Chapter 56 - A Beginning and An End

Delia put off telling Alex until later that evening. She had to think everything through. Finally, she couldn't wait any longer. His wedding was in two days. She wasn't going to let this ruin his wedding.

Delia called him in and he immediately knew something was wrong and thought of his little brother and sister. "No Alex, the babies are perfect. It's Goodwin. He has left me," she whispered not trusting her voice would even work. Alex looked at her. "What do you mean 'left you'?" asked Alex. "Delia held up a piece of paper. He left last night during the nighttime. He left me a note. He wasn't prepared to raise two children and he just simply couldn't cope any longer. That was not how he had planned to spend the rest of his life. He left some money and his pickup for you. He said he had to get away, far away and said not to try to find him. He didn't want to be found." Alex threw his arms around his heartbroken mother and hugged her tightly. The two of them cried together.

"Alex," said Delia, "please don't cry anymore. He wasn't happy, you know that. It is probably for the best," she said as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks knowing what the truth was. She told Alex not to worry, it wasn't a total shock and shouldn't have been for him either. "I am so sorry it was so close to your wedding day," continued Delia through sobs. "Oh no! The Wedding! We will have to postpone it!" said Alex. "Don't you dare!" said Delia, "This is your day and it is the absolute best thing you can do.  Begin your new life as soon as possible with Jane. She loves you dearly. I can see it in the way she looks at you. You have found love and this is all I ever wanted for you."

That night Delia went into the nursery and picked up her tiny little baby Hope. She just needed to hold her and rock. She began to make plans for the rest of her life and her two youngest children. She thought maybe a big city might be a nice change. Maybe they could just blend in.

Alex called Jane and she came over. He told her what happened, but assured her that Delia wanted them to go ahead with the wedding. It would begin to bring healing to the family.



Their wedding day was upon them.  Alex and Jane were to be married in the same Chapel where Delia and Goodwin were married.  That was a little hard for Delia. Of course, Alex was a teenager then, but he too remembered it well.

Alex was very nervous. Delia did her best to reassure him it would be fine. She left him at the back of the church as the ceremony began.

Jane was beautiful as she walked to the Altar and Alex could hardly look at her.  He was afraid he might pass out. And all of the people. He didn't do well in crowds!





Alex managed to make it to the front of the church and joined Jane where they exchanged rings and said their vows with their closest family and friends looking on.

Delia thought her heart would burst with happiness for her little Ghost Baby as they kissed to end the ceremony.

Yes, she thought, Alex's wedding, representing the beginning of a promising new chapter in his life, was the best thing she could have hoped for. 

She remembered her first born child, Daniel, planning his wedding so soon after Francisco died. It helped the boys begin to heal. Her two young men would also be fine. Humberto already had Ana and now Alex has Jane. 

After the ceremony, Humberto came up to Delia to see if she was okay. He offered his condolences but said he wasn't surprised. He knew Goodwin was no good and had always treated her badly. Still he was very sorry and wanted to know how he could help. She told him to simply be happy with Ana. That was all she ever wanted for him and for Alex. 

After the vows, they went upstairs and Alex bravely cut the cake. The happy couple took a seat at the table of honor and enjoyed a piece of cake. Later, they toasted their new life together.

Soon, it was time for their first dance as husband and wife. This just about did Delia in. Everything else up to now was fun and entertaining. But the first dance just brought so many memories rushing back.  Francisco in their makeshift dance floor in her living room, Nicholas dancing under the moonlight and finally Goodwin, right here in this very room where he dipped her and carried out of the Chapel. 

Jane saw Delia watching and told Alex it was time for him to dance with his mother.  Delia tried so hard to be brave and not get emotional, but she couldn't hold it together and after only a few bars of music, she dissolved into tears in her sons arms. 






She told him she was happy for him, not upset, these were emotional tears of joy. With that last dance the party was ending. She told them she would meet them at the house in an hour. She had something to tell them and a wedding gift for them.  

When she got home the very first thing Delia did was go check on both of her young children. She kissed Pierre goodnight and then went to get Hope. They were such innocents in all of this. They deserved better. And she would give them better.

Delia needed to hold Hope. She picked her up and waited for the newly married couple to arrive. She was leaving that night. The house would be theirs. She had called a van earlier in the week and everything including the entire contents of the basement was already packed and ready to go.  She and her babies were moving to Bridgeport.

When they arrived she informed them she was leaving and they could spend the night here if they liked, before going on their honeymoon. She said goodbye to them and wished them a long and happy life together. She told them to be sure and be completely open and honest with each other. Secrets are not meant for marriages.

Delia said goodbye to Twinbrook and the little cabin in the bayou knowing that Alex and Jane would bring fresh new life to the cabin.

Inside the happy couple had already started to work on just that.

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