Page 15 of Two Friends in Marriage
But as I pull back and smile at my wife, a wave of fondness overtakes me.
I’ve made promises to her, and I’ll do my best to be a good husband, even if some silly part of me thinks I should have held out for love.
“Congratulations,” Auntie Gladys says, pressing one of my hands between both of hers in the receiving line.“You’re lucky she didn’t run!”She laughs as though this is a funny joke.
My mother, who’s standing to my right, glares at her.
But I just say, “Yes, I’m very lucky.”
I’m married to Jane, and everyone important to me is here to celebrate.There’s something bittersweet about the whole thing, but I will make the most of it.
For her sake, if nothing else.
Chapter 5
Jane
Duetomylackof family and limited number of friends, I haven’t been to a ton of weddings.Perhaps my own wedding would be less overwhelming if I had.
Or maybe not.
“Where are you going for your honeymoon?”asks one of Evan’s aunts.I’m pretty sure her name is Doreen, but I’m not entirely certain.
“We’re not going on a honeymoon,” I say.“The wedding, the new house—it was expensive enough.”I’m not great at making casual conversation with people I barely know, but I do my best.
“You don’t have to go anywhere fancy.After all, you might end up spending most of your time in the room.”
I stiffen—and I don’t think that’s different from the reaction I’d have if Evan and I were actually sleeping together.It’s still a weird thing to hear from his aunt!
“Doreen.”Lynne is suddenly at my side.“Don’t make her uncomfortable.”
She also swooped in to save me from Gladys, who seems unimpressed that we’re just having a light lunch, not a full Chinese banquet.
But I can’t say I’m disappointed with our simple wedding.About fifty people—half friends, half Evan’s family.A little mingling outside after the outdoor ceremony, and in a few minutes, we’ll eat under the tent.
Lynne also made a point of mentioning that Gladys is always complaining and I shouldn’t take anything she says personally.
I feel a tug on my skirt and look down.
“You’re so pretty!”says the little boy.“Like a princess.”
“Why thank you, Nolan.”I crouch down to speak to him.There are only two children at the wedding: Nolan, the son of Evan’s cousin and her wife, plus the baby daughter of two of Evan’s friends.
“Are we going to eat soon?I’m hungry.”
“Sorry.”Isobel—Evan’s cousin—jumps in.“Don’t worry, he’s not starving.He just had Goldfish crackers, but he’s excited about the cake.”
“I think we’ll be eating very soon,” I say.
“Can I sit beside you?”Nolan asks.
“No, she’s sitting at another table,” Isobel says, “but we’ll have Auntie Jane and Uncle Evan over for dinner later this summer, okay?”She smiles at me.
Auntie Jane.I’ve never been anyone’s auntie before.
Technically, I’m his mother’s cousin’s wife, but I’m an adult in this child’s life.Of his seven first cousins—five on his dad’s side and two on his mom’s—Evan is closest to Isobel, so I expect to see Nolan at more than the occasional wedding or holiday.
As Isobel leads him away to clean his hands in preparation for lunch, I think of my absent family.Evan’s American relatives flew in for the wedding.Only from Philadelphia, which isn’t a long flight, but still.They’re here, and my father isn’t.
