Page 9 of Home Body
“Sweetheart, you’re the most beautiful bride ever. You’re absolutely radiant.”
“Thanks, Dad. And you’re the sweetest, most prejudiced father ever. I do feel fantastic. But Dad, there’s something I want you to know.”
The bride and her father stood at the back of the church waiting for their turn to walk down the aisle. With her arm woven through his, she felt safe and secure, just as she had all her life in the presence of this man who was not her biological father but who was her father in every true sense of the word.
She stared up into his rugged, middle-aged face and was struck, as she often was, by the astounding combination of strength and gentleness evident there. Mack O’Brien was the best dad any girl could ever have. As a child, she’d always only seen her dad. Now, on this day in which she was to become a certifiably grown-up woman, she saw the handsome man her mother so adored. Wavy brown hair with streaks of gray at the temples, eyes as pale blue as a midsummer sky, and a proud stance that revealed his training as a Marine so very long ago.
When she was a kid, she’d never understood bullies at school who teased her about not being her parents’ daughter. Nevermind that she was Asian American with brown eyes and black hair and looked nothing like either of them. They were her parents and that was that. After she slugged one of the bullies and gave him a black eye, they left her alone.
“Dad,” she said, “no matter what happens here, don’t forget how much I love you. And I’m sorry if I disappoint you.”
“Kenyon, you could never, ever disappoint me.” His eyes drilled into her. “Is something wrong?”
She graced him with a brilliant smile. “No. I think I’m about to have the best time of my life.”
Uncle Claudio, her dad’s best friend, a behemoth man who’d been serving as usher, seated the last of the guests and came to the back of the church. He winked at Kenyon and said, “Knock ‘em dead, kiddo.”
He had no idea.
The traditional wedding march, performed by an overly enthusiastic organist, crescendoed, indicating it was her and her dad’s turn. As they started down the aisle, Kenyon mused at how perfect a wedding this was for her, having ended up being precisely what she’d always wanted.
She’d wanted to keep it simple. No big wedding party with a string of attendants and no elaborate reception. There would be a luncheon buffet in the church’s reception hall. The catering company was already set up and ready to go.
The one thing she’d splurged on was her Vera Wang ballgown-style wedding dress. The soft ivory tulle straps of the V-neck grazed her shoulders, the bodice skimmed her slender torso, and the voluminous tossed tulle skirt made her feel like a princess. The chapel train swished behind her. And the veil! Oh how she loved the plain tulle veil, so romantic in its simplicity. The old-fashioned kind, a layer of it floated over her face while the rest glided down her back.
Dalia had swept her hair up in a lovely ’do and had done her makeup to perfection. Kenyon knew this was the most beautiful she’d ever been in her life.
Too bad it would all be for naught.
The wedding photographer she’d hired snapped a dozen pictures, making her glad she’d have evidence of this one day in her life when she looked like royalty.
As she and her dad walked down the aisle, she smiled demurely at the people gaping at her, so many nodding approval. Well, that approval would no doubt plummet soon. When they reached the front row and she saw her mother sitting there, proud and hopeful, she almost lost her nerve. But when her eyes fell onhim, her resolve solidified like mafia cement.
Her dad handed her off to Chad and sat down beside her mother. Kenyon couldn’t take her eyes off her intended, who mouthed, “You’re so beautiful!” His eyes actually misted. The cad.
Good. She had him right where she wanted him. Handsome, sure of himself, and so obnoxiously sure of her, he grinned from ear to ear.
She handed her bouquet to Tamara and the bridal party turned to the preacher who began the ceremony with the typical, “Dearly beloved….” Then he got to the part she’d so patiently been waiting for. “If anyone objects, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
The crowd tittered. Of course no one would object.
But Kenyon did something that quieted the crowd, confounded the preacher, and terrified Chad. She daintily lifted her veil to remove the hint of barrier between her and her groom. She turned to Tamara and took back her bouquet. She faced her nemesis, Chad.
His eyes darted around frantically. The veil thing wasn’t supposed to happen until the end. In desperation, he whispered, “No, Kenyon. No. Please.”
How she loved hearing him beg. She smacked him across the face with that beautiful bouquet, criss-cross to hit him twice for good measure. He staggered backwards and would have fallen if his best man hadn’t steadied him.
Gasps buzzed from the crowd like a swarm of bees escaping a hive.
“I object!” Kenyon bellowed, flung the decimated flowers aside, and swept out her arms in a grand gesture worthy of lovelorn Rose at the bow in the movieTitanic. She could see that Dalia had snuck into the back of the church, grinning mischievously, which bolstered her courage. “I refuse to marry the jackass I caught cheating on me last night with a stripper. But oh! That wasn’t all. I found out he’s also been schtuping the woman I thought was my best friend.” She pointed at Tamara.
“No!” Tamara wailed. “You bitch!” She lurched for Kenyon, but Kenyon’s mom shot out of her seat and bodychecked her.
At the same time Kenyon’s dad hurled himself at Chad. “You bastard!” He drew back a fist, but Uncle Claudio kept between them, appearing out of nowhere like a fairytale giant. The mammoth man nonchalantly picked up Chad and tossed him to the floor as if he were no more than a bag of worthless trash.
All hell broke loose. Larry, Tamara’s husband, was the first to get to Chad as he struggled to get up, landing a hefty upper cut to the jaw that drew spurting blood before someone nabbed Larry and dragged him away. Even Kenyon’s brother Zach jumped into the melee, wrestling with Chad’s best man. The teen easily got the upper hand and seemed to be having a blast.
Someone glommed onto Kenyon’s arm and yanked her away, and it took a moment for her to realize it was her mom, whopulled her toward a door at the side of the altar and shoved her through it.
