It's the day before Rose and Ed get married. The whole gang is at Disney World to
celebrate the big event. Everything has been planned to the smallest of details,
so it's bound to go smoothly, right? Hmmm... do things ever go smoothly for Bebe?
This is a continuation of my other Bebe stories and you should be familiar with the
characters to enjoy this story.
Author's Note: Please leave a comment for this continuation?
I always love hearing your critiques! ~Clara
This version of Bebe: A Disney Wedding - Day 1 has been updated with many corrections towards spelling and grammar.~Sephrena.
Image Credit: Image created through the use of ai at https://perchance.org/beautiful-people .~Sephrena.
Day 1
"There's nothing like planning a wedding to make you want to punch everyone you've ever met in the throat."
~ Anonymous.
"I wonder if other mothers feel a pain in their insides, watching their daughters growing up to be the people that they wanted so badly to be."
~ Judy Picoult, 'Keeping Faith.'
It was a beautiful, cool December morning in Lake Buena Vista, Florida as Bebe woke up in her suite at The Grand Floridian, the Walt Disney World resort that had been designed to look like the hotel that had been featured in 'Some Like It Hot' - The Hotel Del Coronado, the same hotel to which Blaine had taken her this summer. She would need a light jacket this morning to go out, but this morning's breakfast was downstairs at '1900 Park Fare' with Rose, Nancy, Joanne, Bebe's mom and Rose's mom. It was the start of a 'Girls' Day' at Disney World. After breakfast, they'd head to Magic Kingdom via the monorail, then, in the afternoon, they'd head over to EPCOT for a late lunch/early dinner at Le Cellier in the Canada Pavilion, Rose's favorite steakhouse.
"Are you up?" Nancy called in from the other side of the door. She was staying in the other bedroom in the suite.
Bebe opened the door, "I am. I'm just going to take a quick shower before we go."
Nancy checked her watch. "Ok. We need to be downstairs in forty minutes. Can you do that? You don't have your makeup team with you today."
Bebe laughed at the joke. "I can do it. I'll be out in a half hour at the latest."
"Ok." Nancy smiled and started to walk away, but stopped. "Um, Beebs... what are you wearing? I don't want to be underdressed. Well... I'm always kind of underdressed when I'm with you."
"Rose said that we should dress comfortably. I have a warm dress and tights. I think jeans and nice top are fine too."
"Ok," Nancy nodded, then said, "You know... I can't remember the last time I saw you wearing jeans, or any pants other than yoga pants when you work out or go to dance class."
Bebe shook her messy, onyx hair from her face. "Nope. I seem to have an aversion to pants, now. I had to wear jeans on the show, last week. I ended up wearing pantyhose under them because I found the pants so scratchy."
Nancy shrugged. "To each her own."
Thirty five minutes later, Nancy and Bebe met Marilyn at her room, they took the elevator to the lobby and they walked into the restaurant where Rose, her mom and Joanne were all waiting at a table. Following instructions from Disney Guest relations, Rose and Bebe both wore their hair in uncharacteristically high ponytails, ball caps and prop eye glasses with clear glass. They looked like any other wealthy guest at The Grand Floridian, one of the more expensive resorts at Disney World.
They ordered their juices and coffees and went to the buffet, returning with a variety of fruits, Mickey-waffles, eggs, omelets and pastries.
"You'd better watch yourself," Rose's mom teased, "or you're not going to fit into that gown tomorrow."
Rose laughed. "My trainer was been working me to death lately, mom. Honestly, I could probably eat everything over there and be fine, my metabolism is like a hummingbird's right now. I could eat half my body weight in sugar and still be fine."
"So, no hen's night before your wedding?" Marilyn asked teasingly.
"No," Rose laughed. "I mean, some of the girls from the show took me out last Saturday, but... well, my maid of honor isn't old enough to go clubbing," she smiled and reached across the table and took Bebe's hand in hers, "so we'll have to keep it to 'family friendly' partying until later. Ed and I and a few people are going to House of Blues, tonight."
Rose's smile told everyone that she didn't feel as if she was missing out on anything by eliminating an overly developed dancer dressed as a police officer showing off his abs and tush from her prenuptial activities.
"Damn," Nancy teased, "and I brought a case of penis shaped lollipops for everyone to eat as we walk around Magic a Kingdom."
Everyone laughed, but before they could pursue that line of conversation further, they were interrupted by the amusing, but somewhat strained, voice of a Disney 'Cast Member' who was doing her best to imitate the posh British voice of Julie Andrews, "Good morning, ladies," the faux Mary Poppins grinned, "and how are we all this morning."
"Good," they all replied in unison.
"Oh, my," the 'actress' exaggerated. "I believe that one of us is going to be a bride very soon. Now, whom might that be?"
Everyone smiled and pointed as Rose. "That would be me," she smiled.
"Oh, and what a beautiful bride you will be!" She smiled, then, almost caught off guard, said, "You know who you look like?" Before she continued, she looked at Bebe and, again, there was a flash of recognition followed by a bit of doubt. Then she looked at Nancy and, seeing how closely she resembled that actress, Bebe Foley, she was certain as to who was in front of her. "Oh, my!" she sputtered. "I... I think you should have an official escort while you're here."
"No," Rose said quite calmly, yet firmly. "We'll be discreet, but I want a normal day in the parks, ok?"
Mary Poppins bit her lip as she thought for a moment, "Then," she was back in character, "May I suggest that this young lady," she pointed at Nancy, "also wear a bit of a disguise? Perhaps that will keep people from noticing. Even just a ponytail and hat would be fine."
