Chapter Fifteen

Sheila had arrived at the church two hours early to help prepare the last bit of decorations for her pseudo-son's wedding to the love of his life. Sheila was being helped by Debbie and Svetlana who were bigger helps than she realized.

Debbie was helping with food and Svetlana was working on decorations. She had excellent taste to which Sheila was surprised. The little boy was sitting in a bouncy chair next to Liam and they were playing with blocks. Sheila smiled at the little boys.

"Get out of here, Carl," Debbie shouted, "You're not supposed to be here yet."

"We can't find Ian," Carl said.

Sheila was adding the finishing touches to the cake she baked. It's four tiers and has every other layer of chocolate. On top are a man in a white tux and a grumpy looking man in a black tux holding a cigarette. Sheila paid a lot to have those custom made for Ian and Mickey.

"What do you mean you can't find Ian?" Sheila asked.

"He's not at your house. Lip and I were over there to get him and he's not there. He's not at Mickey's or our house."

"Okay, don't worry. I will find him. You go get ready. You look so handsome," Sheila said pinching his cheek. Svetlana snorted and Carl shot her a dirty look.

Sheila walked around the neighborhood looking for Ian. He was sitting down on a bench at the park smoking a cigarette. His eyes were puffy and it was clear to Sheila he had been crying. She held his hand.

"What's the matter, sweet boy?"

"I don't think I can go through with this," Ian said.

"You love Mickey?"

"With all my heart, but that's just it. I can't ask him to take care of me. I'm out of control. I'm bipolar and I'm just going to cause him pain. He should dump me and find someone else. I'm not good enough."

Sheila pulled Ian into her chest and petted him for a long time. There was still two hours until the wedding and Ian needed to be calmed down. It was cold feet. She had seen that before. Eddie had cold feet before their wedding. In hindsight, she had wished that he would have called it off, but then she wouldn't have had her beautiful Karen.

"You're an exquisite young man, Ian. You're smart, you're tall, you have beautiful hands, and a good heart. Mickey is the luckiest man in the world," Sheila said as she kissed the side of his handsome face.

"No. I am. I'm marrying the greatest guy ever and I can't even be happy about it."

"Why can't you?" Sheila asked. She wasn't sure why Ian was feeling this way or what brought it on. He was a precious boy who deserved the moon.

"I cheated on him!" Ian screamed at her. He had a hitch in his throat. "He knows about it too. We don't talk about it. I apologized but he told me never to talk about it. It was like it didn't matter to him. It matters to me."

He was crying now and Sheila felt her heart break into a million pieces. Ian curled up into her and she rocked him like a mother. She kissed his ears and his cheek and rubbed his back. He finally settled down enough for her to talk sense into him. There was only an hour until the wedding.

"I'm bipolar. I'm going to try to run away again and that is not fair to him. Maybe it's too soon. Maybe we're too young. Maybe he won't want me tomorrow."

"Mickey loves you. That's been obvious since the day you started living with me. He's been truly, madly, deeply in love with you forever."

"I don't deserve it."

"You know what, Ian? You don't need to be sad. This is the happiest day of your life. Think of this as your chance to start over with Mickey, a new adventure. It's a new frontier. I had given up on love until you came into my life. I'm so proud of you. You're so handsome."

She doted on him until he cheered up. Ian hugged her. It was quite a mood shift, and she knew part of his was his bipolar disorder. She walked with him to the church where his brothers would be waiting for him to get ready. Guests were arriving. Mickey was out front smoking in his tux so Sheila snuck Ian in a different door.

Svetlana and Debbie had decorated the dining room of the church up lavishly. She was so proud of how beautiful everything was. She took over a church classroom with the girls to get ready. Fiona and Debbie were dressed in gold. It brought out Fiona's brown eyes, and looked okay with Debbie's red hair. Veronica outshined them all by a mile. She was the most beautiful person Sheila had ever seen.

"Sheila," said Carl outside the door.

Sheila opened the door a crack and stuck her head out to talk to Carl.

"Frank's here. He's asking about walking Ian down the aisle."

"Fuck no," Fiona said, "He fucking is not." Fiona scooted past all the other women to get out of the door. She was heading to tell Frank off.

Sheila finished getting dressed in the dress that she had spent a week making for herself. She went to find Ian. She was going to keep her promise of walking him down the aisle. He came out of the bathroom in his white jacket fiddling with the tie. Sheila's breath caught in her throat and a happiness overwhelmed her.

"You look so handsome, sweetie," she told him as she fixed his tie.

"Thanks, Mom," Ian said, "I'm so nervous. What if Mickey changes his mind?"

"He won't."

"Wow, you look hot," Fiona told Ian as she embraced him. She gave his six kisses across his face and then hugged him again. Debbie and Veronica repeated it. Ian was blushing.

"Holy shit," Lip said hugging Ian, "You clean up well. You ready?"

"Yep. Thanks for being my best man," Ian said pulling Lip in tight.

"Not a problem, dude, I just can't believe you're marrying this asshole."

It was time to start. Mickey and Mandy and their brothers were waiting at the end of the aisle. Mandy was at her brother's side. Iggy was behind her. They all looked nervous.

Little Liam went first and joined Carol, Veronica, and Kev in the audience. Fiona and Lip walked in arm and arm. Lip stood directly across from Mandy. Carl and Debbie were next. When it was Sheila and Ian's turn they exchanged looks. Ian was nervous. She could feel him shaking.

"I'm so proud of you," Sheila told him.

"Oh fuck," Ian said.

"What's wrong?" Sheila asked as they walked.

"Monica's here," Ian said, "I'm going to throw up."

They kept walking. Sheila looked at Mickey who was not only smiling, but had hearts in his eyes. She gave Ian's arm a squeeze. It must be nice being so loved. She stood on her tip toes to kiss him on the cheek then she sat down.

The priest began to speak and Sheila watched the facial expressions of the two getting married. She was amazed that a Catholic priest agreed to marry the boys in the church, but she assumed threats were exchanged because Mickey's brothers looked menacing.

When it came time for them to kiss they were both so nervous they missed each other's mouths. They tried again and Ian excitedly cupped Mickey's face and kissed him. Some people 'awed' some people 'boo'd' and Frank Gallagher gave commentary that was met with a middle finger from both boys.

Sheila was excited to stay for pictures. Ian and Mickey were wrapped around each other at the altar kissing fiercely. It was difficult to get them to stand up to take pictures. They just wanted to make out with each other. Fiona convinced Ian to release Mickey and take pictures with the family.

Sheila waited patiently while they took pictures of the boys so she could get a moment alone with Ian. He finally broke off away from everyone. Mickey took his hand.

"I'm so happy for you both," She leaned over to kiss Mickey on the cheek.

"Thanks, Sheila," Mickey said, "I wanted to ask if we could stay in your house until we find a place of our own?"

"Actually, I have something for you," Sheila said. She pulled an envelope out of her purse.

"What's this?"

"I sold the house. I'm giving you the money to rent an apartment together. I'm going to Arizona to find my daughter."

"Mom," Ian said.

"I love you, Ian, but it's time that we part ways."

Ian hugged her tightly. He had tears in his eyes. She tried to get out of his arms but it didn't work.

"Sweetie," Sheila said.

"Don't leave me."

"You have Mickey now. You two need to start your lives together."

Ian released her. Mickey hugged and kissed Sheila. They walked into the reception hall to join the festivities. Sheila used it as an opportunity to slip out. She had rented a car and trailer. She filled it up with her belongings last night.

She looked back at Ian.

He's going to be okay.