Page 125 of Not Your Average Vixen
There was nowhere to go, and no way to get out of whatever was about to go down.
17
Bridget
Bridget put on her best fake Birdie grin.
The one she used in real times of panic.
“I don’t mind at all. The judge is right. There isn’t much to practice with such a small group, and if you have something else that you’d like to do here, I’m all for it,” she replied with a touch too much go, team, go to her tone.
“Excellent, because we’d like for you and Scooter to join us at the altar,” the judge said. With Tom and Lori to his left, he gestured for her and Soren to stand at his right.
She glanced up at her wedding party counterpart to find him opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water.
At least she wasn’t the only one caught off guard.
They took their places at the front of the chapel, and Lori threw her a strange little wink. But before she could give her sister a what-is-going-on look, the judge addressed the group.
“First, I want to speak for all the Abbotts when I say that we are thrilled to have Lori joining our family.”
“Here, here!” Denise called, as the others rang out in agreement with claps and hoots.
“Thank goodness! Just run-of-the-mill wedding-family stuff,” she cried with a relieved sigh that brought on an awkward silence.
“Of course, it’s wedding stuff, Birdie. Why else do you think we’d want you two up here?” Lori asked.
She glanced at Soren, but the man gave her nothing.
“Please, Judge, go on,” she said, stretching her crazy lady smile another few millimeters.
“Thank you, Birdie,” the man answered with a curious glint in his eyes before reverting back to judge mode. “Now, I think it’s safe to say that Lori has not only made her way into Tom’s heart but into all of our hearts. We only wish that your parents and grandmother could be here. But I’m sure they are in spirit.”
At the mention of her parents and grandmother, a lump formed in her throat. She stared at an empty bench. They could be there, sitting, smiling, basking in Lori’s bridal radiance. Her sister was the embodiment of the modern glowing bride.
“Thank you, Judge. And thank you, everyone. It’s an honor to join your family,” Lori replied softly, brushing a tear from her cheek.
The judge glanced at Soren, then turned his attention to the others. “We Abbotts also have someone who we wish could be here. I know my late wife Alice would have adored you, Lori. She was a straight talker, tough as nails, and the love of my life. And when I see Tom look at you, dear, I’m reminded of how I used to look at Alice.”
Bridget blinked back tears. This is just what her family would have wanted.
The judge turned to Lori and Tom. “Love is many things. It’s joy, and it’s sacrifice. But more than that, it’s a promise. A promise to love, to cherish, and to fiercely protect another’s heart.”
Soren went rigid. She could sense his body tightening, retracting, pulling away. A muscle ticked in his jaw. The man looked ready to crack a molar.
“Now, I don’t want to go on for too long. I need to save up some good bits for the actual wedding ceremony,” the judge added with a chuckle. “So, with our warmest wishes and thoughts of Lori’s family, I’d like to turn it over to Tom and Lori, who requested to address the maid of honor and the best man here in the chapel.”
“Us?” Bridget asked. Her emotions were all over the place. She was happy for her sister. She longed for her parents and grandmother. But overriding all that was the fear that something awful was going on inside the best man’s head.
Her heart hammered in her chest, but she had to keep it together.
“Birdie and Scooter,” Tom began, breaking into her thoughts, “Lori and I wanted to thank you both, here, in a place that means so much to us all now, and we have something special for you.”
She stole another glance at Soren, who remained stone-faced.
“You go first, honey,” Lori said, handing Tom a gift bag.
“Is this going to get sappy?” Soren asked.