"Good idea," Rose smiled. "We'll take care of it after breakfast."
"Well," Mary Poppins smiled, "enjoy your breakfast, then, and," she bent low and whispered, "I am a big fan."
They went back to eating their breakfasts and talking about important things.
"You should see Rose's gown, Mrs Mason," Bebe said with a voice that sounded excited and a bit envious. "It's gorgeous. The designer says she based it on Cinderella's gown, but it's so much more beautiful!"
Eileen Mason, Rose's mom, smiled. "Oh, I've seen lots of pictures, but she won't show me the actual gown until tomorrow."
"It's a surprise," Rose smiled. She was obviously excited and enjoying the anticipation. "You'll see it when the time comes."
Eileen just laughed and shook her head. "Always such a showman."
"Are your friends here, yet?" Marilyn asked Bebe.
Bebe nodded as she swallowed the food in her mouth. "Ella and MK got here yesterday and are staying at the Polynesian."
Joanne said, "They traveled with Blaine and me."
"And Cassie and Annie," Bebe continued, "are staying at The French Quarter. They're all going to 'Star Wars: Galaxy's End' today."
"You know, Beebs," Rose said, maternally, "if you'd rather be having fun with your friends, that's fine with me."
"Are you kidding!?" Bebe said with exaggerated indignation. "I wouldn't miss a minute of this weekend with you! After the wedding, I'll have two full days with them."
"It was nice of you to invite them all," Marilyn said to Rose.
Rose laughed, "I kinda had to. Ella and MK wake up on my couch more often than in their own beds and Cassie and Annie were Bebe's first real girlfriends. They're all very special to Ed and me."
Suddenly, they were surprised by a six foot tall Tigger at their table. He was miming his excitement at being alive and in the restaurant.
They all said hello to him and Marilyn stood, handing her camera to Nancy. "Oh! Nancy! Take my picture! I love Tigger!"
Laughing, Nancy used her mother's phone to take a picture of the costumed 'cast member' and her mother, who was smiling like a child.
"Thank you, Tigger," Marilyn kissed his snout.
He pretended to blush, then, from behind his back, he produced a Disney World ball cap and a hair tie, presenting it to Nancy.
"For me?" Nancy laughed.
He nodded and held the items closer to her.
"Well, thank you, Tigger," she laughed as she accepted the disguise.
She took a few moments to pull her black hair back and into a ponytail, securing it with the fabric covered hair tie.
"How's that?"
Tigger nodded, but held up his paws in the shape of glasses and held them in front of his eyes.
"Oh! Ok," Nancy laughed as she looked into her bag and pulled out a pair of oversized sunglasses. She put them on and looked at the gigantic, plush animal. "How's this."
He nodded and patted her shoulder with his big paws, before moving on to the next table.
"He's right," Marilyn smiled as she nibbled her toast. "No one could recognize you, now."
"Not even Bruce," Bebe teased.
"Bruce?" Eileen asked. "Who's Bruce?"
"Bruce," Marilyn said with playful frustration, "is my oldest daughter's new flame, who, it would seem, she kept a secret from me until I arrived yesterday. I still haven't met him, yet."
"Ooo," Eileen smirked. "Tell us about him."
Nancy gave a guilty smile, but was still characteristically uncomfortable talking about herself. With a big sigh, she explained, "Bruce is a guy I work with on Dr Martinez' team. He's an anesthesiologist. He's a little older than me, thirty five, he's been a widower for four years and he has a six year old daughter named Cora."
"Wow, two doctors in the family!" Eileen sounded impressed.
"Three," Bebe corrected. "Mom's a Doctor, too."
"Really?" Eileen was surprised. "What's your specialty."
"Renaissance Literature," Marilyn smiled. "I'm a PhD. Not a physician."
"Well," Joanne smiled. "I've met Bruce and Cora and they are both lovely people. I'm sure you'll like him, Marilyn."
"We'll see," Marilyn smiled.
"Cora's just beautiful," Bebe said.
"And she loves Auntie Bebe," Rose laughed.
"Of course she loves Auntie Bebe," Nancy said. "Auntie Bebe spoils her rotten. We left her with Bebe and Blaine last weekend and she went home with, like, a dozen new dresses, two new Barbies, and a tiara."
"She's a Princess. She needs a tiara." Bebe said with playful petulance. "I got one for each of Oscar's girls that day, too. We were at Disneyland. They're all princesses and they all need tiaras."
"How many does she need, though?" Nancy shook her head. "You bought her another one yesterday as soon as they arrived."
"She's a Princess, Nan," Bebe sounded as if she were stating the obvious to her sister. "Princesses need crowns for different occasions, Nan. She can't walk around Disney World with a tiara from Disneyland, Nan. Have some common sense, for crying out loud."
"I rest my case. She's spoiling her." Nancy looked to the others for support.
"Auntie Bebe is going to run out of money if she's not careful," Marilyn said with a warning tone.
"No, Auntie Bebe is more aware of her money than you give her credit," Bebe was emphatic, but playful. "Auntie Bebe is doing better than fine, financially, and Auntie Bebe wants to be the 'fun aunt.' Besides, Auntie Bebe likes being 'Auntie Bebe,' and she wants to continue to be 'Auntie Bebe' forever, so Nancy can never break up with Bruce."
"Wow," Rose laughed. "No pressure, huh?"
"Is Oscar coming to the wedding, too," Marilyn asked. She was confused by her daughter's relationship with this much older man, but knew better than to question it.
"He arrives later today," Rose said. "He and his daughters are traveling with Don and Vivian."
