I wiggle a little as the elastic band of the pale blue garter digs into my left thigh. Serves me right for letting my jealous little sister pick out my wedding lingerie; she must have picked a smaller size on purpose. Now I am really looking forward to the garter-toss, not just because of the magic of having my future husband touch me intimately – in front of everyone we know. That is the part of the ceremony I have looked forward to since we agreed not to be intimate a whole month before the wedding. But first, I have to get married.
The string quartet strikes the first chords of the wedding march.
There's a smile and a thumbs up from the wedding planner.
Daddy smiles proudly as he kisses my forehead and pulls the tulle veil over my eyes, and we move towards the aisle, just like we practiced.
Glide.
We step into the doorway of the chapel hall and I scan the crowd quickly. My eyes stop on someone and the music in my head screeches to a clanging halt. I feel like I have tripped over my dress but a glance at the guests show nothing is amiss.
Glide.
"How DARE he show up at my wedding?!" The smirk on his face tells me he knows I am uncomfortable, and he is fine with it. This was an invitation his inner imp would never turn down. I turn my nose up inwardly and continue to move. Our fling only lasted a minute, a long long time ago, and unless he has pictures, I will be denying any claims he ever makes. Plus, he’s not the only one here. Of course, I have a Past. But, since then, I have had bigger problems to worry about.
I smile at everyone, but I avoid making eye contact with those on the groom's side of the aisle. Something about the way they look at me.
Everyone is smiling. Except Velda. I wish Velda would smile one day in her life. But even her ever-sour and disapproving face cannot dampen my bright mood today.
Glide.
I see some people dab at tears in their eyes, sweet. And I ignore the catty looks from the high society witches, all of them beneath me but invited today, just to keep the peace.
The Best Man seems to have tears sparkling right there on his impossibly long lashes. I look away from him quickly. The flower arrangements look absolutely gorgeous, Mother sure deserves a medal. Everything looks wonderful. Everyone looks wonderful.
Finally, when I cannot take it anymore, I look at Him. My Groom. The Man of My Dreams.
He looks so handsome. And ecstatic, and only slightly… terrified?
As I step beside him, I take his hand and squeeze reassuringly, and we face the priest together.
"Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today...."
The words take me back to another wedding, only six months ago... I was standing in the bridal party for one of my best friends when I started to feel like I would faint, right there on the marble floors of Our Lady of Fatima. Nausea rolled over me in waves. I was so frightened that it took a minute to realize what was happening. Morning Sickness. Only it was 3pm on a sunny afternoon in front of hundreds of guests at a huge society wedding. I concentrated with all my strength to hold my smile in place and not give in to the urge to run out of the hall and find the nearest restroom. Inside I was shaking. A wedding was not the place to do anything without getting everyone's attention. I looked around at all my friends in the hall and realized I could not tell anyone what was happening to me, not with the high stakes involved. Good thing my fiancée was away on a business trip. I survived the long wedding ceremony and attempted to sneak into the bathroom two times during the exhausting reception to heave out my already empty stomach. Hours later, I escaped with wedding-planning excuses and drove to a pharmacy far out of town to purchase as many different brands of home pregnancy tests as I could find. Later that night, I sat on the bathroom floor shaking my head in disbelief as all six of them told me what I had known and ignored for weeks.
Pregnant. And not quite sure whose it could be.
It was a chance I could not take, not now that I had found The One. So, I did the only reasonable thing: I took an unplanned shopping trip alone, and I got rid of it. Quietly. I never told another soul. No one would ever know now...
The priest drones on. "Now, if anyone knows of any reason why these two should not be joined together in Holy Matrimony, speak now, or forever hold your peace..."
I smile nervously at my husband-to be as I congratulate myself and my now-empty belly again on averting another disaster...
Until someone breaks the silence... "I DO"
Coming up: Our Family Wedding II (Groom)
