Page 121 of The Fiancée Farce
“Oi! Hurry up! You can make kissy faces at each other later.”Teddy poked his head inside the bridal suite. “It’s time to get you two wedlocked.”
The next few minutes were a blur and Tansy floated through them. But they must’ve left the room, because suddenly Samina was handing Tansy her bouquet of pale pink peonies and white lisianthus with a wink. “Showtime!”
Yvonne passed Gemma her bouquet, then pressed a smacking kiss to her cheek before doing the same to Tansy. She beamed. “Je vous souhaite à tous les deux tout le bonheur du monde.”
Tansy’s French was more than a little rusty, but it sounded positive? “Thanks, Yvonne.”
Yvonne skipped off to take her place in the processional between Lucy and Rochelle. The opening chords to “Thank You for Being a Friend”by Andrew Gold started a few seconds later.
“You haven’t even looked at my bouquet,” Gemma whispered, her friends already disappearing through the door as they made their way down the aisle one by one.
Tansy glanced over. White ranunculus, pink roses, and—oh.Tansies.Little sunshine yellow bursts dotted the pink and white bouquet, taking Tansy’s breath away. She laughed. “Someone once told me those are a declaration of war.”
Gemma’s smile went sly. “Let’s go do battle, then.”
The song ended, and the instrumental intro to “Bitter Sweet Symphony” by the Verve kicked off a moment later. This was it, their cue.
Tansy stared straight ahead as she walked, trying hard to ignore the eyes on her. She blocked out the gasps and coos, expressly steering clear of the front row where the Van Dalens were seated, focusing instead on the feel of Gemma’s skin against hers, the warm clasp of her hand as she dropped Tansy’s arm and laced their fingers together.
She wasn’t sure exactly how it happened, but they made it down the aisle and to the altar, the final note of the song reverberating sweetly in the air as they stopped in front of Mr. Barnes. Tansy handed her bouquet back to Samina for safekeeping, then turned to face Gemma, who hadn’t once dropped her hand, keeping her tethered, calm.
Mr.Barnes’s smile was congenial, and crinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes. He adjusted the small mic attached to the lapel of his suit jacket. Feedback screeched through the speakers when he tapped the mic gently, making everyone cringe.
“Whoops.” He laughed. “Welcome, family and friends. Thank you all for coming today to share in this joyous occasion. We are gathered here to witness the marriage of Gemma Lise van Dalen and Tansy Elizabeth Adams. This is not the beginning of a new relationship but a celebration of the next exciting chapter in their lives together. Gemma and Tansy have spent years—”
“Months,” someone coughed.
Gemma squinted into the audience, glaring.
“When you know, you know.” Mr.Barnes winked, earning a laugh from half the crowd. “They have spent months getting to know each other, and we all have the supreme honor of bearing witness to what their relationship has become. Today, they will pledge themselves to each other and affirm this bond legally and spiritually.”
A giddy laugh bubbled up, blighted only by the tight press of Tansy’s lips. This was really happening. They were getting married.
Gemma met her eyes, her expression verging on awestruck. She leaned in, dropping her voice to a whisper. “This is the happiest day of my life.”
Most of the audience broke out into softcoos, awing overGemma’s declaration, her whispered words picked up and amplified for everyone to hear.
“Simp,” Teddy stage-whispered, earning a laugh from half the crowd. The other half looked painfully confused.
“If you can’t simp for your wife, who can you simp for?” Max mused.
“’s a good point,” Teddy said.
Gemma dropped her head into her hand, face flushed neon. Tansy’s cheeks ached from smiling.
Mr.Barnes looked like he was trying hard not to smile, his eyes still crinkled at the corners. “Before Gemma and Tansy exchange their vows and rings—”
“I have something I need to say.”
A gasp rose from the crowd, and so did Tucker.
Tansy’s heart clawed its way up her throat, her stomach rising to occupy the newly vacated space.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Gemma hissed, fire flashing in her eyes. “Sit down.”
Tucker reached inside his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. “I’m sorry, Gemma. I struggled with whether or not to do this, but my conscience demands I tell the truth.” He lifted a hand to his chest, eyes widening, feigning innocence. “What you’re doing... it’swrong.”
She could’ve choked on the heavy-handed faux righteousness, he’d laid it on so thick.