"How can a driver afford to travel all the way across the country just to go to a wedding?" Marilyn asked.
"Auntie Bebe," Rose, Joanne and Nancy all said in unison.
Marilyn gave her youngest a stern look. "You'd better be careful, honey."
"Mom," Bebe shook her head. "Want a new house? Want seven new houses? Want a mansion? I can afford it, but I'm not spending that kind of money. Most of my money is in a trust, anyway! I'm spending 'upper middle class' money. When I show up with a yacht that has a helicopter landing pad and a staff of sixty, then you can worry. Until then, though... Auntie Bebe is buying dresses, dolls and tiaras. End of story."
They started with a ride on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, then next door to Splash Mountain, then, to Rose's favorite, Pirates of The Caribbean, then a Dole Whip as they headed back to the front of the park to catch the monorail to EPCOT. They were soggy from the water rides and having a blast.
At EPCOT, they made their way to The Earth for a ride on Soarin', then they hit the World Showcase, walking clockwise from Mexico around the circle towards Canada on the other end of the walkway.
"Excuse me," a woman said, very quietly, to Rose while they waited in line at the Norway Pavilion, "but I think I recognize you."
Rose smiled. "Oh?"
"Yes. I'm pretty sure that you and that girl are both on TV, aren't you?"
Rose was gracious and smiled. "Yes, we are. I'm Rose."
"Oh, of course! 'Civil Disobedience,' right?"
"Yes, that's right." Rose smiled, staying quiet.
She was about to ask the woman to not make a scene when the woman spoke, still in a quiet voice. "I don't want to ruin your day. I just wanted to tell you how much I love your work."
"Well, thank you, so much," Rose was grateful.
By the time they reached Le Cellier in the Canada Pavilion, the last pavilion before the exit back into EPCOT, they had bought themselves and their friends lots of collectibles, clothing and crafts, and they were all ready for a big meal.
The dim, cavernous design of the restaurant provided additional privacy for the party. They were able to relax and prepared to enjoy their meals.
All of the women ordered steaks that the menu described as tender and juicy. Bebe settled on a bowl of potato and leek soup.
"May I ask you a question?" Eileen whispered to Bebe.
"Of course," Bebe wiped a trace of breadcrumbs left behind from breadsticks from the premeal breadbasket .
"You were a boy, right?"
Bebe's face went ashen and her jaw dropped for a moment before snapping back into a very nervous smile. "A b... boy? Why... why would you ask that?"
"Because, last year, when my husband and I went to Cape Cod to see Rosemary in 'The Taming of The Shrew,' her costar was named 'John,' but he was playing Bianca. He looked like you. Maybe a little heavier, he looked a little older... certainly not as old as Nancy, and your mother doesn't have any other children. That leaves you."
Bebe shifted uncomfortably, uncertain as to how to proceed. Should she deny it? Ask Rose for help?
"I... umm... I am a girl... I mean... I am... fully... a girl... now."
Eileen leaned closer. "I'm glad, dear, if that's what you wanted, I'm just curious..."
"About?"
"Well... all or it, dear, and my daughter's role in it."
Bebe glanced at Rose, but she was enthralled in a conversation with Joanne, Marilyn and Nancy about tomorrow's events.
"You're daughter's role...? I don't understand...?"
"Ok," Eileen smiled, but Bebe was still very concerned about the situation. "Let's start at the beginning. You were born a boy, correct?"
What did she know? How much had Rose told her? Where was this going? Friendly conversation or extortion?
No point in denying it. Rose was family. Eileen was going to hear it all eventually.
"Yes," Bebe said, quietly, in an ashamed whisper.
"And you've had sex reassignment surgery?"
"I've had 'corrective' surgery. I was... intersexed."
"Intersexed?" Eileen mulled that word over. "That's a new one for me. So, when was your surgery?"
On the verge of a panic attack, Bebe whispered, "This is all pretty personal, Mrs Mason, and I really shouldn't be talking about it, especially not in public."
"I'd really like you to answer these questions, Bianca. I have some concerns about your... situation and your relationship with my daughter."
"But... I can't discuss..."
"Why? If it was 'corrective' surgery, then why keep it a secret?"
"Well..." she was at a loss.
"Are you ashamed of what you did?"
"Ashamed? No, I'm not..."
"Then why not talk about it?"
Bebe's stomach was becoming a big knot and her head was pounding. This was dangerous to discuss ever, let alone in a public space. "Why are you... I mean... what do you want from me, Mrs Mason?"
"I want the truth. Why are you hiding the truth?"
"Because... I don't understand why you'd ask me this? Do you want money from me? I can only access so much until I turn twenty one, but..."
Eileen suddenly looked insulted. "Do you think I'm trying to extort money from you!?" Her voice was slightly louder than a whisper, but definitely loud enough to catch Rose's ear. She turned and looked to where Bebe and Eileen were seated as Eileen said, "Well, that's just about the most insulting thing I've ever heard!"
"Mom?" Rose asked as Eileen stood, grabbed her bag and headed towards the exit.
Rose looked at Bebe, who was a bit shaken and off balance. "I don't... she was asking a lot of questions... about me... and my surgery..."
"What!?" Rose stood and worked her way around the table. "How did she know?"
"I don't know!" Bebe said. "Rose, I'm sorry... I thought she was going to tell people... I was scared."
"What did you say?"
"I offered her money..."
"Oh, my God!" Rose increased her speed as she headed to the exit to try to catch her mother.
Bebe looked around at the confused faces of her family. Joanne took her hand. "It's ok, baby. Rose will straighten it out."
