按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ugh she surely suffered slightly with a virgin's fear； she wanted him； too； he had no doubt of that。 Each day； they were touching each other and kissing more often…and more intimately…and the air between them crackled with erotic energy。 But why not do things right and proper since they were so close to the day？ Why not go to their marriage bed as virgins…she as a virgin to everyone； he to her？
That night； Travis dreamed that Nora and Einstein were lost in the desolate reaches of the Mojave。 In the dream； he was for some reason legless； forced to search for them at an agonizingly slow crawl； which was bad because he knew that； wherever they were； they were under attack by 。 。 。 something。
Sunday； Monday； and Tuesday in Las Vegas； they prepared for the wedding； watched Einstein playing enthusiastically with other campers' dogs； and took side trips to Charleston Peak and Lake Mead。 In the evenings； Nora and Travis left Einstein with his books while they went to stage shows。 Travis felt guilty about leaving the retriever alone； but by various means Einstein indicated that he did not want them to stay at the trailer merely because the Strip hotels were so prejudiced and shortsighted as to refuse to allow well…behaved genius dogs into the casinos and showrooms。
Wednesday morning； Travis dressed in a tuxedo； and Nora wore a simple calf…length white dress with spare lace trim at the cuffs and neckline。 With
Einstein between them； they drove to their wedding in the pickup； leaving the unhitched Airstream at the campgrounds。
The nondenominational； mercial chapel was the funniest place Travis had ever seen； for the design was earnestly romantic； solemn； and tacky all at the same time。 Nora thought it was hilarious； too； and upon entering they had trouble suppressing their laughter。 The chapel was tucked in among neondripping； glitzy； high…rise hotels on Las Vegas Boulevard South。 It was only the size of a one…story house； pale…pink stucco with white doors。 Engraved in brass above the doors was the legend YE SHALL GO TWO BY TWO 。 。 。 Instead of depicting religious images； the stained…glass windows were aglow with garishly rendered scenes from famous love stories including Romeo and Juliet； Abelard and Heloise； Aucassin and Nicolette； Gone with the Wind； Casablanca…and； unbelievably； I Love Lucy and Ozzie & Harriet。
Curiously； the tackiness did not deflate their buoyant mood。 Nothing could diminish this day。 Even the outrageous chapel was to be prized； remembered in every gaudy detail to be vividly recalled over the years； and always to be recalled fondly because it was their chapel on their day and therefore special in its own strange way。
Dogs were not ordinarily admitted。 But Travis had generously tipped the entire staff in advance to insure that Einstein would not only be allowed inside but would be made to feel as wele as anyone。
The minister； the Reverend Dan Dupree…' 'Please call me Reverend Dan〃… was a florid…faced； potbellied fellow； a strenuous smiler and glad…hander who looked like a stereotypical used…car salesman。 He was flanked by two paid witnesses…his wife and her sister…who were wearing bright summery dresses for the occasion。
Travis took his place at the front of the chapel。
The woman organist struck up 〃The Wedding March。〃
Nora had expressed a deep desire to actually walk down the aisle and meet Travis rather than just beginning the ceremony at the altar railing。 Furthermore； she wanted to be 〃given away；〃 as other brides were。 That should have been her father's singular honor； of course； but she had no father。 Nor was anyone else at hand who would be a likely candidate for the job； and at first it seemed that she would have to make the walk alone or on the arm of a stranger。 But in the pickup； on their way to the ceremony； she had realized that Einstein was available； and she had decided that no one in the world was more suited to acpany her down the aisle than the dog。
Now； as the organist played； Nora entered the back of the nave with the dog at her side。 Einstein was acutely aware of the great honor of escorting her； and he walked with all the pride and dignity he could muster； his head held high； his slow steps timed to hers。
No one seemed disturbed…or even surprised…that a dog was giving Nora away。 This was； after all； Las Vegas。
〃She's one of the loveliest brides I've ever seen；〃 Reverend Dan's wife whispered to Travis； and he sensed that she was sincere； that she did not routinely bestow that pliment。
The photographer's flash blinked repeatedly； but Travis was too involved with the sight of Nora to be bothered by the strobe。
Vases full of roses and carnations filled the small nave with their perfume； and a hundred candles flickered softly； some in clear glass votive cups and others on brass candelabras。 By the time Nora arrived at his side； Travis was oblivious of the tacky decor。 His love was an architect that entirely remade the reality of the chapel； transforming it into a cathedral as grand as any in the world。
The ceremony was brief and unexpectedly dignified。 Travis and Nora exchanged vows； then rings。 Tears full of reflected candlelight shimmered in her eyes； and Travis wondered for a moment why her tears should blur his vision； then realized that he； too； was on the verge of tears。 A burst of dramatic organ music acpanied their first kiss as man and wife； and it was the sweetest kiss he had ever known。
Reverend Dan popped the Dom Perignon and； at Travis's direction； poured a glass for everyone； the organist included。 A saucer was found for Einstein。 Slurping noisily； the retriever joined in their toast to life； happiness； and love eternal。
Einstein spent the afternoon in the forward end of the trailer； in the living room； reading。
Travis and Nora spent the afternoon at the other end of the trailer； in bed。 After closing the bedroom door； Travis put a second bottle of Dom Perignon in an ice bucket and loaded a pact…disk player with four albums of George Winston's most mellow piano music。
Nora drew down the blind at the only window and switched on a small lamp with a gold cloth shade。 The soft amber light lent the room an aura rather like that of a place in a dream。
For a while they lay on the bed； talking； laughing； touching； kissing； then talking less and kissing more。
Gradually； Travis undressed her。 He'd never before seen her unclothed； and he found her even more lovely and more exquisitely proportioned than he had imagined。 Her slender throat； the delicacy of her shoulders； the fullness of her breasts； the concavity of her belly； the flair of her hips； the round sauciness of her buttocks； the long smooth supple sleekness of her legs…every line and angle and curve excited him but also filled him with great tenderness。
After he undressed himself； he patiently and gently introduced her to the art of love。 With a profound desire to please and with full awareness that everything was new to her； he showed Nora…sometimes not without delicious teasing all the sensations that his tongue； fingers； and manhood could engender in her。
He was prepared to find her hesitant； embarrassed； even fearful； because her first thirty y