I snort. “Come on. I have a speech to give, and I need at least two glasses of champagne first.”
The clinking of glasses pulls the room’s attention to the head table.
The best man and maid of honor give their speeches—now it’s my turn.
I stand, champagne flute in hand, pulse jumping. Public speaking is my job—I talk to cameras every day, perform for millions of strangers online—but this is different. This is my sister. Not to mention, it’s in front of a crowd and real.
“Hi, everyone.” My voice comes out steadier than I expected. “For those who don’t know me, I’m Poppy, Violet’s little sister and one of her bridesmaids. And yes, I know that I didn’t have togive a speech, but who’s going to tell you all the weird stuff about Vi?”
Scattered laughter.
“Don’t worry, sis, your secrets are safe with me. I won’t tell them how you burned pasta.”
“That was you!” Violet yells.
“I know, but they didn’t. Thanks for ruining it! By the way, that is a great story, so you should have just went with it.”
Everyone laughs this time.
“Seriously, the thing is, Violet and I weren’t always close.” I look at my sister, who is already tearing up. “Growing up, we were so different. She was the responsible one, the achiever, the one who knew what she wanted and went after it. And I was figuring things out. Making mistakes. Taking detours.”
I take a breath.
“But here’s what I learned this week. The detours aren’t always wrong. Sometimes you have to get lost to find what matters. Sometimes you have to make mistakes to recognize the real thing when it shows up.”
My eyes find Julian’s. He’s watching me.
“Violet found Chris when she wasn’t looking for him. She told me once that he just appeared in her life one day, and everything made sense. The chaos settled. The questions had answers. She didn’t have to pretend anymore, because he saw her—really saw her—and loved her anyway.”
I raise my glass.
“To the people who see us. The good parts and the messy parts and the parts we try to hide. To the ones who show up when things get hard, who stay when it would be easier to leave, who choose us over and over again even when we give them reasons not to.”
My throat tightens. I push through.
“To Violet and Chris—may you never stop seeing each other. May you always choose each other. And may your love story be as beautiful and unexpected and imperfect as you both deserve.”
I raise my glass higher. “To the bride and groom.”
“To the bride and groom!” the room echoes.
Violet is crying. Chris is crying. My mother has gone through two handkerchiefs.
And Julian is looking at me like he knows exactly who I’m really talking about.
I walk over and hug Vi.
“That was beautiful,” Violet whispers, grabbing my hand.
“I meant every word.”
“I know.” She squeezes my fingers. “I’m glad you found him, Pops. Whatever this is—I’m glad.”
“Me, too.”
“If I can get our newlyweds out on the dance floor,” the DJ announces. “It’s time for their first dance.”
“Got to go, Pops. I love you.”