"Why on earth did you offer her money?" Marilyn asked, a bit shocked at the idea.
"I thought she was going to tell."
"Tell who?" Marilyn persisted. Her tone was decidedly unsympathetic.
"Who!? The news. TMZ. Her next door neighbor. Does it matter? Why ask would she ask?"
"Because she was curious, honey," Nancy moved into the seat that Eileen had vacated and put her arm around Bebe. "There's always going to be someone who knows a little, Beebs, and I'm sure that she was just interested."
"I asked her not to discuss it here, though, but she kept on asking." She looked toward the door where Rose had just disappeared. Had she ruined Rose's weekend?
"You see how offering her 'hush money' might be a bit insulting, right?" Joanne asked, calmly.
"Yeah, but... I mean... what could possibly be more private than that?"
"I think you should go apologize to that woman, right now, John," Marilyn scolded, causing all three women on the other side of the table to look up in shock.
"Mom," Nancy tried you be diplomatic and keep a lid on things. "First - there is no 'John.' You know that. Second - No, Bebe, you should NOT go after Eileen. Let Rose talk to her and you two can work things out later."
"Well," Marilyn was shocked by Nancy's tone. "I thought that you were on my side. Now, you've teamed up with your brother against me?"
Nancy's eyes were wide, astonished that her mother could be behaving this way, on this weekend, in this venue with so many people nearby. "Your side? Mom... there are no sides. Just right and wrong. Yeah, it was probably insulting to Eileen that Bebe offered her money, but come on... And I haven't teamed up with 'MY SISTER,' mom, I'm trying to remind my MOTHER that her youngest daughter has certain rights to privacy."
"Oh, SHE'S got rights. I see." Marilyn was getting wound up. She was speaking quietly, but it wasn't a whisper. It was an angry hiss. "And when my son decided to mutilate himself, where were my rights? Did anyone call me and ask my opinion? And you, Nancy. I haven't even met this man that you say you're 'serious' about. I'm not even a part of my children's lives any more. Where are my rights as a mother. How can you say that you're not teaming up against me?"
Joanne and Bebe were paralyzed in astonishment.
"Mom!" Nancy's voice was an angry, shockingly protective growl. "That is enough. Our lives are three thousand miles away from yours, now, and we both need to make decisions together and on our own, every single day. You have a new life with Joe, mom. We'll always be one family, but we can't be picking at each other like this. We'd love to have you come out and live with us, if you'd like..."
"Oh, sure," Marilyn scoffed. "Just pick up and move to California. I have a career, you know? I can't just move."
"We have careers, too, mom," Nancy was fit to be tied. Her teeth were clenched and she kept her voice low, but she was emphatic. "I have opportunities in LA that I never would have had in Worcester or Boston, and, in case you missed The Emmy Awards or if you haven't turned on a television on a Thursday night for the last year, Bebe's career is doing pretty damned well. No one is taking sides against you, mom, and no one is shutting you out. We're just trying to get our lives together and, as my history demonstrates, I am not real good at keeping things together, all the time. Thank God I have Bebe's support."
Bebe had been shocked by her mother's untimely attack, but now she was even more shocked by her sister's vehement defense.
"Ladies," Joanne spoke tentatively, "if I may... Obviously, there is a lot to talk about, here, but this is supposed to Rose's weekend. Today is Friday. Do you think that, maybe, we could put all of this on hold until, maybe, Sunday afternoon when the newlyweds are off on their own, enjoying their honeymoon. Then, maybe, you could have a nice lunch in your suite and say everything that need to be said - IN PRIVATE?"
Bebe looked at her mother, pleading that this didn't become a bigger scene than it already had become. Marilyn took a deep breath and looked around, realizing that they were, in fact, in a very public place. "You're right, of course, Joanne. I apologize... Joanne, girls... I'm just being overly emotional. It must be because of the wedding. You know how weddings make me. Forget all of this. I'll be good."
"No," Nancy shook her head, "we will not be forgetting this. Joanne is right. Sunday, we'll have breakfast together in the suite, then we will sit on the balcony, look at the lake and we will get all of this out in the open so that it never happens, again. Agreed?"
Marilyn nodded. "Ok."
"Bebe?" Nancy asked.
"Yes, of course. Mom... I never meant to..."
"On Sunday, honey," Joanne patted his hand. "Wait till Sunday."
Rose ran up the ramp, past the gardens in front of the pavilion looking for her mother. When she reached the main walkway, there was no sign of her to the right or the left, but since the left led to the front gate, she ran that way. She caught up with her on the pathway to the Land and Sea area.
"Mom! Mom, stop! Please! Mom!"
Finally, Eileen stopped and turned, her face a picture of anger and frustration. "What?"
"Mom, please, let's talk."
"Talk? Seriously, you want to talk, now? You've allied yourself with these people who your father and I don't know. You buy a house against our wishes with a man you are not married to, and now, this little... tramp... accuses me of trying to extort money from her? But NOW you want to talk? Oh, I don't think so, Rosemary."
"Mom, please," Rose was looking around at the passing crowds, hoping that they were not paying attention to her mother's tantrum, but knowing that they were, "could we, maybe, find a private place to have this discussion."
"There is nothing to discuss, Rosemary. I am going to my room and when your father gets back from his golf game, we are going home. You've been living with this man for months and now we're supposed to pretend we're giving away our 'virgin' daughter? It's all a farce, Rosemary. A fantasy. It belongs here in make-believe-land."
"Mom..." Rose was interrupted by a pretty teenaged girl.
