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A society editor from the Globe stood outside the door

to Momma's suite trying to get an interview with

Momma.

Troy was very excited. Every chance he had, he

marched people in to see his toy collection. Relatives

stopped by, cousins and aunts and uncles. I never

would have believed that a house this big could be so

crowded. I didn't think the wedding would have any

sense of order, but when the time came, everyone and

everything fell into place.

I joined the other bridesmaids in the upstairs

corridor. We were each given a bouquet of sweetheart

roses to carry. Troy, as cute as ever in his tuxedo and

black tie, was hurried downstairs to take his place next to Tony by the altar. Finally, there was a deep hush. We heard the first piano notes. Excitement rippled through the faces of everyone in the wedding

party.

Looking angelic in her Victorian wedding gown

with a lace neck smothered in pearls, Momma

emerged from her suite. She smiled through her veil

and paused to squeeze my hand when she stepped

beside me. My heart began to pound so hard and my

face felt so hot, I thought I would faint. I felt terrible

knowing I should be saying something sweet, something loving, to her, but my throat ached from

swallowed tears.

"Wish me luck," she begged.

Luck? What does luck have to do with love and

marriage? I thought. Was it bad luck that Momma had

gotten pregnant with me or was it just stupidity? Was

it just bad luck for Daddy that had brought him to her

that fateful night in Texas, or was it Grandma Jana's

manipulations? Was it good luck or bad luck that