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Chapter 11
Relatives started arriving the following Wednesday and Thursday for the wedding. Most people were staying at The Honeysuckle Inn, including my parents. I was a little wary about seeing them, but I was going to do my best to stick with the rest of the bridal party. They weren’t really reception people, so I had the feeling they would come for a drink, have a few appetizers, and then claim they had to leave for some reason.
I was thrilled about seeing some of my other cousins, and aunts and uncles, and my grandmother, who was ninety-four and still as salty as ever. She lived with my aunt Sophie, so they were coming together.
The bakery was mobbed constantly with family coming in to try and get free food, or coming to say hello, or to ask what they should do while they were in town. Martha told me to stop what I was doing and go off and have fun a few times, and I couldn’t help but obey. Linley also was relieved of a lot of her duties so she could see everyone.
Her rehearsal dinner was on Friday night and held at the Pine State Bar and Grille, which had built a function room attached on the opposite side of the bar that would hold all of our families.
I got to meet Gray’s parents for the first time, see his friends again, and meet more of his family. I knew I wasn’t going to remember any of their names, but I did my best.
I knew I was going to be seeing Alivia a lot, so I tried to prepare myself. The rehearsal was at The Honeysuckle Inn before we all went over to the dinner. I was with the group of bridesmaids, but she was in charge of the whole shebang, so when the wedding party gathered, she stood in the front and got our attention with that voice.
“Okay, we’re going to line everyone up,” she said, her voice cutting through all the noise. The chairs were already set up and ready, the porch was covered in flowers, and the signs announcing where to go were up and ready. It was finally time.
Linley didn’t want to pair her bridesmaids up with groomsmen, so we were all walking ourselves down the aisle, and would arrange ourselves on the porch, while all the guests sat in chairs on the lawn below.
Em and Natalie had made us all fake bouquets to carry so we could practice.
While we walked, a few of our family members and other guests heckled us and tried to make us laugh as the music Linley had chosen played.
“Stop it,” I said, swatting at my cousin Izzy as she made faces at me and I tried not to trip over my feet.
Alivia had no qualms about physically pushing us into our places or telling us to walk faster so everything matched up with the music.
Linley was beaming as she took both of her parent’s arms to walk down the aisle and up the stairs to Gray. He was already wiping tears away and it was only the rehearsal. Thankfully, his grandfather had given him a handkerchief that he could blot his eyes with.
Seeing him so emotional made me start to cry, and I saw that I wasn’t the only one. There were very few dry eyes in the house.
The officiant was a family friend who had invested in the bakery when Linley’s parents had originally moved to Castleton and was considered family.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join these two people,” he said, looking from Linley to Gray. “Blah, blah, blah, I now pronounce you married, you may seal your love with a kiss!” Everyone laughed and Linley jumped on Gray with enthusiasm and we cheered.
I glanced over to see Alivia standing to the side and smiling, holding her tablet to her chest. We locked eyes and I waved at her.
“That was great, let’s run through it one more time,” she said.
After another run-through where the little flower girl Lilly had a tantrum and had to be carried down the aisle by her mom, Gray’s sister, we called it good enough and headed to dinner.
“Alivia’s coming,” Natalie said to me as we got in Em’s car to go over.
“What?” I asked.
“Yeah, Linley invited her to come, even though she didn’t plan it. So I just wanted to warn you.”
Oh. I hadn’t expected that.
Both Linley and Gray had wanted an informal rehearsal dinner. No speeches, minimal toasts, no games or other nonsense.
Just good food and the people who loved them all in one place.
We arrived at the dinner and immediately got in line for food. Someone tapped me on the shoulder as I waited to get a plate and fill it up. I was starving.
“Hey you,” Alivia said in my ear. I turned and found her standing next to me.
“I hope you’re not thinking that I should let you cut in line,” I said, pretending to be stern.
“No, I just wanted to say hello. Linley invited me.”