"Excuse me," the girl smiled, "could I just get a selfie with you?"
"...oh, umm... I'm sorry, dear," Rose sputtered, "this just isn't a good time. I'm sorry."
The girl left, politely, but Rose could sense that the photo was being taken.
Rose looked around and spotted a Disney cast member approaching. She waved to the young woman wearing the white top with all of the world's flags on it, the EPCOT uniform shirt, and called her close.
"Hi," Rose smiled. "I hate to ask this, but do you know who it am?"
The girl started to shake her head, 'no,' but suddenly recognized her. "Oh! Yes, of course. How can I help you?"
"Well, you see, my mother and I... well, we just need a quiet place for a minutes. Can you help us?"
"Oh," the girl looked around. "Yes, come with me."
She walked them to a building, just inside the Earth and Sea area. The building was being used, occasionally, to show Pixar shorts, now, but had previously been the domain of the 'Figment' exhibit. She opened a door in the back and turned on a light. "You can talk privately here. I'll wait outside to be sure no one disturbs you."
Rose thanked her and she and Eileen entered the hallway. It was a utility hallway that had mops, brooms, and other cleaning implements leaning on the walls.
"Well, this is lovely," Eileen looked around.
To Rose, it looked like the off stage area of any sound stage, but that wasn't worth arguing. She crossed her arms and looked at her mother. "Why are you doing this? Why today of all days?"
A look of self righteousness formed on the older woman's face. "When could I have brought it up before, Rosemary? We haven't seen you at home since Christmas and Ed was with you, then. I couldn't exactly speak freely in front of him, could I?"
"No, but you could have come to Falmouth any time this summer. We invited you several times and finally left it as an open invitation."
"You know how we felt about that. You should never have bought a house with a man who wasn't your husband."
"By this time tomorrow, he'll be my husband, mom. I knew that we were getting married. Could we, maybe, just for the sake of time, not discuss everything I ever did to disappoint you, and instead discuss why you seem bound and determined to make my wedding a miserable experience?"
"Argh," Eileen shook her head. "That... girl... or whatever she is... she accused me of being dishonest. I did nothing, Rosemary, but she accused me of being an extortionist. Do I deserve that?"
"Yes." Her answer was flat and emotionless.
"I beg your pardon!?" Eileen was shocked.
"Mom. You had absolutely no reason to have asked her anything about her sex. That is off limits when talking to anyone - ESPECIALLY when it's someone who has been through as much as Bebe has and someone who has as much to lose as Bebe. Your question was rude, uncalled for way out of bounds. Why did you even ask it and what the hell did you think her reaction would be?"
"Oh, really? I'm the rude one, am I? Listen, Rosemary, you have shut me out of your life and I was just trying to find out what the hell was going on!"
"Going on!? Mom! I'm living a charmed life! I'm successful. I'm happy. I'm in love. What more could a parent want for their child?"
"To be included, Rosemary. That's all I want!"
"Ok, mom. I'm sorry, but the planes fly in both directions, you know. Yes, I haven't been home, but I've been very busy. You're retired, mom. I invited you to LA, I invited you to Falmouth and, except for coming here, you've always said 'no.' How do you think that makes me feel, huh?"
"Well, Rosemary, to tell you then truth, your father and I are not very comfortable with all of... this..."
"'all of this,' what?" Rose was working hard to not get angry, but it wasn't easy.
"This... life, Rosemary. The excess. Living with a man. Bebe. All of it. We always knew you were talented, honey, but we never really thought you'd end up living three thousand miles away and that your life would be this.. odd."
"How is my life ODD!? I'm in bed by nine o'clock most nights, unless I'm working. I have dated a grand total of one guy since I left - a guy, who, by the way, I am about to marry, and I'm worth several million dollars, but live in a nice, middle class condo and I'm half owner of a home on Cape Cod that's nice, but hardly extravagant considering how much money I've made. None of that seems ODD to me!"
"Well, in my day, we didn't just start living with a man. We got married, first."
"Ok, I get that, but I'm getting married tomorrow, mom. I lived with the man I'm marrying before the ceremony. That's not usual today and it doesn't exactly make me a tramp."
Eileen breathed deeply. "And then there's the whole... Bebe thing."
Rose turned cool and stood straighter. "What about Bebe?"
"Oh, come on, Rosemary. I mean... this all so... unnatural. A young man pretending to be a girl. Come on, now. Are you seriously telling me that if your daughter was involved in something like this that you wouldn't be concerned?"
"Mother," Rose took a deep breath, "when I first met Bebe, yes, she was biologically male in that she had a penis, but she was not really a boy. She had the hormonal levels of a ten year old girl and she was starting to develop the hips to prove it. She was born with an intersexed condition which she has faced bravely and recently had the surgery needed to correct it. Biologically, now, she has the body and hormonal levels of a fifteen year old girl."
"Oh, that's just ridiculous," Eileen scoffed. "People are born male or female."
Rose was suddenly very quiet. "I cannot believe I'm hearing this from my own mother. I thought that you were an empathetic person, mom. If Bebe had been born with some other kind of genetic condition, something that medical science could fix - say a cleft pallet, or if she was hard of hearing - should she not have had the surgery to repair the cleft pallet so she could speak clearly, or not gotten a cochlear implant so she could hear? This is no different."
