            All the Van Dyke girls, including their mother, had blonde hair. They chatted about how well things had turned out. And most of the crème de la crème of New York society was there, the Dandridges, the Michaelsons, the Graysons, etc.

            “Did you see that god awful dress Hilda was wearing?” Constance whispered.

            Constance and their mother snickered.

            Chelsea sat listening. Her dress was white. She had a pink ribbon tied above her bump. Even though the ribbon was a small touch, Chelsea had to stand out – just like her personality.

            They continued to chatter on until Chelsea gasped.

            “What is it, darling?” their mother asked with concern.

            “I . . . I felt a sharp pain and – Uh, oh. . . this can’t be good,” Chelsea said with worry.

            “What?” Chastity asked.

            “I feel wet. Like . . . I peed on myself but I swear I didn’t,” Chelsea explained.

            “Your water broke. You’re going into labor,” Constance said. She would know. She had given birth to twins five years ago.

            “Oh my god. I . . . ooooh,” Chelsea eased out. She sounded like she was in pain.

            “We better start timing the contractions,” Constance said as she knelt down at Chelsea knees. “Remember your Lamaze, Chelsea. Breathe in and out slowly.”

            “But she’s a month early,” their mother said with shock.

            “You tell the baby that,” Chelsea nearly whined. Her face was tightly scrunched up. It was certain. She was in pain.

            “We have to find your father.” Their mother looked around frantically as she stood.

            “For what? The baby isn’t his,” Chastity said flippantly. “It’s Derek’s.”

            “I know that, Chastity,” their mother said with irritation.

            “I’ll find him,” Caitlin said.

            “I’ll come with you,” Chastity said.

            “After this contraction, I’m going to get her to the front of the house. Derek can pull his car up to the front steps,” Constance said.

            “Good idea,” Caitlin said.

            Chelsea grunted. It was like she was trying to keep from yelling out.

                                                                             ****

            It took Caitlin and Chelsea a good five minutes before they found their brother-in-law, Derek Dawson. He was chatting with their father, Steven McNally, Constance’s husband, and Davis Clifton, a billionaire in his own right. The men were talking next to one of the temporary bars that was set up for the reception.

            Derek cleared his throat loudly as he straightened. “Ladies are afoot gentlemen,” he said in a serious tone.

            “Hi, girls. What do you need?” their father asked happily as he held what Caitlin assumed was scotch in his hand.

            “Actually, we need Derek,” Caitlin said.

            “Oh?” Derek said. He wasn’t drunk but he wasn’t feeling any pain either.

            “Yes. Um, we need you to go see Chelsea. In the house,” Caitlin said delicately. She didn’t want to blurt out she was in labor in hearing distance of the guests.

            “In the house? Why?” Derek asked.

            “She needs to speak to you personally and in private,” Caitlin explained.

            “Tell her I’ll be there in a few minutes,” Derek said and finished off his drink. He turned to the bartender and asked for another.

            “Can’t. She needs to see you now,” Caitlin said as calmly as possible.

            Derek turned back to them. “What’s the hurry?”

            “Look, I don’t want to say in front of –” Caitlin began.

            “Look, pencil dick,” Chastity began flatly. She had lost her patience. “What my sister is trying to discretely tell you is your wife has gone into labor.”

            “What!” their father shouted.

            “I thought she wasn’t due for another month,” Steven commented, just as shocked as their father.

            Davis Clifton’s brows rose half way up his forehead.

            Derek stared at the Van Dyke sisters like he didn’t understand what was going on.

            “She isn’t, but her water broke right in front of us,” Caitlin whispered loudly. “Constance is getting Chelsea to the front of the house as we speak so Derek can pull his car around to take her to the hospital.”

            Everyone looked at Derek.

            The soon-to-be father blinked several times. “What?” he said like he was in a daze.

           “You’re wife has gone into premature labor you silly ass,” their father practically sneered. “Go!” He threw his half glass of scotch in Derek’s face.

            It seemed to get Derek moving. With his face and the front of his dark hair damp with alcohol, he shot pass the Van Dyke sisters and began weaving through the crowd.

                                                                               ****

                                       A New Member of New York City’s Elite Has Been Born!

                                            By: Judy Budd, New York Times Society Reporter

                                      Cameron and Catherine Townsend’s nuptials were only

                                            part of the Van Dyke festivities on Saturday.

                                    After the bride and groom had left the reception to start

                         their honeymoon, Chelsea Van Dyke-Dawson went into premature labor.

                          Apparently, her husband, Derek Dawson, was so slack jawed by the news

                           his father in law, Carlton Van Dyke, had to splash his drink in Derek’s face.

                                            Once Derek snapped out of his shock, he got into

                                                    his vehicle and drove to the hospital

                                                        – without his expecting wife.

                                Chelsea’s family had to take her to the hospital in the family limo.

                           Despite transportation woes, Chelsea gave birth to a boy four hours later.

                                                According to sources, Davidson Derek Dawson

                                                 is in good condition despite being premature.

                                                               Cheers to the new parents!