Page 89 of Holiday Wedding
“It’s not what’s really bothering me, though.” Waves of grief wash over me, a swirling vortex that threatens to pull me under. “I wish my dad was here to walk me down the aisle.”
Jenny frowns deeply. “Oh, Gwen. Of course, you miss him today. We all do.” A sorrowful pause and then she brightens. “Hang on, I have an idea.” She leaves the room but is back seconds later with a pen in her hand.
“Give me your shoes,” she commands.
“Why?” I laugh. “I’m not Cinderella.”
She doesn’t budge. “Trust me.”
“I do. I trust you,” I say.
Jenny flashes a brilliant smile at that. So big it makes me think I haven’t told her that often enough. One at a time, I pass my white satin pumps over to her. She quickly writes on the bottom of each heel. She shoves the cap back on and hands over my footwear.
“What’d you write?” I ask, inspecting where she’s scribbled the letters RW.
“Your dad’s initials, Robert Wright,” she answers. “Now when you walk down the aisle, he’ll be with you in spirit, every step of the way.”
My vision blurs as tears fill my eyes. I flap my hand in front of my face, willing them away.
“Thank you. I love the idea.”
“I’m glad.” Her breath is minty from the hard peppermint candy in her mouth.
A deep voice behind us says, “Excuse me.”
Jenny lets out a squeal when we turn to find Dean, looking sharp in his three-piece dark gray tuxedo and red bow tie. A small boutonniere is pinned on his lapel. It has a sprig of pine and delicate white rosebuds.
“What are you doing here?” She flies over to him.
Dean holds out his arms to catch her. They’re laughing as the two of them collide in an embrace.
“I’m here to escort you down the aisle, sweetheart,” Dean rumbles. The tender way he gazes at her makes my chest fill with happiness.
Jenny casts a glance back at me.
I mouth,sweetheart?and quirk my brow, teasing her.
She giggles again. Because she’s the sister of my heart, I can read that’s she’s already in love with him, even though she might not know it yet. She raises her eyebrows in acrazy, right?motion. Her giddy expression has me laughing along with her.
“Hey, now,” Dean says and narrows his eyes suspiciously, interrupting our moment. “What’re you two talking about?”
That makes us laugh harder. Gasping, holding her sides, Jenny says to him, “Nothing! Who, us?” Her high pitch gives us away.
Dean pretends to glare at us, suppressing a smile.
I’m grateful for them, my friends. Grateful for Jenny distracting me from my pre-wedding jitters. Grateful that they stand beside me when I’m right and also when I’m wrong.
“Remember to save some energy for tomorrow,” Dean tells Jenny.
“Why? What are you guys up to?” I ask.
Jenny lights up as bright as the sun. “Dean got us tickets toThe Nutcracker.Then we’re going ice skating. He wants to show me all the holiday things to do in New York.”
“That sounds fun,” I exclaim, glad to see my friend so happy.
“Wayne’s ready,” announces Alvina as she sweeps up to us. Megan and Maddie enter the room, adorable in their matching dresses with pure white ruffles and dark ruby sashes. They’re my flower girls, and Pip is my ring bearer. Maddie will hold her leash as they walk down the aisle. The rings are tied around his neck with a wide ribbon that matches the girls’ dresses and my bouquet. I made sure to double knot it, so it won’t fall off.
My heart beats erratically as my mother and stepfather, Seth, enter the room. They line up on either side of me.
