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Onus Angelorum — Venue
Chapter 10 — Henry and Alerie arrive in New York
We took a small plane into LaGuardia and a car to Rockefeller Plaza. Endless hours waiting in my father’s Manhattan office as a child made the city feel flat to me. The Plaza felt alive now like this secret carnival world was hidden underneath the dull business façade I experienced before.
Henry’s mother was almost in tears when we arrived. The bride’s parents were unaccounted for.
“What’s going on?” I whispered. “This is your aunt’s wedding?”
“Two brides, Aunt Chick’s parents are stuck at the airport. Sounds like my father and brother went to get them. Let me introduce you to my mother, maybe calm her down.”
“Mom,” Henry said. “Mom,” he said again with increased volume.
“Henry, what a disaster. We need to get the ceremony started, or the whole timetable falls apart.”
“Mom, this is my friend Alerie Ganas. Al, my mother, Sally Rhodes.”
“Thank you for convincing my son to join us. I understand we have you to thank for his change of heart.” Sally was trying to focus her attention, but she was shaking, and her eyes were darting back and forth. Either she was a coke addict, or the woman was about to have a full-blown panic attack.
