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The string quartet playedCanon in Das Cathy walked up the aisle on her father’s arm.Her fifties style dress hit her mid-calf, the tulle skirt like a confection of spun sugar and lace.A lavender and rose crown haloed her hair.
I grinned from my seat next to Rick as Ralph had to snag his handkerchief to wipe away a tear.Someone behind me, also watching, sighed in a very romantic way.
Rick squeezed my hand and got up when the officiant announced him.His reading was a passage from a novel,about the rush of first love giving way to something deeper, lasting, with roots.
He held my gaze as he spoke about roots growing underground.Despite his earlier shyness, he spoke eloquently, and pride for him made my heart grow two sizes.As I listened, I enjoyed an uninterrupted excuse to drink him in.The broad set of his shoulders, the way an unruly lock of his hair curled over his forehead, and how he made me feel.
He was beautiful, and I could hardly believe that until I flew home, he wasmine.
I wanted to get him alone so badly.
Ralph and Cathy’s vows were handwritten and heartfelt.Ralph’s son, the one in the little league, stood halfway through, and Cathy made vows to him, too.
I cried.
Everything inside me warmed as they promised their lives to each other.Ralph made the best heart eyes I had ever seen at his bride.
I wondered briefly what my wedding to Seb would have been like.It was true that he had expensive taste, but, growing up working class, I hadn’t expected a big fancy wedding.
In fact, the only part of the wedding I had given much thought at all to was the cake.
Maybe that said more about our relationship than I realized.
After the initial sorrow had subsided, after I’d come down from the adrenaline high of our fight and got over my anger, I’d been left with a feeling of… nothing.I should have been more upset, or, Iexpectedto have been more upset.
Maybe what I’d loved most about Seb was that he’d appeared to support my dream and he didn’t get in the way.I was so delighted that he’d been willing to work around my baking schedule that maybe I’d ignored the other stuff, likehow he was as a person.
How he always chose where to eat out, and never asked what I wanted.
How he sometimes picked out clothes for me.This suits your shape betterorcutesy sundresses are for younger women.Had that been genuine advice, or a control thing?
How had I not noticed?
I hadn’t had thetimeto notice.
The pace here was slower.Okay, it had been a very busy time after Aunt Laurie had broken her arm, but until then, commuting with my feet had been refreshing.
Seeing people eat my food and love it was amazing instant gratification.
I sighed, and pushed the introspection aside, cradling Rick’s hand as he stroked the pad of his thumb along the edge of mine.
Three rows of seats ahead, the officiant pronounced Ralph and Cathy man and wife, and we all stood and applauded.The flash of cameras filled the large barn space as people snapped photos.
The officiant’s assistant opened the big barn doors behind the flower pillars and led the happy couple to a small, ornate wooden table to sign the marriage certificate.Rick and a woman who looked like Cathy but with shorter hair witnessed, and then the officiant asked us all to line up outside the big open doors while one of the bridesmaids passed out rose petal confetti in little brown craft paper cones.
After we showered them in confetti and posed for pictures in the beautiful garden, Ralph and Cathy were swept away by their photographer for intimate shots, and a couple of immaculately dressed servers appeared almost out of nowhere and circulated with little bronze trays of beautifully arranged canapes and tall, skinny glasses of fizz.
I took one just as Jenny emerged from the crowd and almost knocked me off balance with a huge hug.
“Maddie!”
I had never heard her voice so scratchy.“How are you feeling?”I embraced her, delighted to see her up and about.
“Like a wet towel that’s been wrung out too many times, but, I’ve stopped sneezing and I’m here.Mom’s got Toby.You look gorgeous!”
“So do you!”I stepped back to look at her.She wore a peach wrap dress with a flared skirt and her hair had been curled at the ends.
“Thanks.”She blushed, then moved to hug Rick.“Clean up nice, Ricky.”
