William & Patty: Chapter Nine

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As Valentine's Day approached, the wedding plans were in full swing. Sandra helped William and Patty with most of the arrangements. To help cover ex-penses, the couple saved $1,000 from their food-service jobs at the Howard Training Center in Ceres.

Patty and William believed their honeymoon would be spent in Lake Tahoe, but Sandra secretly had planned a trip to Hawaii. She wouldn't tell them until they were all on the plane.

On Feb. 12, a seamstress named Alma Lopez stopped by to make alterations to Patty's wedding dress. The dress belonged to Sabrina Brown, a young mother who several months earlier moved into the Jasmin house with her 8-month-old baby, Zachary Barron. Sabrina is training to one day host someone in the Home At Last program.

Once Alma was ready to work, William was banished to a back room. Patty put on the dress and Alma went to work. Sandra watched and cried.

"I've always had two wishes, huh, Sandra?" Patty said. "To get married on Valentine's Day. Yes. And to go to Hawaii."

"Those are wonderful wishes, honey," Sandra said. "And you're going to go to Hawaii someday."

"Yes."

As Patty stood and watched herself in a long mirror, Sandra moved in behind her and rested her head softly on Patty's shoulder. She spoke gently.

"I can't believe how gorgeous you are, Patty. What do you think? Are you the prettiest girl?"

"Yes," Patty said bashfully, hiding her blushing face in her hands. "I look like my mother."

"Your mother would be so proud of you, honey. You know what she would say to you if she were here? She would say, 'Patricia Irene Taylor, I am so proud of the woman you have become. You picked a good man, and he's handsome and strong.'"

Once Alma finished taking measurements, Patty changed her clothes and William returned. Alma collected the dress and headed home to work on it.

Sandra announced she had an errand to run. As she walked outside, William followed her to the door.

"Sandra, are you coming back?"

Sandra stopped to answer the question that comes every time she leaves.

She turned and walked back to William, placing her hand on the side of his face, hoping someday he'd feel secure.

"Of course, William. Don't I always come back?"

"Yes," William said, a sad, frightened look on his face. "We'll be OK, right?"

"Yes, you will," Sandra said. "The cellphone number is on the fridge. I'll be right back."