AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thanks.” I opened the ceremony booklet. “Before we start—”
“Actually,” he said, “let’s head up front. Easier to get everyone’s attention from there.” He motioned toward the space that would serve as the altar, and Veronica and Trevor nodded, following him.
Um... I was in the middle of a sentence.
Lear turned to me with a sheepish look and an apologetic smile. “Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt, just wanted to move them before you got going.”
“Sure. I usually like to check in with the couple on a few things before everyone is involved.”
“Sorry about that,” he said, returning a wave and smile from one of Trevor’s daughters walking by. “But we can do it up there, right?”
He’s Gretchen’s friend. He’s Gretchen’s friend.“Sure.”
The wedding party was small and, as expected, everyone gathered around as soon as the couple made it to the front. I made a note in the book to adjust my plan without the early check-in. “Okay,” I said, “let’s get this show started. First things first, where—”
“Thanks, RJ. Can we start with a few introductions, so we know who is who? Carolyn mentioned you don’t all know each other.”
The tallest of Trevor’s daughters, a lithe redhead, beamed at the attention, batting her eyes at the wedding planner, who was quickly becoming my least favorite person. I’d been an attorney for a long time and was on social media, so that was a significant designation.
I tightened my grip on the ceremony binder. “Yes, that’s where I was heading.”
“Great!” He motioned to the group and, I swear, Trevor’s daughters all winked at him in sync. “Why don’t you begin?”
He’s Gretchen’s friend. He’s Gretchen’s friend.As predicted, with no guidance for introductions, every person took far longer to introduce themselves than needed, and Lear periodically and subtly checked his watch. I gave him a pointed stare, which I was sure he missed. As the last person wound down, I stepped forward, physically taking over the space. “Wonderful. Now, I’d like to line everyone up so you know where you’re standing.”
I was sure I’d get an interruption from Lear, so I didn’t pause before guiding Veronica and Trevor to their places.
“Aren’t we going to practice walking in?” One of the other daughters raised a hand, directing the question to Lear. “Lear, we really are lost on who walks when.”
Your dad talks about you a lot and I know you’re earning a graduate degree in physics from MIT. I seriously doubt you’re flummoxed by taking turns walking in a line.
“That’s not a bad idea. Why don’t we begin with the processional, RJ?”
“This works better,” I said with a forced smile.
“Please? I’ll feel so much better if I know how this part works.” Violet spoke to Lear again, a hand on his biceps, and a few others around them nodded, murmuring agreement.
“This way they can practice coming down the aisle and knowing where to go at the same time. Win-win,” he said to me as if he’d just figured out the secret to doing this and was ready to educate me. I was about to give myself the same refrain I had been:He’s Gretchen’s friend. He’s—
“Everyone, gather at the back. I’ll get you organized.”
He’s dead to me.
By the time everyone moved to the back of the space, we’d wasted another few minutes, and once Lear had everyone organized to practice walking in, time was running shorter, especially because I had to place each person at the front of the room, instead of them knowing where to go as I’d planned. Luckily, my “colleague” did not comment on the placement up front. If he had, I might have laid hands on him.
“Once everyone is in place, I’ll give a few remarks,” I said when everyone was finally in their places. I glanced at Lear, who stood watching from the aisle. For once, he was quiet and deferent, looking at his tablet and following along as I walked the couple through the vows, the exchange of rings, and the readings. I was in the homestretch, already calculating how late I’d end up being in the office as we ran long.
“RJ, do we need to run through the beginning again?” Veronica eyed the aisle.
“I’d say so. It’s always good to practice one more time.”
“Love it, but we’re getting very close to when you should head to dinner,” Lear said, clapping his hands and glancing at his watchunnecessarily. “Since you have others meeting you there, is everyone okay with the one walk-through?”
“I think we’ll be fine,” the daughters all chimed in, along with a chorus of voices.
Veronica looked unsure, and I stepped forward. “It won’t take long. Let’s practice one more—”
“So, everyone is good? Let’s head out.” Lear nodded toward the exit, and people fell out of line.
