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Applause erupted through the woods. I couldn’t really clap with two bouquets in my grasp, so I called out myexcitement for them as Gabby and Adrian faced the onlookers and raised their joined hands.
“She’s finally mine!” Adrian called out.
“You’ve done it now,” Hawk responded from behind him, and everyone laughed.
I managed to pass her bouquet back to her so she and Adrian could walk back up the aisle together, and then the crowd convened on them. Commotion ensued as guests expressed their exuberant congratulations.
Adelie and I backed away, leaving the new Mr. and Mrs. Bear room to greet their guests.
“Let’s all convene at the cabin,” Adrian’s mother announced, gesturing to where that very structure lay a few hundred feet away.
I saw her announcement for what it was—a kind way to get people to allow the bride and groom some breathing room.
“There’s dinner and dancing after this, so don’t go anywhere,” Gabby added, to which several people cheered.
The crowd dispersed, and so did some of the palpable tension in the air.
Adelie sighed loudly beside me. I looked over to see her face rapt with mushy longing.
“Someday it will be you,” I told her, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and resting my head against hers.
I stared at the empty seats, at the thick trees and the spray of flowers and pushed away the notion as it presented itself to me as well.
“I don’t know,” she said in a breathy voice. “I hope so, but probably not for a while. I’m not even dating anyone, you know?”
“I know,” I said, holding my bouquet and following the others down the aisle.
The musicians continued their string serenade as we passed, and I basked in the blend of cello and violin in the crisp mountain air. The October colors here weren’t as vibrant as the foliage back home, but the greens and oranges were still lovely.
“But anything can happen,” I added.
People meandered to the canopy that had been set up beneath the trees beside the picturesque cabin. Tables and chairs were there, and music began to play on a set of loudspeakers I hadn’t noticed before. I glanced up to find them positioned over our heads in the boughs.
I set my bouquet down inside the cabin and then roved back outside and claimed a table. As with the meal the night before, this was an elegant spread, though rather than prime rib and heavier, fancier foods, these were delicate finger sandwiches with mouthwatering salads, water tinged with lemons, and stunning desserts that looked almost too good to eat.
Almost.
Several of the groomsmen had clustered at the same table and dug into their meals. Adelie sat quietly beside me, and then the toasts began.
Family members from both sides spoke words of excitement and encouragement, including both Gabby’s birth mom and the mom who’d raised her.
Each of the groomsmen stood in turn and raised their glasses to their old college buddy and his new bride as well.
“You going up?” I asked Addie, already knowing the answer.
Adelie shook her head adamantly. She avoided anything that required her to be in front of other people.
I rose and made my way to the mic. The stage was situated to face the bride and groom, who sat at the head table and smiled in my direction.
I wanted to wipe my palms against my dress, but I resisted. Instead, I clasped my hands together in front of me and stared at the many faces gazing back. Hawk smirked and lifted his goblet in my direction in salute.
Glancing away from him, I looked instead at Gabby’s expectant face.
“I haven’t known the bride and groom long,” I said, “but you don’t need years to build a close bond with someone. Since Gabby first reached out to me back in April, she’s become a really good friend, and I’m glad I could share this day with her.”
My words almost seemed inadequate, but I wasn’t sure what else to say, so I thanked them for the amazing chance to be here and then swept my way back to my seat. Polite applause sounded, and as no one else stood to add their thoughts, the music began to swell once more.
Before I made it back to my table, however, Hawk intercepted.