Eileen shook her head and started to say something, but Rose held up her hand and spoke first. "There's something that you need to understand, mom. Over the past year or so, I've gotten very close to Bebe, and not in a sexual way. Ed and I have had to take care of her as if she was our own child. We are her legal guardians while she is in Los Angeles and she relies on us for everything. I think of her as if she were my own, mom. My own daughter or my own little sister - I don't know exactly - but as my own. She has been through hell, mom. Stress ulcers, adjusting to a new life, a new sex... it's been really tough for her, but all anyone sees is how brilliant she is on camera - and she is, mom. She's absolutely brilliant. She is one of the most courageous people I have ever met as well as one of the most talented and she is mine, mom. I don't know if she's my sister or my daughter, but she is MINE. Do you understand that."
Eileen remained silent.
"Now, I will love you and daddy forever, but I will protect Bebe from anyone who tries to treat her badly, and that includes you. I never intended to create a rift between us, mom, and I'm sorry if I've disappointed you somehow by finding happiness and becoming successful, and I want to just put this all aside and move on from here, but if your acceptance of me is somehow dependent of me rejecting my Bebe, then... well, I'm sorry, mom, but that is NOT going to happen."
Eileen gave it one more try. "Rosemary. I was brought up a certain way - to believe certain things. That men are men and women are women. That's how God intended things to be..."
"Spare me, mom," Rose interrupted. "I haven't seen you in a church since my confirmation, so don't get all high and mighty with me. I don't know a lot about the Bible, but I know that it says that where two or more are gathered in love, then God is there, too and Ed and I love each other and we both love Bebe. I also know that it says that we shouldn't judge one and other, so I'm not going to judge you, mom. I'm just going to ask you to reconsider everything that you just said to me. I am truly, truly sorry that this distance exists between us and I want things to go back to the way they were, but... I just don't know what to say, mom. I guess... if you want to leave and shut me out of your life, then that's your decision, but it's not what I want."
Eileen wiped a tear from her cheek. "I don't know what to say, Rosemary. I need a little time to think."
Rose nodded. "Ok. Ed and I are going to go to Disney Springs tonight. I'll come by your room at The Polynesian at seven and see if you've had time to think things over. If you decide to leave... well... I guess I'll understand."
There was nothing left to say, so Rose opened the door and let the bright sunshine in. She stopped before leaving, though, and said to her mother, "I love you." Then she let the door close and walked away.
"Well," Nancy shook her head as she and Bebe caught Rose up on what had happened between them and Marilyn while Rose was dealing with Eileen, "it seems like we all got blindsided by our moms. I'm really sorry, Rose. Weddings are always stressful, but you shouldn't have to deal with crap like this."
They had left their delicious meals uneaten at Le Cellier and they were now having ham and cheese croissants at the bakery in the France pavilion. It certainly wasn't as scrumptious as the meal they'd been prepared to eat, but it was very tasty, none the less.
"Are we really rotten daughters?" Rose was feeling particularly down. The thought of her parents not coming to her wedding was bringing her close to tears.
"No," Bebe sighed. "You're both great daughters. It's all because of me, just like always. My mom feels like I left her out of the biggest decision of my life and your mom thinks I'm a freak. I guess that I kinda am."
"Alright, Bebe," Rose scolded. "Enough of that. I don't want to ever hear you say things like that."
"I don't mean it in a bad way, Rose," she shrugged. "I mean I'm freakish because I'm different than almost everyone else in the world. I'm not talking myself down or anything, I just wonder if I would understand if I hadn't gone through all of this and I knew someone else who did. Anyway, I'm really sorry."
"Honey," Rose patted Bebe's cheek, "it's not your fault. My parents are just being... awful."
"Mom, too, Bebe," Nancy agreed as she tossed the half uneaten remains of her croissant onto her plate and covered it in a napkin.
"Auntie Bebe!" A voice shouted from the doorway.
Bebe spotted the little, mocha skinned girl wearing a Lilo and Stitch sweat shirt and an elaborate tiara waving from the doorway next to a good looking man in a handsome, leather coat. "Cora!" Bebe's mood was suddenly much more upbeat. She opened her arms wide and invited the child run to her. Bebe wrapped the child is a tight hug and inhaled her hair. "Oh, you just made my day so much better!"
The child giggled and smiled. "I met Sleeping Beauty!" She said with excitement.
"Hey," the handsome man leaned down and kissed Nancy's cheek. "Sorry to interrupt. I didn't know you'd be in here. I just wanted to get Cora something to eat and sit for a few minutes. "
"Hi, Bruce," Nancy accepted the kiss, gratefully. "Don't worry. We've had a rough day. We were just looking for a place to hide."
"But you've had a great day, haven't you?" Bebe asked Cora.
"Yes!" She said excitedly.
"Do you want something to eat?"
"Yes!"
"Ok, come on." Bebe stood and took her hand.
As they headed to the counter, Bruce called to Bebe, "Something healthy, please! Something with at least a little protein!"
"You know she's coming back with a cream horn or something like that, don't you?" Nancy said.
"I know," he smiled, "but I have to try."
He looked at the exhausted faces of the women sitting with him. "Well, you two look awfully depressed considering there's a wedding in about eighteen hours. What happened?"
They explained what had happened to Bruce and felt even worse when they were done.
"So, where are your moms and Joanne, now?" Bruce asked.
"Our moms are back at the hotels," Nancy said. "I think Joanne really needed to get some distance between herself and all of this. I don't blame her. I think she thought my mom was about to attack her."
"Wow. Sorry," Bruce shrugged. "I hope it all works out."
Just then, Bebe returned with a tray of food in one hand and holding Cora's hand with the other. Bruce looked at the tray and saw a sandwich of some kind, a drink and a pile of napkins covering something.
"So, what have we gotten for a meal?" He asked.
