Alien in the House

going on?” Chuckie asked.
    “I have no idea. Jeff won’t tell me. If Jamie’s too heavy I can take her.”
    Chuckie shot me the “oh, please” look. “I think I can manage one little girl.” He looked around. “We’re in the Mandalay Bay.”
    “You’re sure?” Looked around again. “I guess we are. The question is why?”
    We walked into a room that had a lot of chairs set up in neat rows with a wide aisle between them. Elvis was in there. Well, someone dressed like him. As we got closer, realized it was Gower. Looking somewhat embarrassed. What was going on suddenly dawned on me and I started to laugh.
    Jeff heard me and grinned. “Let’s get this show on the road.” He took Jamie from Chuckie now. “Hope you like the costume. It was the best we could find on short notice.”
    Chuckie gaped. “Ah, is what I think happening actually happening?”
    “Yeah, it is.” He looked at Raj. “You’ll be able to do it more quietly.”
    Raj laughed. “Would everyone who is unaware of what’s going on and why we’re here please find a seat and sit down?” His voice carried to all parts of the room, without the walls shaking. Everyone moved as requested. Troubadours really had a lot more going for them than Christopher had led me to believe.
    Erika and Stanley Gower were here. They sat with Chuckie’s parents. Jeff kissed Jamie and got her to wake up. Pierre gave her a little pink basket with rose petals in it.
    Jeff and Reader each took an arm and led Chuckie up to where Gower was standing. Pierre motioned to me, and I followed him and Jamie to find Michael, Abigail, and Naomi. “You sure you want me here?”
    Naomi grinned. “Yeah, I’m sure. Are we doing what I think we’re doing?”
    “Yeah, we are. You’re getting married by your brother, who is also an Elvis Impersonator. At least for this hour. It’s a convenient thing that we were all dressed up for Jamie’s party.”
    Music started. “Blue Christmas” by Johnny Mathis. Pierre coached Jamie down the aisle. I followed after her, then Abigail.
    “We’re breaking with traditions,” Gower said. “Because the only traditions that truly matter are that we love one another, fight for one another, protect one another, and cherish our time together.”
    “Hear, hear,” Tim called from the audience. The song changed to “It’s Now Or Never” by the king himself.
    “We’re missing a few people we’d like to have with us,” Gower went on. “But circumstances ensure that there are always a few people missing at any wedding. What shouldn’t be at a wedding, however, are governments and political agendas. All there should be is love between two people and the people who love them.”
    The room applauded. Clearly all those in attendance agreed.
    “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis came on now, as Michael walked Naomi down the aisle. Saw Amy and Caroline start to cry.
    “Who gives this woman to marry this man?” Gower asked.
    “We all do,” Michael replied. He kissed his sister’s cheek, then joined Caroline and his parents.
    Chuckie took Naomi’s hand and brought her up to Gower. “I just want to tell you both that there are only a few people I’d dress up as Elvis for.” This earned a good laugh, which meant that those of us tearing up got to have the fun of laughing through our tears.
    “This ceremony can be quite long. It can also be sped up. I think you two have had a much longer engagement than either of you wanted. So let’s see if we can make the wedding go a little faster. Do you, Charles Martin Reynolds, take this woman to be your wife, in sickness, health, good times, bad times, richer, poorer, until death alone parts you?”
    Chuckie cleared his throat. “I do.”
    “Do you, Naomi Marie Gower, take this man to be your husband, in sickness, health, good times, bad times, richer, poorer, until death alone parts you?”
    Naomi smiled. “I do.”
    “The rings, please?” Gower asked. Jeff stepped forward and gave them to him. Gower handed one to each of them. Chuckie slid the ring onto Naomi’s finger. His hand shook a little. I started to really have to blink a lot to stop from crying. Naomi slid the ring on his finger, and her hand didn’t shake at all.
    “These rings are symbols of your love and your union—unbroken, never-ending, precious, never-tarnishing, enduring, and beautiful. And with the rings willingly given and happily received, as Sovereign Pontifex, I pronounce you married. What has