Page 67 of All My Witches
Sixteen
Iheardthe wedding march build to a crescendo as I followed Clove and Thistle through the church. We stopped outside the main room and glanced at one another before taking the obvious nextstep.
“This is kind of exciting, huh?” Clove was almost giddy. “Bay is getting married. We’re bridesmaids. This is always how I pictured ithappening.”
I held up a ruffle on my dress’s skirt. “Really? You picturedthis?”
Clove shrugged, unbothered. “You might hate me for saying it, but yes. I didn’t picture the ugly dresses. I pictured this moment,though.”
There was something so earnest about her expression I couldn’t help but smile. “I bet you pictured you doing itfirst.”
“I am engaged,” Clove agreed. “Still, you’re the oldest. Part of me thinks it should’ve happened this way allalong.”
“Something tells me you won’t feel the same way when something dramatic happens to implode this fakewedding.”
“Oh, I’ll definitely still be glad you were the first when that happens.” Clove beamed. “Just think, though, we’ll be able to tell this story forever and it’s not even real. I’m kind ofexcited.”
I exchanged a weighted look with Thistle. She was the snarkiest member of our little trio. Even she looked mildly touched by Clove’sdelight.
“Well, I’m glad you’re excited.” I pointed her toward the nave. “Now, I believe you’re supposed to march that ugly dress down theaisle.”
Clove saluted. “I’ll be waiting for you on the otherside.”
“I know youwill.”
I watched her go for a moment, torn. Then I looked at Thistle. “Do you ever want to smack her over the head to get her to shutup?”
Thistle barked out a laugh. “Often.”
“Me,too.”
“Not today, though,” she added. “Today she’s right. We should enjoy this for what itis.”
“And what’sthat?”
“A fun memory we’ll never forget. This isn’t real, but that doesn’t mean it’s entirely fake either. Just enjoyit.”
“And if I turn that corner and Landon isn’t at the end of theaisle?”
“He willbe.”
“How can you besure?”
“Because I’m not an idiot.” Thistle lamely patted my shoulder, her attempt at solace falling short. “I’m not sure about much in life. For example, I have no idea why Aunt Tillie is still alive. She’s ticked off enough people that someone should have shot her in the face a long time ago. That I don’tget.
“Landon, though? I’ve always understood him,” she continued. “He’s at the end of the aisle. He’s here for the fake thing and he’ll be there for the real thing. The fact that you’re worried about it means you’re being a kvetch. You need to shake itoff.”
I scowled, annoyed. “I’m not being akvetch.”
“Believing Landon might not be there makes you a kvetch.” Thistle took a step back, never breaking eye contact. “He’s there. Look inside your heart. You know he’sthere.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but Thistle cut me off with a shake of herhead.
“You’re a total kvetch and you look like a moron in that dress,” she said. “This is still your day. Er, it’s probably going to be your five minutes. You need to enjoyit.”
“Why?”
“Because we’re going to laugh so hard about this the next time that we get drunk it’s going to be one of our favorite memoriesever.”