"It's apple slices, cranberries and brie on whole grain bread, with apple juice to drink."
"Very good, Bianca," Bruce teased. "And what else did you get?"
"Just a little dessert," Bebe smiled.
Bruce reached across the table and removed the napkins revealing a flantart with cherries, and puff-pastry layered with cream. "She's not to eat all of that sugar, Bebe."
Bebe smiled, sadly. "Actually, it's been a really bad day, Bruce. I plan on eating a lot of that myself."
"They're both really good girls, Marilyn," Joanne was sitting on the couch in Marilyn's suite. "I know that they're crushed to think that they have upset you. Is there anyway that we can rectify this situation?"
"I was shut out, Joanne. Completely shut out when my son made a decision that changed his life, and now my daughter doesn't tell me that she's in a serious relationship until she is in a situation that makes it impossible for me not to find out. How would you feel if your child alienated you, Joanne?"
Joanne nodded. "I understand, I really do, and I hope that you don't think that I ever wanted to interfere in your relationship with Bebe. I was only trying to help. But I do understand what it's like to be alienated by your child. Not long ago, my son and I barely spoke. We lived in the same house, but I had my responsibilities and he was drifting away from me. My husband, Blaine's stepfather... well, he's a good man, but he travels a lot and he isn't... involved, if you know what I mean. He takes good care of us and he loves us in his own way, but..."
Joanne realized that she was wandering. "Anyway, Blaine did his own thing and I did mine until one day when he came home excited about meeting a girl. He couldn't stop talking about her - how pretty she was, how smart she was, how funny she was... he was smitten, plain and simple."
Joanne chuckled at the memory of Blaine's infatuation. "Since Bebe entered our life, Marilyn, Blaine and I have grown closer and closer. She's a magical girl, Marilyn. She makes the world better, just by being in it. I understand why you're upset that you have to share her with us... with the world. But there are a few things that you should always remember - Even before she was Bebe, she was ALWAYS a Bebe waiting to bloom and that she will love you forever and she would never have done anything to upset you."
Marilyn shifted in the overstuffed chair and sighed. "You think I'm a selfish woman, don't you, Joanne?"
"Not at all. I think you're a loving mother whose children have both had challenging years. I think you're frightened for them and that you want to hold them close and make sure they're ok, but... you can't because they're thousands of miles from home. I think you're scared for them. That's all."
Marilyn sighed again, but this time the sigh was filled with a tremor of emotion. "I've done a terrible thing, Marilyn. I accused my own children of being horrible people. I made my youngest feel like something less because she was different." A tear rolled down her cheek. "I accused them of shutting me out, but I was the one who slammed the door on them." Now she cried freely. "Oh, I'm such an idiot. They'll never come back, now."
Joanne leaned forward and took her hand. "I think you're right, Marilyn. They're never going to come back to Massachusetts full time. They have new and successful lives in California, but that doesn't mean that you can't share their new lives with them. I know that's what they want. Is that what you want, too?"
"Well, of course it is, but... I just miss them, so much, Joanne."
"I know, dear. I'm sorry, but isn't it better to be a part of their lives than to be excluded?"
Marilyn nodded. "Thank you, Joanne. I'll talk to them tonight and... I think that... I guess a good long talk after the wedding is a good idea."
The door opened and Joe McManus entered the room. He was smiling, but immediately realized that something was wrong. "Is everything ok?"
Joanne stood. "I should go." She touched Marilyn's shoulder in friendship. "You must be Joe. I'm Joanne. Nice to meet you."
"Are you sure that you don't mind having Cora with you, tonight?" Nancy asked as she slid the post of her earring into the piercing of her ear. She was wearing a lovely red dress that hugged her curves sexily. "I mean, Bruce and I don't have to go out tonight."
"I'm thrilled to have her with me," Bebe grinned as she loaded a few water bottles into her backpack. "We're taking Mia and Sofia with us, too. Blaine and the girls are meeting Oscar to get them so Oscar can go out with you guys and then we're meeting them in front of Cinderella's Castle at eight. I love the fireworks at Magic Kingdom. I'm sure they'll love them, too."
There was a knock on the door. Nancy looked towards the entrance in surprise. "Oh, gosh, they're early. I need to finish my makeup. Just let them in, will you?"
"Sure," Bebe smiled as she headed to the door and Nancy disappeared into her room of the suite.
"Nancy's not quite ready," Bebe grinned as she opened the door, but there were two unexpected faces waiting on the other side. "Mom? Joe?"
"Hi, Bebe," Joe said. "Umm... May we come in and talk for a few minutes?"
"Oh, Umm... yeah... of course." Bebe turned and led them into the suite. "Umm... have a seat. I'll... I'll tell Nan that you're here."
She knocked on the door and cracked it open. "Nan... mom and Joe are here. They want to talk."
Nancy came out as her mother and Joe were taking their seats. "Hi."
"Oh," Joe looked at how beautiful Nancy looked, "is this a bad time?"
"No," Nancy sat opposite them. "Bruce won't be here for fifteen minutes or so."
By the time Bruce and Cora showed up, Nancy, Bebe and Marilyn were all dabbing their eyes, but a lot of air had been cleared.
"Mom, Joe," Nancy said. "This is Bruce."
"Hi," Bruce smiled and gave a nervous wave.
"And this," Bebe said, lifting Cora into the air, "is Princess Cora. The most beautiful girl in all the land."
Cora giggled and smiled as she was spun around and hugged.
"Are you sure you want to do this tonight?" Ed asked as he and Rose walked down the hallway of The Polynesian Resort to Rose's parents' room. "I mean, tomorrow's your wedding day I don't want you to be upset."
