“Gonna take more than that to take me down. I’ve gathered here today to witness some holy matrimony and I’m not leaving until I get it.”
“Roger that.”
The bridal music hit, everyone stood, and here was Charlie, looking flawless and genuinely overjoyed. Her dad, a stoic man who’d never said anything to Wren that wasn’t related to the weather, was in pieces as he walked her down the aisle. His lip trembled as he held back sobs and tried to keep his chin up. He was just a fraction of a step behind, giving the illusion that he was pulling her backward.Don’t go.Charlie dragged him along nonetheless.
When Charlie finally reached the front, she quickly found Wren in the crowd.Am I good?her face seemed to ask. Wren gave her a thumbs up. It made her heart flutter, her insides all gooey, that in this, one of the biggest moments of Charlie’s life, surrounded by all her best friends and family, she looked first to Wren for support.
They were gonna be OK, the two of them.
“Welcome, y’all. Y’all be seated,” the officiant—Tristan and Charlie’s friend Malcolm—announced. Malcolm was thin and stylish and had secured his officiant license online a few weeks prior. “Y’all are gathered here today…” Tristan cleared his throat. “Sorry, I know I’m saying ‘y’all’ too much. Guess I’m just nervous.”
A small chuckle from the crowd.
“Weare gathered to celebrate the love of Tristan andCharlie, two of my closest friends, and living proof that a one-night stand can lead to a lifetime of happiness.”
A bigger laugh. Charlie’s mouth hung open in faux shock.
“I’m serious,” Malcom went on. “I know we were all shocked that their second date was something as wholesome as ice cream in the park when their first date had been in the club bathroom. Sorry, Dad.” The officiant offered an apologetic look to Charlie’s father in the front row, red-faced but smiling. “But, I believe that these two were destined to find each other, somehow, some way, and that their love is one of the purest and most joyful you’ll ever see up close.
“But anyway,” Malcolm stammered. “I asked Charlie what her thoughts were on the ceremony. And she told me, ‘Short and sweet. I want to be married to that man yesterday.’ So let’s move it along, shall we?”
Some applause. A few people in the back whooped. Malcolm turned to Tristan. “Take it away, hubby.”
Tristan took Charlie’s hands, looked deep into her eyes.
“Charlie,” he started, voice just breaking. “I know you said you’d kill me if I made a long speech and kept everyone baking out here in the sun for too long. But I just want to say, I know that I don’t deserve you. You are kind, generous, selfless. I’m in awe of you every day. When people look at me, all they see is good looks, money, endless charisma, a sense of humor, a great physique, and limitless ambition.” The crowd laughed. Tristan smiled, too, then got serious. “But you know how much I’ve struggled with wanting to make a difference in the world. With feeling like I’m not enough. And I just want you to know that I will never, ever give up trying to make you proud. And I’ll never give up on us. No matter what. I love you.”
Sniffles and a few cheers from the crowd. Malcolm handed the mic to Charlie.
“I have no notes,” Charlie announced, staring at him with huge, wet, lovestruck doe eyes. “Just marry us already.”
“The last thing I want to say,” Malcolm said, to a chorus of groans, “is to tell you to embrace the change. It may seem a simple thing, wearing a ring, signing a certificate. Especially for two people who’ve already committed to each other, who live together, who have seen each other at their worst.
“After today, your marriage becomes your unquestioned top priority. Yes, more important than the S&P 500, Tristan.”
“And more important than your speech, Malcolm!” Charlie said, leaning into the mic. “Wrap it up already!”
Wren beamed. It was amazing to see her friend so happy, so joyously in love. Somehow it was even rubbing off on her, a contact high of sorts. She found herself reaching for Arthur’s hand, lovingly stroking his thumb with hers, just the way he always did. PDA had always nauseated her; who the hell was she turning into?
But then Wren started doing some math. If Tristan became Charlie’s number one, that would make her Charlie’s number two. If Arthur became Wren’s number one, and the baby number two (or would it be the other way around?), that would make Charlie numberthree? There was an overall demotion of three life spots happening all at once, which seemed unacceptable. Something would have to be done about this.
But in the meantime, Arthur was looking at her, his own eyes wet, and squeezing her hand, and they were both rubbing their thumbs on the other, and stroking the other’s palm, and intertwining fingers that had no business being intertwined, and the whole thing was just so sickeningly lovely.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I now present…”
It was time to stand and clap.
At the aquarium, Wren found herself nibbling on a cream cheese wonton and peering over a railing and down into the clear depths of the stingray tank. The creatures were so graceful and alien, some strange combination of slimy fish and winged angel. A flaky crumb flew off her appetizer and floated down toward the water, like a bit of fish food. She hoped the rays would like it.
Charlie and Tristan were finishing up a few last-minute photos, just the two of them. The bridal party was done. But she wasn’t quite ready to go back to the party. She’d left Arthur to fend for himself for a few minutes, said she needed a minute to think.
And now, as if on cue, here was a person invading her peace. The pained groan of an older man taking a load off pierced the air. It was Charlie’s dad, leaning on the very same railing, letting it do the work of holding him up.
“Do you mind?” he said.
“Not at all.”
He exhaled a grunt, almost as if he’d just taken the first sip of an ice-cold beer. Wren couldn’t help but smile at the similarities between the two. Even their bellies were about the same size.
