AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The dogs have settled and look more or less organized as Maria and Vera walk them down the aisle. The boxer heads for an old lady, about to lift his leg, but Drew clicks again.
The boxer turns his head. By then the other dogs are leaving him behind, so he trots to catch up.
Zero chance of success. Full zero.
I can’t believe the church is allowing this, but apparently Tatiana’s father is heavily involved with the parish. The concession was that the dogs would be contained.
So on the right side of the front of the church, there’s a portable fence, the sort that normally corrals small children. It’s decorated with white satin bows and pink roses.
I follow the group, only hurrying forward when the three of them have trouble getting all the dogs in the fence.
The boxer immediately leaps onto the top rail, biting the roses off the bows.
Oh boy.
There’s no way they are truly contained. Only the terrier is too small to jump the fence, although the pugs would have to get a running start.
Vera and Maria settle in chairs on either side of the enclosure, wrapping the leashes around their arms. Drew heads up the aisle to meet the groomsmen in the back, and I take a seat on the pew closest to the dogs.
Maria shakes her head at me, and I know what she’s thinking. These dogs are too wild, too untrained for an event like this.
But they’re doing it.
Todd’s mother and father arrive and sit in the opposite front pew. Then Tatiana’s mother walks in, led by her son, who looks to be in his midtwenties. They sit on my pew, close to the center. She glances at the dogs with a pinched expression. She’s clearly not a fan of this idea.
The music changes, and the back doors open. Todd enters in his tux, followed by Drew and two groomsmen I only met last night at the rehearsal.
The dogs go wild at the sight of Todd. He stops by the fence and pets each one, feeding them a treat. Maria grimaces, checking on the poop bag dispenser attached to her belt.
I have to work very hard to contain my giggles.
The bridesmaids arrive one by one, all wearing pink satin gowns.
A little girl in a pink dress walks down the aisle dropping rose petals. White ribbons are woven into her sleek black braids.
The guests let out a collective sigh at the cuteness.
She makes it to the front and stands by Todd.
Then the music swells, and the priest enters, gesturing for us to rise for the bride.
The movement makes the dogs bark and leap. Maria and Vera stand up, trying to calm them down. I move forward, too, kneeling in front of the enclosure, trying to keep the boxer inside.
Tatiana begins her walk up the aisle with her father. Todd has eyes only for her, but I notice that Drew is watching the dogs.
Maria and Vera are holding back the Labs, and I have a grip on the boxer. The pugs are fairly quiet, but the terrier yaps his head off.
Oh boy.
Tatiana appears at the front of the aisle, and I know the moment the dogs spot her. The boxer lunges. I have him by the neck, but the pressure on the fence makes the flimsy setup start to lean.
The Labradors sense their escape and push forward.
Everything happens in slow motion.
All three big dogs surge ahead.
The fence topples and comes apart, scattering roses. The dogs race away, coming to the ends of their leashes.