"If I don't talk this out with her, I will be upset. Now, could you do me a favor and just be there to support me? I know you and your righteous indignation. Only help me if I'm losing, ok?"
Ed could see that Rose was very stressed. "Sure, Rosie. Whatever you want."
They knocked on the door to her parents room and almost immediately it popped open and Mike Mason's sunburned face appeared. "Oh! Hi, kids!" He seemed surprised to see them. "Hey, Eileen, the kids are here."
They followed him into the hotel room. "Did Ed tell you how I kicked his butt on the golf course this afternoon?" He laughed. Mike was the kind of guy who judged everyone by their golf skills. Obviously, Ed had done well enough to get a teasing, rather than just scorn, so that was a good thing. "He could learn a lot from that Don Ferry, fellow, though. That guy could go pro. And that kid, Blake is it? He was something, too."
"It's Blaine, daddy," Rose corrected, but Mike didn't pay attention.
"This guy, though," Mike continued with a chuckle in his voice, "he did not get along with that ball at all. Hey, that Oscar guy is a card, though. He didn't golf, but we met him for lunch. Funny guy. And he's met, like, every star in Hollywood..."
"Mike," Eileen interrupted, "the kids have to meet their friends for drinks. We need to talk about things, first. Have a seat."
There were two pull out couches on either side of the moderately sized room. Eileen was sitting on one and she offered the other to Rose and Ed. As they sat, Mike sighed, "Do we really need to do this, Eileen?"
"Sit down, Mike." He did.
"I've thought a lot about what you said this afternoon, Rosemary," Eileen began, "and you're right. I had no right to ask Bianca or anyone else about their personal decisions. I was out of line and I apologize."
Rose relaxed a little. This had started better than she'd expected. "Thank you, mom, but that apology really should be made to Bebe, not me."
Eileen glanced at Mike, who had looked more and more uncomfortable. "If the opportunity presents itself, I will apologize to her, too, but we need to discuss how Bebe fits into... the picture."
Rose could sense Ed tensing up and she squeezed his hand to make him relax. "No, we don't, mom. I made it clear this afternoon - Bebe is mine... ours. Think of her as your granddaughter or your niece or as a total stranger, I don't care, but that is the end of our conversation about Bebe - forever."
"Rose," Mike said, quietly and with tenderness in his voice, "just think about things from our point of view. We worked hard to give you everything - a wholesome upbringing, a good education and, to tell you the truth, we never REALLY expected you to become an successful actress. We figured you'd give it a shot, then, maybe, come back home and find a good job teaching drama at a high school. We were really taken by surprise when you got that show and moved away. It all just happened too fast, honey."
Rose furrowed her brow as she considered this. "Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, I guess."
"Now, no offense, Ed," Mike continued and shifted his attention back to Rose, "but we always thought that you were... well... a virgin. We were pretty surprised when you and Ed went from roommates to... well, lovers."
Rose was torn as to whether of not she should dispel her parents' delusions about her sexual activities, but she felt it would derail the reasons she'd come, so she just listened.
"We can't help but feel that, maybe, being out there, with all those show business -types might not be the healthiest environment - morally, I mean."
"Dad," Rose sighed, "if you were to look through my high school yearbook and call the girls I went to school with, I would bet that at least half of them are living with boyfriends and I'm marrying mine. Why is this a big deal?"
Mike shrugged. "Rose... we're concerned about... well, Goddamnit, had you ever even met a tranny before?"
"Alright." Ed's ire was awakened, now, "just hold up a moment..."
"I don't mean to be rude," Mike held up both hands. "I'm just asking? I mean, I never met one before? I know that these show-biz types are unusual - you know, Michael Jackson and people like that..."
Ed stood, his face red with rage. "Come on Rosie, let's go."
Rose stood, resigned, and was about to leave with Ed, but Mike blocked their path. "Wait. What did I say to upset you?"
Ed looked at Rose, completely baffled as to how to respond.
"Daddy," Rose shook her head, "do you really think that what you just said is acceptable?"
"Yes. Why?"
She looked at Ed and rolled her eyes. "Sit down, dad. I think that we may have to lay down some very important ground rules right now." She took a big breath. "Alright, Mom, Dad... I know that you live in a small town and all, but... it's time that you entered the twenty-first century. I'm going to help you become a bit more... 'woke,' ok? Now listen..."
An hour later, Ed and Rose walked into The House of Blues in Disney Springs to the hoots and shouts from Oscar, Nancy, Bruce and Joanne.
"You're late," Nancy smiled, hoping that the 'happy couple' were ok. "Is everything alright?"
"It is, now," Rose smiled.
Bebe sat on the pavement in front of Cinderella's Castle, her legs tucked under her, Cora on her lap. To her left, Sofia was tucked under her arm with MK and Cassie sitting beyond. To her right, Ed sat, cross legged, with Mia on his lap, with Ella and Annie beyond. They watched the beautiful projections changing the castle from a medieval edifice into amazing visualizations of various Disney films as it told a story that wound all the other stories together. The music played and the fireworks exploded overhead. She felt the precious little girls touching her body and looked around. There were thousands of people within a few dozen feet of her and most of them probably knew who she was, but right here, within just three or four feet, were eight people who she loved and who loved her. She leaned to the left and kissed Sofia's head, then did the same to Cora, then to Mia. Then she smiled at Blaine and kissed him, softly and passionately.
"Happy?" he whispered.
"Of course," she smiled. "My life is just like a fairy tale."
To Be Continued...
